100 Ways to Change Your Life by Liz Moody

The new book 100 WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE by Liz Moody really surprised me – in a good way. I liked its emphasis on really creative, doable tasks. There are many specifics; for example, Moody suggests creating a rule of three or mapping your day to your energy in order to be more productive. In another sections, she comments on how to be happier (e.g., do something for someone else) or how to feel calmer (e.g., use action as an antidote to anxiety). Her focus on science and research is very helpful, too. In the section on reduce your pain, Moody frequently quotes Dr. Rachel Zoffness (a psychologist and author of The Pain Management Workbook) and the importance of looking at biological, psychological, and social factors. Moody points out that “playing with the idea of a pain recipe and a pain dial starts to illuminate the many factors at play in the experience of pain, and while not all pain is within our control, it's illuminating and wildly empowering to begin to discover just how much is.” With so many great ideas and references to additional resources (roughly ten percent of the book is notes), 100 WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE would be a great book to browse or to consider as a gift. Liz Moody is the host of the top-rated The Liz Moody Podcast where, like this book, she shares interviews with experts and explores “The Science of Leveling Up Health, Happiness, Relationships & Success.”

The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl

THE COMFORT OF CROWS by Margaret Renkl chronicles "A Backyard Year" and contains 52 essays centered on plants and animals. Ann Patchett says it is about “the abundance of wonder in our own backyard.” I particularly liked the story Renkl told of trying to trap an unwell fox – she writes so vividly; it was easy to imagine being the person checking the cage and worrying about survival. In addition to the quality writing (Renkl is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times), there are fifty-two original color artworks by the author’s brother, Billy Renkl. Those are truly beautiful, as is the colorful cover. This is a book worth experiencing and Family Action Network sponsored a session with Renkl about THE COMFORT OF CROWS two weeks ago. Here is an excerpt from the video of that discussion between Margaret Renkl and nationally bestselling author Mary Laura Philpott:

 

What Wild Women Do by Karma Brown

WHAT WILD WOMEN DO by Karma Brown is an intriguing novel involving feminist philosophy, a treasure hunt, and two different time periods. One is the post-pandemic present day when screenwriter Rowan and her long-time boyfriend and YouTuber, Seth, decide that their creative efforts will benefit from time in the Adirondacks, closer to nature. The other time period is the mid-70s when socialite Eddie Callaway hosted empowering women’s retreats on a nearby property, sharing insights like Amelia Earhart’s: “Use your fear. It can take you to the place where you store your courage.” Rowan begins to learn about Eddie (who mysteriously disappeared) and is drawn closer to her insights on the importance of women taking care of themselves. The text effectively combines elements of mystery and a coming-of-age story. The characters are likeable and relatable, and the descriptions of nature are well-written. In fact, Brown says of her novel that it is “a love letter of sorts to my 1970s hippie childhood, and the forests of my youth…” 

The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook

THE MADSTONE by Elizabeth Crook is very aptly described by the publisher as “a work that echoes Lonesome Dove and News of the World.” Taking place a few years after the Civil War, it is a Western adventure featuring Ben Shreve, a young carpenter with a good heart. He gets hired to help a traveling stranger, Dickie, reconnect with the stagecoach in Texas Hill Country near Comfort, Texas, on the way to a boat for New Orleans. Along they way, these two run into robbers, murderers, and a young pregnant woman, Nell Banes, with her four-year-old son, Tot. Crook recounts the story through Ben’s eyes and his homespun reflections: “it's the oddest thing in the world, Tot, the friends you make in a lifetime.” Readers will be enthralled by the adventures – full of twists and turns including a rabid coyote and a poisonous snake, plus a touch of romance. THE MADSTONE received a starred review from Kirkus (“an entertaining, well-paced yarn”). Be sure to add it to your reading list.

And enjoy Ben’s quoting and retelling of stories about Benjamin Franklin “[who] said a person who thinks hisself in possession of all truths, and believes those who differ are far in the wrong, compares to a man walking in foggy weather. Those at some distance ahead on the road appear to him wrapped in the fog, and those behind him, wrapped in the fog as well, and those in the fields either side, all wrapped in the fog. Yet nearby and about him, things appear clear, despite he is just as much in the fog as any of them.” Enjoy!

