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Weekly Roundup: February 10, 2023

Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody in there? I have “Comfortably Numb” in my head. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then we can just move right along. I’ve been loopy coming out of this ear + sinus infection that I can now add to the list of winter viruses that have rocked my world (and sent me down a Pink Floyd rabbit hole). Let’s get into the roundup!

Quote of the week:
“My therapist is always quoting important people of antiquity during our session, people like Ovid and Horace, and this doesn’t bother me as much as you might think. I like knowing that my problems exist within a large and respected tradition of problems. That ever since the beginning of civilization, humans have been very upset.” –Sally Holt in Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Epach 

What I’m reading:
In the middle of When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill and really liking it.

What I’m listening to:
Just started The Maid by Nita Prose. Great narration!

What I’m watching:
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker on Netflix. This documentary was not what I was expecting. Very odd story.

What I’m talking about:

The earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. It is difficult to fathom the destruction and how many lives have been lost (more than 22,000 so far). The photos are devastating. You can donate to help victims via the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (they allow you to specify funds for the Turkey/Syria earthquake)The State of the Union. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s heckling = OMG. What a disgrace. Republicans refused to applaud for lower drug prices, more jobs, better infrastructure, gun reform, etc. They also wouldn’t acknowledge Tyre Nichols’ parents. Gross

Interesting things I learned this week:

The world’s tallest book, “Collection of Maritime Rules,” is more than 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide“Kinkeeping” is a term to describe the strategic keeping of bonds. Dating back to the 1960s, academics studying family roles identified the “kinkeeper” as the person responsible for “keeping family members in touch with one another” According to Oxfam, if women around the world made minimum wage for all the unpaid hours of care work they performed in 2019, they would have earned $10.9 trillion. In America alone, they would have earned $1.5 trillion. Because care work remains unpaid, these astounding numbers do not factor into gross domestic product or economic growth Childcare professionals, many of them mothers, are 3x as likely to live in poverty as workers in other professionsVoorpret is a Dutch word to describe the build-up of joy and anticipation you feel before something funNearly 60% of calories eaten by US adults are from ultra processed foodsOnly 18 states in the US currently require sex education to be medically accurate. Uhhh…what? If it’s not medically accurate, what…is…it?This week saw the coldest wind chill ever recorded in the US, -108 degrees in Mt. Washington, New HampshireUnemployment is down to 3.4% and the economy added half a million jobs last month. So, are we officially NOT in a recession?

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“mushrooms as tall as trees.” I heard that mushrooms were as tall as trees in the Paleozoic era, so I had to investigate. It’s true! There were mushrooms 20+ feet tall and they became extinct 350 million years ago.

What I’m grateful for:

Antibiotics. I have BIG gratitude for antibiotics. Without them, I would be…dead?Taking my daughter to see the Broadway production of “Frozen.” One of us became quite verklempt and may have shed a tear during “Let It Go”Back to running. My training cycle for my upcoming half marathon has been a bit wonky with all the illness I’ve had. I’m racing on February 26 so I have some time to build back. This morning’s long run was great!

Snapshots:

Mandatory weekend snuggle time. This is my heaven. She’s a lover. Glorious skies lately. I want her life. My favorite running path.

The post Weekly Roundup: February 10, 2023 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: February 3, 2023

We made it to February! As a meme on Instagram said, “January was a long year.” It feels like the holidays were three months ago, doesn’t it? February is a short month and then we’ll be heading into Spring. I am excited to leave winter, and its viruses, behind (I have another cold. It’s neverending). Here’s this week’s roundup!

Quote of the week:
“Some periods of our growth are so confusing that we don’t even recognize that growth is happening. We may feel hostile or angry or weepy and hysterical, or we may feel depressed. It would never occur to us, unless we stumbled on a book or a person who explained to us, that we were in fact in the process of change, of actually becoming larger than we were before.” –Alice Walker

What I’m reading:
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach. Such a bittersweet story of sisterhood. I’m really enjoying it.

What I’m listening to:
A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life by Ayelet Waldman. Really interesting!

What I’m watching:
I watched The Menu on HBO and it was so creepy and entertaining (if you like stories with sociopaths haha). I also watched Alone Together on Hulu, which was light and cute. I tried to watch Everything Everywhere All At Once because of all the Oscar buzz and turned it off after a half-hour. The whole multiverse storyline does not interest me at all.

