So I watched the crap movie with Julia Roberts called Eat, Pray, Love and was not at all impressed with this so called "year long journey" the main character was taking to really figure herself out. I thought this movie was boring at best and highly cliched and irritating at its worst. I found it less about a woman working through her shit (as billed) and more about a romance. Which BLAH at Hollywood! Give me a story that is genuine and don't assume I have to have a hot guy in a movie for me to go see it! (confession.... hot guys don't hurt.... yep I'm a hypocrite)
None of these things apply to the book. I could relate to this writer lady quite a bit. I too have had that moment on the bathroom floor crying and not having any idea how to get myself up. I have struggled with the darkness of depression and learned to cope with it as best as I can. I have also medicated myself once in my depression history with zero luck with it helping me. And a total loss of my ability to express myself. Needless to say, I didn't stay on those meds very long.
Elizabeth Gilbert speaks openly and honestly about the good, the bad, and the ugly all lurking in her closet. She is humble and yet not at all depending on the circumstances. I don't so much relate to a "God" aspect the way that Elizabeth does. I do, however, connect with the voice in your own heart to guide you through the tough bits. I really liked this book. I like the concept of smiling with your liver. And while I half think this means I should drink a little more, I get the concept of letting a smile flow through your body. This is why I have put this on my 30 for 30 list. I want to feel a smile flow through my whole body.
While my personal spiritual journey was completely different; and will always be completely different I can appreciate the hard work. I recommend this book to people who dig the subject of self realization, those going through a spiritual change, or anyone who enjoys good writing. I will put this out there, if you are of the sensitive variety there are several doom and gloom dark moments that can trigger all sorts of internal whatnot. Be prepared, we dive into her icky sicky right with her.
I rocked the audiobook read by the author for this book. I have always been a sucker for writers reading their own work. If you like audiobooks I highly recommend that you get this. You really get a sense of who this woman is through her voice.
While writing this review I have been listening to Adele (19) and the Beatles (Abby Road). What are you listening to?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
30 for 30
Every year I try to visit my older brother in Seattle for his birthday. He turned 30 two years ago. He made a list of 30 things he wanted to do for his 30th birthday and checked the list off the weekend around his birthday. I am still waiting for his amazing video blog but other than that he made good progress on the list. If I had a picture of the Gothic photo shoot we did in Lakeview Cemetery I would post it here. For those of you who used to Goth out in the 90's, this is the Cemetery where Bruce and Brandon Lee are buried. Yes, this was my idea. Yes, I am that girl. "It can't rain all the time" even in Seattle. Oh man my brother will be ashamed to know me right now. Thankfully, I don't think he reads this blog.
Fast forward two years and now it is time for me to turn 30. 30 has been everywhere lately. Friends are turning 30 everywhere I look. My own birthday (which isn't until December) is coming up a lot in conversation. My friend recently had me out to Denver for her 30th and while I was there I decided something about my own birthday. I am going to do 30 things for my 30th birthday. I am not going to limit myself to the day or weekend of my birthday. I want to make this a year long journey. I am still working on my list. Something about the last five or so things to do is hard to come up with. I will post a partial list at the end of this blog.
So why? Why come up with a list and push myself to work on things? I don't take enough time on myself and my growth. I get too busy with work, school, and all the rest to remember to better myself. I am terrified of getting older. A couple of months ago I found my first gray hair and had a total melt down. I have been putting myself through hell, beating myself up for not being where I wanted to be by 30. This list is a way for me to work on myself and work through my aging issues, and have a little fun while I am at it.
Here is the incomplete list:
1.30 paintings
2.30 poems
3.new job
4.graduate
5.sunrise photo shoot
6.sunset photo shoot
7.blog every week
8.journal every night
9.meditate every day
10.smile every day
11.amends
12.release weight
13.30 drawings
14.travel somewhere new
15.dream bigger
16.learn to smile with my liver
17.find something beautiful about Utah
18.get drunk with my brother
19.dance
20.10 shows
21.leave my comfort zone
22.design and sew a dress
23.swim without being self conscience about my body
24.make serious progress on my book
25.sit on a porch
26.hummingbird tattoo
27.teach myself intermediate algebra
28.reach my book goal of 150 books read this year
29.Spend more time with my friends
30.Leave an impression
Fast forward two years and now it is time for me to turn 30. 30 has been everywhere lately. Friends are turning 30 everywhere I look. My own birthday (which isn't until December) is coming up a lot in conversation. My friend recently had me out to Denver for her 30th and while I was there I decided something about my own birthday. I am going to do 30 things for my 30th birthday. I am not going to limit myself to the day or weekend of my birthday. I want to make this a year long journey. I am still working on my list. Something about the last five or so things to do is hard to come up with. I will post a partial list at the end of this blog.
So why? Why come up with a list and push myself to work on things? I don't take enough time on myself and my growth. I get too busy with work, school, and all the rest to remember to better myself. I am terrified of getting older. A couple of months ago I found my first gray hair and had a total melt down. I have been putting myself through hell, beating myself up for not being where I wanted to be by 30. This list is a way for me to work on myself and work through my aging issues, and have a little fun while I am at it.
