I have not posted in a couple months so this will probably be one of the longer posts I do, sharing books I have enjoyed reading in the past two months.
Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenrider
I have read quite a number of minimalism/organization books, but this one asks you to be slightly more extreme. Basically you remove every item from each room in your home and determine whether or not to put it back. I loved her message of the idea of making sure your stuff was serving you as opposed to the other way around.
Book Rating: 4/5 Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
I loved the way this book approached aging and dying. The author explores how to die with dignity by keeping our humanity in mind and those things that makes each of us feel like ourselves.
Book Rating: 5/5 The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
This is a murder mystery, that my husband and I listened to on our road trip out to New Hampshire. There is a murder of a man who wrote to as for Hercule Poirot's help. The mystery takes Poirot far and wide to figure out what has occurred. I love the way Hercule Poirot is a character and how the mystery for me is never possible to guess. I also like that the author tried to challenge the stereotypes of women in that time.
Book Rating: 5/5 Mindset by Carol Dweck
I think this was a case of the right book at the right time. I felt like reading this most of what it contains is ideology I am familiar with and partly the way I think. I found this book encouraging me to keep on keeping on, which is what I needed to hear. This is a nonfiction book that examines our underlying belief systems, either growth or fixed mindset and detailing how that belief system influences behaviors.
Book Rating: 4/5 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
I read this book as a child, but did not remember it. As we have moved I have been reading books I own, as I have not yet gotten a library card (hopefully I will soon). This I had on my kindle and I was surprised by how different the book and the film are from each other. I loved this book it felt like a warm hug and I found reading it comforting. This is a story about a girl trying to find her way home. Book Rating: 5/5
Writing Day In and Day Out by Andi Cumbo-Floyd
I have been thinking about writing quite a bit this year. As I tried to write a novel in November, I stopped because I realized for right now novel writing is not for me. I do not enjoy it. I think my genre is more nonfiction or memoir. I found this book demystified writing and helped bring it down to concrete. I found myself agreeing with the author's point of view and I loved how she made the topic approachable.
Book Rating: 5/5 Minnie and Moo Go to the Moon by Denys Cazet
I read this book as my picture book to round out the year, but I found it to be a fun children's book. I liked the way the cows think and that it uses simpler words for kids just learning how to read.
Book Rating: 4/5 Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
This book is more of my typical psychology related book. In this book the author discusses how we act in irrational ways and why we do so and how we can work to change those behaviors. I found this book had a good mix of statistics and studies and stories. I found it to be more relatable than some and I appreciated his writing style, that being said I listened to this on audio and the narrator was great.
Book Rating: 4/5 Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
This is a self-help book about goal setting. I found it an encouraging and practical resource. I listened to it on audio, but I would suggest for others to read it. I found it hard to absorb all the material in an audio form.
Book Rating: 4/5 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
I feel fairly late to the game on this book. I read it because it was on my kindle, but I loved it. There were times where it felt repetitive in writing style and this book has more mature themes, but I was so swept up in the story that none of that detracted. I wanted to know what happened and basically could not put this book down. I eventually made time to finish it because it was affecting my sleep. I look forward to being able to read more.
Book Rating: 5/5 Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I devoured this book. I could not put it down. I listened to it on audiobook. I am not sure how to describe this book. I felt everything, amazed, awed, and devastated. I laughed and I cried. Moyes is handling a complicated subject matter and at the end of reading it I just felt this growing hollow. I would still highly recommend it, but at least for me it made me feel things I was not sure I could feel while reading.
Book Rating: 5/5
What have you been reading lately? Any suggestions?
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When trying to figure out my favorite books of the year, I usually start by trying to see which books I rated the most highly. This year I had the fun of narrowing from 16 to 10. These are my favorite books of the year.
Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
I loved how this book took an in depth view of belonging and also being yourself. These are concepts I still struggle with, but I appreciated this book as a jumping off point for thinking about it. I listened to this on audio and I enjoyed the author's narration.
Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright
The title of this book sounds controversial. In reality though this book explores the science behind meditation and mindfulness and I have found it to be a useful lens through which to look at the world.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
I found this book to be wonderful fun. I appreciated how light it was. I listened to this on audio, which I loved because this made the book into an experience. There was music created to go along with the book. I found this book felt like a warm hug and I was sitting in the car listening to this book not wanting it to end, savoring every moment.
Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
I read this after I read Sourdough and I found it to be a delight as well. I loved the mystery and I was engaged from the start. Also if you have a physical copy, the book glows in the dark, which is a fun fact that made me want to read the book even more. I whizzed through this one in a day and loved it too!