What I’m talking about:

The death of Tyre Nichols. So senseless and tragic. Police reform is needed; that much is clearHouse Republicans replacing their flag pins on their lapels with pins in the shape of assault rifles. Ummm, what is wrong with them? There have been 50+ mass shootings so far THIS YEAR. It’s like they’re applauding that statFlorida’s High School Athletic Association asking athletes to share their menstrual history. This is for real. This is not a drill. Women’s bodies are under attackFlorida’s new bill going into effect, mandating that books be screened before going into classroom libraries. Educators who do not comply could face a third-degree felony. What happened to free speech? Interesting how conservatives are cool with some parts of the Constitution, but not others

Interesting things I learned this week:

Humans still have the genes for a full coat of body hair (but evolution has disabled them)John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the SAME EXACT DAY (and it was Independence Day)—July 4, 1826In the 18th century, children played with toy guillotines. Macabre, but I like itPunxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means 6 more weeks of winter… but he’s only been right 39% of the timeWhen children have a home library with 20+ books, they achieve 3 more years of schooling than kids with fewer/no books at homeLast year, Costco sold enough floral stems to wrap all the way around the planetNapoleon was not as short as people think he was. According to pre-metric system French measures, he was 5’2″. BUT the French inch at the time was 2.7cm, while the Imperial inch was 2.54cm. So, he was about 5’5″, just an inch under the average height of an adult male at the timeThe origins of modern-day policing can be traced back to the “Slave Patrol” of the 1700sThe percentage of companies that offered paid maternity leave beyond what the law requires fell from 53% in 2020 to 35% last year63% of Americans say people should have the option to manage their abortion safely at homeThe Japanese have a practice called shinrin-yoku, which translates to “forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere.” This type of ecotherapy has been shown to be more effective for treating depression than SSRIs!Viraha is a Hindi word for realizing you love someone only after you’re separatedThe findings of a Pew Research Center survey reveal that mothers were more likely than fathers to say that being a parent is stressful and tiring all or most of the time

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“zoo name cockroach after ex.” I saw something about this on Instagram so had to investigate. Turns out the San Antonio zoo will let you name a cockroach after your ex and feed it to an animal on Valentine’s Day. This is a tad dark for a zoo, but ok.

What I’m grateful for:

A couple fun outings lately. Went to see Sarah Silverman perform at the Irvine Improv this past weekend, and took my daughter to a UCLA vs Oregon State gymnastics meet too!Negative for COVID, flu, and strep. So whatever I have is not those awful thingsA healthier week ahead (I’m choosing optimism over complete despair. I chose complete despair yesterday and it wasn’t fun)

Snapshots:

Been aiming to do one in-person yoga class a week. Went to this one last Friday. Didn’t get to one this week due to illness. Moody sky. My 13-year-old boy. My other handsome boy.

The post Weekly Roundup: February 3, 2023 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: January 27, 2023

Well, I succumbed to the stomach virus of last week, but am now healthy again—as I tell my daughter, “the body is amazing!” It’s been a heavy week with so much violence in the news. I am constantly wrestling with how much to shield myself from headlines. It feels like avoiding reality, and maybe it is, and maybe that’s okay sometimes. May we all find some light and levity in the midst of it all. On to the roundup…

Quote of the week:
“I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” –James Baldwin

What I’m reading:
I’m halfway through Idaho by Emily Ruskovich, which has been on my list for a looong time. It’s beautifully written but very heavy. Not sure it’s the right book for my mindset right now, but it’s an objectively great book.

What I’m listening to:
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka. It’s a unique little book and I’m enjoying it so far.

What I’m watching:
I finally finished Fleishman Is In Trouble on Hulu. There were a couple really slow episodes in the series, but the last couple episodes made up for those. It gave me a lot to think about. If you’ve seen it, let’s talk. I also watched Emily the Criminal on Netflix, which was okay. Last night, I was in desperate need of something lighter and Chelsea Handler’s comedy special, Revolution, did the trick.

Writing news:
Nothing to report. I’ve been busy with copywriting work, and I’m getting ready to move, which has been taking up a lot of mental space. It’s very hard for me to be creative in the midst of hectic life stuff.

What I’m talking about:
Mass shootings. When will enough be enough? I feel like a broken record talking about this issue. The Monterey Park shooting hit literally close to home. Then another in Half Moon Bay. The statistics coming out are just horrendous. There have been more mass shootings in 2023 than days. Every day, more than 300 people in the US are shot. This is ABSURD. No other country is like this. Legislation is needed NOW. When Bill Clinton banned assault weapons in 1994, mass shootings dropped by 43%. When George W. Bush and the GOP let the ban expire in 2004, mass shootings went up 245%.

