Braiding Sweetgrass

I read Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer for a book club. The book description says, "Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings―asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass―offer us gifts and lessons, even if we've forgotten how to hear their voices. In reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, she circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return."

This was one of those books that I would have never picked up if it weren't for book club. And even when I started it, I don't think I really knew what to expect. I thought it was going to be primarily a factual book when really it turned out to be a beautifully written memoir of sorts, with facts and lessons woven throughout. I listened to the book on audiobook, and I'm so glad it was read by the author because I think it just captured the beauty of the writing. There were times that I was just like, Wow. Other parts of the book bored me a little bit (long section on the deep science of lichen and things like that), but overall the book really opened my eyes and was thought-provoking. I left pondering my relationship with the earth and reflecting on the wisdom of the indigenous people that is really missing in our world today. I loved the author's wide knowledge -- that she was well educated in the scientific field but also had this important background of being Anishinabekwe. Really, this was a beautiful book, and I almost wish I didn't read it on audio because I was often driving and couldn't write down or mark the parts that really stuck out to me. It was a long book, so I don't know if I really want to re-read it, but I am actually tempted.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

There was one section I remembered particularly liking (about motherhood), so I got a hard copy of the book to mark some of the quotes to share at book club. So I'll record them here:

• So it is my grandchildren who will swim in this pond, and others whom the years will bring. The circle of care grows larger and caregiving for my little pond spills over to caregiving for other waters. The outlet from my pond runs downhill to my good neighbor's pond. What I do here matters. Everybody lives downstream. My pond drains to the brook, to the creek, to a great and needful lake. The water net connects us all. I have shed tears into that flow when I thought that motherhood would end. But the pond has shown me that being a good mother doesn't end with creating a home where just my children can flourish. A good mother grows into a richly eutrophic old woman, knowing that her work doesn't end until she creates a home where all of life's beings can flourish. There are grandchildren to nurture, and frog children, nestlings, goslings, seedlings and spores, and I still want to be a good mother.
• 
  
• The earth, that first among good mothers, gives us the gift that we cannot provide ourselves. I hadn't realized that I had come to the lake and said feed me, but my empty heart was fed. I had a good mother. She gives what we need without being asked. I wonder if she gets tired, old Mother Earth. Or if she too is fed by the giving. "Thanks," I whispered, "for all of this."
• 
  
• We are showered every day with gifts, but they are not meant for us to keep. Their breath is in their movement, the in hale and the exhale of our shared breath. Our work and our joy is to pass along the gift and to trust that what we put out into the universe will always come back.

Big Dumb Eyes

We are big fans of the comedian Nate Bargatze, so when I heard he had a book coming out, I put it on hold from the library. I got the audiobook before the physical book, so I listened to the book: Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind. The book description says, "Nate Bargatze used to be a genius. That is, until the summer after seventh grade when he slipped, fell off a cliff, hit his head on a rock, and 'my skull got, like, dented or something.' Before this accident, he dreamed of being 'an electric engineer, or a doctor that does brain stuff, or a math teacher who teaches the hardest math on earth.' Afterwards, all he could do was stand-up comedy. But the 'brain stuff' industry’s loss is everyone else’s gain because Nate went on to become one of today’s top-grossing comedians, breaking both attendance and streaming records.  In his highly anticipated first book, Nate talks about life as a non-genius. From stories about his first car (named Old Blue, a clunky Mazda with a tennis ball stick shift) and his travels as a Southerner (Northerners like to ask if he believes in dinosaurs), to tales of his first apartment where he was almost devoured by rats and his many debates with his wife over his chores, his diet, and even his definition of 'shopping.' He also reflects on such heady topics as his irrational passion for Vandy football and the mysterious origins of sushi (how can a California roll come from old-time Japan?)."

This was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed listening to it because part of what makes Nate Bargatze so hilarious is how he says things, and the audiobook can capture that. Parts of the book weren't completely engaging, but other parts made me regularly laugh out loud. I definitely am glad I listened to it and was entertained throughout the book. I'm still waiting for the physical book and will enjoy looking at the pictures he referred to and the blank pages he described. 

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Whale Eyes

I saw Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson on a new book list and got it from the library. This book is about the author's experience with strabismus, an eye condition. The author created an Emmy-nominated short film by the same name, and this book is expanding on the same topic. The book is interactive (trying a vision test, for example), and the book description says, "James’s story equips readers of all ages with the tools to confront their discomfort with disability and turn confused, blank stares into powerful connections."

