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June 10
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Carly
gave
 
to:
A Story Like the Wind (Paperback)
by Laurens van der Post
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in June, 2008
Carly said:
"Finally! I finished this book FINALLY after about two years...possibly even three years of reading. It was well worth it. It started off slow for me. So slow, in fact, that I just couldn't keep reading it. Now that I've finished it though, I see...more
Finally! I finished this book FINALLY after about two years...possibly even three years of reading. It was well worth it. It started off slow for me. So slow, in fact, that I just couldn't keep reading it. Now that I've finished it though, I see that it takes some time to get used to the style of writing and to the pace at which the story is told, but once you do, it's easy to see that it is exactly the pace at which it needs to be read. Don't expect to fly through this book. You'll miss the most beautiful, poignant and tragic parts. It is a gorgeous story that will make you think deeply about your relationship to the land you inhabit and your connection to your people, whether friends, family or foes.
This is what I wrote last January:
Well, I'm not really sure yet. I started reading this book at least 13 months ago when my roommate at the time (2 moves ago, lots of books ago) thrust the 1978 copy that he borrowed from his girlfriend's mother at me and said "You have to read this!" And so I started, and I remember it being interesting but a little slow. I abandoned it. Yesterday I picked it up again, realized that I had put it down mid-chapter--in fact, probably mid-sentence. Rather than risk having to trudge through again (in case it still felt like trudging), I just started at the top of the page--mid-sentence. I read for about twenty minutes before bed and I rather enjoyed the scene I made it through. A bunch of boys taunting a lion while he tries to eat the goat he had just killed for his dinner. Some adult men come and kill the lion. How this fits into the story at large, I'm not sure, but I did enjoy that one snippet, for sure. I'll report more if and when I read more....less
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March 17
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Carly
gave
to:
In Praise of Slowness: How A Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of Speed (Hardcover)
by Carl Honore
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in March, 2008
Carly said:
"Ironically, I finished this book quicker than most anything else I've ever read. It was a really light read on a subject that deserves more weight. It's certainly a good leaping off point, and I definitely enjoyed reading it. Some of the concepts ...more
Ironically, I finished this book quicker than most anything else I've ever read. It was a really light read on a subject that deserves more weight. It's certainly a good leaping off point, and I definitely enjoyed reading it. Some of the concepts presented were new to me (such as Super Slow exercise), some of them were very familiar. In some parts it was simply a pat on the back--yes, Carly, it's good to be slow. Other times it served as a simple reminder. Stop speeding. It doesn't save time and it does cost money. Stop cramming so much into life. You can't do anything well if you don't allow enough time for it.
The author is a journalist--I'm pretty sure this was his first full length book and it shows. I'd find myself reading a paragraph excitedly anticipating a solid fact or interesting conclusion and I was constantly left unsatisfied. There was a lot of fluff that seemed to be included just to fill a page quota. So, the writing...not so great, but the ideas...fabulous. Slow Food, Slow Sex, Slow Work, even Slow Leisure... I intend to dive into Honore's resource list now because I think I will find more substantial content there than in his own writing. ...less
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February 22
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Carly
marked as to-read:
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto (Hardcover)
by Michael Pollan
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
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January 17
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Carly
gave
to:
Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era (Paperback)
by Boston Women's Health Book Collective
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 2006
Carly said:
"I actually have no idea when I first read this book--a couple to a few years ago, I guess. And yes, I read it cover to cover. It's a great reference to go back to again and again, and the companion website (www.ourbodiesourselves.org) is rather hel...more
I actually have no idea when I first read this book--a couple to a few years ago, I guess. And yes, I read it cover to cover. It's a great reference to go back to again and again, and the companion website (www.ourbodiesourselves.org) is rather helpful too. It has links to all kinds of resources that might otherwise be hardish to find. The reason I thought to mention and review it now is just that I had a few questions that I just kept googling and re-googling only to find no answers at all. Then I take one quick peek at my copy of Our Bodies Ourselves, and lo and behold, my questions are answered simply and fairly thoroughly and in a voice that is empowering. While sometimes it can be a little distracting, I really love how the writers use the words "we" and "us" rather than "you." The language really helps to make the knowlege offered feel more like options to explore rather than a tirade or even just a nudge. At no point while reading the book does it make me think, "Oh this is what THEY say I should do," or "This is what the EXPERT says, so I'll do that." It's pretty inclusive. ...less
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December 11
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Carly
gave
to:
A Cooperative Method of Natural Birth Control (Paperback)
by Margaret Nofziger
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my rating:
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recommended for: women with a critical mind
read in July, 2002
Carly said:
"I found this book on the shelf at the meditation retreat and homestead where I lived in Vermont five years ago. Natural birth control was a new idea to me at the time. I learned from this book that natural methods exist. So that's a good thing.
