No.774: What I Read in October 2023

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#73. THE CORTISOL CONNECTION: WHY STRESS MAKES YOU FAT AND RUINS YOUR HEALTH – AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT by Shawn Talbott, PhD, FACSM // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

First line: “Perhaps one of the most poignant realizations in health and medical research during the last two or three decades is that our bodies, including our nervous systems and endocrine (hormonal) systems, were simply not meant for the unique stresses that we face as part of our everyday life in the twenty-first century.”

A big part of this book is the idea that “wedging another stress-management technique into [an] already busy [life] does little more than add further stress” (p.25) and there has to be a better way.  The author’s solution is what he calls the SENSE Lifestyle Program, which stands for Stress management, Exercise, Nutrition, Supplementation, and Evaluation.  All in all, I found the book really helpful, with lots of information that I can research further to see what works for me.  There’s hope for me yet!

#74. WE CROSSED A BRIDGE AND IT TREMBLED: VOICES FROM SYRIA by Wendy Pearlman // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

First line: “One evening in the fall of 2012, I met Rima on a breeze-filled balcony in Amman, Jordan.”

This is a collection of anecdotal accounts from people living in Syria during the Arab Spring up to current times.  (It was published in 2017.)  Although I didn’t love the book’s formatting, I still found the stories to be informative and incredibly heartbreaking.  So much I didn’t know and would like to understand!  Because of that, I’ve already added quite a few books on this topic to my TBR.  3.5 stars.

#75. THE BEEKEEPER’S APPRENTICE by Laurie R. King // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

First line: “I was fifteen when I first met Sherlock Holmes, fifteen years old with my nose in a book as I walked the Sussex Downs, and nearly stepped on him.”

I should probably preface this by saying that this mystery gets really great reviews, so maybe I’m just a curmudgeon.  King re-imagines Sherlock Holmes in his retirement days and introduces a new character into his life: a smart 15-year-old girl named Mary.  I found the book well written, but Mary is certainly portrayed as a feminist ideal – she can do no wrong and is great at everything!  A bit tiring to read for 300+ pages.

#76. THE BURGESS BIRD BOOK FOR CHILDREN by Thornton W. Burgess // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop)

First line: “Lipperty-lipperty-lip scampered Peter Rabbit behind the tumble-down stone wall along one side of the Old Orchard.”

The kids and I started this read aloud last school year and finally finished up this month.  So charming!  We all really enjoyed it and learned a lot about birds too.

#77. THE DAY I DIED by Lori Rader-Day // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

First line: “On the day I died, I took the new oars down to the lake.”

The blurb on the back of the book was intriguing: a handwriting analysis expert joins a case after a two-year-old boy goes missing.   Well, that was this book…except it wasn’t.  There was so much going on that had nothing to do with the case, secrets and side stories and obvious omissions so as not to spoil the reveal at the end.  A decently paced read, but I was happy to be done.

#78. THE LCP SOLUTION: THE REMARKABLE NUTRITIONAL TREATMENT FOR ADHD, DYSLEXIA, AND DYSPRAXIA by B. Jacqueline Stordy and Malcolm J. Nicholl // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

First line: “They are the hidden handicaps.”

What an uplifting, encouraging book!  Some of my children have struggled with dyslexia and apraxia for a decade and this is the book I wish I had read back in the beginning.  We have started following the book’s advice and have already seen some positive changes!

#79. THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

First line: “Terminal 4 swarms with people, the smell of wet wool and jet fuel thick around me.”

Two women, desperate to escape their living situations, meet at an airport bar and decide to swap plane tickets.  They both hope the change of location will help them start a new life, but then tragedy strikes: one of the planes crashes and everyone on board is dead.  What does the remaining woman do now?  I flew through this one!  3.5 stars, rounded up.

#80. ENEMY: A TRUE STORY OF COURAGE, CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND THE COST OF WAR by Ruth Clare // ★★★☆☆
(amazon)

First line: “I was born into the war still raging inside my father.”

Oh man.  This was a hard one to read.  This heartbreaking memoir was one woman’s story about growing up in a family shattered by PTSD and physical abuse.  I really appreciated that Clare showed how war wasn’t only detrimental to veterans, but also to their families at home.  A powerful reminder, especially in these tense and uncertain days.  3.5 stars.  (And thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.  Enemy was published in May 2023!)

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MY UNREAD SHELF PROJECT

Unread Books as of January 1, 2023: 207
Books Finished in October: 8
Finished Books Donated/Sold in October: 3
Books Added: +6
Unread Books Remaining: 204