This was an interesting read. Right when I started the book, I decided to go watch the video he had made, and that really got me invested in his story. The book helped me understand how to respectfully approach interactions with someone who has strabismus or similar eye conditions (just look into the eye that is looking at you!), and it helped me understand what it would be like to grow up like he did. I liked following his journey into the documentary world and then watched a couple of the other memoir-style documentaries he created about people with disabilities on NYT (face blindness and stuttering). They were so great! Overall this was a good read but best for 10+ due to a spoiler about something my 8-year-old still believes in. :) I think kids will enjoy the pictures and interactive nature of the book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Wolves of K Street

I read The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government by Brody Mullins and Luke Mullins for book club. The book description says, "In the 1970s, Washington’s center of power began to shift away from elected officials in big marble buildings to a handful of savvy, handsomely paid operators who didn’t answer to any fixed constituency. The cigar-chomping son of an influential congressman, an illustrious political fixer with a weakness for modern art, a Watergate-era dirty trickster, the city’s favorite cocktail party host—these were the sort of men who now ran Washington. Over four decades, they’d chart new ways to turn their clients’ cash into political leverage, abandoning favor-trading in smoke-filled rooms for increasingly sophisticated tactics, such as “shadow lobbying,” where underground campaigns sparked seemingly organic public outcries to pressure lawmakers into taking actions that would ultimately benefit corporate interests rather than ordinary citizens. With billions of dollars at play, these lobbying dynasties enshrined in Washington a pro-business consensus that would guide the country’s political leaders—Democrats and Republicans alike. A good lobbyist could ghostwrite a bill or even secretly kill a piece of legislation supported by the president, both houses of Congress, and a majority of Americans. Yet nothing lasts forever. Amid a populist backlash to the soaring inequality these influence peddlers helped usher in, DC’s pro-business alliance suddenly began to fray. And while the lobbying establishment would continue to invent new ways to influence Washington, the men who’d built K Street would soon find themselves under legal scrutiny, on the verge of financial collapse or worse. One would turn up dead behind the eighteenth green of an exclusive golf club, with a $1,500 bottle of wine at his feed and bullet in his head."

This was the third super long book this book club picked in a row (after Warmth of Other Suns and Middlemarch), so I wasn't sure what I'd think of this. But I was so engaged in the book from the start. I was fascinated by the story and appalled by how much money influences decision-making in DC. I was disgusted by the greed of the lobbyists highlighted in the book. The book is one that I was just thinking about all the time and recommending to my husband and father-in-law. It was really fun to discuss at book club, especially because the host invited a friend from church who is a top lobbyist in DC so she could share her experiences in that position (not being a greedy maniac like the ones in the book). It was super fascinating to hear about her job and the differences of how she approaches things. Overall I'll say I liked (not loved) the book because there were times I was less interested or lost track of people or whatnot, but it was a great read that really opened my eyes to a lot of things (and made me realize I can't trust pretty much anything related to politics).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Warmth of Other Suns

I read The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson for book club. The book description says, "In this beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson presents a definitive and dramatic account of one of the great untold stories of American history: the Great Migration of six million Black citizens who fled the South for the North and West in search of a better life, from World War I to 1970. Wilkerson tells this interwoven story through the lives of three unforgettable protagonists: Ida Mae Gladney, a sharecropper’s wife, who in 1937 fled Mississippi for Chicago; sharp and quick-tempered George Starling, who in 1945 fled Florida for Harlem, and Robert Foster, a surgeon who left Louisiana in 1953 in hopes of making it in California. Wilkerson brilliantly captures their first treacherous cross-country journeys by car and train and their new lives in colonies in the New World."

