Reviews with TLC

Proust was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer. I didn't finish this book. I quit reading it at approximately 40% in. I'm not sure what I'd expected, but, man, this book bored me. I felt like it meandered and never really made its point. It's very unusual for me to opt not to finish a book, but I really felt like I was wasting my time reading this one. Sadly, I couldn't see a way for it to redeem itself. It's still available for purchase unlike some of his other books due to a scandal regarding his work, but I've opted not to link to it or include it in this month's book photo.    At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance - a New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power by Danielle L. McGuire is an intense but interesting read. McGuire uncovers and highlights history that has been skewed to make it more palatable even though it also does a disservice to those whose stories are pushed to the side...

    Red, White, and Dead by Lonnie L. Willis surprised me. I admit this is another book I kept moving down in my to-be-read file for myriad reasons. When I got there this time, I started reading. The story was much better than I expected. Perhaps, in part, because it reminded me of my time living in Boise, Idaho. But Willis also explores the intersection between religion and white supremacy in an interesting way. Told through the point of view of a private investigator, Clayton James, the story takes shape when he's hired to protect the sister of a teenager who has become involved with the white supremist group. There's more depth and more nuance than I expected in the telling of the story. While there were a few frustrating moments in the reading, overall I enjoyed the book. Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown is a simple but beautiful book. Brown brings both complexity and simplicity to nuance of emotional l...

  It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis was a difficult read in many ways though it was an interesting book overall. The first few chapters offered a slow build reminding me how much writing styles have changed. Lewis examines a way it could happen here, but I have to admit I found it hard to believe it could happen as easily as it did in this book though another part of me wonders if that's just wishful thinking. For those who don't know, "it" is fascism, and "here" is the United States in this book. Lewis details how the people's desires can be used against them to achieve political means. Parts of the books seem predictive, and parts of the book seem unrealistic. While It Can't Happen Here is clearly fiction, Lewis reminds us all that the way it can't happen is here if we don't let it happen here. It Can't Happen Here definitely reads like a cautionary tale and not a book written solely for entertainment. I found it heavy but i...

  The Hemingway Stories by Ernest Hemingway is a collection of Hemingway's stories that are approachable, entertaining, and relatable than I expected. Hemingway often tackles topics I find hard to read about and doesn't shy away from violence and cruelty. As is usual with collections, some stories were easier reads than others. All the stories speak to the time in which Hemingway lived and often use language that feels a bit cringeworthy. Sometimes its important to understand where we came from to understand where we are. Overall, I would recommend this collection of short stories. The Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright feels like a simple story but holds an undercurrent of complexity. My parents bought this book for me as as gift when they vacationed in Branson, Missouri several years ago. I had shifted it around in my to-be-read pile for several years. When it made its way to the top this time, I finally decided to read it. I wasn't very excited about starting ...

Come As You Are: The Surprising Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski surprised me in myriad ways. I didn't expect it to make the science so approachable. Nagoski focuses on acceptance of once self without trying to force one's self into conventional roles. She explores the science of genitalia with the theme of "all the same parts, organized in different ways" repeatedly because of how it applies to various aspects of sexuality and sexual identity. While I knew this on some level, Nagoski brought the concept to life in a way I didn't expect. I enjoyed Come As You Are quite a bit but did wonder about whether or not new research had been done in some areas. It wasn't until I was writing this review that I realized I bought the 2015 version, so I don't know how much the 2021 version is updated on the science. Nagoski's writes about sex, gender, and sexuality in a way that is engaging, inviting, and nonthreatening yet still grounded...

  American Grown by Michelle Obama inspired me to rethink our backyard garden and find ways to make it more productive. Vegetables fresh from the garden are so tasty and healthy. I want to grow more, but I often slack off because I want to enjoy other things.  Obama and other contributors are very upbeat and optimistic about gardening.  American Grown shows garden plans, the benefits of gardens, the benefits of moving more, and the benefits of eating more vegetables. I did, however, take issue with some of the nutritional information cited regarding other dietary choices as I know there is research that contradicts it. There are several recipes included in the book, a few would even qualify as vegan or vegetarian, and I plan to adapt some of them for my household and possibly my cooking blog, Vegan Cooking with TLC . Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau was an interesting read. I had long wanted to read both works, so I was happy to find them in on...

Ho w to Produce an Audiobook on a Budget by Renee Conoulty - I bought this book as part of my research into producing my books as audiobooks. The book was short and interesting. It is simple to understand, and I look forward to putting the tips to use when I start recording my books. Storyteller: How to be an Audio Book Narrator - Companion Script - Lorelei King & Ali Muirden - Another book I bought as research into recording my books as audiobooks. This book covered the act of telling the story in a way the microphone picks it up for the audience. While the book contained some interesting content, the format didn't work particularly well for me. I didn't feel like I learned much from it. Though I suppose I'll see when I start recording my books. So You Want to Start a Podcast: Finding Your Voice, Tellling Your Story, and Building a Community That Will Listen by Kristen Meinzer - I bought this book as part of my research into whether or not I want to start a podcast...