T...more
I found this book on the shelf at the meditation retreat and homestead where I lived in Vermont five years ago. Natural birth control was a new idea to me at the time. I learned from this book that natural methods exist. So that's a good thing.
This book is not enough though. You need to read Toni Weschler's book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, to get a more complete understanding of your fertility and how to observe signs in order to achieve or prevent pregnancy. This book is a great leaping off point and an inspiration for folks who are not interested in drugs or synthetic hormones, but you NEED more information....less
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Carly
gave
to:
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (Paperback)
by Ina May Gaskin
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended for: everyone, especially women
read in December, 2007
Carly said:
"Ina May's book is so important for women to read, whether or not you have had, or want to have children. It is incredibly empowering, as a lot of the reviewers here have mentioned--particularly the birth stories in the beginning. In fact, I won't b...more
Ina May's book is so important for women to read, whether or not you have had, or want to have children. It is incredibly empowering, as a lot of the reviewers here have mentioned--particularly the birth stories in the beginning. In fact, I won't bother saying too much more because I think a lot of the reviews already listed here say exactly what I would. Read them! My one complaint about the book is that the author seems to take for granted that the reader knows a lot of terminology that I, at least, did not. In some ways it's reassuring to me that I've not been corrupted by the idea of pregnancy being an illness that requires medication and intervention. I've always thought unneccessary hospital birth seems insane. Still, not knowing the names of these interventions or medications has been a little troublesome for me. She explains some of them very well, but some, it seems she assumes are common knowlege. It would be wise, if you've never given birth or are not incredibly familiar with medical terminology, to have another book on hand that explains some of the basics that not everyone necessarily knows (and if you know a good one, please let me know!)....less
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December 05
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Carly
gave
to:
Taking Charge of Your Fertility (Revised Edition): The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
by Toni Weschler
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended for: all women. all of you. and all of you supportive partners.
read in January, 2003
Carly said:
"Toni Weschler's book is more important to me than The Sacred Harp. Anyone who knows me understands the gravity of that statement, I'm sure. I am not interested in going on a crusade to spread the joys of charting your menstrual cycles (though if I ...more
Toni Weschler's book is more important to me than The Sacred Harp. Anyone who knows me understands the gravity of that statement, I'm sure. I am not interested in going on a crusade to spread the joys of charting your menstrual cycles (though if I had more time I might), but suffice to say, every woman should know the information presented in this book. Understanding and internalizing your three major fertility signs, and seeing how they are affected by other factors such as stress, travel and illness, is invaluable. It only takes a minute to take your temperature and notice what's going on "below" on a given day. You don't have to be as anal as I am about charting to still benefit from Fertility Awareness. This book should be read cover-to-cover at least once, and then it should be constantly referenced for the rest of your life (unless maybe you have it memorized)....less
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Carly
gave
to:
The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube (Paperback)
by Michelle Goodman (Goodreads author!)
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my rating:
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recommended for: people with creative habits, adventurers, folks who want something different out of "work"
read in November, 2007
Carly said:
"I loved this book. For one thing, Michelle Goodman is funny. She has a very cute, and sometimes cutting (in a good way) sense of humor. She makes coming up with a plan to get the hell out of your day job actually fun. But she also acknowledges th...more
I loved this book. For one thing, Michelle Goodman is funny. She has a very cute, and sometimes cutting (in a good way) sense of humor. She makes coming up with a plan to get the hell out of your day job actually fun. But she also acknowledges that in order to "not work" you really do have to work. Your butt off. I'm looking forward to implementing my plan--as soon as I stop writing this book review on company time....less
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October 01
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Carly
gave
to:
100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers from Top Brokers from Around the Country (100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask)
by Ilyce R. Glink
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended for: first time homebuyers
read in December, 2006
Carly said:
"This book is the bomb. It's true, the best way to learn what you need to know to buy a house is to ask people who have bought one. However, there is SO much you need to know that it really helps to have this book on hand as a reference. I recommen...more
This book is the bomb. It's true, the best way to learn what you need to know to buy a house is to ask people who have bought one. However, there is SO much you need to know that it really helps to have this book on hand as a reference. I recommend buying it, not just getting it out from the library. I read it cover to cover last winter and since then I've gone back to reference it oh, about five million times. And now I'm about to buy a house and I still keep looking back for pointers. The format allows you to read what you need to and skip what you don't. And the author very often reminds you to go back and review previous sections if they contain important background information for the part you are presently interested.
It's the bomb.
Did I say that already?...less
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