This was a great read. It was a LONG book (Amazon says 640 pages, but without references and such, it was more like 500-something), and the library didn't own the audiobook. So it was hard for me to finish it in time -- luckily I had two fairly open days the last two days before book club and read several hours each day to get it done. But it definitely was a book I'm really glad I read. It took me a bit to get into it and to get in the groove of each of the three stories, but I thought the author did a great job reminding us where we left off last time we were following each person in order to prevent confusion. The book is very eye-opening and just really helps the reader understand what it was like to live as a black person during those time periods. There was lots to discuss at book club, and I really think it was an important read even though it was long and not always 100% engaging like a fiction read (though sometimes it was!). There was a quote at the beginning of one of the chapters from James Baldwin that said, "I can conceive of no Negro native to this country who has not, by the age of puberty, been irreparably scarred by the conditions of his life....The wonder is not that so many are ruined but that so many survive." I left this book inspired by the resiliency of the three people highlighted in the book and also just the race as a whole. Really glad I read this book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Power of Moments

The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath was recommended at one of my book clubs recently, so I got it on audiobook. The book description says, "While human lives are endlessly variable, our most memorable positive moments are dominated by four elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection. If we embrace these elements, we can conjure more moments that matter. What if a teacher could design a lesson that he knew his students would remember twenty years later? What if a manager knew how to create an experience that would delight customers? What if you had a better sense of how to create memories that matter for your children? This book delves into some fascinating mysteries of experience: Why we tend to remember the best or worst moment of an experience, as well as the last moment, and forget the rest. Why 'we feel most comfortable when things are certain, but we feel most alive when they’re not.' And why our most cherished memories are clustered into a brief period during our youth. Readers discover how brief experiences can change lives, such as the experiment in which two strangers meet in a room, and forty-five minutes later, they leave as best friends. (What happens in that time?) Or the tale of the world’s youngest female billionaire, who credits her resilience to something her father asked the family at the dinner table. (What was that simple question?) Many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck—but why would we leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to chance when we can create them? The Power of Moments shows us how to be the author of richer experiences."

This was an interesting read. To me, the audience seemed to be more people who are business owners or work in leadership positions or things like that. I think I would have enjoyed it more if more seemed directly applicable to my life (like a "Power of Moments" primary focused on parenting). But there were definitely things that stuck with me. One example is a line the authors used several times: "Beware the life-sucking force of reasonableness." (Like sometimes you have an idea on how to create a powerful moment, but it seems unreasonable, so you drop it. One example was a business that does handwritten thank you notes, but with all the logistics, reason says, Why don't we just do it via email? But that takes away the power these thank you notes can have.) There was another line that said, "Courage is contagious." Again, it went with specific stories, but the message is that when one person has courage, it encourages others to do the same. Anyway, I thought this was an interesting book to listen to with some great points, and I'm hoping I subconsciously took away some things that will affect my day-to-day life.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Power of Fear

I had heard The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence by Gavin De Becker recommended and so got it on audiobook from the library. I realized after starting that the version I got was an abridged version, though, so I didn't get the full book. But the book description says, "A date won't take "no" for an answer. The new nanny gives a mother an uneasy feeling. A stranger in a deserted parking lot offers unsolicited help. The threat of violence surrounds us every day. But we can protect ourselves, by learning to trust—and act on—our gut instincts. In this empowering book, Gavin de Becker, the man Oprah Winfrey calls the nation's leading expert on violent behavior, shows you how to spot even subtle signs of danger—before it's too late. Shattering the myth that most violent acts are unpredictable, de Becker, whose clients include top Hollywood stars and government agencies, offers specific ways to protect yourself and those you love, including...how to act when approached by a stranger...when you should fear someone close to you...what to do if you are being stalked...how to uncover the source of anonymous threats or phone calls...the biggest mistake you can make with a threatening person...and more. Learn to spot the danger signals others miss. It might just save your life."

This was an interesting read. I kinda wish Libby had the full version because there were some gaps that I think would have been resolved if I read the full version. But I did like the messages about trusting your gut and realizing that your brain is noticing more than you think it is. I also liked how he distinguished in the end between the gift of fear and unnecessary worrying. I think it was an important distinction (especially for me as a worrier), but again, I feel like the full version probably dug into it quite a bit more. Maybe I'll have to go back and read the whole thing sometime.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I've Loved

Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler has been on my to-read list, and then it became the book for one of my book clubs! So I got it on audiobook from Libby. The book description says, "Kate Bowler is a professor at Duke Divinity School with a modest Christian upbringing, but she specializes in the study of the prosperity gospel, a creed that sees fortune as a blessing from God and misfortune as a mark of God’s disapproval. At thirty-five, everything in her life seems to point toward “blessing.” She is thriving in her job, married to her high school sweetheart, and loves life with her newborn son. Then she is diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. The prospect of her own mortality forces Kate to realize that she has been tacitly subscribing to the prosperity gospel, living with the conviction that she can control the shape of her life with 'a surge of determination.' Even as this type of Christianity celebrates the American can-do spirit, it implies that if you 'can’t do' and succumb to illness or misfortune, you are a failure. Kate is very sick, and no amount of positive thinking will shrink her tumors. What does it mean to die, she wonders, in a society that insists everything happens for a reason? Kate is stripped of this certainty only to discover that without it, life is hard but beautiful in a way it never has been before."

