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The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy by Karen Walrond My rating: 5 of 5 stars 2020 and 2021 have been tough years by all accounts. There's so much going on in the world and it's easy to feel frozen to inaction by all of it. It's easy to feel overwhelmed or dejected or even numb to all of it. And yet. Karen Walrond's book is a light that shines your way to joy and possibility. Walrond is a coach, lawyer, photographer, and activist. She's also a wonderful storyteller. Regardless of where you are in your journey to activism, there's something in this book for you. There are inspiring stories, motivational examples, clear action and next steps and a full workbook for you to design your own personal journey. There are varied examples of people taking action and practicing activism in a wide range of ways. Yet what they have in common is that they understand what deeply motivates them to do ...

O Beautiful: A Novel by Jung Yun My rating: 4 of 5 stars 3.5 stars rounded for having a lot of food for thought This is the story Elinor Hanson, an Asian-American, former model to returns near her hometown of Bakken, North Dakota to write about the oil boom in her town. The book starts with a scene of Elinor on the airplane and her seat mate bothering her with questions and intrusions and builds from there to something quite disturbing and it pretty much doesn't let up. She finds that her hometown is almost unrecognizable and is overrun by men. There are so many issues tackled by this story that it's almost too numerous to list, especially considering it's a reasonably small book. Racism, sexism, misogyny, elitism, classism and so much more. Elinor's discomfort is so palpable and well represented that one cannot help but feel unease and tension the entire book. Even though it was tough to read this book and feel that discomfort the wh...

Gone By Morning by Michele Weinstat Miller My rating: 3 of 5 stars This was a mystery with some interesting twists and turns. I somehow could not get into the audio itself and think I would have enjoyed it more if i were reading it. Nonetheless, I liked it. View all my reviews

The Wonder Test by Michelle Richmond My rating: 0 of 5 stars This was a fun read, especially because it takes place right where i live. I wasn't crazy about the plot and yes it was over the top but it was still fun and enjoyable. View all my reviews

Matrix by Lauren Groff My rating: 4 of 5 stars Fantastically well-written and researched story of a woman who is forced to become the prioress of an impoverished abbey. This fierce woman and the way she turns that abbey around is a force to reckon with. Well done. View all my reviews

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney My rating: 3 of 5 stars I had so many conflicting feelings about this book. It took me a long time to get into it and to warm up to the characters. I loved that they were all flawed and real but that also meant that they got on my nerves and I can't say that I ended up liking them even by the end of the book. But they grew on me. And they were real so I found myself invested in their story. I also usually hate books where the characters have intellectual conversations where it's clear that the author is using them as a ploy to lecture the reader. It drives me mad and there was much of it in this book. So much of it. In the end though, when I finished it, it felt like a good meal and I appreciated that I read it. And I did think about it long after. View all my reviews

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was really looking forward to reading this and it did not disappoint. I much prefer slow-burn and character-driven mystery novels and this was exactly that. there are still some surprises around corners but nothing that would be impossible to guess. i loved the characters and setting and really found myself immersed in the story. fantastic read. View all my reviews

Unconditional Confidence: Instructions for Meeting Any Experience with Trust and Courage by Pema Chödrön My rating: 5 of 5 stars you can't go wrong with Pema Chodron. View all my reviews

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang My rating: 5 of 5 stars Helen Hoang is a very talented writer. She knows how to create characters that are flawed and 3-dimensional and really lovable and real. You empathize with her characters, their struggle, and you feel their feelings alongside them. You cheer for them. This book is no exception. Outside of the beautiful romance, it also tackles caring for the elderly and how it can take its toll on you, asking for help, adult ASD diagnostic and how it can affect your life, depression and more. can't wait to read more of her. View all my reviews

