Toss Me That Book

Straight off the bat, I am rounding up to 3 Goodreads Stars. I was incredibly excited when I read the blurb for this book because the idea of learning about a life that's so radically different from my own was incredibly appealing. And while, Ms. Feldman absolutely did provide me with an education about Hasidic Jewish history, cultures, customs, and traditions, I don't feel like it was a very full picture of the author's life -- either in the Hasidic community or out of it. I think this could be because - as other reviews have mentioned - the author wrote this book almost as soon as she left her marriage and the Hasidic community. This leads me to believe that this left little time for editing because a lot of the narrative is the author telling us that she feels like she doesn't fit in but not actually explaining or showing why. I think, too, it left little time for reflection by the author. The end of the book is practically euphoric with fre...

The latest title in the author's Inspector Gamache series follows Armand, his colleagues, friends and family as they hunt for a killer while dealing with large scale flooding that threatens the province and beloved village of Three Pines.  Despite the tension in the communities and lives of our characters, the book also felt surprisingly calming, reassuring us that where abrupt change happens, there is also room for new growth.  Because, quite literally, the Gamache Squad is growing.  Growing in numbers.  Growing in distance.  Growing in emotional awareness.  And lastly (and worst of all when in happens to me in real life) personal growth.  In this case, I'm not altogether certain that our characters' personal growth is necessarily good.  Gamache himself even plumbs the darker depths of his soul while grappling with that all-too-terrible-yet-wonderful parental emotion of letting go.  It is the worst and the best. Louise Penny is abso...

Format:  Kindle Date Started:  June 7, 2019 Date Finished:  June 12, 2019 More than anything, this book validated by long-held belief that everyone is completely nuts . . . especially parents.  While it was pretty funny to read about the nutty things that parents have tried in the name of better behavior/better sleep/better battles with toddlers, I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for actual help.  But, if you want to feel less alone in the wacky adventures of parenting, this is a good one to borrow from the library where it is free.