What I Read — April and May 2023
Entering the first few days of June, I feel like April and May flew by... so much so that I missed the April book blog. Don't fear, gentle reader; that just means this blog has double the recommendations. One of my best friends came out to visit at the end of April and we took her to Frühlingsfest, which is the spring version of Oktoberfest. We also spent a few chilly days hunting for the best tulip fields in Amsterdam. We ended the month in Hamburg visiting friends we knew from Vegas before they returned to the states.
By the time May rolled around, we (okay, just Mark) decided to keep the OOO message on and went to Croatia for a week, spending a few days at the beach reading in the sun. After a long, dreary winter, it was so nice to see the sun again and soak up all of the vitamin D. Anyway, despite all this galivanting about, I still managed to keep up with my reading goals.
As always, I clarify in my reviews whether I listened to or physically read the book. I also link all of the book covers to Goodreads so you can read more reviews if you’re so inclined.
Here’s everything I enjoyed this April and May:
Stumbling on Happiness
Daniel Todd Gilbert
Stats: Psychology, 7 hours and 26 minutes
Quick summary
A renowned psychologist challenges conventional wisdom and delves into the ways our brains often misjudge what will truly make us happy. With wit and insight, he reveals the surprising ways our minds work and offers practical advice for navigating the complexities of happiness, ultimately helping us understand the keys to finding genuine satisfaction in life.
What I thought:
Utterly fantastic. Mark and I binge-listened to this on our drive home from Hamburg and found it incredibly insightful and engaging. Despite all of the psychology reading I've done, there were different concepts presented in this book that the author delivered with a bit of humor.
Who should read it:
Everyone. This is a good one for understanding how the brain works.
How to Sell a Haunted House
Grady Hendrix
Stats: Horror, 419 pages
Quick summary
After losing both her parents in a car accident, Louise reluctantly returns to her childhood hometown of Charleston to settle their estate. Amidst the challenge of entrusting her child to her ex-partner and navigating the complexities of her fractured relationship with her brother, the situation takes an unexpected turn as they decide what to do with their mother's beloved puppet collection.
What I thought:
I love this author and this book was so bizarre and creepy.
Who should read it:
It gives real Island of the Dolls vibes, so if you’re into that variation of creepy, pick it up.
Why Has No One Told Me This Before?
Julie Smith
Stats: Psychology, 7 hours and 16 minutes
Quick summary
In her insightful book, Smith teaches the reader valuable tools she employs to address prevalent challenges in therapy sessions. Each chapter shares practical strategies and techniques, equipping readers with a fresh perspective to navigate the intricacies of the human mind.
What I thought:
One of the best psychology how-tos I’ve read thus far. Sometimes therapy isn’t a viable option for someone looking to make a change, and this book may help bridge that gap.
Who should read it:
I know it’s a tired answer, but I wish everyone would. We all have issues to work through.
Happy Place
Emily Henry
Stats: Romance, 388 pages
Quick summary
Harriett's happy place is a quaint seaside cottage in Maine, where she reunites with her college friends and the love of her life, Wyn, every summer. However, with their recent breakup still a secret, Harriett must navigate the week ahead, putting on a façade of harmony alongside Wyn for the sake of their mutual friends.
What I thought:
It was better than Book Lovers but not as good as Beach Read. The story heavily relied on miscommunication, which led to me feeling frequently frustrated with all of the characters as the story unfolded.
Who should read it:
If you’re looking for a lighthearted romance, grab Beach Read from this author.
Pandora
Susan Stokes-Chapman
Stats: Historical Fiction, 408 pages
Quick summary
In the wake of the untimely deaths of her parents in a tragic accident, Dora finds herself under the guardianship of her uncle, who inherited her father's antiquities shop. When a mysterious Greek vase arrives, Dora notices her uncle becoming increasingly secretive. She meets Edward, an aspiring antiquities scholar, and enlists his help in discovering the secret of the vase, only to uncover a haunting history of violence and vengeance lurking within her own past.
What I thought:
This was an interesting retelling of Pandora’s box, but it fell a little flat. It left me yearning for more in terms of beautiful language.
Who should read it:
Fans of mythology and fairy tale retellings.