This was a little bit of a different read than I expected. I think I was expecting more life lessons and how she came about a new understanding of things when it was more of a memoir about her experiences. I think I would have preferred the former. I think the audiobook version wasn't the best choice for me either because the reader (who I think was the author) came across really negative and complaining. I'm all about being bitter during trying times, so I didn't mind that mindset, but I guess the tone just got kind of grating.  I am not a believer in the "prosperity gospel," so a lot of the things she had to come to terms with, I already believe, but I do think this will lead to some interesting discussion during book club.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

The Small and the Mighty

I heard about The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon after friends in my book club were going to her book signing a few months ago. I hadn't heard of her or the book but looked into it and started following her on Instagram and then finally got the book from hold on the library. The book description says, "In The Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who didn’t make it into the textbooks. Not the presidents, but the telephone operators. Not the aristocrats, but the schoolteachers. Through meticulous research, she discovers history’s unsung characters and brings their rich, riveting stories to light for the first time. You’ll meet a woman astride a white horse riding down Pennsylvania Ave, a young boy detained at a Japanese incarceration camp, a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to reunite with her daughter, a poet on a train, and a teacher who learns to work with her enemies. More than one thing is bombed, and multiple people surprisingly become rich. Some rich with money, and some wealthy with things that matter more. This is a book about what really made America – and Americans – great. McMahon’s cast of improbable champions will become familiar friends, lighting the path we journey in our quest to make the world more just, peaceful, good, and free."

This was a great read. I really loved learning about the inspiring people she introduced. Most were pretty new to me, while some (Claudette Colvin) I had already read about before and knew a lot about. The stories were engaging, though sometimes I had trouble following how she connected separate people's stories. I thought the book had a valuable message about how the strength of America is in individual people who make a difference in the ways they can.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Daughter of Auschwitz

I got The Daughter of Auschwitz by Tova Friedman on audiobook after hearing it recommended somewhere. The book description reads, "Tova Friedman was one of the youngest people to emerge from Auschwitz. After surviving the liquidation of the Jewish ghetto in Central Poland where she lived as a toddler, Tova was four when she and her parents were sent to a Nazi labour camp, and almost six when she and her mother were forced into a packed cattle truck and sent to Auschwitz II, also known as the Birkenau extermination camp, while her father was transported to Dachau. During six months of incarceration in Birkenau, Tova witnessed atrocities that she could never forget, and experienced numerous escapes from death. She is one of a handful of Jews to have entered a gas chamber and lived to tell the tale. As Nazi killing squads roamed Birkenau before abandoning the camp in January 1945, Tova and her mother hid among corpses. After being liberated by the Russians they made their way back to their hometown in Poland. Eventually Tova's father tracked them down and the family was reunited. In The Daughter of Auschwitz, Tova immortalizes what she saw, to keep the story of the Holocaust alive, at a time when it's in danger of fading from memory."

I'm super glad I read this book. I think Holocaust stories--especially memoirs--are so important to read to just help us never forget all that happened. The phrase that kept coming to mind as I read this book was impossible choices. Honestly, Tova's parents were put in situations where they had to make choices that were so difficult. Who knows what you're supposed to do at times like that? It's unbelievable all Tova went through as a young child (facing horrific death in front of her eyes starting at age 4) and so inspiring that she was able to survive and raise a family and have grandchildren and continue to tell her story. Tova really went through the unthinkable as a young child, and I'm glad she was able to tell her story so it is available to future generations. It's a heavy story but a meaningful message.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Just Mercy

In my book club group chat this month, someone recommended everyone share some of their top reads from the year. One person recommended Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, and then several other people commented how much they loved the book and called it things like transformative, important, wrenching, amazing, etc. I was like, wow, I've got to read this, so I got it on audiobook. The book description says, "Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice."

