Coming Soon

I know I have been slacking here but I have come to realize I don't move fast enough for this digital, constant output world but I do need to move faster! New post coming today!

I Needed Love But Not A Relationship

TITLE: How To Love

AUTHOR: Thich Nhat Hanh

GENRE: Buddhism

PUBLISHER: Parallax Press

PAGES: 128

So I was going through a little emotional breakdown due to a bad day and needed some kind of guidance or help and apparently felt the need for book therapy and bought this. I am a fan of his work and I have not read enough from him! If you do not know who Thich Nhat Hanh is, please look him up!

In trying to find a way out of my misery, I decided that reading was the best option. I should have just meditated and kept my head straight but sometimes a person just needs to cry it out.

I bought the book without really reading what it was about, but I needed some love and compassion and I wanted some direction to those things and a reminder for myself of how to get there and why.

It is a short read but it is important to read each 'segment' or 'topic' (those are not the best words I think...) slowly. Let what he writes really sink in. None of it is complicated but coming from a Buddhist monk, I am pretty sure he was mindful as he wrote this, so you should be while reading it right? Or why read anything if you won't pay attention to the words!

He brings up recognizing the love within you, how to love others, what is love, and other bits of knowledge on this subject of love. Though the book begins with love and the individual (Really? How can you love someone if you don't love yourself first?) he continues on about love between a couple and what the individual should consider when problems arise.

Now I did not need the couples part, but How To Love reminds you to look inward. Slow down and really see things, see yourself. This reminded me of how I forgot to be mindful by letting the negativity I faced turn me into an emotional wreck. I still recommend this book for anyone who needs a refresher or another way to look at love and what it is.

I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Screw Zombies!

TITLE: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook
AUTHOR: Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
GENRE: Non-fiction, Survival
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books
PAGES: 176

So finally back to reviewing after settling in to my new home.

I came across this book passing a Self Help/Fix Your Life type of shelf and feeling emotionally crushed, I decided why not? Maybe learning something would take away some of the heartache.

I had seen this book for the past few years and thought why not, and it was free.

How could someone not learn something from this? It is an easy to read short book with picture descriptions. No, I don't intend to find myself in situations like being involved in a sword fight or making a 180 degree turn in my car but now I have an idea on how to handle each of these situations. Now things like jumping into a dumpster and surviving in a desert may be in my future so I kept reading.

The scenarios cover a lot of areas and things I really didn't think people would find themselves in. For those of us that are pretty clueless, I am comforted in the fact I have read this book and have somewhat considered taking a survivor class, hopefully I can read more online...

I recommend this book to people clueless about surviving and don't really intend to ever do research on protecting themselves. For those that are serious, all knowledge helps right, and you may find yourself in one of these situations. I suggest people also consider taking a real life survival class because you just never know...

I give this a 3 1/2 out of 5.

Two of Them And They Are Cranky!

TITLE: One Out Of Two

AUTHOR: Daniel Sada

PUBLISHER: Graywolf Press

PAGES: 112

Unfortunately I have never heard of this well loved author. His books have been written in Spanish and now I need to either buckle down and learn more Spanish or wait for the English translation. Honestly, I should just do both!

I can not remember what first drew me to this story....probably something on twitter...anyway I was curious and the story being about twins was pretty interesting since I am a twin myself. After reading Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True , I have really been interested in reading books about twins, especially from a person that isn't a twin themselves! But if there is much out there about twins, I haven't read anything that I can remember (at the time of writing this) so I decided to check this short eread out.

This story is about twin sisters, Gloria and Constitution, who endure after the death of their parents at a young age. They stay identical as they grow into middle aged women and their whole world is each other, keeping the outside world at arms length. (When you begin to read about their extended family, it isn't hard to see why they try and stay antisocial.) One day, a man comes into one of their lives, causing a rift between the sisters.

As a twin, I found these sisters to be very odd. I have a separate and opposite personality from my twin and I am happy for it. I couldn't identify with how close they were! Interesting, but still creepy. Their sisterly devotion is cool and their bickering among one another seemed very familiar.

How they handle love situation, is interesting. I don't think I could do what they do to a potential love interest, but then again, that is what kept me reading. They have this there is 'us and the outside world' attitude and that keeps them focused on survival and keeps them successful in their working lives. I liked that though, but they do take it to an extreme in my opinion.

After finishing the book, it felt like a perfect length. Short, sweet, but not what I thought for the ending. Perhaps a bit harsh?

I gave this a 3 out 5. I look forward to reading more from this author.

If you haven't read I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb, then GO READ IT!!!!

Rush Interruption!!

I have been slow to post but I do have a book review coming tonight. This book Interruption was given to me by my teacher, a Zen priest, so I am happy to dive into it so I can return it to her!
This read is called The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim. I am not totally sure what it is about but this should be a nice surprise.

Into The Oven You Go!

TITLE: Grethel

AUTHOR: Joseph Duncan

GENRE: Fiction, Fairytale

PUBLISHER: Cobra E-books 

PAGES: 33

This super short read was a treat. Though I will admit, I thought her name was Gretle (or however it is spelled) Anyway, this is about Grethel, after her and her brother's incident with the witch. Grethel is now grown up. She is poor and lives with her father. One day a handsome man, comes into her life and the story takes off from there. Now, do not get me wrong, this is not just some love story. This has a ghost, evil creatures-human and not human, love, sadness, and pain. It also had a small lesson (well I took a lesson from it) like many fairy tales seem to want to share with people. So a small whirlwind of a story here.  I have never read the original story, but I am familiar with it. I am glad to have read this little gem. I am a fan of the author as well. This is another ebook I got from Amazon for only 99 cents, so of course I could not pass up. 

I give this a 4 out of 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now Is The Time For Change!

TITLE: Movement
AUTHOR: James Ashton
GENRE: Fiction
PUBLISHER: Otherworld Books
PAGES: 102

So what drew me to the book originally? I forget, it may have come across one of my Twitter feeds...or maybe when I was just looking on Amazon to add to my already insanely long To Be Read pile...

Anyway this is the story of two guys that want to change their world. More than change it, shake it up in an incredible way.  Both feel trapped in the grind of society. Stevie, who works at his job, and is actually up for a promotion, and his friend Dave, who sees government conspiracies at every turn, decide to come together to make a change.

With their opposite personalities, both of these characters begin to grow stronger in their own opinions but work together to create this 'movement'. 

The story was easy to read, and well written. I did not expect the end...but I am not totally satisfied with it. At 99 cents and a short read, you can whip this out when you are stuck waiting somewhere and need a quick distraction. This is a good read. I just felt flat with the end. I would like to read more from this author in the future.

I give this a 3 out of 5. (Though this may have changed from my goodreads.com rating...)