Tiny Habits and Self-care in the New Year ...

TINY HABITS by BJ Fogg deals with “The Small Changes that Change Everything” and starts with a positive, “can-do” approach: “Tiny is mighty.  At least when it comes to change.” Fogg founded the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University and has decades of research to support his recommendations.  This is definitely a text which individuals and groups could use to foster change.  Fogg has filled it with multiple, practical exercises, diagrams, charts, and lists of steps.  There is no index or bibliography, but there is a lengthy appendix with summary materials.  One section which I am particularly eager to share is titled “One Hundred Ways to Celebrate and Feel Shine.” I am already anticipating student reaction to suggestions like “inhale and think of the energy entering you” or “do a subtle head nod.” Fogg also includes some specific recipes for tiny habits related to 15 life situations (like reducing stress, better sleep, productivity, and adjusting to college). This book, with chapters on motivation, ability and emotions, has a little bit of advice for everyone. TINY HABITS received a starred review from Library Journal. 

THE EXTREMELY BUSY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO SELF-CARE by Suzanne Falter is subtitled “Do Less, Achieve More, and Live the Life You Want.”  It also seems like a relevant read if you are looking to develop some resolutions and new habits for the New Year. Falter begins the text with a section titled the Self-care Mindset where she explains the importance of self-care and saves most tips until the second and third sections (titled Self-care Essentials and Working Self-care into Your Life).  She freely admits that women reading this like to get results; therefore, the first section could have been shorter (it takes up almost half the book) and less negative (especially hard for perfectionists to read) so as to get to some positive action steps earlier.   

Falter pushes readers out of their comfort zone and definitely encourages self-reflection.  She says, “if you’re reading electronically, bring a notebook or a blank document to make notes as you go along.” In fact, many of the pages are purposefully blank or include quizzes and/or worksheets with titles like “Things I’d do if I had Ten Times More Courage” or “Five Things I’d Love to Add to my Life.” Some of the “essentials” she lists are certainly not surprises to readers (the first is sleep, followed by comments on relationships, vacations, exercise, nutrition, and physical surroundings), but this text will make readers think and re-evaluate, listen to their bodies, and attempt to slow down. I can readily see it having a place in one of our learning cohorts – applying to both busy men and women.

Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid

SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid was selected as the top LibraryReads choice in December and I would readily concur in recommending this debut novel. Reid explores themes of privilege, racial tension, maturity, influence of friends, and the pressures of parenting with a story set primarily in Philadelphia.  That’s where Alix Chamberlain, a white woman who has invented an online “mommy blogger” persona for herself moves (from New York City) with her family, newscaster husband and two young girls, and where she hires Emira, a twenty-something young women of color, to babysit. 

Both women struggle with self-esteem and questions related to career opportunities as well as their feelings for Briar, Alix’s toddler, and for their significant others. The story revolves around an incident late one night when Emira is called to baby sit in an emergency and takes young Briar to a local grocery store where the clerk accuses Emira of kidnapping.  The entire incident is video-taped, but Emira elects not to expose it. Multiple racist incidents (some in the past) are unveiled as the novel progresses and Alix’s and Emira’s relationship is rocky at best. A fascinating look at distorted views of events and the stories we tell ourselves, SUCH A FUN AGE received starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal.

More mysteries ... cozy and cozier ...

Regular readers know that mystery stories are some of my favorite reads, a guilty pleasure, and a perfect escape over the holiday break.  Here’s a quick summary of a few titles …

My favorite in this group is MURDER IN RAT ALLEY by Mark de Castrique.  It is the Sam Blackman Mystery #7 and I have already commented on several others in this series. Once again, Sam and his partner, Nakayla Robertson, find themselves investigating a murder in the Asheville, North Carolina area.  This one occurred about seventy years ago and was successfully hidden for most of that time. Once the skeleton is discovered, though, danger increases, including for Sam and Nakayla. The story centers on government actions at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), a former NASA installation. Sam speaks to former employees and pursues some erroneous theories, finally reflecting that “My grandmother always told me I had two ears and one mouth for a reason. I should listen twice as much as I speak.” I love the many twists and local flavor (numerous charming details like an Irish pub with Harp, Guinness, and Smithwick’s on tap) in this mystery series and look forward to more.  

THE BODY ON THE TRAIN by Frances Brody is another cozy mystery in the Kate Shackleton series, set in 1920’s England. Shackleton, a private investigator, is chosen to help Scotland Yard identify a body found in a rhubarb shipment from Yorkshire. Seems implausible, but labor problems and other strife add a serious concern and another death to the story.  Posing as an inquiring photographer, Shackleton visits a former school friend who is married to the local mine manager.  There, she investigates several happenings, allowing the story to deal with class conflict and potential national security concerns. For a puzzling mystery with compelling historical insight, choose this or another title in Brody’s entertaining series.

  

A LEGACY OF MURDER by Connie Berry is the second in the Kate Hamilton mystery series and is set in the present day at Finchley Hall, an Elizabethan House with extensive grounds and a history of murder associated with its treasure, called The Hoard. Hidden in the mid-1500s and missing until much later, these jewels and antique pieces are soon to be put on display. In fact, that is where Kate comes in because she is visiting her daughter who is an intern at Finchley Hall, and one of the other interns dies suddenly.  The circumstances mirror events from almost a quarter century ago when another display of The Hoard was planned. Kate steps in to complete the catalogue of materials as well as to assist in the investigation – not quite the way she expected to be spending time with Detective Inspector Thomas Mallory, a romantic interest from an earlier European trip. Another cozy mystery with likeable characters, historic references and some antiquing lore, too. There’s also some drama and angst associated with Kate’s daughter and her friends which will add to appeal for younger readers.

THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY is by Lynne Truss, perhaps best known for her non-fiction work Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. This new title is her second mystery featuring Constable Twitten and I was looking forward to it after having heard some enthusiastic comments from readers about the first, A Shot in the Dark. In fact, the Wall Street Journal called that initial effort “the funniest crime novel of 2018.” Perhaps I was not patient enough, but this mystery set in late 1950s Brighton, England did not have characters or humor that appealed to me. You may feel differently; Booklist suggests it for fans of Christopher Fowler’s Bryant and May mysteries.

THE BOOK OF CANDLELIGHT by Ellery Adams is another mystery story in a series that features four strong women (a bookshop owner and bibliotherapist, a baker, a salon owner, and a local spa employee) who formed the Secret, Book, and Scone Society and who rely on each other for support in the face of financial and personal problems.  They live in Miracle Springs, North Carolina and are active community members, stepping up to offer solace to Marie, whose husband Danny (a Cherokee potter) has drowned in questionable circumstances. I eagerly anticipated this newest installment, but found that THE BOOK OF CANDLELIGHT seemed to “drag” a bit in the middle, before offering perspective on the impact of prejudices, both past and present.  Like others in this series, there are plenty of references to reading and book titles and appeal for cozy fans so do look for Adams’ work, particularly if you prefer a less violent mystery set in a small town.