Unseen by Sara Hagerty
From looking through this list, my religious leaning may be questionable, and I think that is accurate. I found though the author talks about Christianity in a way that aligns with mindfulness, meditation and some of the themes of Buddhism. I also found that I felt like this book was written for me. I love her encouragement to notice the unseen places in our lives and to invite God to be there with us. I quickly read her other book as well, and followed her on Instagram. I love her words and she is a thought leader I will continue to follow.
Simple Matters by Erin Boyle
This year I went on a journey of minimalism. I started a few years ago with Marie Kondo's book and have since read this, Essentialism, and Organized Simplicity. We downsized our amount of stuff and stopped looking for more containers, but rather used our containers as limits for what we own. I loved her viewpoint and practicality. I also appreciated how she made suggestions for progress not perfection. I sometimes feel like there are so many changes I need to make to be more environmentally friendly and minimal that I get overwhelmed. I appreciated that the author encouraged us to start where we are and go from there.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
I read Agatha Christie for the first time this year and loved her. My husband and I listened to all of Sherlock Holmes a few years back and have found that Hercule Poirot is a similar character in being unique and filled with eccentricities. My husband and I also listened to The Murder on the Links and loved that one too. I am thrilled to listen to/read more of this series this year.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
I feel like I have written about this book quite a bit. I enjoyed this book and was drawn into the environment and found it a very compelling read. If you want to know more of my thoughts look here and here.
Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
I loved this book. I found the author's voice to speak to me in this book more than in Love Warrior. I also really felt like her honesty gives me permission to be myself and do what I need to do. I loved how she views religion as something we co-construct and I appreciated her boldness.
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
I listened to this on audio. When I started this I had heard good things, but listening to I found myself drawn in. I started seriously considering the idea of aging, and how to best serve the needs of others around me in the process. I love how completely the author addresses this topic and how he is willing to write about something that is taboo. I also felt like he was honest in his struggles and helped the reader to recognize that this is not a problem that has a simple solution, but it is rather complex.
Writing Day In and Out by Andi Cumbo-Floyd
I read this book in a day. I appreciated how the author addresses the topic of writing in an honest and practical way. I think from the outside writing can look very daunting, but I felt like she made it seem more approachable. I also loved her honesty and authenticity.
What are your favorite books of 2018? Any suggestions for the New Year?
This post is newly written, about the previous season. As the year came to a close, I found myself busy and unable to reflect. I have found these posts to be some of the most fun to write. So in that spirit, I am writing it delayed, the reflections are still from that period, but the writing is brand new. I am responsible for my experiences and emotions.One of the things I learned over the fall was that I need to take responsibility for myself in my current situation. I have the power to respond to and meet my own needs rather than expecting this of others. If I am picking up the phone in a passive aggressive way, that is about me, not the person on the other end. I can choose to not pick up the phone, or to call back when my head is in a better place. The same is true for in person situations, I am responsible for taking breaks, for taking care of myself when it is overwhelming. Rather than putting the blame on the experiences or other people I really need to own the fact that I am responsible for myself. When I know and acknowledge and take responsibility for myself everything seems to work better. Just because I can deep fry food at home does not mean I should.This is one I have been trying to learn for a long time. I was attempting homemade tempura, and the first time it ended in disaster. None of the vegetables were fully cooked, and as I was trying to store leftovers in plastic containers, the circular lids rolled out of the cupboard and into the hot oil, where they proceeded to melt. This was about a year ago and I had still not learned this lesson. Over the summer I deep fried chicken with minimal success, I had to bake it in the oven to finish cooking it fully. Then this fall I attempted tempura again. I made food that was deep fried, but it was not glorious. This was edible, and fully cooked, but the process was not worth the effort, my kitchen still smelled like oil for days, (if you have any suggestion for how to fix that I would love the advice), and the process was lengthy and exhausting. In the end I have decided to, for the most part, avoid deep frying in my own kitchen. I find it easier to eat it when I am out than at home. Weekly date night will be my only opportunity for deep fried food heading forward and I am glad of the progress, and that I have truly accepted this. Trust your instincts when cookingI have slowly been learning this for years. I started really putting this into consistent practice this fall. I stopped eating foods I do not like. Some might say that I am limiting myself. I have come to realize though that there are flavors I enjoy and there are flavors I do not. Rather than trying to force myself to eat things I dislike regularly, I am instead focusing on shifting the flavors of things I do not like to those I do. For example, swapping goat cheese or feta for blue cheese. I have found that when I take the time to do this I enjoy my food more, and I waste less. I do still try new things, when we eat out we go to a different