There is a lot of talk about how mental health issues are the heart of the matter. I don’t discount this. Mental health issues are HUGE right now. The pandemic has taken a massive toll. People are angry (and anger disguises pain and hurt). But the problem is that weapons are available. If they weren’t, the mental health issues would still exist, but the capacity for carnage would be much less.

It feels like we’re all desensitized now, in a “freeze state” from the chronic, low-grade trauma of living in a country like this. Lawmakers need to act. We need to vote for people who prioritize this.

Rant over. Thanks for attending my TED Talk.

Interesting things I learned this week:

Nicole Mann has become the first Native American woman in spaceHawaii will make preschool available for all 3-4 year oldsM&Ms is retiring its “spokescandies” due to ridiculous conservative outrageEating just one serving of freshwater fish could have the same effect as drinking water heavily polluted with PFAS for one monthErin Roberge is the first full-time female athletic trainer for a professional football team (the Green Bay Packers)Half of the crude oil exported from the Amazon ends up in CaliforniaMammoth Lakes in California has more snow than anywhere in North America right nowThe Pope said this week, “Being homosexual is not a crime”Coriander and cilantro are from the same plant, and paprika is ground-up bell peppers (what?!)In 95 years of Oscar “Best Director” nominations, there have been 21 Johns, 18 Williams, 17 Georges, 16 Davids, 13 Franks…and 7 women

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Cool cat trees.” I’m moving to a smaller house and want my cats to be sufficiently entertained in less square footage. Recommendations welcome. I love the look of this but am not paying $300 for a cat tree.

What I’m grateful for:

Recovering from the gnarly stomach virus. Do not wish it on anyone. Glad to be done with itGetting the ball rolling with my house move. It’s going to be a bit of a process since the house I’m moving to needs some workGreat long run this morning—beautiful weather, body felt strong, much needed time with my thoughts

Snapshots:

The highlight of being sick is pet cuddles. So happy to get back to running and seeing these views. My mom sent this photo of me as a kid. Always been a cat lover.

The post Weekly Roundup: January 27, 2023 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: January 20, 2023

Well, I jinxed myself (again) last week by declaring it all quiet on the winter virus front. A plague has descended. I have been spared (so far), but my daughter has been sicker than I’ve ever seen her with this brutal stomach virus. It should pass soon. Here’s hoping for a healthy and happy weekend—for us and for YOU.

Quote of the week:
“Still, what I want in my life
is to be willing
to be dazzled—
to cast aside the weight of facts
and maybe even
to float a little
above this difficult world.”
–Mary Oliver, “The Ponds”

What I’m reading:
I’ve been reading a lot of ARCs lately (advance reader copies) for books coming out later this year. Currently, I’m reading The Possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love and it’s so good.

What I’m listening to:
Still making my way through Imposter by Bradeigh Godfrey. I think I know what the “twist” might be now… A couple hours left of the story, so we will see!

What I’m watching:
I have a couple episodes left of Fleishman Is In Trouble on Hulu. I’ve sort of lost interest, but feel stubbornly attached to finishing it. I have problems.

Writing news:
Nothing to report this week. Still waiting on feedback on my latest manuscript. Still dabbling in some poetry.

What I’m talking about:

The country hitting its debt limit. I took AP Economics in high school (and I continue to have nightmares about missing the final test… #anxiety), but I have completely forgotten everything I learned (yay!) and need an economist to explain to me wtf is happening with this debt stuff. Whenever I hear about these things, I think, “Wait, it seems like the whole financial system is a house of cards. Am I missing something?”Crazy anti-vax people. I saw a post on Faceboook from a woman in my area looking for a nanny, with the specification that this person be unvaccinated. This is a new one. Why on earth would it matter if the nanny is vaccinated or not? Does she think vaccinations are contagious? I investigated via the comments section and she clarified that she believes vaccinated people will go into cardiac arrest and she does not want this happening in her homeNeurodiversity. I’ve mentioned before that I am definitely an HSP (highly sensitive person—you can read about it here). It’s estimated that about 20% of the population fits this category (and it also applies to the animal kingdom, believe it or not). Recently, the trait of high sensitivity has been classified as a form of neurodiversity, which is so interesting. I have no problem with this classification, personally. I’ve always felt “neurodivergent” Jacinda Arden’s resignation. She was the prime minister of New Zealand for those who don’t know. I respected her so much (and still have daydreams of moving to NZ). She alluded to burnout and not having enough in the tank to do the job well. I respect her honesty, while at the same time lamenting female burnout as a whole. Deloitte’s Women at Work 2022 report, which includes a survey of 5,000 women across 10 countries, found that 53% of women said their stress levels are higher than they were a year ago, and almost half feel burned out. Additionally, almost half of all participants rated their mental health as poor or very poor. Sigh. There are lots of things at work here… Women are asked to carry A LOT (and the pandemic really made that worse). I also think it’s interesting that male leaders seem to only resign due to pressure in the wake of a big scandal. Is that ego, or do men not burn out like women do? Both?

