The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Language of Flowers

Unlike many people who were captivated from the beginning of the book, I struggled with connecting to Victoria from the start. She was angry, and sometimes chose to bully her social worker, which is something I have little tolerance for. But as the book progressed, she grew on me and entered my heart. 

If I could give Victoria one flower from her dictionary, it would be a Narcissus flower, for self-love. Her obvious feelings of unworthiness to her love interest and her foster mother made me want to be her friend and feed her the donuts the adores. I really think she was a well constructed character in the end, with flaws and charms like any other real person.

The story made me weep, which I always think is a good sign for a book. I was satisfied though, with what it gave me. But something didn't sit completely right at the end. Like many other readers, I thought the ending was rather predictable. I like optimism as much as any other misanthropic bookseller, but I felt that it was unrealistic. Maybe Vanessa Diffenbaugh's point was not to wow us with a twist ending though. Maybe her point is that of the floral arrangements her character made: just like receiving a bouquet of lily of the valley (return of happiness) and pink roses (grace) can make someone person who makes the world a better place...maybe a book containing the same lessons on forgiveness and love can make our world more loving, too. To the author, I would give bellflower. Gratitude.

Bookstravaganza!

In preparation for my course Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World I bought 20 books today. Twenty. Twenty. Not all of them were for the course, but most were.

I've never been happier.

Not just about the books, and the class, but about my life too. When things are going well, I think it's important to have gratitude. My life isn't perfect, but I have so much to be grateful for, and that's enough reason to be happy. 

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

The Secret

When I started The Secret audiobook just days ago, I was curious but also reluctant to believe. For those who haven't read it, the basic concept of the book is that of the Law of Attraction being the secret to life. The idea is that your thoughts create frequencies which attract the situations, people, and prosperity in your life. At the beginning I felt like this was a bunch of mystical, religious propaganda. But after getting halfway through the book and practicing its methods as I went along, my opinion has drastically changed.

This idea is real. If you think positive thoughts and focus on images of what you WANT out of your life, those images start to become a reality. On the other hand, if you think very negative thoughts and focus on images of what you do NOT want to happen, you will receive so much negativity and fear. 

It seems obvious that a very negative thinker would continue to have a negative life, right? I am reminded of my friend from high school, Alexis. When I met Alexis, we were both struggling with anger issues and very toxic relationships. I was quite uncomfortable around her when I started school there. She was very outspoken, sometimes to the point of making girls cry in the hallways. Yet as I got to know her, I found that she was a fierce friend with a lot of talent and a beautiful soul. But she continued to be in battle-mode everywhere she went.

The next year at school, it was obvious that something had changed in her. She was so strong, and graceful, and even balanced. She told me she had read this book, The Secret. I didn't pay much attention to that at the time, but now that I'm reading it I genuinely wonder if the book had some influence on her changed behavior. If the title of a book she read stuck with me over years, it must be important. 

It's no surprise to hear that our thoughts and emotions influence our lives. But what if we can use this fact to empower ourselves to be more positive? Book or no book, I'm trying to write down at least three things I am grateful for each day. And I've started redirecting my focus from fear to hope. And I really feel the universe working in tune with me.

Once I got a fortune cookie with a fortune that read "We cannot control the wind, but we can adjust the sails." So I'll start with my thoughts, and maybe the universe will flow with my positivity.

Five Books to Awaken Your Artist Within

I got back from NYC yesterday, after shooting my short film for five days. While preparing for the film, I made a top 5 list of books that have helped me nurture my inner artist. Some of them are books I'm still reading, so I'm not doing reviews of them yet.

The Artist's Way

Steal Like an Artist

Make Good Art
 

Art & Fear

Writing Without Teachers

READ-A-THON Update

The Light Between Oceans                                            

The day hasn't been as easy as planned. My phone has been ringing a lot with calls I've had to take. I didn't get much sleep so I ended up taking a quick nap. Oh! How life can get in the way of my reading time. 

I started and finished "The Light Between Oceans" at least. 343 pages. Oh boy, did I sob during some parts. Click the link to find out more about the book, since I probably won't review it till after book club. If you've read the book, please comment with your thoughts! I'm trying to come up with questions for the book club around this book. I'm rather unsure of where to start this time. This book tore at my heartstrings on a very personal level, so I'm not sure how to discuss it with strangers.

