Verity

I had never read a Colleen Hoover book when Mem left me the collector’s edition, with a bonus chapter, of Verity. Apparently this book became a TikTok sensation when first published and is a bit of a departure for the author known for her light and fluffy romances. I read the book in a day during winter break. Nonetheless, I wasn’t too impressed. Yes it was a twisted mystery with a graphically horrific beginning that propelled forward and held my attention with suspense and gratuitous sex scenes. But the ending left me deflated and nonplussed. Not even the bonus chapter could stimulate me to spend another minute on this book. 

The Midcoast

It feels good to finish reading a book purely for pleasure. I pretty much plowed through The Midcoast by Adam White during my winter break this year. I rated it 4-stars which is substantially better than the 1-star vacation I’m currently eating my way through. What is it about cold weather and comfort food?

This was an easy read, recommended on Goodreads, that attracted my attention because of the  coastal Maine setting. Knowing how much Mem and Andrew love the Portland area, and having spent some time there this summer visiting them, it was fun to immerse myself in a place, similar to but not as familiar to me, as Cape Cod. I'm not a huge mystery fan either, but the plot of this story moved along and the characters kept me wanting to learn the outcome of their tragic lives.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens came out a while ago with a lot of hype. People seem to either love it or are underwhelmed by it. As usual I’m late to the party and never found time to read it when it was first popular. This summer the movie was released so I decided to read the book before treating myself to the cinema. 

I’m shocked to report that I love this story! I was immediately drawn in by the author’s poetic descriptive  of the marsh setting, her character development, and figurative language. There were lulls in the pacing of the plot, but I still devoured it in record time and can’t wait to see the movie while it’s still in theaters.

Delia Owens says she chose coastal North Carolina for the book’s setting for two reasons. One, because its temperate climate and resources would make it plausible for an abandoned, young girl to survive. Two, the contrast between the marsh and the swamp serves as a metaphor about life’s struggles. She explains, “I feel like in life most people now and then end up in a swamp. Where The Crawdads Sing is about how to move from those dark places back into the light.”

There’s also a bit of intrigue swirling around the 73 year old author, a naturalist wanted for questioning in the murder of poachers in Africa. I think her scientific and environmental knowledge really added to the authenticity of her first novel. By the way, what the fuck even is a crawdad? And how about this description of the praying mantis mating ritual?

"She appeared interested, her antennae flailing about like wands. His embrace might have been tight or tender … but while he probed about with his copulatory organ to fertilize her eggs, the female turned back her long, elegant neck and bit off his head. He was so busy humping, he didn’t notice. His neck stump waved about as he continued his business, and she nibbled on his thorax, and then his wings. Finally, his last foreleg protruded from her mouth as his headless, heartless lower body copulated in perfect rhyme."

Tiny Beautiful Things

There’s a lot of wisdom in Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, the book based on her advice column Dear Sugar on TheRumpus.net. I highlighted a bunch of passages that felt like therapy to me, reminding me of the hard work I’ve done and must continue to do, coming to terms with being myself in a crazy but glorious world.

Many of the letters seeking counsel are poignant and some are humorous. Strayed’s responses are always captivating, thoughtful, and well-written.Her wisdom is sensible, as well as inspiring. Being a person is hard. Navigating our innermost emotions and desires is exhausting but necessary. Having a voice of reason, like Sugar, to listen actively and make sense of the background noise of our own thoughts is comforting!

Wild

 

It should not have taken me so long to finish reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed, but because I’m still working, it did! My tenth year as a grade five classroom teacher turned out to be the most difficult, never-ending, and exasperating year yet, but it has also provided moments of clarity, and opportunities for personal growth and reflection. 

Teaching writing is an important endeavor, and my own personal writing has always been a worthwhile outlet for me. In May, I was invited to attend this writer’s conference at Kripalu, the yoga retreat in western Massachusetts, by an old colleague. I almost declined because it was so close to my extended April vacation trip to Turkey. Thank goodness I went and didn’t miss out on this opportunity. Not only is Kripalu a beautiful place to visit and unwind, but the author Cheryl Strayed is so inspiring. Her workshop perfectly complemented a few days of clean eating, meditative activities, and communing in nature with like-minded individuals.