Interesting things I learned this week:

Lucile Randon DC, also known as Sister André, died this week. She was the world’s oldest known person at age 11811% of the U.S. population has diabetesThe State Department has banned the use of Times New Roman font, in favor of a more friendly CalibriFrance’s courts ruled that companies can’t force people to participate in office parties and other “fun” activitiesParts of Greenland are now hotter than at any time in the past 1,000 yearsA group of ladybugs is called a “loveliness”

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Crocs for dogs.” I saw someone post a photo of a dog in Crocs on Instagram so I had to investigate. It’s true! There are Crocs for dogs.

What I’m grateful for:

Working from home. I am a freelance writer, which gives me the flexibility I need to also be a mom and deal with things like stomach viruses. I am so fortunate to make a living this way A break in the rainstorms. We had a little downpour last night, but it has been mostly calm the past few days. California has been hit hard with rain so we need a little break for things to dry outMy daughter’s dad. Divorce is no fun, but I’m so proud of how we’ve navigated things and continue to support each other (and our daughter)

Snapshots:

Most of my selfies seem to have a pet in the background. Can you spot the one here? My phone identified this photo as a cat, which is appropriate. I am definitely more of a cat person, though I have two dogs. Dog again acting like cat. My laptops are like cat nip, I swear.

The post Weekly Roundup: January 20, 2023 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: January 13, 2022

I just realized it’s Friday the 13th. There are only two Friday the 13ths this year—the next one is October 13, right in the middle of spooky season. I’m not a terribly superstitious person so this date doesn’t mean much to me, but it’s still fun to acknowledge it. Okay, on to the roundup!

Quote of the week:
“Forever is composed of nows.” –Emily Dickinson

What I’m reading:
Brood by Jackie Polzin. It is a delightful little book and I’m enjoying it immensely.

What I’m listening to:
Imposter by Bradeigh Godfrey. I kept hearing about this book and then saw an Audible deal for it, so I went for it. It’s definitely engaging.

What I’m watching:
I’m a few episodes into Fleishman Is In Trouble on Hulu. I didn’t love the book, but I can’t remember why. Ha. The series is pretty good so far. I also watched the first half of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix. I plan to finish it today. Kind of cheesy, but fun.

Writing news:
I submitted to my very first poetry contest. I don’t expect anything to come of it, but I liked having a deadline to work toward. As for my latest manuscript, I’m still waiting on feedback from my V.I.R (Very Important Reader).

Interesting things I learned this week:

The Treasury Dept says the U.S. will reach the debt limit on January 19… then what?The Missouri House of Representatives tightened its dress code for women, deciding they must cover their arms by wearing a jacket. Uhhh…wtf? The House GOP will have more men named Mike than women chairing committees The latest government data shows that 2022 was the second best year on record in terms of raw job growth (behind only 2021)The first successful open heart surgery in America was performed in 1893 by a Black surgeon, Dr. Daniel Hale WilliamsA 9-year-old in Maryland found a 15-million-year-old megalodon shark tooth California has banned animal fur products The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the first vaccine for honeybees Supposedly, Picasso never said “no” to his kids (I find this very hard to believe)Gas stoves have been shown to cause health problems and there is talk of a federal ban Chickens eat small rocks as they forage. The rocks help aid their digestion

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Gorilla cereal.” I needed to find an image of the cereal my daughter likes to send to her dad. All I could remember is that there’s a gorilla on the box. It’s this one.

What I’m grateful for:

Adding more yoga to my life. I’ve been aiming to do an in-person class once a week. I prefer gentle flows or restorative/yin yoga these days. It’s like a massage for my bodyBook club! I’ve been passively interested in finding a local book club for a couple years now and was invited to one last night. It was so fun! We discussed Verity and it was a riotous discussion A race on the calendar. I signed up for a February half marathon. I’ll be spending the night before at an Airstream hotel to add to the funAll quiet on the winter virus front (for now). I probably just jinxed itA visit with my dear friend tomorrow! She is in town (from Africa!) and staying with me over the weekend. I can’t wait!

Snapshots:

Napping on a weekend with the pets is my favorite thing. Puppy’s first beach walk. My cloud obsession continues. I wish this image could capture the sound of the water running over the pebbles. So pretty. I have this purple blanket on my desk, behind my computer monitor, and there is almost always an animal on it.

