Summer Reading Celebration

A heartbreaking sorry of what happens when children don't learn how to fail. The book highlights how social media tends to exacerbate problems for young perfectionists today as opposed to those of prior generations.

This is considered an Young Adult book, but I enjoyed it. It is a dual memoir written by the 2 penpals. The letters change both their lives. It also gives an insight how different life is in other countiries, in this case Zimbabwe. I am sure that this book will have an impact for the better on anyone who reads it.

When I have a task of drudgery to do, I make light work of it by simultaneously listening to an audiobook. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning audiobook filled that need well as I tackled some kitchen cupboards. Author Margareta Magnusson makes quick work of explaining the blunt, practical premise of “death cleaning” then devotes most of the book to describing how to implement it as a gentle art. Death cleaning is simply weeding out and organizing your personal stuff in such a way that it won’t pose an undue burden to someone after your death. Very pragmatic! The gentle art is what makes it a pleasure: admittedly, most death cleaners are older people and sometimes their friends and relations are dwindling. One can build new ties in the gentle ways they pass along possessions such as photo collections, hand tools, and all manner of things. The gentle art may include giving away curated collections of photos at family gatherings, or passing along furniture to young people just starting out. Through her chapters readers also catch glimpses of the aged author’s well lived life. It was not a long book, and I highly recommend it.

I would give this book a solid 2.5 out 5 rating. It wasn't amazing but there were parts that were funny. Lots of dark humor, which is probably what allowed me to give it some credit. It was a lot of dramady. Drama with dark comedy. Judd was certainly NOT observant and, to be quite frank, not the brightest Crayon in the box. Truthfully, the smartest people were the mother, Linda amd Tracy. Unfortunately, everyone else was so idiotic I almost didn't want to stick it out. Judd redeemed himself slightly by the end by taking some much needed advice from the most intelligent character. The communication skills of this family were defintely not great and some of the events of this book were just painful to listen to on audio. I might watch the movie adaptation, just to see how much of the shenanigans stayed in the book.

Oh that was good. There were times I was like....okay so where is this going now, only for the story to get more complicated. My only complaint is that the fmc was very smart and clever and competent in the beginning and then she kind of took a backseat...kind of unfortunate. But I did really enjoy it, and hope at least one of the girlies has a lesbian love story ?

Loved the lecture at CHQ and loved the Bones vibes

Strong debut. I really wanted to like the characters....but they are so unlikable. And the killers reason -great- their crazy mentally unstable attitude....didn't really fit. I wanted them to be a bit more.....rational normal. The third act is a high emotion thing but I think having the killer be cool calm and collected would make it fucking CRAZY. I really did love it though. And the ending - epic loved them.

Runs over the basics of abnormal psychology that makes it easier to digest over a medical textbook so you can understand it on a more human level for anyone rather then where one might feel overwhelmed by a more advanced medical textbook. Feels more of a stepping stone if you wanted to dive deeper into specific chapters the book covers.

Everything about Henrietta Lacks and her family was heartbreaking. Henrietta was lost to history and not even a footnote in her own story. Her genes were used over, and over again. Her DNA was used in so many breakthroughs in science and not even a mention. What a harrowing life. Henrietta's story was tragic, dying young of cancer and so riddled with tumors that pain was her only companion. What was more tragic was her children's mistreatment, malnuroshment and torture at the hands of the people that should have protected and sheltered them in their time of grief. Circumstances were just not on the Lacks family side. Most of the children were dead or imcarcerated before the book was even published. The author, Rebecca Skloot did so much research and talked to the family extensively even when said family was very against even that for a long time. This book was good and very interesting but oh so devastating. Please read this story, if not to hear this family's story but to get the true behind the immortal genes and where they really came from.

4.75 maybe 5 Really gripping and mysterious. I loved unfolding the mystery. Very good.