I'm reading a book called Plenitude. In short, it's part economics book and part self-help for those desperate for less work and more interesting lives. (That's a terrible over-simplification.)
I don't have a lot of time to read it right now but there are parts that are resonating. (There are also other parts that sound like blah-blah-blah.) If I had anything left tonight I'd elaborate but I don't so I can't. Which reminds me, I still haven't blogged about a meaningful event that occurred almost 3 weeks ago now. That defies the definition of plenitude.
(In spite of myself, I'm not forgetting about my blessings. I realize only those well-fed/sheltered and able to pay bills get to dwell on the internal battle I wage.)
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About Me
- Wanderer
- Trying to be mindful of the impact I have on others. Making a difference instead of creating distance. Bringing light instead of darkness.
Reading List
River Horse
by William Least-Heat Moon
Reading now
Resilience
by Elizabeth Edwards
I listened to this on CD as I have been doing a lot of driving lately. While Edwards lived better than most in terms of worldly assets and opportunities, she obviously had more than enough heartache. It was poignant, especially now that she's gone, to hear her story in her voice. She spoke a lot about the loss of her child and seemed to repeat quite a bit on this topic. Other than that distraction, this was interesting and offered some good tidbits to consider for one's own life. I don't know if I would have liked it as much had a read it. Her voice and its inflections added a lot.
January 2011
Freedom
by Jonathan Franzen
This is one of the New York Times' Best Books of 2010. I sometimes struggled through it as it felt too slow, too long...too much. But it did keep me coming back to see what happened to the characters about whom I became interested. Don't rush out and read it. Maybe Franzen's The Corrections, which also got rave reviews, is better?
December 2010
South of Broad
by Pat Conroy
This wasn't on my radar but was strongly recommended by a friend who knows of my interest in race relations and diversity. This book is about a very diverse group of friends growing up in the 70's and 80's, to which I can relate. A bit outrageously unbelieveable - and even the shocking parts often predicatble - but it still held my interest. I wanted to know what happened to the characters and I could really relate to the protagonist.
November - December 2010
Decision Points
by George W. Bush
What? No credit to another writer, such as "...as told to x"? I really liked this book. Made me have a little more compassion for Dubya and better understand some things that I - perhaps - didn't look at objectively while they were happening. Recommend this one.
November 2010
Paris to the Moon
by Adam Gopnik
What's not to love about a book about an ex-pat living in Paris? I found out there can be some things not to love. It was a slow read for me. Definintely some interesting information about an American living in Paris and subtle cultural differences I hadn't even thought of. Some detail just didn't capture my attention. I did relate to his descriptions of being from West Philadelphia and New York City before moving across the pond.
October 2010
The Alienist
by Caleb Carr
This historical fiction is about the hunt for a serial killer preying on boy prostitutes. New Yorkers may appreciate the descriptions of the late 1800's Manhattan. J.P. Morgan and Theodore Roosevelt make appearances in this former New York Times bestseller. A read that grabbed me.
September 2010
Nothing to Envy
by Barbara Demick
Great read. See August 24, 2010 blog post.
Off Season
by Anne Rivers Siddons
While usually a snob about this kind of book, I picked it up 1) because I loved her book about Martha's Vineyard called Up Island as I once lived there briefly and could relate to the places she described and 2) I was going on a beach vacation and thought it would be perfect, light-reading. The book was somewhat strange but I finished it and, ultimately, was moved by it as it was about growing up and loving a summer place and returning there as an adult.
August 2010
Tattoos on the Heart
by Gregory Boyle
This story about a priest in LA who works with gangs and formed Homeboy Industries ("Nothing Stops a Bullet Like a Job"). Heartwarming and heartbreaking. Makes the reader believe one person can make a difference.
July 2010
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
The third book of this trilogy was just published posthumously and I finally gave in to understand the hype. A little too violent for me but it kept me coming back to figure out "who-dun-it." I bought the next in the series, too.
June 2010
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
This book has been a classic for a long time and I finally got to it. Dark and ultimately sad but well worth reading this African tale.
May 2010
The Life of Pi
by Yann Martel
No, this is not about math. It's a prize-winning book that is allegorical. Sometimes the allegory made my head hurt when I just wanted to read and not think too much. It broke my animal-loving heart. Good read.