This book was SO GOOD. I was completely engaged throughout and always anxious to read more. The stories were just heavy and haunting, and I was so inspired by Bryan's dedication to help people in desperate need. The book really impacted my perspective on lots of things (like children being tried as adults and the death penalty), and I came away from this book being so grateful for all it opened my eyes to. This was an excellent read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

In Order to Live

I've had In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park on my to-read list for forever and finally got the audiobook from the library. The book description says, "In In Order to Live, Yeonmi Park shines a light not just into the darkest corners of life in North Korea, describing the deprivation and deception she endured and which millions of North Korean people continue to endure to this day, but also onto her own most painful and difficult memories. She tells with bravery and dignity for the first time the story of how she and her mother were betrayed and sold into sexual slavery in China and forced to suffer terrible psychological and physical hardship before they finally made their way to Seoul, South Korea—and to freedom. Park confronts her past with a startling resilience. In spite of everything, she has never stopped being proud of where she is from, and never stopped striving for a better life. Indeed, today she is a human rights activist working determinedly to bring attention to the oppression taking place in her home country. Park’s testimony is heartbreaking and unimaginable, but never without hope. This is the human spirit at its most indomitable."

This was a great read. Yeonmi's story was heartbreaking and unthinkable. She really endured horrifying situations during her childhood in North Korea and escaped to China for a better life but then just found herself a victim of human trafficking as a young teenager. It was a relief that she was eventually able to escape to South Korea with her mother, but that wasn't the end of hardships in her life. Her story was inspiring and helped me see the power of the human spirit to never give up. I think it was a good book as well to just open my eyes to what it's like for those who live in North Korea. The story was compelling and kept me interested throughout.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Happiest Man on Earth

I had The Happiest Man on Earth: The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor by Eddie Jaku on my to-read list (can't remember where I originally heard of it) and got it from the library. After I got it, one of my book clubs decided to do a read-any-memoir this month, so this worked out nicely. The book description says, "Born in Leipzig, Germany, into a Jewish family, Eddie Jaku was a teenager when his world was turned upside-down. On November 9, 1938, during the terrifying violence of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, Eddie was beaten by SS thugs, arrested, and sent to a concentration camp with thousands of other Jews across Germany. Every day of the next seven years of his life, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors in Buchenwald, Auschwitz, and finally on a forced death march during the Third Reich’s final days. The Nazis took everything from Eddie—his family, his friends, and his country. But they did not break his spirit. Against unbelievable odds, Eddie found the will to survive. Overwhelming grateful, he made a promise: he would smile every day in thanks for the precious gift he was given and to honor the six million Jews murdered by Hitler. Today, at 100 years of age, despite all he suffered, Eddie calls himself the 'happiest man on earth.' In his remarkable memoir, this born storyteller shares his wisdom and reflects on how he has led his best possible life, talking warmly and openly about the power of gratitude, tolerance, and kindness. Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. With The Happiest Man on Earth, Eddie shows us how."

This was a super good read. I liked that it wasn't an overly long memoir--like the author just told his story in a succinct way without unnecessary tangents. It was a simple book that tells the story through a first-person narrative. I thought the book was well organized and easy to follow and also balanced out the story with advice and lessons learned. Eddie went through the unthinkable, and it was inspiring to read about his bravery and resilience and the power of friendship. True accounts of the Holocaust are always very heavy, but I also think it's important to read the stories of what happened so we never forget.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Art Thief

I read The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel for book club. The book description says, "Stéphane Bréitwieser is the most prolific art thief of all time. He pulled off more than 200 heists, often in crowded museums in broad daylight. His girlfriend served as his accomplice. His collection was worth an estimated $2 billion. He never sold a piece, displaying his stolen art in his attic bedroom. He felt like a king. Until everything came to a shocking end. In this spellbinding portrait of obsession and flawed genius, Michael Finkel gives us one of the most remarkable true-crime narratives of our times, a riveting story of art, theft, love, and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost."

