Books 2012: Room

Room by Emma Donoghue

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Absolutely beautiful and at times chilling, yet fabulously insightful and filled with the love of a mother for her son. I've been wanting to read ROOM for a while now and was thankful to finally have some free space in which to do so. A child narrator. A story of perceptions. of protection. of fear. of captivity. Absolutely enjoyed working through this book.

"Before I didn't even know to be mad that we can't open Door, my head was too small to have Outside in it. When I was a little kid I thought like a little kid, but now I'm five I know everything." pg. 102

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A few other notes:

I really can't put into words how deeply moving and thought-provoking this work was. I'd wanted to read it for months (maybe more than year, not entirely sure) so was obviously grateful to have the time and space to do so. Emma Donoghue did a fantastic job keeping the story heart-breaking yet beautifully simple and heartfelt. Again, I can't put much into words, but I do highly, HIGHLY recommend Room.

(Typed a few days late and with the taste of banana smoothie still fresh on my tongue).

Books 2012: The Typewriter Girl

The Typewriter Girl by J.L. Jarvis

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


A bit more romantic and dramatic than what I tend to read and enjoy. Were there ever a story set in the early 20th century that was fit to air on Jerry Springer, The Typewriter Girl might just be it! A runaway heiress, memories of the Yukon gold-rush, a undesired engagement, a forbidden and sinful love, a crazy stepmother, an insane asylum. All capped off with a happy ending. I read the entirety of the story, but it's far from something I'd pick up and read again.

A few passages did, however stand out:

"The great gift of life and of wonder beyond clung to us and bound us together. Here we were, all on a quest for our own selfish hunger for wealth, and yet, in an instant everyone stopped and thought only of others." (location 297)

"Fletcher Van Elden was a friend of the sort on has in small towns, more from habit than choice. Elsewhere they may not have been close, but childhood and the years since had made them almost like family." (location 669)

"Her heart would have been safe with him. Safe from desire." (location 935)


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A few other notes:

I don't have much to add other than read about half of this while fighting off the worst cold ever: fever, cough, chills, aches, dull-never-ceasing headache.

(Typed having recently finished a tall glass of banana honey smoothie)

Books 2012: 2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake

2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake by The quakebook community
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is was such an intersting compilation of reflections from Japan's March 2011 earthquake/tsunami. People from all over the world, primarily from Japan or with a connection to Japan shared their experience and emotions regarding the event. Via a man and his Twitter account (perhaps other social media) this book came together quickly and served to rasie funds for the disaster - really, an impressive and interesting project.

"To support Japan, what I would say is this: Simply do what you do everyday, but do it better. Go to school or to work but with passion and energy. Engage your neighbors or community but whit more sympathy and compassion than you ever have. Let these historic moments move you, inspire you and invigorate you for as long as the feeling lasts because, believe me, that initial adrenaline and humanitarian solidarity will wear off. Ride it as long as you can. Let it make you be a better person, and let it wake you up from the complacency in your life." (pg. 31/location 592)

"The depth of one's emotions is not necessarily proportional to the level of emotion being expressed." (pg. 82/location 1746).

"From the outside, we may act calm and cheerful to the point of seeming creepy. But do understnad: We are crying inside, we are gritting our teeth, often literally. I seem to have developed a constant crease in my forehead." (pg. 83/location 1760).

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A few other notes:
I read this primarily on the plane to and from Tokyo, Japan for a weekend getaway/meet-up with good friends. Makes things a bit more real.

(Typed while in desperate need for something to drink...like tea.)

Books 2012: Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is so much about this story with which one can easily fall in love. I loved the narrator as he was and as he is as an elderly man. I appreciated the insights he offered regarding the depression era, the circus, love and aging. The story is completely fascinating and engaging from the beginning and I found myself constantly thinking about the story line and anticipating my next free moments so I could sit down and continue to read. Truly an exception read, insightful, thought-provoking, strange and real.

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Books 2012: 51/50 The Magical Adventures of a Single Life

51/50 The Magical Adventures of a Single Life by Kristen McGuiness
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was utterly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. When I downloaded it, I knew it was an odd choice for a girl who was nearing on 5 years of marriage (a marriage which started at the age of 22 nonetheless) and a girl who swore off dating of all-kinds upon entering college until 'the one' came along. Kristen McGuiness and I did not approach dating in the same way.

But I loved her story, the story of her, the honesty with which it was told and the rawness she so willingly exposed. I jived with the lessons she was learning about relationships, about self and about spirituality. And although I feel I've learned some of those lessons and via different paths, the truths are the same and the healing which they bring, just as life-giving.

Now, this shouldn't imply that the book isn't entirely entertaining as well - what better way to receive life's deepest lessons than through quippy writing and racy tales?

