alisarae's Reviews (1.65k)

I was interested in the lectio divina practice before I knew about this book, and it was helpful to have a flexible guide as I work out what this looks like practically. I like that there are passages for every book in the Bible (even Leviticus!), as many devotionals like to skip over the more unpopular books. This guide directed my prayers, journaling, study, and meditation of scripture, even when I wasn't using The Message translation.

This book did not teach me how to identify a psychopath, though it did give some warning signals. It had lots of tangents that were more about describing the lives of a few mentally ill individuals than the "madness industry" and psychopaths.

The position of the author is that all of us are a bit mad, and pharmaceutical companies exploit that for profit, though that opinion wasn't explored in depth or supported with journalistic investigation. Regardless of whether you agree with the author or not, I think it would be more respectable to have gone a little deeper there.

So good until the ending left me with a severe case of side eye.

Really like how Gilbert broke down the wall between high art and low art, how she encourages people to start and finish something creative, that she believes we all have something to contribute (even if it is pointless), and that creativity doesn't have to lead to martyrdom.

I think this book was extremely well-written, but the story itself wasn't for me.

SO GOOD!!!

1. Made me miss China like crazy. The descriptions of typical Chinese scenes and even better, Chinese logic, are perfect.

2. Great story about love, loyalty, and how to find hope when you have lost someone that you love.

3. Magic realism that I actually enjoyed.

Waaah cliffhanger whyyyyyyyyyy