★★★★★ I was familiar with Ina Garten from watching a few episodes of Barefoot Contessa on The Food Network with my mom. While I found her show pleasant, I wouldn’t have called myself a huge fan. After listening to Be Ready When the Luck Happens, I'm officially a fan.
Tag: blogging community
Other Birds by Sarah Allen
★★★★☆ I was introduced Other Birds, Sarah Addison Allen’s quirky, magical realist novel, through my book club, which reads books by women authors and/or that feature strong female characters. I was thrilled to be introduced to a new author for me, especially one from my home state of North Carolina. Other Birds by Sarah Addison … Continue reading Other Birds by Sarah Allen
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
★★★★★ Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, which contains the record producer’s 78 areas of thought on creativity, argues that creativity is as essential to being human as breathing. As the subtitle suggests, Rubin believes creativity is a way of being in the world.
The Painter by Peter Heller
★★★★☆ A passionate artist, sensitive yet flawed father, detached lover, and contemplative fisherman with a faulty moral compass and an angry streak, Jim Stegner is a multidimensional man. These varied – and sometimes contradictory – elements of Jim’s personality make him a memorable character.
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
★★★☆☆ Rachel Hawkins writes good escapist thrillers. Reckless Girls was deliciously wicked, and her Southern Gothic novel, The Wife Upstairs, had some fun twists. So, when I saw she had a new book, The Villa, I decided to check it out.
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
★★★★☆ Our society glorifies those who ultra-specialize in a field and celebrates them as smarter or more talented than others. We tend to believe a wrist surgeon is better and more qualified to operate on our carpal tunnel than a general surgeon. Using data and the personal stories of musicians and athletes, such as Tiger Woods, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein tackles why this conventional wisdom isn’t necessarily true.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
★★★★★ With its message of gratitude and reciprocating gifts, Braiding Sweetgrass was an excellent choice to read during the Thanksgiving season. Using the braiding metaphor, the author, trained as a botanist, weaves scientific, environmental, cultural, and spiritual knowledge to teach readers a different way of seeing the world.
More than a Book or a Lesson
I’m embarrassed to admit this: as much as I love reading and photography, I’d never considered combining my passions and reading a book about photography. Fortunately, thanks to a recommendation, this light bulb finally went off!
The Loop by Nicholas Evans
★★★★☆ The Loop takes place in Hope, Montana. Wildlife biologist Helen Ross is sent to the town of cattle ranchers as part of a government project to study and protect wolves reintroduced to the area. She meets the powerful, womanizing rancher Buck Calder and, against his father’s wishes, begins working with his sensitive, estranged 18-year-old son, Luke.
Tips for Building a Creativity Habit
One of my 2023 goals has been to spend an hour every day on a creative pursuit, such as writing, blogging, or photography. Eight months into this experiment, I’ve learned some things that may inspire you to fit more creative time into your life.