restaurant every week, but I am trying to keep my home cooking to be something I think I will enjoy or my husband will. More of a good thing isn't always better but is just moreA few years ago, I would have told you that I could eat nachos every day and not get sick of them. This was tested this year when I made carnitas for my husband's birthday in October. Turns out, there is such a thing as too many nachos and it just made me feel gross. Treats are treats for a reason, because when eaten daily they lose their magic and they start to taste blah, at least for me. I love the beach, but I don't need to live thereI find this one to be a challenge. I love the beach, and having access to the beach, but I always thought I would want to live right on the water. We had an opportunity to live on the beach in New Hampshire and I realized I care more about a yard than I do a beach. I can live without a beach, but I do not want to live without a yard, which is surprising, but also true. Soup Feeds My SoulNot only does soup feed me, but I love soup in a way that is hard to explain. I find it feeds me not only physically but emotionally in its warmth and comfort. The soup below is one that made me realize it, the recipe was not remarkable, but the feeling that went with it was out of this world. There is something about soup that makes me feel warm and at home and excited for the world around me, especially with bread to dip in it. How to Make Good Homemade Pizza DoughPizza dough has been something I have been on the hunt for for a few years. We had Pizza Friday in part so I could test a new dough each week. I finally found a basic pizza dough I like, it doesn't cause me to smoke up the house (because of burnt bits, unlike another dough I like) and can be topped with just about anything. The recipe is here and is worth the time it takes. There is a chewiness that is perfect and it gets crispy but not too thin. Just perfect! Just because it looks good doesn't mean it tastes good- Taste Is ParamountFor Thanksgiving, I tried a new pie dough recipe, the pies made from it looked amazing, I spent time and care on them, but they tasted.... terrible. Rather than using dough that creates beautiful pies, I would rather it taste delicious, so I will go back to my standard pie dough, thank you very much. In the photo below the first two are made with a new dough and the last with my old dough. What have you learned in the last season? Any takeaways or things you want to share?
As I have posted in the past, I typically like to participate in Modern Mrs. Darcy's yearly reading challenge and for every year that was not this one, it has been a joy. I loved the challenge and the way it pushed me as a reader. This past year was different. Rather than that challenge alone, I secretly attempted two additional reading challenges. I found myself only completing my Goodreads challenge for number of books, minutes before midnight by reading a children's book to round it out.
This year I am planning to do it slightly differently. I am going to aim for slightly less, but more intentional and more focused. To start with rather than setting my Goodreads goal at 112 books, which would be my typical strategy of one more than last year. I set it at 12. Once I have read 12 books I plan on picking a new challenge and focusing on it almost exclusively. I think by focusing my efforts rather than trying to do them all at once, I will feel more purposeful in my reading life. I also plan on abandoning more books this year. I struggle with abandoning books, and have grown to abandon them only if they are terrifying. I am done reading semi-bad books, or put another way books that are not for me. If I am not excited to read it, I am going to put it down, take it off the list and move on. Life is too short to read bad books. What are your reading goals this year? What changes do you plan to make? Any books you are looking forward too? I am looking forward to reading Animal Vegetable Miracle, Michael Pollan's backlist, and I just started Outlander the other day. I would love more suggestions. Happy New Year! I love New Years! I do not love watching the ball drop or counting down the minutes, I do not go to any big party. I love the feeling that the whole world is new again. I love reflecting and looking back as well as looking ahead. I love to take stock of what happened; the good, the bad and the ugly of last year, and consider the years prior. For the past three years, I have used Tsh Oxenrider's questions for New Year's Eve and her goal setting sheets to plan in part for the new year. To be honest, I see New Years as a planner's holiday, a time to look back and also to plan it out. An opportunity to give ourselves a fresh start, to find a newness in the day and to accept what has happened before and process before we move onto what is yet to come. If I am going to be honest, when I started reflecting this year, I saw more hard and challenge than I ever had before. This year I need a clean start. I need the opportunity to start anew. I have that in all ways, I am in a new place in a new year and nothing has been decided. I can choose where to head and where to go. I can also recognize that in spite of this year being overwhelming, I have grown during that time. I have handled the challenge better than usual. In this New Year, I wish you the best, but I also want you to know that no matter who you are you are enough. If nothing changes this year, if your goals come true, if you reflect at the end and you only see despair, it is okay. You are okay and even if you do not feel like that now, it will be okay, you are okay and just breathe. If the newness of New Years is overwhelming rather than exhilarating, that is okay too. You can start over anytime you choose, if you want to wait two months or a few years, or in an hour you can do that. Enjoy the joy that comes with a new year, but trust that this does not need to add stress or anxiety to your life. Breathe in and out and know it will all be okay.
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About MeI'm Sarah; a wife, traveler, foodie, and adventurer. Archives
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