3/25/2024 0 Comments what's in a war story
what's next for war stories?Is War and Peace too predictable? I've seen some reviews in which people say this is the best book that they have ever read. I'm intimidated by the sheer volume. I think about all the other books that I will have to put on the side while I toil away at this hefty tome. But I'm so curious... Maybe not as predictable, I have no desire to read For Whom the Bell Tolls or Of Men and War. I'm just not a Hemingway fan. I wonder if that will change at all this summer after visiting the Hemingway house in the Florida Keys. I'm curious enough want to see it, but not curious enough to do any prereading of his books. I just don't like his terse writing style. He seems aloof and insensitive, chauvinistic and arrogant. Other TBRs from fiction and nonfiction are listed below: in search of
what I don't want in a war storyI don't want to be inundated with gore. I get that war is a bloody mess and that sometimes it may be necessary to evoke the tragedy in war. But don't make that the main character of the story. I want to know the people in times of war, not the blood and guts.
Don't show me the lack of humanity or decency of an American soldier and then expect me to like him later just because he was a US soldier. If that US soldier took advantage of women in other countries, or did terrible things to women and children and innocents, don't expect me to see his point of view by the end of the book. I realize the moral injury that soldiers are already up against by nature of war. However, if a soldier is already suffering from moral injury how can they justify added cruelty to a vulnerable person?
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2/10/2024 0 Comments the science of heartbreakthe book in 3 sentences
general summaryHeartbreak is told through the lens of a woman in a long marriage that ends in divorce. This is simply the story of two people growing apart and the perspective of heartbreak tying together both the real life experience of the grief and also the science behind what happens in the aftermath. Heartbreak oscillates between her experience and research studies on how heartbreak physiologically impacts people. Not just romantic heartbreak, but grief related to the loss of people, major life upheavals, natural disasters, etc. Evolutionarily speaking, nature has overdone it when it comes to heartbreak. Our response to heartbreak can be quite dramatic because it was once a matter of survival. It use to be very dangerous to be outcast or rejected from the group. It's the whole, you are more likely to be eaten by a lion if you are alone versus being a part of a group. You had a better chance at surviving if you were accepted within the group. You shared food and shelter and had a better chance at living longer and reproducing. It makes sense that our physiological body would have a dramatic reaction to rejection. Even in modern times, people need each other from a social perspective. We grow and learn based on feedback from each other. Solitude can be valuable for reflection, but generally speaking lonely people are not healthy people. Heartbreak of all kinds has physiological impacts. People that experience the trauma of heart break will undoubtedly face greater risk of any number of maladies solidifying the tie between our emotional and physical well-being inside of us. The length of time of the physiological impacts of heartbreak will vary from person to person due to countless variables. There is a lot of research discussed in the book that I won't go over here except in a very general sense. What is most important to realize is that our experiences of trauma can have lasting impacts physiologically for years that can evolve into disease and shorter life expectancy. The impacts of loneliness on health are far greater than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, research says. Some people may do things that can ease the process of grief from heartbreak. Being periodically forced out of yourself to remember the interconnectedness to something bigger than us can be one of those things that is very healing. Research indicates that people that experience awe are able to integrate stressful life experiences better. Nature has healing effects on inflammation and positive impacts on other brain chemicals. Another way to feel a sense of connectedness outside of ourselves is through community, friendships, and being of service to others. Developing a sense of purpose that exists outside of the trauma of the experience of Heartbreak can improve our resiliency when in the process of grieving. how the book changed meI don't review every book I read. I review the ones that I really want to remember and the ones that resonated with me or an aspect of my life. This book was enlightening and affirming in that there was a reason I was feeling some sort of biological drive for me to be alone outside during periods of healing in my life. Our own internal mechanisms can be so useful to us if we only listen closely. I knew I needed to walk for miles in the woods and up mountains both by myself and with people that I love. I knew that I needed to be in awe of the world around me because it would make me feel stronger, more resilient, more grounded, and more connected.