Tin Camp Road by Ellen Airgood My rating: 4 of 5 stars 4.5 stars This book is absolutely wonderful. It's a quiet book about a single mom and her daughter as they struggle with poverty and homelessness while they work hard to make their way through the world. The force with which this mom loves her daughter and the genuine struggles of the choices she is faced with and trying to understand how to do what's right by her daughter make for a meaningful read. I kept waiting for some insane twist or terrible disaster to befall them which is a sentiment to how over the top books have been lately. Sad things happen in this book but it's not flashy, it's not trying to mess with your emotions, it's quiet and real and absolutely beautiful. View all my reviews

Mixed Media Color Studio: Explore Modern Color Theory to Create Unique Palettes and Find Your Creative Voice--Play with Acrylics, Pastels, Inks, Graphite, and More by Kellee Wynne Conrad My rating: 5 of 5 stars what a fantastic book this is! I love color and really enjoy books that talk about color, so when I saw this book, I knew I would love it but, as it worked out, I had no idea how much I would love it. I don't know this artist and had never seen any of her work. This book contains sections on color theory and then some example step by step projects, many of which I really loved. As i read it, i felt really inspired to create and found myself filled with excitement and joy. with gratitude to quarto books and edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. View all my reviews

Drawing Is for Everyone: Simple Lessons to Make Your Creative Practice a Daily Habit - Explore Infinite Creative Possibilities in Graphite, Colored Pencil, and Ink by Kateri Ewing My rating: 4 of 5 stars If you'd like to start drawing but don't know where to start or if you're stuck in general, this is such a gentle book to help you get started. it has 21 lessons, with several different styles and drawing tools (graphite pencil, colored pencil, and ink) It contains art by the author and by some of her students so you can see a variety and range. I really enjoyed the encouraging voice of the book and would recommend it to anyone who is itching to get started. with gratitude to edelweiss and Quarry Books - Quarto for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review View all my reviews

Get Messy Art: The No-Rules, No-Judgment, and No-Pressure Approach to Making Art - Create with Watercolor, Acrylic, Markers, Inks, and More by Caylee Grey My rating: 4 of 5 stars This lovely book is full of encouragement to let go of any of your preconceived rules and regulations around creating art. It encourages you to let loose, jump in with both feet and just have fun. There is a great tutorial on binding your own art journal and then a lot of lovely ideas for art journal pages. These ideas vary in range and mediums they use but they are each filled with joy and relatively easy to get your creative juices flowing. If you've wanted to start art journaling and didn't know how, this book will be a fantastic start. If you're stuck, if you need a good pep talk, if you want a friend cheering you on, this is the book for you! with gratitude to quarry books and edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review View ...

Get Messy Art: The No-Rules, No-Judgment, and No-Pressure Approach to Making Art - Create with Watercolor, Acrylic, Markers, Inks, and More by Caylee Grey My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

A Little Hope by Ethan Joella My rating: 5 of 5 stars "She has learned from his dying that there is much she can do. She has also learned some things are unfixable. Which is this?" This book takes place in the small town of Wharton, Connecticut and moves around different characters who are connected to each other, some loosely, some tightly. It tackles a lot of life events like cancer, addiction, suicide, loneliness, and more. The characters are so real in this quiet and lovely book that it reminded me of both Anne Tyler's novels and Olive Kitteridge. It's a similar feeling of getting more and more attached these ordinary characters who are experiencing ordinary and tough life situations and they are so real that you can't help but feel their feelings alongside them. "Good for them, Freddie thinks. Good for them. She could write an essay about forgiving Greg for anything if it meant they could get to Alex and Kay’s age. She...

To Sir, with Love by Lauren Layne My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is an absolutely predictable, completely delightful read. Just the exact right thing when you want something sweet, uncomplicated, soft and tender. I loved it. View all my reviews

Zen Wisdom for the Anxious: Simple Advice from a Zen Buddhist Monk by Shinsuke Hosokawa My rating: 3 of 5 stars this little book packs in oodles of wisdom. it contains 52 aphorisms broken into seasons with beautiful illustrations and reminds the reader to focus on the present moment. these are the types of reminders we need again and again and it's the kind of book you can grab and open up into any one section and quickly feel grounded. helpful for the anxious and all others. with gratitude to tuttle publishing and edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review View all my reviews