The post Weekly Roundup: January 13, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: January 6, 2023

Did I just type “2022” instead of “2023”? Yes, yes I did. I thought I was ready to leave 2022 behind, but apparently my subconscious is not so sure. In any case, I hope you’re having a great start to 2023. Mine has been a bit blah as I’m recovering from the holiday frenzy and feeling a strong pull to hibernate. Here’s the first roundup of the new year!

Quote of the week:
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” –Neil Gaiman

What I’m reading:
I’m almost done with A Little Hope by Ethan Joella. It took me a little while to get into it, but I’ve really enjoyed it overall.

What I’m listening to:
I saw The Heart and Other Monsters on a list of “memoirs you’ve never heard of” and decided to check it out. It’s about a woman coming to terms with her sister’s death, which was labeled a drug overdose though foul play seems possible… It’s a story of grief and loss, with some true crime mixed in.

What I’m watching:
I finished the second season of The White Lotus on HBO. Loved it! I’m ready for season 3! Last night, I started the docuseries Wild Wild Country on Netflix, which is about Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh’s cult in the Oregon desert in the 1980s.

Writing news:
I’m awaiting feedback on my latest manuscript, so I’m currently enjoying some downtime. I have learned to embrace phases of dormancy with my creative writing. The stories come when they’re ready.

What I’m talking about:

Why January may not be the best time to “resolve” anything. In ancient times, the New Year was actually celebrated on the Spring Equinox in March. Winter is typically a time for going inward and slowing down (makes sense with colder temps and less daylight). Spring is when hibernation ends, light returns, and days get warmer. Seems logical to set goals then, right?The Kevin McCarthy fiasco. This circus is making the House of Representatives (and the Republicans, in particular) look like a joke. Truly embarrassingGeorge Santos, the liar. We all know politicians lie, but this guy is on another level. He claimed he graduated from Baruch College and worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. Turns out he didn’t receive a college degree and didn’t work at either place (he was actually a customer service agent for Dish Network). He claimed to have founded an animal rescue charity. He did not. He said he lost four employees at the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. He did not. He claimed he lost his mother on 9/11. He did not. He talked about a family fortune in real estate, not there are no property records to support this. Records do show evictions and credit card debt. Again, this is so embarrassing for the political system as a whole

Interesting things I learned this week:

Results from phase 1 trials of a breast cancer vaccine have been promising, and phase 2 trials are set to start this year! This is amazing!50% of the United States does not require a license to carry a gunAmericans are 25x more likely to be killed by a gun than people in other high-income countriesThe median annual pay during the Great Depression was 22% of the cost of an average home. Today, it’s 14%Waldeinsamkeit is a German word for the feeling of solitude and connectedness to nature when being alone in the woods

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“World’s largest collection of salt and pepper shakers.” In Rabbit Cake, it’s mentioned that there’s a Guinness World Record for this so I had to see if this was true. IT IS! LaVerne Tish has 6,971 different pairs of salt and pepper shakers, as of January 2011, that he has collected since 1984. All of his shakers are displayed in this house.

What I’m grateful for:
I’ve been in a bit of a funk (I say this enough to warrant a book titled A Bit of a Funk: A Memoir). I’m grateful that I’ve learned to sit through these and not assign them too much meaning. The funks pass. I’m grateful for all the things in my toolbox—my trusty antidepressants, good sleep, chats with people who know me well, cute pets, invigorating runs, comforting tea (and wine too), engaging puzzles, so many stories to immerse myself in (in books, on screens, via earbuds). I’m grateful to go into this new year healthy (-ish; cold viruses abound!). I’m so grateful for my daughter and my family nearby. And for California rainstorms followed by sunshine.

Snapshots:

The big California storm has passed, but the huge swell remains. This area of the beach is usually all sand. A rose in my garden. A nice symbol for a new year–growth and beauty in the midst of a storm. My very dear friend got married last week, and my daughter and I were so happy to celebrate! A couple recent puzzle triumphs. Coming back to reality this week has been rough. Naps and snuggles with the puppy were in order.

The post Weekly Roundup: January 6, 2023 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Books I read in 2022

Another year of reading in the books (ha)! You know how I say that reading is a stress reliever for me? Well, the fact that I read 136 books this year goes to show that I’ve had a stressful year. Usually, I barely break 100. I’ve picked some favorites, and included the full list of what I read below. I always love recommendations, so tell me what you loved this year. Here’s to a great year of reading in 2023!

