Monogamy | Sue Miller

A beautiful and at times heartbreaking novel on the complexities of a marriage. Be this something you can relate to or not, it is written with a meditative pace and flows in a rhythm that reminds me of a rainy day curled up under a blanket.

The Huntress | Kate Quinn

A post WWII story of three main characters and the worlds that intertwine them. I have not fully completed this novel but the intrigue has me fully committed. What would you do if you found out your new step mother was a Nazi / German spy right as your father ties the knot? I am all the way down this rabbit hole.

Television Series & Films of Note:

Mouthpiece - for it’s physicality of the journey of grief,
Fleabag S02 - for it’s arresting commentary on what it means to overcome the crutches that you have created for yourself.
The Queens Gambit - for the chess world and beautiful acting of Anya Taylor-Joy.

Everything Is Spiritual | Rob Bell

I have followed Rob Bell’s writing for decades now. He continues to stay anchored in core truths while also exploring the depth in what people today are aching for. His stream of consciousness style has always spoken to me, and here we get to let it sink into our bones. In many ways, maybe it’s his leaning to stream of consciousness that has allowed him to explore so much in thought, theology and open discourse with others.

We know those waters. Loss and pain and grief and wounds and not knowing what to do or where to go or how to deal with the agony of life. We know those waters. There’s spirit in there, hovering, waiting to bring something new out of it. This is why people who inspire us the most always have been through those waters. They’ve expierence that hovering. They’ve seen that new creation. - Rob Bell'

Sex & Vanity | Kevin Kwan

This book was highly disappointing for a myriad of reasons. It’s hard to truly finish a book I dislike but it is more difficult to write about why I dislike it so much. It’s art. All art is subjective. I write more freely here because I am a huge fan of Kevin’s ‘Crazy Rich Asian’ series which I believe broke barriers, was written with a beautiful wink to both the reader and all those who may relate.
Sex and Vanity is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with a Chinese culture slant. Some elements work and most do not.
My biggest issue is that this reads exactly what it is: a man writing a female lead. Our protagonist comes off not only a fabrication of a man’s mind, but hallow. Her thoughts, her mannerisms all described were exactly why we have problems for young women. When men write us to be that hollow, that flimsy of character, all we get reflected back to us are the shallow and flimsy filters of ourselves.
Many women have these elements about their personality and character, but ALL these women have dynamic range to many degrees.
Case and point: Sophie Kinsella’s character Rebecca Bloomwood in the shopaholic series is outrageous. Completely out of this world shallow and airy. But we believe her. We laugh at her and with her. We find ourselves in her and we may know her. Why?
Because women written by women will always come from a different place than men writing women.
Men can do it, I believe they can, I have read books that are enrapturing and feel true to soul, but this…this was not it.

Films / Television Series of Note:

The Crown S04 - for the beauty of historical adaptations that give room for the complexities of people, a construct and an institution.
Fleabag S01 - for the raw honesty of a woman processing through trauma on multiple levels of her life. Cringe worthy and yet also insightful if you can sit through it to fully understand the various broken characters.
Before Midnight - Utter realness. Capturing the realities of a relationship, the good, the precious and the ugly and not discounting any of them as more or less important to the total sum of what it means to love another.

I hit a lot of duds this month which you won’t see here.
I do my best to let myself off the hook if by 50-100 pages in I am finding it rough to continue.
One in particular this month, I read 75% of it before I admitted it to myself and a few fellow book friends that it was a terrible read. Not worth finishing.

Two re-reads are in this month. No complaints.

The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien

My Uncle gave me this for my 9th birthday. His inscription has always made me smile. I thought I’d pick it up again after all these years and see what I thought. To date, the opening line and proceeding paragraph is my favourite in all of the literature I have read.

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort”

It pulls you in and welcomes you into the space that J.R.R Tolkien wants you to know about on a deeper level.
Although I have never been enthralled by all the scenes of battle, chase etc, I do utterly still love this book for it’s narrative, descriptions and overall wizardry of words that makes the reader feel as if this world is alive in their heads.

Voyager | Diana Gabaldon

A re-read. Voyager still stands as a great third instalment of the Outlander series. Bringing Claire back into the 1700’s to Jamie in a create and innovative way. Love how some modern references make their way into their relationship as Claire tries to relay the daughter they share she raised ahead in the 1950s/60s. If you havn’t read this book, be prepared at how much adventure and spins there are in the last quarter.

The Princess Saves Herself in This One | Amanda Lovelace

The second book from Amanda Lovelace I have read.
I noticed a lot of critique over how Amanda portrays her poetry. I find it beautiful and relatable. All women and young women deserve a space to place their words out to dissect them, open their wounds and realize that their wounds although their own and unique, are something we can visit and understand, find the pain and healing in from her simple yet well articulated thoughts.

Zen in the Art of Writing | Ray Bradbury

I was immediately taken by these essays in their simplicity and directness. It reminds me of Elizabeth Gilbert and Anne Lamott all mixed together. I appreciate anyone who can find a way to put the art of writing into terms of both practicality and mystically. Both sacred and and not all at once.

Howards End | E.M. Forster

Howards end is a must read for anyone. Clearly we havn’t learned the lessons in this book yet and although set in the early 1900’s when so much was changing in society, we still see that need to cross the boarders of ‘the others’ and as Margret would say “Only Connect”. That is the entire point of this novel. If that we could only stop over analyzing everyone, and everything and just simply ‘connect’ with the other, we might find that we have something to learn, find and understand in ‘the other’.

Untamed | Glennon Doyle

Opening with a clear and beautiful analogy about a captive cheetah trained to chase a rabbit to stretch it’s legs and the wild in each of us (especially women) who society has trained us to stay poised, tame and quiet in our place, this book has it’s punches and it was a lovely slow read to digest. I would suggest this read to anyone who wants to ponder words, but also with the understanding that this reads more like a journal in the second half.

The Miniaturist | Jessie Burton

I forced myself to slow down upon reading this one, as the narrative is mysterious, intriguing and fully flushed out. I enjoyed learning about this woman and the house she resides in with every page and chapter. Knowing that there is a mini series to enjoy only makes this read sweeter still. One for the memory books.

Film & Television Series

Before Sunset | for the beautiful artistry of relational dynamics and the capture of stream of conscious conversation.
Killing Eve S03 | for the beautiful through line of thrilling dynamics mixed with an irresistible comedic affect.
Julies Greenroom S01 | for the absolute joy of Julie Andrews & Jim Henson Puppets in one project.

CODE NAME HELEN | ARIEL LAWHON

This was a joy to read. A riveting narrative on a woman who equipped herself and used her wits and skill to further the war efforts. I especially adored reading the dynamic of the man at home behind this fierce and savvy woman.

THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY | RYAN HOLIDAY

This was a welcome read entering a new year. Ryan was able to deliver a compact book with bite size chapters that were chock full of tidbits and new ways to look at life and it’s challenges. It’s easy to get discouraged by a problem, but to get creative and look at it at different angles is enlightening. I would re read this at random any day.

Films / Television Series of Note

Spinning Out S01 - because I miss figure skating & was devastated that this didn’t have a second season.
Younger S01 - because my cousin other half told me to indulge and it’s a great laugh.
Before Sunrise - because I am watching the triliogy over again…it’s that good. (if you actually want real dialogue, real people, real love, real complexities.)
The Undoing S01 - because Hugh Grant as a complex character was everything we needed & Nicole Kidman is on fire…as always.