This was a really interesting read. I listened to the book on audio and was often happy to read more and follow the story. Stéphane was just a fascinating person (not in a good way), and I just couldn't believe his recklessness and decisions. I thought the author did a good job telling the story from start to finish. I think this will be an interesting book to discuss at book club.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Fever in the Heartland

I got A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan from the library on audiobook after my friend Rebecca (a history teacher) recommended it. The book description says, "The Roaring Twenties--the Jazz Age--has been characterized as a time of Gatsby frivolity. But it was also the height of the uniquely American hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. They hated Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants in equal measure, and took radical steps to keep these people from the American promise. And the man who set in motion their takeover of great swaths of America was a charismatic charlatan named D.C. Stephenson. Stephenson was a magnetic presence whose life story changed with every telling. Within two years of his arrival in Indiana, he’d become the Grand Dragon of the state and the architect of the strategy that brought the group out of the shadows – their message endorsed from the pulpits of local churches, spread at family picnics and town celebrations. Judges, prosecutors, ministers, governors and senators across the country all proudly proclaimed their membership. But at the peak of his influence, it was a seemingly powerless woman – Madge Oberholtzer – who would reveal his secret cruelties, and whose deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees."

This was such a great book. The story was completely engaging, and it was so alarming to read about this time in history and the grip of the Ku Klux Klan. I was so sickened by Stephenson and so impressed by those who had the audacity to stand up to the KKK (like a newspaper editor/reporter who continually wrote stories and published lists of names trying to bring them down). I just couldn't believe how many people had such terrible ideas and thought the KKK had things right. There are a lot of parallels to Nazi Germany and even to people in the US today who believe in white supremacy. The subtitle of the book is a little bit misleading since really Madge doesn't come into the story until you are more than 50% done with the book, but I really liked how the author highlighted her and the impact she had. (I found after reading this that there is a book called Madge just about her story, written by a different author, and I may be interested in reading that.) I sometimes got lost in some of the details of this book, but it may have been because I was doing audiobook. Also, as a warning, the book can be quite heavy at times, especially with some content about rapes.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Expectation Effect

I listened to The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World by David Robson an audiobook after a friend recommended it awhile back. The book description says, "You’ve heard of the placebo effect and how sugar pills can accelerate healing. But did you know that sham heart surgeries often work just as well as placing real stents? Or that people who think they’re particularly prone to cardiovascular disease are four times as likely to die from cardiac arrest? Such is the power and deadly importance of the expectation effect―how what we think will happen changes what does happen. Melding neuroscience with narrative, science journalist David Robson takes readers on a deep dive into the many life zones the expectation effect permeates. We see how people who believe stress is beneficial become more creative when placed under strain. We see how associating aging with wisdom can add seven plus years to your life. People say seeing is believing but, over and over, Robson proves that the converse is truer: believing is seeing. The Expectation Effect is not woo-woo. You cannot think your way into a pile of money or out of a cancer diagnosis. But just because magical thinking is nonsense doesn’t mean rational magic doesn’t exist. Pointing to accepted psychology and objective physiology, Robson gives us the practical takeaways we need to improve our fitness, productivity, intelligence, and happiness. Any reader who wants to take their fate into their own hands need only pick up this book."

This was a really interesting read. It kind of reminded me of the vibe of Why We Sleep in that it was a heavy (and dry at times) research-based book that was also super fascinating. There were so many amazing studies that just made me thing, "Wow!" and helped me see the impact of our expectations. I liked the sections on school teachers and aging and also just enjoyed various studies throughout that highlighted the power of what we expect to be true and how it has real, measurable effects on us. I thought this was a meaningful read.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

All Over But the Shoutin'

I read All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg for my book club with friends. The book description says, "This haunting, harrowing, gloriously moving recollection of a life on the American margin is the story of Rick Bragg, who grew up dirt-poor in northeastern Alabama, seemingly destined for either the cotton mills or the penitentiary, and instead became a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for The New York Times. It is also the story of Bragg's father, a hard-drinking man with a murderous temper and the habit of running out on the people who needed him most. But at the center of this soaring memoir is Bragg's mother, who went eighteen years without a new dress so that her sons could have school clothes and picked other people's cotton so that her children wouldn't have to live on welfare alone. Evoking these lives—and the country that shaped and nourished them—with artistry, honesty, and compassion, Rick Bragg brings home the love and suffering that lie at the heart of every family. The result is unforgettable."