Delving into service based work way also a way to bring joy and feel the world outside of something painful. Remembering that other people have there own worlds going on inside of them with their own problems. All of this made my problems feel not so big in the grand scheme. One aspect of your life can feel really big and it takes over when it is filled with grief and casts a shadow on everything else. It's good if you can find a way to diminish that effect by focusing on purpose, connectedness, community, service, and building relationships with people you love. 1/15/2024 0 Comments strengthening resolvesummaryThis book is written through case studies of people who are pursuing their great big ideas from sailing solo around the world, visiting every country in the world, saving a forest, or running a daunting number of marathons in multiple countries. While not all of these pursuits are things that I would want to do, the scenarios are told in a way that everyone can glean valuable motivation to do similarly for their own big pursuits and purposes in life.
who should read it?People who need to remember that they will regret not taking the risk to try to go for a big dream or goal. This book is the reminder that the pursuit is what is worth the entire mission. It’s not the end goal but all of the memorable experiences on the way to the goal. People who need a purpose. People who hate their job that need a change in life. People who need to get over the fear and begin the pursuit. top 3 quotes
how the book changed meAdvice to myself after reading this book...
Don’t feel bad about changing your plans or ideas. It's good to have a flexible mind especially after learning new things. Don’t judge what you want based on other people’s opinions. You are different from everyone else, and your dreams will be different from those of others in your life. Find a new pursuit after you have finished the last. The end is the beginning. One small step at a time. The way in which this book changed me was in simply strengthening my resolve. I now remember that I need to review my daily actions in terms of how they add up to the greater pursuits that I talk about. I only have this one precious life. I can’t spend any more time not trying for what I want out of it. 1/11/2024 0 Comments A healing reviewAdult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. GibsonThe Book in 3 Sentences
General Impressions This book was exceedingly helpful to me in identifying behaviors that I was getting triggered by in other people including my parents and not knowing why I was feeling so reactive. It also helped to explain some of my feelings and interactions with others in terms of craving emotional closeness as a consequence of emotional neglect and having parents that were exceedingly consumed in their own problems growing up. The other powerful component in this book other than recognizing emotionally immature behavior was reading the list of how emotionally mature people react and act in varying circumstances vs emotionally immature people. It is also important to recognize that emotionally immature parents can fall under 4 main categories. Emotionally immature parents can also fall under multiple categories and also the behaviors and characteristics can exist on a spectrum. Personally, my parent displayed characteristics in the emotional and passive categories. Who should read it? Everyone and anyone who suspects that they or their parents exhibit challenges in their relationships as a result of emotional immaturity. How the Book Changed Me I’m not as hurt that the people that I can recognize as emotionally immature behave the way that they do. For example, when these people do not show interest in my life. They seem to only want to share and focus on what they are going through because they are so self-involved. They are not curious about me at all and so these relationships lack reciprocity. Also, a child growing up in this environment with parents that are emotionally immature has to become so observant of the emotional status of others because they never know what they will get; completely withdrawn, highly reactive, or engaged. It is like hot and cold all the time. There is a lack of consistency from a lack of emotional stability. A child in this environment has to walk on eggshells and become very aware of the emotions of others. A child growing up in this environment will often chose what feels normal to them in their adult relationships, however the desire to become emotionally close to someone remains paramount if closeness was withheld and distance was maintained. This can put them in tricky situations in which they are taken advantage of and maybe don’t exactly know how to maintain healthy boundaries with people. I found myself also seeing some behaviors of my own that were a result of growing up in this environment. I find that I fall under the withdrawn type of behavior often. This is simply self preservation and protection. Sometimes emotional closeness can be scary. Especially after experiencing people seeking emotional closeness only for their own ulterior motives and betraying trust. Emotionally I was relied upon too much as a child. Too many big adult things were put on me as a child to the point where I felt I was in a parental role of emotionally caring for and protecting my parent. What was even more damaging to this relationship was when I grew older and needed emotional support it was not reciprocated and in fact I felt completely abandoned and neglected and uncared for. I was there for them as a child, giving up my childhood to support the adult through challenging times and what I learned what that I could not also rely on others and it was all built on a false sense of security and closeness. The closeness existed purely for their benefit. I apparently had to learn this again to really get it into my head that I needed to have better boundaries. Later on in my life I found myself constantly there for someone who seemed to really need the emotional support and friendship. I found myself really craving the emotional closeness because it was something that I didn’t have. Now that I have been through