Fiction favorites:

Nonfiction favorites:

Other favorites:

The full list…

Fiction:
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
Little Darlings by Melanie Golding
The Pessimists by Bethany Ball
November 9 by Colleen Hoover
The Girl Before by JP Delaney
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
The Every by Dave Eggers
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
I Thought You Said This Would Work by Ann Garvin
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
Pure Colour by Sheila Heti
Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding
The River by Peter Heller
Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket: Stories by Hilma Wolitzer
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Wayward by Dana Spiotta
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Animal by Lisa Taddeo
To Be a Man: Stories by Nicole Krauss
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Men Without Women: Stories by Haruki Murakami
The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
Best Years of Your Life by Jen Craven
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
Kismet by Becky Chalsen (advance copy; releases in 2023)
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Long Answer by Anna Hogeland
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Verity by Colleen Hoover
The Foulest Things by Amy Tector
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Take My Husband by Ellen Meister
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
The Position by Meg Wolitzer
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
We Are the Light by Matthew Quick
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
The Guest by Emma Cline
Women Talking by Miriam Toews
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid
Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott
We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart
The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams

Nonfiction:
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Commitment and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown
The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning by Paul Bloom
Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath by Heather Clark
Classic Krakauer: Essays on Wilderness and Risk by Jon Krakauer
Open by Rachel Krantz
Emotional Inheritance: A Therapist, Her Patients, and the Legacy of Trauma by Galit Atlas
In the Shadow of the Mountain: A Memoir of Courage by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado
The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap by Stephanie Coontz
Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger by Rebecca Traister
Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength by Laurie Helgoe
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
Pure Land: A True Story of Three Lives, Three Cultures and the Search for Heaven on Earth by Annette McGivney
Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel
The Art of Receiving and Giving by Betty Martin
All About Love by bell hooks
Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams
In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom
Ambitious Like a Mother: Why Prioritizing Your Career is Good for Your Kids by Lara Bazelon
I’ll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood by Jessi Klein
Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain
The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Motherhood, and the Mind-Baby Problem by Julie Phillips
This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan
Becoming the One: Heal Your Past, Transform Your Relationship Patterns, and Come Home to Yourself by Sheleana Aiyana
Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit
Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities by Diana Leaf Christian
The Divorce Colony by April White
Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett
Hello, Molly!: A Memoir by Molly Shannon
The Tragedy of Heterosexuality by Jane Ward
Sometimes Amazing Things Happen: Heartbreak and Hope on the Bellevue Hospital Psychiatric Prison Ward by Elizabeth Ford, MD
The Fixed Stars: A Memoir by Molly Wizenburg
The Empath Experience: What to Do When You Feel Everything by Sydney Campos
Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses by Sarah Fay
This Story Will Change: After the Happily Ever After–a Memoir by Elizabeth Crane
Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met my 35 Siblings by Chrysta Bilton
Aftermath: On Marriage and Separation by Rachel Cusk
Emotional Labor: The Invisible Work Shaping Our Lives and How to Claim Our Power by Rose Hackman
Mother Reader: Essential Writings on Motherhood by Moyra Davey (editor)
Sex and the Single Woman: 24 Writers Reimagine Helen Gurley Brown’s Cult Classic by Eliza Smith and Haley Swanson (editors)
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
Forget “Having It All”: How America Messed Up Motherhood–and How to Fix It by Amy Westervelt
Stranger Care: A Memoir of Loving What Isn’t Ours by Sarah Sentilles
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg
Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery by Catherine Gildiner
Do Parents Matter?: Why Japanese Babies Sleep Soundly, Mexican Siblings Don’t Fight, and American Families Should Just Relax by Robert LeVine and Sarah LeVine
And Now We Have Everything: On Motherhood Before I Was Ready by Meaghan O’Connell
A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney
When She Comes Back: A Memoir by Ronit Plank
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued by Ann Crittenden

Other:
A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader by Maria Popova (editor) and Claudia Bedrick (editor)
Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Henry and June: From “A Journal of Love”: The Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin, 1931-1932
Madness, Rack, and Honey: Collected Lectures by Mary Ruefle
The Way She Feels: My Life on the Borderline in Pictures and Pieces by Courtney Cook
Journal of Solitude by May Sarton

Poetry:
New and Selected Poems, Volume One by Mary Oliver
I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy by Hafiz (Daniel Ladinsky translator/interpreter)
Selected Poems by E.E. Cummings
The Carrying by Ada Limón 
Dog Songs by Mary Oliver
Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón 
The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy, edited by James Crews
What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer

The post Books I read in 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: December 30, 2022

Here we are at the end of 2022! It’s been a rough year for me personally and I am ready for January 1. Here’s the last roundup of the year. See you in 2023!