I loved this book! I alternated between audiobook and just reading, depending on what I had time for at a given moment, and I loved it both ways. The narrator of the audiobook had a southern drawl that just really captured the story. I loved hearing Rick's story of where he started and his path to becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. I loved getting to know some of the amazing members of his family (his mom and his brother Sam). Rick just has a way with writing and describing things that just made everything so vivid. I found myself often wanting to look up people he described or articles he wrote because I was just so interested in seeing/reading more. One of my favorite chapters was chapter 39, "1.3 Acres." And also the part where his mom went with him to receive his Pulitzer Prize. I really enjoy memoirs of people with interesting lives, so this was a great read, and I liked that it gave me a glimpse into the lives of those who live in poverty.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Manhunt

I read Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson for my newest book club. (I'm in too many book clubs). This book description says, "The murder of Abraham Lincoln set off the greatest manhunt in American history--the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth. From April 14 to April 26, 1865, the assassin led Union cavalry troops on a wild, 12-day chase from the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia, while the nation, still reeling from the just-ended Civil War, watched in horror and sadness. Based on rare archival materials, obscure trial transcripts, and Lincoln’s own blood relics Manhunt is a fully documented, fascinating tale of murder, intrigue, and betrayal. A gripping hour-by-hour account told through the eyes of the hunted and the hunters, it is history as it’s never been read before."

This was a good read. I started it on audio and couldn't quite follow it well enough, so I switched over to the paper book, which was better for me because I ended up needing to finish it kind of quickly over a week, and reading is faster than listening. I found the story engaging and never was bored with it. The author did a great job describing details and helping us get to know all the players in the story and keeping the action moving forward. It really is pretty fascinating to learn the details behind Lincoln's assassination and the manhunt for Booth and the people who helped Booth along the way. If you enjoy historical nonfiction, I recommend this one.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers

I read The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Lisa Damour after seeing the title on my friend's GoodReads page. Since I may have faced an emotional teenager at times, the book seemed relevant, so I got the audiobook from the library. The book description reads, "In teenagers, powerful emotions come with the territory. And as teens contend with with academic pressure, social media stress, worries about the future, and concerns about their own mental health, it’s easy for them—and their parents—to feel anxious and overwhelmed. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Parents who read this book will learn:
• what to expect in the normal course of adolescent emotional development and when it’s time to worry
• why teens (and adults) need to understand that mental health isn’t about “feeling good” but about having feelings that fit the moment, even if those feelings are unwanted or painful
• strategies for supporting teens who feel at the mercy of their emotions, so they can become psychologically aware and skilled at managing their feelings
• how to approach common challenges that come with adolescence, such as friction at home, spiking anxiety, risky behavior, navigating friendships and romances, the pull of social media, and many more
• the best ways to stay connected to their teens and how to provide the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want."

This was such a good read. I found it super relatable and relevant, and it was a great parenting guide on how to navigate interactions with teenagers in a healthier, more helpful way. I found myself laughing at times because it was describing things exactly how I've experienced them. Mostly it just helped me understand why teenagers have such emotional states at times and the importance of how I can best support my kids. This was a great book. I may purchase it so I have it to refer back to.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions

I read Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo for book club. The book description says, "Getting into a top-ranked college has never seemed more impossible, with acceptance rates at some elite universities dipping into the single digits. In Who Gets In and Why, journalist and higher education expert Jeffrey Selingo dispels entrenched notions of how to compete and win at the admissions game, and reveals that teenagers and parents have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a 'good college.' Hint: it’s not all about the sticker on the car window.
Selingo, who was embedded in three different admissions offices—a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus—closely observed gatekeepers as they made their often agonizing and sometimes life-changing decisions. He also followed select students and their parents, and he traveled around the country meeting with high school counselors, marketers, behind-the-scenes consultants, and college rankers. While many have long believed that admissions is merit-based, rewarding the best students, Who Gets In and Why presents a more complicated truth, showing that “who gets in” is frequently more about the college’s agenda than the applicant. In a world where thousands of equally qualified students vie for a fixed number of spots at elite institutions, admissions officers often make split-second decisions based on a variety of factors—like diversity, money, and, ultimately, whether a student will enroll if accepted."

This was an interesting read. The friend who suggested it has a daughter about to apply to college, so it was super relevant to her. For me, the book is not super applicable right now, but it was still interesting to learn about the process and the behind-the-scenes choices colleges make. The main gist of what I got out of the book is something an admissions officers said in the book is his advice for students: "Do the best you can, pursue your genuine interests, and let the chips fall where they may." You may or may not get into the college of your dreams, but that doesn't mean you weren't well qualified or aren't a great student or person. There are lots of factors considered in accepting students (including how many full-pay students a college needs or things like that).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)