Paradise in Plain Sight (Book Review)
This is written by a female Zen priest about the metaphors for life that she’s gleaned from her Japanese garden.
Book Reviews
Ain’t Burned All the Bright (Book Review)
This book is a powerful rendition of what it felt like to be black in America during the pandemic and the violence that spawned the Black Lives Matters movement.
Matrix (Book Review)
Did I love it? No. Will I long remember it? Probably. Do I wish I could write that well? Definitely yes.
Lessons in Chemistry (Book Review)
This is a book about a talented woman chemist seeking equality in the very condescending and chauvinist world of the 50’s and 60’s in California.
The Priory of the Orange Tree (Book Review)
At 804 pages this novel is quite an undertaking, but I loved both Ead and Tané, and was glad to follow them into the Abyss, only to emerge triumphant and satisfied.
The Splendid and the Vile (Book Review)
This is a wonderful, factual, social history of a difficult time, and the unusual man who pulled everyone through.
Pray Like a Gourmet (Book Review)
It is no surprise that I’d love the fusion between creativity and spirituality, but our whole book group loved this book too, and said they will continue to refer to it in the future
These Precious Days (Book Review)
Ann Patchett’s level of authenticity is exemplary, and how she cherishes her friends with openness and presence is inspiring.
Larry Gonik’s Cartoon Guide Series (Book Recommendations)
My philosophy to being a homeschooling mother was that if they were having fun while learning something, they’d be more inclined to remember it.
The Lincoln Highway (Book Review)
This is a diverting, circuitous, multi-layered, coming of age escapade, written extraordinarily well.
Shantaram (Book Review with Quotes)
I now understand the criminal mind better, and got a deeper, more intimate glimpse of India than I’d had before.
The Last Garden in England (Book Review)
I’m always happy to read about women learning to get what they uniquely need.
House in the Cerulean Sea (Book Review)
This book is about open acceptance, seeing beyond labels, learning to be comfortable with uniqueness, and that everyone just needs love.
Conscious Creativity (Book Review)
This is a nice little book that encourages us to take in more of what is around us– the sights, sounds, smells, textures, tastes, shadows, atmospheres– to have more to bring to your art making practice.
Expressive Sketchbooks (Book Review and Helen Wells Featured Artist)
I love British artist Helen Wells, and I think you may too.
Reading Challenge for 2021 Complete
I read 64 books this year, 12 more than the 52 in this challenge.
This is Happiness (Book Review)
This is a beautifully eloquent novel, with its poetic, evocative prose, which is sometimes funny, and often highly observant and insightful.