May Books
1. Assassin's Fate, Robin Hobb - This one was a doozy, both in length (864 pages) and scope (not only does it complete a trilogy, it completes a story that Hobb began 20 some years ago). I've always loved Hobb's books, which not only give me grand fantasy epics, but which are also deeply character driven. It says something that I've been reading her books for years and years and years, and I still remember details from all of them. Hobb always writes in trilogies, and they are all connected in some way. This actually marks the end of the third and final trilogy about Fitz and the Fool, and I believe it may also mark the end of Hobb's playing in this particular world. I say this because in many ways this last book was a who's who, in which we revisited the lead characters and locations of all of Hobb's other books. Felt very much like a last harrah, which was both fun and a little bit eyerolling at times. It was a slow read. These books are so character driven that sometimes there's a lack of urgency. I finally blocked in an entire day to finish the last half. (The pace, mercifully, picked up.) I will make a complaint that the first half felt at times that it was recycling plot with one character. (How many times can this happen....) Overall, though, it was a satisfying end. Now...I wonder where Hobb will go next?
2. The Runner's Guide to Yoga, Sage Rountree - I've wanted this book for a long time, and finally invested in it. First step, read it. Second step, implement. (That's going to happen after my race!) I can't remember where I first came across Rountree, but I do love her style and appreciate her approach to yoga and running, which focuses on balance.
3. Miracle Mindset, JJ Virgin (audio, read by author) - JJ Virgin is a health and nutrition expert who's been around for quite some time. I've never read her books, but I've seen her in various tv spots and know enough to have a healthy dose of respect for her. Years ago I remember watching an interview with her in which she described her son's near fatal accident and spoke of how important it was to focus on her own health during his time in the hospital. It made a big impression. The message was, if you don't take care of yourself you can't take care of others. Well, she's now written a book about that experience and about the life lessons she learned along the way. Miracle Mindset is an interesting cross between memoir and the sort of self-help book that is about sharing life lessons rather than preaching at you. I very much enjoyed it, and although I don't relate to Virgin in many ways (she's a very different personality than I am), it did leave me with some things to think about.
A note about my reading as of late: Truth be told, now that I'm working full time I'm having to make some decisions about how to spend my limited free time, and reading is lower on the priority list than running (which I HAVE to do for my health) and knitting. I realized too, that staring at a computer screen for much of the day leaves me not really wanting to stare at a book or a screen in my free time. My eyes and my brain need a break. SOoooo....I'm revising my reading goals in order to make sure reading does continue.
1. I'll be working to find more audio...and will be cutting back somewhat on the number of podcasts I listen to.
2. Reducing my goals to five books/month, with one of them being an unfinished book.
3. Oddly, I'll probably be reading more nonfiction for a while. I find that as much as I love fiction, I don't have the emotional energy to invest in it right now. That's ok, because I have a pile of nonfiction to get through!
2. The Runner's Guide to Yoga, Sage Rountree - I've wanted this book for a long time, and finally invested in it. First step, read it. Second step, implement. (That's going to happen after my race!) I can't remember where I first came across Rountree, but I do love her style and appreciate her approach to yoga and running, which focuses on balance.
3. Miracle Mindset, JJ Virgin (audio, read by author) - JJ Virgin is a health and nutrition expert who's been around for quite some time. I've never read her books, but I've seen her in various tv spots and know enough to have a healthy dose of respect for her. Years ago I remember watching an interview with her in which she described her son's near fatal accident and spoke of how important it was to focus on her own health during his time in the hospital. It made a big impression. The message was, if you don't take care of yourself you can't take care of others. Well, she's now written a book about that experience and about the life lessons she learned along the way. Miracle Mindset is an interesting cross between memoir and the sort of self-help book that is about sharing life lessons rather than preaching at you. I very much enjoyed it, and although I don't relate to Virgin in many ways (she's a very different personality than I am), it did leave me with some things to think about.
A note about my reading as of late: Truth be told, now that I'm working full time I'm having to make some decisions about how to spend my limited free time, and reading is lower on the priority list than running (which I HAVE to do for my health) and knitting. I realized too, that staring at a computer screen for much of the day leaves me not really wanting to stare at a book or a screen in my free time. My eyes and my brain need a break. SOoooo....I'm revising my reading goals in order to make sure reading does continue.
1. I'll be working to find more audio...and will be cutting back somewhat on the number of podcasts I listen to.
2. Reducing my goals to five books/month, with one of them being an unfinished book.
3. Oddly, I'll probably be reading more nonfiction for a while. I find that as much as I love fiction, I don't have the emotional energy to invest in it right now. That's ok, because I have a pile of nonfiction to get through!
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