May 14, 2010
Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?
by Molly Ivins
Displays Ivins' wit. She was very funny. This is a collection of her old columns. They're dated now as they focus on political events from decades past. I didn't read the whole thing but I got what I needed - confirmation that Ivins' passing was a loss of great talent.
May 7, 2010
Olive Kitteridge
by Elizabeth Stout (Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for this book.)
This series of short stories with a common protagonist is not fabulous but keeps you coming back.
April 27, 2010
by William Least-Heat Moon
Reading now
Resilience
by Elizabeth Edwards
I listened to this on CD as I have been doing a lot of driving lately. While Edwards lived better than most in terms of worldly assets and opportunities, she obviously had more than enough heartache. It was poignant, especially now that she's gone, to hear her story in her voice. She spoke a lot about the loss of her child and seemed to repeat quite a bit on this topic. Other than that distraction, this was interesting and offered some good tidbits to consider for one's own life. I don't know if I would have liked it as much had a read it. Her voice and its inflections added a lot.
January 2011
Freedom
by Jonathan Franzen
This is one of the New York Times' Best Books of 2010. I sometimes struggled through it as it felt too slow, too long...too much. But it did keep me coming back to see what happened to the characters about whom I became interested. Don't rush out and read it. Maybe Franzen's The Corrections, which also got rave reviews, is better?
December 2010
South of Broad
by Pat Conroy
This wasn't on my radar but was strongly recommended by a friend who knows of my interest in race relations and diversity. This book is about a very diverse group of friends growing up in the 70's and 80's, to which I can relate. A bit outrageously unbelieveable - and even the shocking parts often predicatble - but it still held my interest. I wanted to know what happened to the characters and I could really relate to the protagonist.
November - December 2010
Decision Points
by George W. Bush
What? No credit to another writer, such as "...as told to x"? I really liked this book. Made me have a little more compassion for Dubya and better understand some things that I - perhaps - didn't look at objectively while they were happening. Recommend this one.
November 2010
Paris to the Moon
by Adam Gopnik
What's not to love about a book about an ex-pat living in Paris? I found out there can be some things not to love. It was a slow read for me. Definintely some interesting information about an American living in Paris and subtle cultural differences I hadn't even thought of. Some detail just didn't capture my attention. I did relate to his descriptions of being from West Philadelphia and New York City before moving across the pond.
October 2010
The Alienist
by Caleb Carr
This historical fiction is about the hunt for a serial killer preying on boy prostitutes. New Yorkers may appreciate the descriptions of the late 1800's Manhattan. J.P. Morgan and Theodore Roosevelt make appearances in this former New York Times bestseller. A read that grabbed me.
September 2010
Nothing to Envy
by Barbara Demick
Great read. See August 24, 2010 blog post.
Off Season
by Anne Rivers Siddons
While usually a snob about this kind of book, I picked it up 1) because I loved her book about Martha's Vineyard called Up Island as I once lived there briefly and could relate to the places she described and 2) I was going on a beach vacation and thought it would be perfect, light-reading. The book was somewhat strange but I finished it and, ultimately, was moved by it as it was about growing up and loving a summer place and returning there as an adult.
August 2010
Tattoos on the Heart
by Gregory Boyle
This story about a priest in LA who works with gangs and formed Homeboy Industries ("Nothing Stops a Bullet Like a Job"). Heartwarming and heartbreaking. Makes the reader believe one person can make a difference.
July 2010
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
The third book of this trilogy was just published posthumously and I finally gave in to understand the hype. A little too violent for me but it kept me coming back to figure out "who-dun-it." I bought the next in the series, too.
June 2010
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
This book has been a classic for a long time and I finally got to it. Dark and ultimately sad but well worth reading this African tale.
May 2010
The Life of Pi
by Yann Martel
No, this is not about math. It's a prize-winning book that is allegorical. Sometimes the allegory made my head hurt when I just wanted to read and not think too much. It broke my animal-loving heart. Good read.
May 14, 2010
Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?
by Molly Ivins
Displays Ivins' wit. She was very funny. This is a collection of her old columns. They're dated now as they focus on political events from decades past. I didn't read the whole thing but I got what I needed - confirmation that Ivins' passing was a loss of great talent.
May 7, 2010
Olive Kitteridge
by Elizabeth Stout (Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for this book.)
This series of short stories with a common protagonist is not fabulous but keeps you coming back.
April 27, 2010
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