A few highlights:

"Because at a certain point, it stops being strange to be the last single woman on the block. It just begins to hurt." (location 72)

"Phillipe doesn't seem to notice that I am making life-altering resolutions across the table from him." (location 245, pg. 11)

"It always comes as a surprise to people that an educated young woman with preppy clothes and a deceiving set of dimples could carry such baggage, but I do." (location 543, pg. 33)

"to understand just one life, you have to swallow the world." (location 886, pg. 56).

"some people just want to live life with their hearts. They don't care that they'll be broken; they're not afraid to lose. They just know that they have to go wherever their hearts take them. Even if it's really hard." (location 1265, pg. 80).

"On my last visit to the shaman, she told me that some people get to do all their work within the space of a relationship, but some of us must do the work before we can even get into one." (location 2008, pg. 129)

"Sweetheart, we can only love as much as we are willing to be hurt. And I can't imagine that after years of loving your dad, and only being hurt in response, that you wouldn't be, that you could be anything but terrified to that in a genuine, real way with a man." (location 2159, pg. 140)

"I sit down and laugh and listen to the lives of those I love. Because I do listen now. I listen all the time." (location 2399, pg. 158)

"Our struggles, our fears, they're only as big as we make them. And we can let these little things stop us from reaching our potential, or we can see them for what they are and keep walking." (location 3234, pg. 220).

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A few other notes:

I truly couldn't put this book down - every 10 minute passing period I'd pick it up and try to get through one more chapter. It's not really about dating - sometimes the dates are with a therapist or her family members, but the process of self-discovery was such an enjoyable one to watch play out in front of me on paper. I'm still surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, especially considering my own 'dating' experiment - as in, NOT dating at all in college until I was sure I'd met 'the one'. Interesting how she and I managed to come to some of the same conclusions...

(Typed while still sipping on instant coffee from a Thermos)

Goals: April Update and a Word about May

So...April's goals did not play out the same way as previous months goals did. And honestly, I'm okay with that. Because the truth is, when I'm not working out my goal committments, such as running or studying Korean, I'm getting quality time in my dog, my man and friends, even if that means sending quick Facebook messages or emails or checking their blogs and leaving comments.

And truly, April wasn't disappointing in terms of goals. Everything I set out to do has been incorporated more and taken up more of mind-space than it had before, and I think that's valuable in learning to change habits and get going on certain things.

I expect that May, and perhaps much of the upcoming summer will be similar in my lack of total committment, and I'm okay with that. Still want to set out to be intentional about a few things though and don't think I'll add too many new things to the list this month, but here are some things I think I want to continue, return to or set my mind to.

I lost track of quiet times/laying out on my yoga mat in prayer/mediation, stretching and being stretched. It's quite hit or miss these days, but I don't think it needs to be - it's easy to work into both my morning and evening routine and I want to re-prioritize that time.

I'm mulling over whether or not I'm going to continue running, it's getting hot which shoves my running into the early, EARLY morning or late evening and I'm not entirely sure if that's going to pan out, but I'd like to continue with running, so I'm going to try to get over this mental block.

I've been slacking in flossing, I want to get that back up to speed with regularity and such.

I really want to master Pie-Crust and pies, so I'm hoping to make a pie product (quiche and pot pies included) once a week - because practice makes perfect! (This perhaps should serve as motivation to run...right?)

I still have some letters/gifts to send and I really want to be in touch with people in that personal, hand-written way. Plus, I've noticed that writing by hand is getting increasingly difficult, as in I don't have much stamina...and that's lame.

Also, hoping to read 5 books this month, off to a good start and it's a long month and we have a flight to Tokyo coming up, so I think it's completely doable!

That's it, hopefully I'll be a bit more impressive with maintaining my goals this month ^^

(Typed while sipping on a thermos filled with instant Maxim coffee)

A Month of Gratitude: April 2012

Chacos. Strawberries. The miracle of new life. Re-connecting with Younglan. Cancelled classes. The Hunger Games movie. The way others love Mike and are drawn to him, the life he lives and the way he compliments me. Warm weather. 2 Hour Skype dates with my parents. Easter dinner with my gents and my man. Cherry Blossoms. Mid-week holidays. Turkish Breakfast. Hearing Mike speak about our vows. Passionate and Impressive student speeches. Vibrams. Coffee dates at cafe's filled with plants and a good friend Yeo Ock and her sister. Afternoons and Evenings with Hyunhee. Honesty. Celebrations. The life of my beautiful sister Luella. Squealing laughter with my sister on her Birthday. Banana Bread Rice Porridge. Skype. Sound of Heavy Rain. Subway sandwiches. Erin Cochran. Dinner and hanging out with new friends, Matt and Dani. Student creativity and laughter. Baby giggles and smiles. Golden birthday. Seeing stars while lying next to my man in a bustling city. Morning movie dates. Sangria with lady friends, Alla, Jenelle and Stephanie. Running happily, running without stopping, running with a smile - first 5K complete. Remembering my history and years spent with the man. Laughter.

(Typed while sipping Korean tea from my work thermos)