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katietotallybooked's Reviews (785)
I love Lauren Graham. Parenthood & Gilmore Girls ads two of my all-time favourite series and I’ve read all her books. So of course I enjoyed this little publication and appreciated the advice from her speech. .
.One of my favourite quotes is “Love yourself and what you’re doing, even if you’re not at the place you hope to land”. I’m a very task-oriented and goal-minded individual. I love to set goals and have a focus for my drive and energy. I’m at my most productive when I’m checking off a to-do list of some kind. But I can get frustrated when some goals take longer to achieve and I often worry too much about the future and whether things I want to happen ever will. But this year I’m going to work on enjoying and loving where I’m at in life and take some extra time to breath and relish in where my hard work has gotten me thus far. In conclusion, I’m going to try to worry less about the future and enjoy more of the present. .
.One of my favourite quotes is “Love yourself and what you’re doing, even if you’re not at the place you hope to land”. I’m a very task-oriented and goal-minded individual. I love to set goals and have a focus for my drive and energy. I’m at my most productive when I’m checking off a to-do list of some kind. But I can get frustrated when some goals take longer to achieve and I often worry too much about the future and whether things I want to happen ever will. But this year I’m going to work on enjoying and loving where I’m at in life and take some extra time to breath and relish in where my hard work has gotten me thus far. In conclusion, I’m going to try to worry less about the future and enjoy more of the present. .
As a Canadian, I knew relatively little about Michelle Obama prior to reading this memoir. What I did know stems a bit from what the media has portrayed over the past decade but mostly from what Michelle has done herself. Things ranging from her guest appearances and silly antics (like shopping in disguise) on Ellen, to her experience on Carpool Karaoke with James Corden, and then her various interviews regarding the initiatives and movements that she started as the First Lady. From any of these that I have seen, she has seemed like an inspiring, driven, and put-together woman who has a strong and stable family relationship with a solid marriage.
From the very first paragraph, I was reassured. I knew that I was going to love and enjoy this book and as I was reading Michelle’s story, she confirmed all the previous notions that I had about her. While much of the book is insightful, what I first gleamed about Michelle is that she was someone raised with core values and a strong family life, much like myself. Although our home communities were very diverse (Michelle being from the South Side of Chicago and myself being from rural Oxford County, Ontario), I also felt like we had a similar aspect to our personalities. I was able to identify with Michelle’s desire to succeed and her personal to-do list. The idea that life is a constant goal-checking, task-oriented process is how I have felt since high-school. With my list of goals being reset every year, my ambitious mind is always working toward the checking of the next personal box. But what Michelle allude’s to which I identify currently with is what happens when you fall in love and you have to add your partner’s goals into your list. It then becomes a bit more challenging to continue to check of the boxes of life at the same pace, or even in the same order. And then perhaps some of those boxes change and you have new boxes you never previously imagined. Sometimes vearing off that path is scary and discomforting, especially when it isn’t what you’ve always imagined for yourself. But the advice and wisdom that Michelle offers is that you can’t make decisions based on the fear and the possibility of what might happen. You must take risks, you must support the one you love, and you must have faith that there is a path – even if it is not the one you have controlingly set in your mind.
I greatly appreciate the endevours that Michelle took on as First Lady. What most stood out to me is that she strived to assist with education for young girls and women around the globe. As Michelle states, children will invest more in themselves when they know they are being invested in by the adults and power holders around them. I also believe this, and it’s a large concept that impacts my methodology towards children’s librarianship. I think that Michelle is truly inspiring for her work in this area and I look forward to seeing her endevours continue and grow now that she is outside of the White House.
My final thought is that this book was phenomenal. It is an excellent, well-written memoir about Michelle’s life thus far and I am glad that she chose to share her facinating story with the world. If you have ever been awed by Michelle giving a speech, related to her or laughed with her during a talk-show interview, or simply been inspired by women who face adversity and rise above and overcome the challenges they are given, then you should definitely read Becoming.
From the very first paragraph, I was reassured. I knew that I was going to love and enjoy this book and as I was reading Michelle’s story, she confirmed all the previous notions that I had about her. While much of the book is insightful, what I first gleamed about Michelle is that she was someone raised with core values and a strong family life, much like myself. Although our home communities were very diverse (Michelle being from the South Side of Chicago and myself being from rural Oxford County, Ontario), I also felt like we had a similar aspect to our personalities. I was able to identify with Michelle’s desire to succeed and her personal to-do list. The idea that life is a constant goal-checking, task-oriented process is how I have felt since high-school. With my list of goals being reset every year, my ambitious mind is always working toward the checking of the next personal box. But what Michelle allude’s to which I identify currently with is what happens when you fall in love and you have to add your partner’s goals into your list. It then becomes a bit more challenging to continue to check of the boxes of life at the same pace, or even in the same order. And then perhaps some of those boxes change and you have new boxes you never previously imagined. Sometimes vearing off that path is scary and discomforting, especially when it isn’t what you’ve always imagined for yourself. But the advice and wisdom that Michelle offers is that you can’t make decisions based on the fear and the possibility of what might happen. You must take risks, you must support the one you love, and you must have faith that there is a path – even if it is not the one you have controlingly set in your mind.
