December was a critical month. I decided to put a greater focus on my writing, and in starting that, I’ve tried to grow this blog, post more frequently, and find a subject that I could focus on. So while I’ll still have the occasional post about my 30 before 30, life as a vet tech, travel and other miscellaneous things, I’ll be posting more regularly about books and what I’m reading. Trying to make that shift onto the booknet!
In the past, I would only post about books I LOVED. I’d still like to give those books a special spotlight, but I’ll try to do a roundup of all the books I’ve read each month that weren’t included in their own thing.
So, December books!
Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison
I’ve always wanted to read Jim Harrison as he’s known as another rugged American writer, much in the same vein as Hemingway. He writes novellas which is not a common form. Longer than a short story, shorter than a novel. Novellas tend to have a more intricate story line while also being a relatively quick read. This book consisted of three different novellas that took place in different areas and times but all featured manly men who struggle with love and family. The title is based on the last novella in the collection of the same title. It was made into a Brad Pitt movie of which I’ve only heard negative things. So, read the book instead!
The Beast God Forgot to Invent by Jim Harrison
It was a co-worker who gave me both of these books, not sure what conversation prompted the lending, but I ended up having a nice December of Jim Harrison. This collection was built the same way as the first. Three novellas, centered around male characters, written 21 years after Legends of the Fall. I liked this collection better. It felt less focused on the masculinity of the characters and more on the development of the characters.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
I used an aging Barnes and Noble gift card a friend had gotten me for my birthday to buy this beaut. It was a fun read, unconventionally written. She has chapters where she writes an acrostic poem to her career wife Tina Fey. She has a chapter where she talks about her travails through the comedy world. There are guest chapters written by Seth Meyers. Every time I read celebrity books, I do so with a discerning eye. Did they really write this? Is this ghost-written? Did they actually experience these things? I believe that Poehler actually wrote this, due to the first chapter where she whined about how hard it was finding the time to write the book, and she ends the book with an anecdote of when she lost her computer with the only copy of the book on it, only to have it be found by a kindly TSA agent. I admire Amy Poehler for what she is doing in the entertainment world for women. She creates and acts in roles showing women as more than desperate love-seekers or gossipy fashion-hounds. Most of the chapters of the book reflect that female empowerment attitude. This book also made me laugh audibly on the subway which is always a sign of an enjoyable read. I’ve already passed my copy on to some of the girls I work with.
“Because what else are we going to do? Say no? Say no to an opportunity that may be slightly out of our comfort zone? Quiet our voice because we are worried it is not perfect? I believe great people do things before they are ready.”
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