May or may not try to get through another book tonight. Depends on how badly I continue to want to bake bread. Any bakers reading this? I need a good recipe.

Tomorrow: The Bookaholic Blogger's READ-A-THON

I've been really busy lately with a film project, and that means I haven't had enough time to read! Book club for The Light Between Oceans is in two days so.....it's time for a READ-A-THON.

What does that mean?

Twelve hours of reading.  8:00am-9:00pm (because of two half hour meal breaks).

Let's see how many pages I can read! How many books can I finish? How many hours will I end up reading on the treadmill because I'm fidgety?

See you tomorrow!

The Bookaholic Blogger's Top 5 Books for July

Hello, I'm back. I've been reading a lot this month. Some of these are books I'm finished, while others I'm still getting through. But these are my Top 5 for July.
                                         

1. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I'm going to do a full review for this one, so I'll keep this short and sweet. This book changed my life.

Find it at an indie bookstore near you: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780307476074


2.  The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

As promised, I read a Neil Gaiman book. My coworker at the bookstore I work at says this was "definitely not" one of her favorites of his. I think this means that I am lucky that this was the first Gaiman novel I've read. I loved it. The writing was exceedingly elegant. My favorite concept in this book was the frustrating differences between childhood and adulthood. Gaiman illustrates these differences through his seven year old protagonist's challenges and victories throughout the story. The book itself was a triumph in storytelling, a fantasy that was eloquent and wise yet strikingly simple in its delivery.

Find it at an indie bookstore near you: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062255655

3. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator)

A good friend spotted this picture book in my book store and demanded we sit down and read it immediately. I'm glad she did though, because this is my new picture book pick for kids and adults. In this sweet and colorful (har har) story, a boy named Duncan opens his crayon box and finds that all the crayons are gone. He finds a packet of letters, one from each crayon, explaining why they are absolutely done with coloring for him. The reasons are hilarious, witty, and downright preposterous. An adorable read!

Find it at an indie bookstore near you:  http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780399255373

4. Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott

This short and loving book made a great wedding gift this year. The book is about the "three essential prayers" and what exactly that means. Anne Lamott is a wonderful writer, and a gracious and frank human being. I've read some of her other work and I am never disappointed. I've been recommending this one for people in hospitals as well, because although it isn't necessarily a fun read, it is honest and hopeful.

Find it at an indie bookstore near you: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781594631290

5. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

First thing is first: don'ttellmetheending. I'm not done with it yet, OKAY? Anyway. I don 't usually read mystery- not for any particular reason, I really just never started to. But something about this book, sitting on the Indie Bestseller shelf, drew me in. I finally caved and bought the hardcover, and I have not regretted it since I've started. The writing is divine. The story is searing and dangerous. The relationship described between the split point of views- of Nick Dunne in the present, and his wife Amy through her journal entries, is the most realistic and brutal offering of a marriage I've ever read. I can't wait to read more.

Oh and...don't spoil it.

Find it at an indie bookstore near you: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780307588364/gillian-flynn/gone-girl

Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman

Make Good Art

Let me begin by saying that I have never read a Neil Gaiman book before this one. No, not even Coraline. Not even the Sandman series. I have heard many wonderful things about Neil Gaiman, but I never got around to reading any of the books I have of his. Until now.

I picked up Make Good Art, the book made of Neil Gaiman's commencement speech to UArts, because I needed some inspiration. I was feeling artistically blocked. And then this book changed some things.

Gaiman starts by saying he never imagined he would give a commencement speech in his life- he escaped the school system as soon as he could. This is something I can relate to, and it caught my attention. He goes on to joke about his career, which he says he cannot call a career, because that implies he had a career plan. Still, Gaiman had a list of goals. And that was enough, because by my count he has already accomplished most of them.


His next list is that of advice to graduating students, and it is incredible. It is brave advice, eloquent and heartfelt at the same time. To sum it up: Make mistakes. It means you're doing something. Throw out your ideas of possible and impossible. Accept that there will be failures. If you know what you want to do, do that thing. Make good art. And enjoy the process.

He told me, through the text of the book, exactly what I needed to hear. Make good art.

I highly recommend this book to anyone feeling stuck in their life, or scared, or creatively blocked.
Plus it is only 80 pages, so you really have no excuse!