Sunday, June 5, 2011
Two more posts to come. . .
Coming soon, book reviews for The Social Animal by David Brooks, and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh
Ahh. I borrowed this book from a friend in April when things were emotionally rough for me. I have continued to hold it hostage though because I would like to read it again, now that I feel that I've regained my emotional footing, I've learned a few things, and I can add the emotions and thoughts from April into my life-experience bag. Whenever I read the book again, I can remember how much the book gave me peace and calm, and then feel comforted by the fact that in the moment I read it next, I read it for affirmation and not for its previous crutch for dependence or new breath.
One line I love in particular from the book is the following:
"[On meditation:] One smile, one breath should be for the benefit of the whole day, not just that moment. We must practice in a way that removes the barrier between practice and non-practice."
This especially spoke to me because some days, I felt that no matter how much I'd practice my meditations in the morning (I've been doing a 10-minute sitting meditation whenever I wake up, before I get ready for the day), I'd still feel pangs of anger and frustration in the middle of my work day, in the middle of my thoughts and concentration. I realized that the idea behind what I do to kick off my idea is to allow it to carry through during the day. I've applied this attitude to my yoga practice too, and it seems to help my overall understanding and patience with things whenever I get off the mat.
I noticed that by the time I finished this book, these moments of frustration decreased, in both frequency and in intensity. Having the book on my nightstand also comforted me in that it reminded me of my friend who let me borrow it, and her care and compassion during my angst and sadness. Ah, the power of friendship. . .and peace.
One line I love in particular from the book is the following:
"[On meditation:] One smile, one breath should be for the benefit of the whole day, not just that moment. We must practice in a way that removes the barrier between practice and non-practice."
This especially spoke to me because some days, I felt that no matter how much I'd practice my meditations in the morning (I've been doing a 10-minute sitting meditation whenever I wake up, before I get ready for the day), I'd still feel pangs of anger and frustration in the middle of my work day, in the middle of my thoughts and concentration. I realized that the idea behind what I do to kick off my idea is to allow it to carry through during the day. I've applied this attitude to my yoga practice too, and it seems to help my overall understanding and patience with things whenever I get off the mat.
I noticed that by the time I finished this book, these moments of frustration decreased, in both frequency and in intensity. Having the book on my nightstand also comforted me in that it reminded me of my friend who let me borrow it, and her care and compassion during my angst and sadness. Ah, the power of friendship. . .and peace.
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is absolutely wonderful. The story, the characters, the range of emotions, the heart, the soul, everything. This is a MUST read, especially because the movie comes out later this summer! I'm excited to see how the movie compares. . . although we know how that usually goes (ugh, did you see Eat,Pray, Love??) I'm willing to take the risk to be disappointed though because I am so supportive of the book. The previews look promising, so let's hope for the best.
This is a work of fiction, but I feel like parts of this book are probably autobiographical. The jacket tells us that this is Stockett's first novel; her notes at the end reveal the sentiment that this debut was long overdue.
The story centers primarily around two groups of women--the white women of Jackson, Mississippi, and their maids who double, triple, and quadruple as nannies, cooks, gardeners, and in the rare instance, friends. Through a rotation in narratives, we meet these women in their daily settings, as they give first-person accounts of their work, their thoughts, their hopes.
One of the white women decides to write a book. Her idea is to give personal accounts of the help and the secrets they've kept for their white women, the children they've raised for their white women, their heartaches, and their strength to hold their tongues. In order to put this book together, she must interview these women, but secretly because they can only begin to think of what would happen if the white community were to find out. I found myself holding my breath at times, scared that someone was going to find them, and cheering for them when the women come up with a brilliant way to guarantee that nobody knows the origin of the book whenever it is published.
This book is witty and heartfelt and there are two moments I can talk about where I completely burst into tears. There is at least one point in the story where I remember laughing out loud and many times where I sighed in exasperation, raised my eyebrows in surprise, or "HA!"ed at women's banter.
I can't wait for the movie and I can't wait for Stockett to write more!
This is a work of fiction, but I feel like parts of this book are probably autobiographical. The jacket tells us that this is Stockett's first novel; her notes at the end reveal the sentiment that this debut was long overdue.
The story centers primarily around two groups of women--the white women of Jackson, Mississippi, and their maids who double, triple, and quadruple as nannies, cooks, gardeners, and in the rare instance, friends. Through a rotation in narratives, we meet these women in their daily settings, as they give first-person accounts of their work, their thoughts, their hopes.