Quote of the week:
“I know now, after fifty years, that the finding/losing, forgetting/remembering, leaving/returning, never stops. The whole of life is about another chance, and while we are alive, till the very end, there is always another chance.” —Jeannette Winterson

What I’m reading:
I just started A Little Hope by Ethan Joella and I’m liking it so far.

What I’m listening to:
Still listening to Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett. The story is so great, and the narration is wonderful too. For any Audible members, this one is part of the free Audible Plus catalog!

What I’m watching:
I’m about halfway through the second season of The White Lotus on HBO. Loving it. Also watched the live-action “Beauty and the Beast” special on ABC with my daughter. Very well done!

Writing news:
I sent off my latest manuscript to a V.I.R (very important reader) before the holidays, so taking a writing break for now (though I still write in my journal and dabble in poetry daily).

What I’m talking about:
I have been mentally checked out of most things this past week. The holidays are A LOT. Most of my talking has been with mom-friends, with the subject being how to entertain our children while school is closed.

Interesting things I learned this week:

Boketto is a Japanese word for staring off into the distance and losing oneself in the process. This is why I love other languages. There is no word close to this in EnglishThe word economics is derived from the Greek root oikonomia, which means “the management of the household” (so, even ancient language supports the idea that the foundation of our society is the household)In 1994, the Australian Bureau of Statistics calculated that the value of unpaid labor (largely performed by women in households) was equivalent to 48-64% of the GDP. Other studies have shown that it’s about 55% of the GDP in Germany, 40% in Canada, and 46% in FinlandAccording to UN statistics, women spend about 1/3 of their total working time on paid work and 2/3 on unpaid work. For men, the proportions are reversedCoral reefs provide $375 billion in goods and services to the worldThe Beyster Family little blue penguins (about 12″ tall, the smallest penguins in the world) poop about 145 times per dayThere are 36 species of sea horses

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“origin of ‘that sucks’.” Apparently, this comes from the early 20th century and refers to the runt of the litter sucking the hind teat (the worst of the teats, I guess). I’ve decided I’m going to use the full phrase from now on: “that sucks the hind teat.”

What I’m grateful for:
I’ve been reflecting a lot on this past year. I’m grateful to have survived it, given that I have been through many of the “stressful events” listed on those psychological assessments of well-being—still reeling from the death of my dad, lost my dog suddenly this summer, Covid, divorce. I’m grateful for my health, for my light-of-my-life daughter, for having family nearby, for friends who get me, for books (the writing and reading of them), for pets, for puzzles, for good beer (and wine), for beautiful sunsets… There’s a lot to be grateful for. I’m excited for what lies ahead.

Snapshots:

Took my daughter to the Birch Aquarium in San Diego, where we saw the smallest penguins in the world and this very friendly sea turtle. We also went to Lightscape at the San Diego Botanical Gardens. Amazing! It wouldn’t be a weekly roundup without some pet photos. We’ve been watching the sunset most nights. This one was pretty epic. For Christmas, my daughter wrote me her first “book.” So cute.

The post Weekly Roundup: December 30, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: December 23, 2022

Christmas Eve Eve — we’re almost there! I’m wrapping up some work, along with doing some literal wrapping (of gifts), and then going into holiday-break mode (which is more relaxing in my head than it will be in reality). I hope you and yours enjoy the next week, spending it in ways that give you warm fuzzies inside. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Annnnd…here’s this week’s roundup!

Quote of the week:
“To fall in love with the world is to look up at the night sky and feel your mind swim before the beauty and the distance of the stars. It is to hold your children while they cry, to watch as the sycamore trees leaf out in June. When my breastbone starts to hurt, and my throat tightens, and tears well in my eyes, I want to look away from feeling. I want to deflect with irony, or anything else that will keep me from feeling directly. We all know how loving ends. But I want to fall in love with the world anyway, to let it crack me open. I want to feel what there is to feel while I am here.” –John Green (from this book, which I enjoyed)

What I’m reading:
I tore through Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott (it releases in May) earlier this week. I became a fan of hers after reading You Will Know Me. She is a master at creating MOOD. I’m now reading The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams—liking it so far. I’m also reading The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World Is Still the Least Valued by Ann Crittenden.

What I’m listening to:
I just finished We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart. I saw it on a NYT “Best Audiobooks” list and thought it sounded interesting. It didn’t disappoint. I’m now listening to Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett, which has been on my list ever since I read Unlikely Animals (if you haven’t read this one, do it).