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST by Travis Baldree is the newly released prequel to Legends and Lattes and appears on a number of recommended booklists, including Goodreads’ Choice Awards for the Fantasy genre. I read this as a stand-alone adventure and thoroughly enjoyed it. Viv is an orc who is injured and ends up convalescing in a small town where she befriends a handyman, a baker, a bookshop owner, and many more. It is a gentle, cozy read, but there is plenty of swordmanship and danger lurks nearby. BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST received a starred review from Booklist (“anyone who likes the idea of an orc warrior becoming a devotee of the power of reading and its ability to broaden your horizons—should check out Viv’s adventures”) and is the top pick for LibraryReads in November. Have fun reading!!

The Complete Eldercare Planner by Joy Loverde

THE COMPLETE ELDERCARE PLANNER by Joy Loverde is subtitled “Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help.”  This is a fourth edition to a helpful guide on a subject that is quite complex and very emotional. Loverde, a business advisor, and media spokesperson about aging and caregiving, outlines some key points at the beginning of each chapter and then asks questions and lists points to pursue, usually ending with a checklist. In fact, she supplies roughly fifty worksheets, questionnaires, and checklists.  Chapter topics range from establishing a care team to choosing housing to managing medical care. Throughout, there is emphasis on protecting caregivers, on financial planning, and overall quality of life for all concerned.  Loverde also includes a helpful glossary of terms, notes and references, plus an “organizations index” with contact for hundreds of related groups. The eldercare industry will only grow as America ages and The New York Times recently ran a couple of articles, “What to Know About Assisted Living” and “Extra Fees Drive Assisted-Living Profits” which highlight the many opportunities for confusion and abuse. I was able to see a digital version of THE COMPLETE ELDERCARE PLANNER, but I think it would be helpful to see a print one, too. While the text seems geared to seniors with resources, it does raise issues of concern to all. Providing helpful information like this, streamlining the entire process, and making it more equitable would allow families to spend increased time with their elders and to more fully appreciate that we all have much for which to be grateful. 

Invisible Generals by Doug Melville

INVISIBLE GENERALS by Doug Melville is an amazing book that I first became aware of due to a feature on PBSNewsHour (see embedded video below). Melville is related to the first two Black generals in U.S. military history and he is clearly on a quest to honor them and recognize their contributions. So he should be. These men, Benjamin O. Davis and Benjamin O. Davis Jr., faced incredible pressures and unrelenting prejudice. Davis, Sr. had to enlist because, as a Black man, he could not get an appointment to West Point. His son was successful in that regard, but spent four years being ostracized; no one spoke to him or ate meals with him for the entire time. Their heroism and impact is readily apparent in the stories about their wartime service and subsequent contributions to plans for integrating the US military. Melville has created a very readable – yet astounding – recounting of family history and American history. Readers can sense his own pride and excitement in the video below:

 

The Sisterhood by Liza Mundy

THE SISTERHOOD by Liza Mundy is subtitled “The Secret History of Women at the CIA” and Mundy writes that “this book tells the story of one of the biggest transformations in CIA culture, from a male dominated institution where women were seen as typists and sexual playthings to one where women propelled some of the agencies most important successes.” Mundy, a bestselling author and an award-winning journalist, has written previously about the contributions of women in unusual, potentially dangerous occupations (Code Girls). This lengthy tome (480 pages) is also thoroughly researched; at least fifteen percent is devoted to detailed notes and an extensive bibliography. Plus, over 100 interviews were conducted. Those stories are what really capture the readers’ attention. They are split into three parts: The Assessment of Men; Ladies Doing Analysis; and Getting Their Guys, each of which has multiple chapters. As just one example, Mundy chronicles the career of Lisa Manfull, a diplomat’s daughter who spoke numerous languages and was recruited after graduation from Brown in 1966, hired at a GS level below her male counterparts, and faced significant resistance and discrimination, even from other women at the agency. Her “housewife cover” offers a fascinating look at operations in Europe and Africa during the Cold War as well as her own struggles to establish a career in balance with her marriage. THE SISTERHOOD received starred reviews from Booklist (“every page is electric with revelations”) and Kirkus (“a vivid, compelling, and important book”).