One of the white women decides to write a book. Her idea is to give personal accounts of the help and the secrets they've kept for their white women, the children they've raised for their white women, their heartaches, and their strength to hold their tongues. In order to put this book together, she must interview these women, but secretly because they can only begin to think of what would happen if the white community were to find out. I found myself holding my breath at times, scared that someone was going to find them, and cheering for them when the women come up with a brilliant way to guarantee that nobody knows the origin of the book whenever it is published.
This book is witty and heartfelt and there are two moments I can talk about where I completely burst into tears. There is at least one point in the story where I remember laughing out loud and many times where I sighed in exasperation, raised my eyebrows in surprise, or "HA!"ed at women's banter.
I can't wait for the movie and I can't wait for Stockett to write more!
It's been awhile, but here we go. . .!
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
If you loved The Time Traveller's Wife, you will like this. I enjoyed TTW much more, but this one had some heart and intrigue to it too. Niffenegger doesn't stray from her fascination with the passage of lifetimes or the communication between the after-life and our reality in this one either. The basic plot is about two sets of twins. The older set comprises of one twin who has twins of her own. Their aunt--their mother's twin--passes away and mysteriously leaves them as her beneficiaries, even though they have never met, and with the one condition that first they must live in her apartment--ahem, flat--in London for one year.
Throughout their year there, the twins discover more about their mother and aunt; their individual selves; their odd-duck neighbors; and in between it all, the wrestle between their close (almost creepy) twin-sistership and each's independence. Meanwhile, the reader also catches a closer glimpse of the other characters through their own subplots. The ending is a bit of a tongue-twister for your head.
I read this book for a book club, so it was interesting to hear what the others in the group thought. One of my friends who read the book, and attended the meeting, is an identical twin herself. So, there were various moments the sisters shared in the book that she could very well relate to, moments that may not have meant much else to us non-twins.
Overall, the book was good. It had its slow points, but for the most part, it was a good read. I'd recommend it, but I wouldn't say it is a must to jump to the top of your reading list. If little else from the basic storyline, it does stimulate some thought to where we might go whenever we leave this physical reality. It also raises a great reminder that although two people can look identical, their different personalities can completely alter each's appealability. It confirms the notion that character and beauty truly come from within, creating an aura that envelopes and enhances whatever exterior we are housed in.
Along those lines, something my friend once told me has always interested me. She once said that growing up, and even now, the people who are drawn to her sister tend to be ones who may not feel the same way magnetism toward her, and vice versa. I have met her sister and they look exactly alike, but within minutes I could tell them apart.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
If you loved The Time Traveller's Wife, you will like this. I enjoyed TTW much more, but this one had some heart and intrigue to it too. Niffenegger doesn't stray from her fascination with the passage of lifetimes or the communication between the after-life and our reality in this one either. The basic plot is about two sets of twins. The older set comprises of one twin who has twins of her own. Their aunt--their mother's twin--passes away and mysteriously leaves them as her beneficiaries, even though they have never met, and with the one condition that first they must live in her apartment--ahem, flat--in London for one year.
Throughout their year there, the twins discover more about their mother and aunt; their individual selves; their odd-duck neighbors; and in between it all, the wrestle between their close (almost creepy) twin-sistership and each's independence. Meanwhile, the reader also catches a closer glimpse of the other characters through their own subplots. The ending is a bit of a tongue-twister for your head.
I read this book for a book club, so it was interesting to hear what the others in the group thought. One of my friends who read the book, and attended the meeting, is an identical twin herself. So, there were various moments the sisters shared in the book that she could very well relate to, moments that may not have meant much else to us non-twins.
Overall, the book was good. It had its slow points, but for the most part, it was a good read. I'd recommend it, but I wouldn't say it is a must to jump to the top of your reading list. If little else from the basic storyline, it does stimulate some thought to where we might go whenever we leave this physical reality. It also raises a great reminder that although two people can look identical, their different personalities can completely alter each's appealability. It confirms the notion that character and beauty truly come from within, creating an aura that envelopes and enhances whatever exterior we are housed in.
Along those lines, something my friend once told me has always interested me. She once said that growing up, and even now, the people who are drawn to her sister tend to be ones who may not feel the same way magnetism toward her, and vice versa. I have met her sister and they look exactly alike, but within minutes I could tell them apart.
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