Here is the incomplete list:
1.30 paintings
2.30 poems
3.new job
4.graduate
5.sunrise photo shoot
6.sunset photo shoot
7.blog every week
8.journal every night
9.meditate every day
10.smile every day
11.amends
12.release weight
13.30 drawings
14.travel somewhere new
15.dream bigger
16.learn to smile with my liver
17.find something beautiful about Utah
18.get drunk with my brother
19.dance
20.10 shows
21.leave my comfort zone
22.design and sew a dress
23.swim without being self conscience about my body
24.make serious progress on my book
25.sit on a porch
26.hummingbird tattoo
27.teach myself intermediate algebra
28.reach my book goal of 150 books read this year
29.Spend more time with my friends
30.Leave an impression
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
This is Where I Leave You By: Jonathan Tropper
I liked this book. At first I wasn't sure that I would like it, let alone finish it. Sometimes the internal monologue of a Jewish male is pretty far from what I can relate to. I was, sadly, not raised by a crazy Jewish woman. I lived in New Jersey while I was young and I had wished that my Mother was a crazy Jew more than once. As it is she is a crazy Mormon Mother.
This book is about a family shitting Shiva for their recently deceased Father. For those who are unaware Shiva is a Jewish custom of morning for a week with family members. Shiva means seven in Hebrew. You sit either on the floor or close to the floor and people pay their respects by visiting you during this week long period. This family, like my own, has not spent much time all together in quite a while. There is the dysfunction that all families suffer from and then there is the extreme dysfunction.
The main voice of this book is Judd. Shortly before his Father's death from cancer Judd walks in on his wife doing that naked tango with Judd's boss. Judd is floored by the betrayal of his wife and then this devastation is compacted by his Father's death which is compacted, again, when Judd finds out his soon to be ex is carrying his baby.
I can't say that this was a light read by any means. You get right in the thick of Judd's depression and regret. You swim in it with him for most of the book. The last few chapters finally you are pulled up by the hair and things end on a mostly positive note.
The female voices in this book made me think of my friend Albert. If Albert were a Jewish woman, he would have written this book.
I recommend this book to those who can handle a depressing story without it sucking them in too much and those who can relate to mourning. I would also suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. Jonathan Tropper can tell a good story. The individual voices of his characters are all clear, and while sometimes cliched, they are never confused.
This book is about a family shitting Shiva for their recently deceased Father. For those who are unaware Shiva is a Jewish custom of morning for a week with family members. Shiva means seven in Hebrew. You sit either on the floor or close to the floor and people pay their respects by visiting you during this week long period. This family, like my own, has not spent much time all together in quite a while. There is the dysfunction that all families suffer from and then there is the extreme dysfunction.
The main voice of this book is Judd. Shortly before his Father's death from cancer Judd walks in on his wife doing that naked tango with Judd's boss. Judd is floored by the betrayal of his wife and then this devastation is compacted by his Father's death which is compacted, again, when Judd finds out his soon to be ex is carrying his baby.
I can't say that this was a light read by any means. You get right in the thick of Judd's depression and regret. You swim in it with him for most of the book. The last few chapters finally you are pulled up by the hair and things end on a mostly positive note.
The female voices in this book made me think of my friend Albert. If Albert were a Jewish woman, he would have written this book.
I recommend this book to those who can handle a depressing story without it sucking them in too much and those who can relate to mourning. I would also suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. Jonathan Tropper can tell a good story. The individual voices of his characters are all clear, and while sometimes cliched, they are never confused.
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets By JK Rowling
This is the second book in the Harry Potter series. I am rereading this book as part of a Harry Potter read a long hosted by my good friend
I like this book much better than the first. I love love love the character of Lockheart. He makes me giggle with his arrogance and incompetence. I love that he magics all the bones out of Harry's arm during a quidditch match.
The characters of Harry, Hermione, and Ron are better developed in this book. We get a good look at the dynamic in Ron's family. I really love how real his family is, from the grumpiness to the obvious love from all of them. It reminds me of my own family.
I will say that I don't dig the giant snake and the spider bits in this book. I tend not to enjoy icky icky eeewwww things like snakes and spiders. I do laugh a bit at Ron being terrified at spiders. I like that JK Rowling make the boys in this story a little less obnoxious.
I recommend this book to children and those who don't mind children literature.
I like this book much better than the first. I love love love the character of Lockheart. He makes me giggle with his arrogance and incompetence. I love that he magics all the bones out of Harry's arm during a quidditch match.
The characters of Harry, Hermione, and Ron are better developed in this book. We get a good look at the dynamic in Ron's family. I really love how real his family is, from the grumpiness to the obvious love from all of them. It reminds me of my own family.
I will say that I don't dig the giant snake and the spider bits in this book. I tend not to enjoy icky icky eeewwww things like snakes and spiders. I do laugh a bit at Ron being terrified at spiders. I like that JK Rowling make the boys in this story a little less obnoxious.
I recommend this book to children and those who don't mind children literature.
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