I greatly appreciate the endevours that Michelle took on as First Lady. What most stood out to me is that she strived to assist with education for young girls and women around the globe. As Michelle states, children will invest more in themselves when they know they are being invested in by the adults and power holders around them. I also believe this, and it’s a large concept that impacts my methodology towards children’s librarianship. I think that Michelle is truly inspiring for her work in this area and I look forward to seeing her endevours continue and grow now that she is outside of the White House.
My final thought is that this book was phenomenal. It is an excellent, well-written memoir about Michelle’s life thus far and I am glad that she chose to share her facinating story with the world. If you have ever been awed by Michelle giving a speech, related to her or laughed with her during a talk-show interview, or simply been inspired by women who face adversity and rise above and overcome the challenges they are given, then you should definitely read Becoming.
The Perfect Mother did not disappoint. There were dips and turns throughout the story and the author did a great job of keeping the reader guessing the whole way through. I’m still left wondering if there is more to the story and I’m ok with that feeling right now. I think that motherhood and the many ups and downs is such an interesting subject to read about in fiction. There are unique differences in every Mother and every child and every pair that it can be hard to truly know what any one experiences. But I think that the author tried to bring light to some of the aspects of motherhood involving mental health that can often be hard to detect from those observing it. There seems to be such a drive and allure to being the “perfect mother” but what in fact does that mean, and is it subjective? This book also showcased various relationships, friendships and family dynamics and did so in a classy way. The case of Baby Midas is really only part of the story.
Has anyone else ever started a book on audio, finished it in print, and had two different experiences with it?
I listened to most of I Am I Am I Am, so when I switched to print I found it harder to read and I also wanted to read in a British accent, just like the audiobook narrator had been! 😂 I’m still not sure which experience I preferred though, because overall I wasn’t wowed by the book.
It’s shocking how much Maggie O’Farrell has been through medically, emotionally and physically, from chronic diseases to personal attacks. Her stories are heartbreaking and strung with emotion. However, I didn’t like the structure of the book. The timeline jumps around a lot and I wasn’t sure the significance of that. Therefore, I didn’t enjoy the listening experience because of the writing style.
I appreciated how the author ended the book, tying her daughter’s life to hers, but I found parts confusing and hard to follow up until that part.
I might have had a different experience if I had chosen to read the print copy from the beginning, it’s hard to say. But ultimately, this book was just an ok read to me.
I listened to most of I Am I Am I Am, so when I switched to print I found it harder to read and I also wanted to read in a British accent, just like the audiobook narrator had been! 😂 I’m still not sure which experience I preferred though, because overall I wasn’t wowed by the book.
It’s shocking how much Maggie O’Farrell has been through medically, emotionally and physically, from chronic diseases to personal attacks. Her stories are heartbreaking and strung with emotion. However, I didn’t like the structure of the book. The timeline jumps around a lot and I wasn’t sure the significance of that. Therefore, I didn’t enjoy the listening experience because of the writing style.
I appreciated how the author ended the book, tying her daughter’s life to hers, but I found parts confusing and hard to follow up until that part.
I might have had a different experience if I had chosen to read the print copy from the beginning, it’s hard to say. But ultimately, this book was just an ok read to me.
Heartwood Hotel #1: A True Home is a delightful and sweet chapter book for young readers. It promotes messages of kindness and compassion for all, and how working as a team is important. With endearing animal characters, the reader learns how everyone has strengths and weaknesses and all are unique. The writing is full of symbolism and grace, with the notion being shared with all readers that home is truly where the heart is.
I’ll be exploring this book further with my kids book club next Saturday and I can’t wait to hear their thoughts. It’s a great chapter book to share with young readers, whether it’s as a bedtime story or as a first chapter book that they read on their own. I highly recommend this delightful story - and series!
I’ll be exploring this book further with my kids book club next Saturday and I can’t wait to hear their thoughts. It’s a great chapter book to share with young readers, whether it’s as a bedtime story or as a first chapter book that they read on their own. I highly recommend this delightful story - and series!
So, I can confirm that what I’ve heard about this book is true - it is a fictional medical drama similar to Grey’s Anatomy. The Queen of Hearts is about two life-long doctor best friends, their romantic relationships, and the unexpected patients that cause them both to question their paths. As well, we uncover secrets from the past and what could be the pitfalls of this friendship. It was a fictional setting and theme that I’ve never explored before in writing. HOWEVER...
While the premise hooked me and the setting of the book was new to me, I still wasn’t overly into it. The writing had a very slow start to it - so much so that I questioned continuing. I felt the pace picked up about half way through which allowed me to soldier on and finish. I questioned the characters and the storyline. I didn’t agree with their choices or their reactions to situations. Ultimately, I couldn’t identify with them and that’s an obstacle for me as a character-driven reader. I did enjoy how the timeline went back and forth from present to past. Sometimes that bothers me or I find it confusing, but in this instance it did support the telling of the story well. All in all, this was an average read for me but I would definitely read another book with the same theme and setting of medicine & hospital life.
While the premise hooked me and the setting of the book was new to me, I still wasn’t overly into it. The writing had a very slow start to it - so much so that I questioned continuing. I felt the pace picked up about half way through which allowed me to soldier on and finish. I questioned the characters and the storyline. I didn’t agree with their choices or their reactions to situations. Ultimately, I couldn’t identify with them and that’s an obstacle for me as a character-driven reader. I did enjoy how the timeline went back and forth from present to past. Sometimes that bothers me or I find it confusing, but in this instance it did support the telling of the story well. All in all, this was an average read for me but I would definitely read another book with the same theme and setting of medicine & hospital life.