Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

I saw Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb advertised on social media and was intrigued by the title, so I got it from the library. The book description reads, "From a New York Times best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist, a hilarious, thought-provoking, and surprising new book [memoir] that takes us behind the scenes of a therapist's world--where her patients are looking for answers (and so is she). One day, Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who helps patients in her Los Angeles practice. The next, a crisis causes her world to come crashing down. Enter Wendell, the quirky but seasoned therapist in whose of­fice she suddenly lands. With his balding head, cardigan, and khakis, he seems to have come straight from Therapist Central Casting. Yet he will turn out to be anything but. As Gottlieb explores the inner chambers of her patients' lives -- a self-absorbed Hollywood producer, a young newlywed diagnosed with a terminal illness, a senior citizen threatening to end her life on her birthday if nothing gets better, and a twenty-something who can't stop hooking up with the wrong guys -- she finds that the questions they are struggling with are the very ones she is now bringing to Wendell. With startling wisdom and humor, Gottlieb invites us into her world as both clinician and patient, examining the truths and fictions we tell ourselves and others as we teeter on the tightrope between love and desire, meaning and mortality, guilt and redemption, terror and courage, hope and change."

This book was SO good! I really just loved it. It made me laugh out loud, it made me cry, it made me reflect on myself--It was just a wonderful read. (The only downside of the book is it had quite a bit of bad language, which isn't usually my preference in reading. But mentioning this for others who try to avoid bad language in books.) I loved Lori and how real she was as she struggled to cope with the hard things she faced (especially since she's a therapist and has so many good answers for those she worked with). I loved following her behind the scenes thought processes throughout the book. I loved her therapist, Wendell. I loved the patients she met with. All of it. It was just a very thoughtful read that also is such a positive look at the benefits of therapy.

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

The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho has been on my to-read list for awhile. (I saw someone recommend it one time on social media, and then I found it at the thrift store and so had it on my shelf. Then at my last book club, a friend recommended it.) Originally written in Portuguese, this book is the story of "an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids. Along the way, he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles in his path. But what starts out as a journey to find world goods turns into a discover of the treasure found within."

This was SUCH a good book! I was surprised how quickly it engaged me, and I just loved the story and each adventure Santiago went on and the people he met. I also just loved how the story ended and the deeper message the book taught. As soon as I finished the book, I kind of wanted to re-read it, which like never happens to me. I just think it was an interesting and thought-provoking book and an excellent story. Great read!

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

Dare to Be Kind

I saw Dare to Be Kind: How Extraordinary Compassion Can Transform Our World by Lizzie Velasquez advertised somewhere and was intrigued, so I got it on ebook from the library. The book description reads, "Born with a rare genetic condition, Lizzie Velasquez always knew she was different, but it wasn't until she was older that she understood what that meant to herself and others. In this daring, inspirational book, Lizzie reveals the hidden forces that give rise to self-doubt and empowers us to unlock empathy and kindness for ourselves and others. Through her own battles with anxiety and depression she demonstrates how we can overcome obstacles and move forward with greater positivity and hope."

This was a great read. I really liked the message of kindness (why I chose the book) but also the additional lessons about facing mental health challenges, overcoming difficulties, and facing the future with faith. Lizzie is an inspirational person who has gone through some rough times and shares how she has moved forward and grown despite all she's been through. I really liked these words at the end of the book, speaking to those who are going through a tough time: "That's why I urge you to start simple: Start with kindness, and start with yourself. Dare to be as good to yourself as you would be to someone you truly loved--because that's how you should feel about yourself. Dare to treat yourself as a dear and precious friend. Then, when you're ready, dare to turn your kindness outward into the world. Bathe the world in your warmth and compassion. Shower the people you encounter with love and acceptance....In flooding this world with love, we will be taking active steps toward creating a better future for our children and a better culture for everyone--a culture of kindness."

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

The One and Only Ruby

I saw that The One and Only Ruby (the newest book in the One and Only Ivan series) came out, so I got it from the library. The story picks up after The One and Only Bob and follows Ruby in her life in a wildlife sanctuary. After Ruby sees the caretaker from the elephant orphanage where she lived in Africa, she starts remembering the beginnings of her life in Africa and begins telling her story to Ivan and Bob.

This was a great read. It was a super quick read that I finished in just a morning, so I feel like I wasn't as engulfed in the story like I am with some books. But it was engaging and sweet, and I loved getting the backstory on Ruby's life and also remembering how wonderful Stella the elephant (from book 1) was. I also liked the message throughout the book and at the end about reflecting each day on two questions: What gifts did the world give you today? and What gifts did you give to the world? I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has been reading this series. It's a great continuation.

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

Hey, Kiddo

I got a copy of Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction by Jarrett J. Krosoczka that someone was giving away and decided to give it a read. It's a graphic novel format memoir of author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka. The book description reads, "In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett's family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett's life. His father is a mystery -- Jarrett doesn't know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents -- two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along.Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what's going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father."

This was a good read. I was really amazed by all that Jarrett went through as a kid and how he sorted through a lot of difficulties to make the life he has now. I originally read it to see if it'd be a good book for my daughter to read (since she loves graphic novels), but it has quite a bit of bad language, so I don't think I'll recommend it to her at this point. But I thought it was an engaging, meaningful book, and I liked the lesson of the power of adults who love and believe in you even when you don't have that in your birth parents.

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