Another month, another Monday. I’m happy to report that we are going to be exploding into bloom any minute now in Seattle. Certain trees are already flowering but the narcissus, tulips and irises have all made their way towards the sun (when it spears) and look to be ready to explode. In the same way, I have high hopes for my reading in April and May. This month I’m looking forward to several releases from authors I know—which brings on a nervous excitement (will I like it as much as their other work or will it be disappointing?) and some debuts.
Here’s what I’m reading right now:
I absolutely loved Kostova’s first novel, The Historian. It’s one of the only books I’ve ever been able to convince my husband to read and he loved it as well, so I’m very optimistic about The Shadow Land. I know it won’t be the same fabulous blend of vampire/history/mystery/archeology story, but I’m hoping the magic of her storytelling is still there. I’m almost halfway through and only now are the elements coming together so I’m not sure whether the action in the second half will be enough for overall success.
Vaddey Ratner is one of those authors who writes from experience and it shows. She survived the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and her stories are of that time. Her first novel, In the Shadow of the Banyon, is tender for its truth about families and brutal in what happens when a dictator takes over their lives. Her new novel, Music of the Ghosts, is about a young woman who escapes the Khmer Rouge with her aunt to America. The rest of her family is left behind and dies. In the present day, she hears from a man who says he knew her father and has some of his belongings to return to her so she is returning to Cambodia for the first time.
If you’ve been around this blog for long enough you know two things: One, I don’t read a lot of non-fiction and two, my idea of exercise is hiking from the couch to the fridge to get another Diet Coke. OK…I’m not that bad, but aside from a lifelong love of swimming exercise has never been thing. Up until now, when I found out I have osteoporosis. Kind of a surprise because I’m not THAT old and I do eat reasonably well, don’t smoke, and do swim. What I’ve learned is that swimming is the one exercise that does nothing for your bones (which totally makes sense if you stop and think about it) and that the loss of estrogen as we women get older are all problems for our bones. So, I’ve had to switch gears and get into working out. Really working out—sweating and all that. Also, whimpering and staggering after demanding my body do things it’s not used to doing. The good news is I can already see changes and I feel great! Not just physically, but mentally I’m able to cope with what feels like insanity in our politics to me (talking about empowering women, but defunding Planned Parenthood?!). I’m sleeping better than I have in years and feel like my body is not the enemy anymore.
I started Roar last week and so far it is really interesting. She covers each stage of a woman’s life and goes into great detail about the difference between the male and female body and how it processes energy and performs. I’m hoping there are some recipes as well because healthier eating is my next goal—especially for lunch.
Oooh – Roar sounds super interesting! Maybe good for audio for me! And am so glad you’re loving your workout routine. I would lose my mind without my morning workouts…they literally keep me sane. Glad they’re helping you brain as well as your body!
I’m not sure about audio for this one. There are a lot of photos and diagrams, but it is interesting- covers all stages of a woman’s life and her resulting needs.
I’m really looking forward to hearing your final thoughts on The Shadow Lands.
I started really regularly working out about 6 years ago and it’s been amazing to me what an addiction it has become. I usually do it right after work and around 2:30 I’ll often start feeling this sort of anxiety or maybe energy would be a better word. Either way it’s that feeling of that I’ve got to get going and exercise! On weekends and holidays I can do it in the morning and then never get that anxious feeling. Weird!
Oh dear, Susie! Your opinion was spot-on. What a ninny! I made it all the way through but there was so much extraneous plot and no tension and it just kept going. Very disappointing. I’ll have a review at some point.
If I didn’t have to deal with washing/fixing hair and all that stupid stuff i would work out every day. I am a true convert and now understand what endorphins do!
Catherine, I guess I’ve never really thought about swimming in this way; I’ve always been so jealous of those of you who are good at it and dream of a day when I could enjoy swimming as a supplemental activity. Now that you’ve mentioned it, I can see how it might not be serving your bones very well! Wow! What a bummer. I’m glad that you’ve found some resources and have joined the rest of us sweaty, moaning folks…sort of. 🙂 I will now think of you as I force myself to do more strengthening exercises after my morning run; my joints may be stiff, but my bones should be great – ha! Keep us posted!
It seems so basic if you stop and think about it, but I never did. All i thought was that it was so good for joints, muscles and cardio- which it is. But bones? Not at all.
Running is great for bones- strong impact! I’m loving my exercises, even as I hate them. Now, I’m adding in stretching because even with more muscle the stiffness is still a problem. Does it ever end?! 😉
Music of Ghosts is catching my eye.
ENJOY!!
Hope your weekend is good.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
Somehow I missed this post, but it sounds great that you’re feeling better with the workouts. I try to mix it up what exercise I do — tennis, biking, yoga whatever. Is it true that Seattle has had just nine days since October with 30 percent cloud cover or less? I heard it on the radio here, yikes! I have not gotten to the Ratner book yet, but I’m on the wait list for it at the library. It sounds like you liked her first one more, which I should read as well. I have read The Historian — epic storytelling! Let us know how the new one goes …