The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer
David A. Whitsett
Stats: Fitness, 410 pages
Quick summary
This book outlines the weekly training program for the marathon class at Drake University and is specifically designed for beginners and non-runners. With advice on nutrition, mindset, injury prevention, and stories from class participants, it empowers aspiring marathoners to overcome their doubts and cross the finish line with pride, proving that anyone can become a marathoner with the right mindset and training regimen.
What I thought:
This was a reread as my dear friend and unofficially running coach recommended it to me before I ran the Houston marathon in 2019. After a disappointing finish in the Bruges half, I decided it was worth a revisit before running the Prague marathon. I didn't follow the training plan this time around and mainly read it for the mindset and motivation portions. Although some parts of the book may feel dated (it's from the 90s), I haven't come across a better resource that tackles the multifaceted challenges of marathon training beyond just the physical aspect.
Who should read it:
Marathon hopefuls (seriously, you can do it!)
Glow in the F*cking Dark
Tara Schuster
Stats: Self-help, 11 hours and 46 minutes
Quick summary
Schuster had dedicated years to reparenting herself, diligently working towards a positive state of mind and emotional well-being. However, when the pandemic struck, she experienced the devastating blow of losing her job. Caught in a relentless doom-spiral, she reached a critical turning point, recognizing the need to embark on the next phase of her healing journey. In her enlightening account, Schuster courageously opens up about the invaluable lessons she acquired during this transformative process.
What I thought:
I was so looking forward to this release after reading Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies, and I hate to say I was disappointed. It’s mostly the same material that was in Lilies, but with a new angle influenced by the global pandemic. Additionally, I found myself more annoyed with the pseudo-psychology in this one than I did with Lilies.
Who should read it:
Read Lilies first.
Mad Honey
Jodi Picoult
Stats: Fiction, 464 pages
Quick summary
Olivia's life revolves around two constants: her cherished bees and the unconditional love for her son, Asher, which is why she chose to start life over in Adams, New Hampshire. Also looking for a fresh start, Lily moves to Adams, enrolling in Asher’s high school. Their paths intertwine, leading to a whirlwind romance. And then one day Lily is found dead. As the primary suspect, Asher becomes entangled in a web of suspicion. Unwavering in her belief of her son's innocence, Olivia embarks on a journey to uncover the hidden depths of their relationship, realizing that there's more to their connection than meets the eye.
What I thought:
My mom wanted me to read this and it was not for me (sorry, mom). The dialogue felt forced and I’m not a huge fan of “issues” authors, though at least she co-authored this one with someone who has lived the main character’s experience.
Who should read it:
I imagine Jodi Picoult fans may like it.
Life in Five Senses
Gretchen Rubin
Stats: Memoir, 7 hours and 20 minutes
Quick summary
When a bout of pink eye sent her to the eye doctor, Rubin had a realization: she had been going through the motions of life, taking care of her body but not fully immersing herself in the present. Motivated to change, she embarked on a sensory journey. Exploring the power of the five senses, Rubin shares her valuable insights and presents engaging experiments for readers to try. By delving deeper into their own senses, readers can gain a newfound connection with the world around them, embracing the richness of each moment.
What I thought:
If you’ve read the blog before, you know that I’m a huge fan of Rubin’s podcast, Happier. I don’t know if it’s because I listen to the podcast so frequently, but it seemed like they covered a lot of this material on the show. While I applaud Rubin for sticking to her manifesto to “be Gretchen,” I wish she would have gotten a little more wild with her experiments. She lives in NYC, the culinary melting pot of the United States, and the most adventurous she got with taste was to visit a Jewish bakery and have a tasting party with ketchup and chocolate.
Who should read it:
It’s not a bad book, but I definitely got more out of The Happiness Project so I would recommend that instead.
Temporary
Hilary Leichter
Stats: Magic Realism, 208 pages
Quick summary
Temporary follows a nameless young woman as she embarks on a wild and absurd journey through a series of temporary jobs. From filling in as a pirate to working as a human barnacle, she navigates a surreal job market with a longing for permanence, society’s ultimate achievement. Throughout her jobs, she finds herself questioning the nature of work and the meaning of identity in a world of constant change.
What I thought:
This was probably the most unique story I've ever read. The premise was fresh and different, but it somehow fell flat. I'm typically a fan of surrealism but this was even a little too loose for me.
Who should read it:
It's very short so you could knock it out in an afternoon if you're in a slump.
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