Year-end reading notes

Since I started my blog in June of 2014, I've tried to share my reading notes each month or every few months.  This year, I have not kept up with that at all.  I last posted about books in May: January through April reading notes: ten reflections on books & reading

Even though I keep a record at Goodreads, I wanted to "close out" the year by writing about my reading here on my blog as well.  Listed below are the books I read from May through the end of the year.  I've starred and written a brief comment for my favorite reads of the last several months.  I look forward to writing about books more regularly in 2017. 

Fiction

 

**Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld
This is definitely the most enjoyable novel I read this year.  I loved it!  Highly recommended for Jane Austen fans and anyone looking for a fun read.

The Mare by Mary Gaitskill

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

The Abbey: A Story of Discovery by James Martin

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Knock, Murder, Knock! by Harriet Rutland

The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

**The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Definitely the best book I read in 2016.  Powerful and brilliantly-written.  Highly recommended!

**Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
An interesting reflection on families and family stories from an author I admire.


Nonfiction

A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption by Matt Richtel

Crash Course: Essays From Where Writing and Life Collide by Robin Black

**Revolution: The Year I Fell in Love and Went to Join the Sandinistas by Deb Unferth Olin
Having lived in Central America at about the same time as the author and having visited many of the same places, I really enjoyed reading this memoir. 

Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears by Pema Chodron

**Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver
I love Barbara Kingsolver's essays!  Enough said. 

**Maggie's Angels: Loving, Living With, and Learning from a Special Needs Daughter by John T. McCarthy
I know the author of the book, his wife and their delightful daughter Maggie, so I really enjoyed reading their story as well as the stories about other families navigating the challenges and joys of their loved ones with special needs.  An inspiring read.

Thirteen Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success by Amy Morin


Children's and Young Adult Fiction

Lyddie by Katherine Paterson

Feed by M.T. Anderson

**The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
A thought-provoking, creative and page-turning young adult novel about issues that are more relevant than ever - immigration, identity, science and ethics, the drug wars and more.  Highly recommended!

The Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz

Calico Bush by Rachel Field

Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare

The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake

*****

Happy new year!

 

 

Minimalism revisited: out with the old...

At a Christmas celebration last week, a couple of cousins and I got to talking about decluttering and minimalism.  In February of 2015, I wrote the post Minimalist Mary says, "These boots were made for walking..."  about minimalism and getting rid of my seventeen-year-old boots.  Rereading the post nearly two years later, it still describes very well my attitude toward "stuff."  In fact, I'd say that I'm even more committed to the essence of the classic saying: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."  It's not just about minimalism, simplicity and financial priorities, but also about being aware of the finite resources and the precarious state of our beautiful planet.



living in WI, good boots are a smart investment


Back to those boots...  After getting rid of my seventeen-year-old boots, I "made do" with some hand-me-down boots for a while.  This winter, it became clear that the hand-me-downs were deteriorating and causing me some serious foot problems.  Finally, I bought new boots.  I'm not sure they'll last seventeen years, but I definitely know I'll wear them out.
 
In the last week or so - my husband, three children and I individually went through our own closets and dressers.  We all had clothing that we were no longer wearing, whether we outgrew it or just didn't need or use it anymore.  A few big boxes went to Goodwill.  I personally do not want to have more clothing than I can fit in my closet and dresser.  This is not only about minimalism and keeping clutter at bay, but it's also about the simplicity that results from not having a lot of clothes to choose from.  I've seen blog or Facebook posts in recent years about having a "uniform" or "go-to" outfit.  I grew up with school uniforms and wore them for first grade through my senior year of high school.  As much as I may have tried to push the limits of the accepted shade or style of shirt allowed with my uniform skirt in high school, I did recognize the benefit of not having to think about an entire outfit everyday. 

As an adult, I have my own uniform of sorts.  Black yoga pants and t-shirts or sweatshirts for around the house. Jeans and a couple of blouses or sweaters for going out with friends. Dress pants and a skirt that can be used with the blouses or sweaters for work events.  And then just rotate through those options.  People in many parts of the world live in small dwelling spaces and have no choice but to limit their amount of clothing.  They don't have extra bedrooms or walk-in closets.  Many people, myself included, find the limited possibilities of less clothing to be very freeing.  Less to chose from means less time spent on thinking about it and choosing.  Of course, if fashion is your thing - then minimalism in this area may not work for you. But there might be other areas in your life where minimalism and simplicity will benefit you. 

As I was having that conversation with my cousins last week, we all acknowledged how clutter in our living spaces could lead to clutter in our minds.  By living with less stuff, we free our time and mental energy to focus on what's important to us rather than on taking care of stuff.  Getting rid of physical stuff can also motivate us to get rid of mental "stuff" or shed habits that aren't serving us anymore. 

Heading into the new year, I'll continue to declutter.  As much as I love my books, the bookshelves could use some culling.  And I'm also going to think about mental "stuff" or attitudes and habits that I might want to let go of as well

How about you?    

*****
For a couple of more humorous takes on minimalism and fashion, see also:
Shopping is NOT a recreational activity
My top three accessories for middle age

in-between

 

I walk in the park

crunching on dirty snow
and wafer-thin delicate ice
encapsulating the fallen leaves
tissue-paper-thin
fragile remnants
of last season
faded shades of brown
frozen on the
black asphalt
beautiful shapes
winter's designs
randomly created
more beautiful than
any human-made
assemblage

breathing deep the cold air
I can't resist
these beautiful scenes
and must take photos
...or so I think
Before the phone,
I would just look
before the phone,
the in-between
contained more
more silent waiting
more daydreams
more sitting still
more nothingness maybe?

now it's swipe
and click and
check and check
read or skim
take pictures
of everything
the in-between
makes me restless
and uncomfortable
in a way that
it used to not be

but the leaves and ice
the overlapping beauty
of autumn and winter
remind me
the spaces in between
can be beautiful
if I can just wait
and see the beauty
in between
one holiday and the next
one season and the next
one year and the next
one stage of life and the next

once there were
small children
in my life
now there are
teens and young adults
on the cusp of everything
and so am I too really
change for all of us
waiting, waiting, waiting

for the next thing
impatient for it
but maybe, maybe
I could for a moment
stop thinking about
what comes next
I could be quiet
look and listen
appreciate life's
random designs
the series of events
and circumstances
some of them controllable
most of them not at all

and let go
waiting
appreciating
in-between

*****

Walking in Kern Park has inspired my writing before.  See also:

I hug the trees too.
See the trees