relationships with emotionally immature people, I am less trusting. I don’t necessarily believe people when they say nice things to me because I assume they are trying to gain some sort of closeness to me for their own benefit the relationship will lack reciprocity. I really think very few people are authentic in their words to me unless I have loads of evidence supporting their true intentions. My parents were too wrapped up in their own relationship drama to be there for me at all. I was an after thought. As evidenced by their total lack of involvement in my life. The capable child that could take care of anything. Super independent and seemingly successful at everything. And also, exceedingly painfully lonely without even being able to recognize what the feeling actually was. I didn’t even know that what I needed was authentic emotional closeness that was not predicated off of someone else’s need to exploit my caring empathetic nature. Awareness is just the beginning. I think I need to post a list of the behaviors of emotionally mature people to remind myself daily what to strive for in myself, as well as how to recognize the lack of emotionally maturity in others so I don’t take it so personally. It’s still painful. My only involved parent has no interest in my children and rarely calls or asks how I am or is interested in me or my life at all. Still consumed in relationship drama and toxic relationships just like it was all along; I have given up even hoping for the reciprocity that I have always wanted. I have conceded the fact that they are incapable of seeing beyond themselves to build meaningful relationships with their children in their later years. On the flipside, I have experienced how emotionally mature people with true intentions of mutual love and respect handle relationships and how different that feels. Specifically in my own marriage. I feel that my partner is blessed to have had a healthier upbringing and I have been able to experience a healthier emotional connection through him. We are not co-dependent, but we are emotionally bonded through time and experience and love. I know what to look for now and how to recognize emotional maturity and not feel as though it is my fault and that I am responsible for someone else’s emotional well-being; especially my parent’s emotional well-being. The role reversal that occurs with these types of parents can steal your childhood. Constantly feeling emotionally responsible for the unhappiness in their lives sets a dangerous precedent. My sister said something that may very well be true she said that she had often thought that “we are here to be a witness for her life, more so than she was ever to be a witness for our lives.” While this is a sad statement, I certainly don't feel as through my parent has the ability to be interested or involved in her children's lives because they are far too consumed with their own turmoil. This has not changed since I was a child, nor do I foresee a change unfortunately. People are the products of their environment largely. I really would like to move past that this year more into a healing space. A space of recognition, compassion, understanding, empathy, and grace for myself and others. Characteristics of Emotionally Immature People
The list goes on… Characteristics of Emotionally Mature People
I hope this is helpful to someone. I know that for me it is important to be reminded of healthy relationship characteristics especially knowing how unhealthy some of the dynamics were in the environment I grew up in and was accustomed to. All we can do is build awareness and move forward.
7/31/2022 0 Comments The Wild Silence by Raynor WinnI have been playing around with various structures to review books. What are the questions that I should ask myself after reading a book? How do I crystallize the messages in the book best? I'm sure this is an ever-evolving process for me, just like anything. But I like to think most about how the book changed me and my perspectives because, isn't that the whole point outside of entertainment? General Impressions
who should read it?People who have been on long distance hikes or are interested in long distance hike could really gain another perspective from reading this book. how the book changed me?This book highlights how important these experiences are to have with loved ones and with myself for as long as I possibly can. It reminds me that the challenges experienced in the process of long distance backpacking are far outweighed by the fulfillment that comes from feeling alive and in tune with our bodies, the present moment, and the natural world. Top 3 Quotes1. At what point in our lives does cynicism take over from instinct? When do we stop feeling the softness of the rain on our face and start worrying about being wet? … When do we make the switch from being part of the natural world to being an observer with an assumed right to control it?
2. A wild unity had crept into our veins and our future was defined by it. 3. Maybe aging really is all in the mind. Possibly the best way to defy it isn’t through expensive serums, endless hours at the gym and overly sharp scalpels, but simply by trusting our bodies to be strong and capable as they ever were, being in the wild outdoors whenever we can and not spending too long looking in the mirror. shifting our trajectory
3/17/2022 0 Comments The Four Windsby Kristin Hannah
1/9/2022 0 Comments Don't Judge a Book...The Family by Naomi KrupitskyI'm not exactly sure why the cover of this book bothers me. Maybe it gives me vapid Gossip Girl vibes. Maybe it gives me snooty sorority girl prim-and-proper visions of fifties high school mean-girls. Either way, the cover does not do justice to the substance of this book.
Without being too revealing of its contents, this book follows two girls who grow up together in The Family, also known as the mafia, around WWII. The author Naomi Krupitsky is skilled in her ability to provide characters with emotional depth and a setting of vivid descriptions. More specifically, I am enjoying these aspects of the book:
10/16/2021 0 Comments Oliver gets it right
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