What I’m watching:
I just finished the first season of The White Lotus on HBO. Loved it. On to Season 2! No spoilers please!

Writing news:
I put the finishing touches on an updated draft of my latest manuscript on Wednesday and sent it off to a V.I.R. (Very Important Reader). Hoping to share some good news with this one in 2023!

What I’m talking about:

Winter solstice. It was this past Wednesday. It’s when the sun travels the shortest path through the sky, meaning the day has the least sunlight and the longest night. In ancient times it was seen as the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun or of a sun god. Many see this as a time that marks the beginning of a renewal, an increase in light (literal and metaphorical). I dig itThe marathon of holiday season. I’ve talked to a few people who have said they agree it seems especially marathon-y this year. Are we all just burnt out?The Jan 6 panel’s vote to prosecute Trump for a range of crimes related to his attempt to overthrow the 2020 election. I’m very interested to see what happens next with this…President Zelensky’s visit to the White House, as part of his first trip away from Ukraine since the conflict began. Hearing him speak gives me chills. He has done so much for his country and I’m happy that we are stepping in to offer some support

Interesting things I learned this week:

There’s a tradition in Iceland where people exchange books on Christmas Eve, then cozy up together and read into the night. It’s called Jolabokaflod, or “Christmas Book Flood” and I am into itNASA’s InSight Mars rover ran out of battery and “retired” last week. After its mission, which lasted just over 4 years, it sent its last communication back to Earth: “My power’s really low, so this may be the last image I send. Don’t worry about me though: my time here has been both productive and serene.” I have no idea why this makes me so emotional, but it doesResearch supports that office buildings are too cold! A Cornell University study found that office temperatures affect workplace productivity. When temperatures were increased from 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 77, typing output rose by 150% and error frequency dropped by 44%A survey conducted across 20 countries found wide variance in the percentage of people who believe humanity will end within their lifetimes: In France, 6 percent of those polled did; in the United States, 22 percentIt took Earth about 3 billion years to go from single-celled life to multicellular life. It took less than 70 million years to go from Tyrannosaurus rex to humans Initial reviews of The Great Gatsby were not good. The Chicago Tribune reviewer called it “obviously unimportant.” The Dallas Morning News wrote, “One finishes The Great Gatsby with a feeling of regret, not for the fate of the people in the book, but for Mr. Fitzgerald.” OUCH. The book now sells half a million copies per yearAir-conditioning and electric fans combined account for around 10% of all global electricity usage—and that number is expected to increase as the planet warmsBlack cows painted with zebra stripes are about 50% less likely to be bitten by fliesFriolero is a Spanish word for someone who is very sensitive to cold NY has banned the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits (as a way to curb puppy mills and abusive breeders)A survey of chief financial officers in American corporations found that 80% were men with stay-at-home wivesA study published this Thursday said 65% of Antarctica’s native species, including emperor penguins, will likely disappear by the end of the century due to climate change

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Donkey notepad.” Let’s just say I was looking for a very specific gift for someone…and I was successful.

What I’m grateful for:

My daughter’s holiday performance at school, which was pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seenBeing healthy-ish. I jinxed myself last week and was sick over the weekend with some kind of cold-stomach bug combo. It was as fun as it sounds. I’m feeling pretty good now, thankfullySugar cookies and homemade cake pops! And I just printed a recipe for cinnamon rolls A break in routine for the week ahead. I’m trying to take time off work and my daughter is out of school, so we’ll get to be mellow (or as mellow as a five-year-old can be)

A couple snapshots:

Trying to do yoga more often. The puppy usually jumps all over me. Speaking of puppy, she is definitely causing some drama.

The post Weekly Roundup: December 23, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: December 16, 2022

I keep thinking of that Counting Crows song “Long December” because this December feels particularly long. Just me? All parents of young children? Everyone?

Quote of the week:
“We shake with joy, we shake with grief. What a time they have, these two housed as they are in the same body.” –Mary Oliver

What I’m reading:
Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but it’s been very enjoyable.

What I’m listening to:
I just started The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid on my run this morning. Loving it. Earlier this week, I listened to Ronit Plank’s memoir, When She Comes Back, which was great.

What I’m watching:
At the request of a few work colleagues, I started watching The White Lotus on HBO last night. I am late to this party, but I’m glad I came. I also watched The Swimmers on Netflix–great movie based on a real story of two sisters who leave behind their home in Syria for a chance at a better life.

Writing news:
I’ve been working away at some book updates. Editing is so weird. I was very confident my latest manuscript was DONE a few months ago and now, as I re-read it, I see so many places that need work. I should have another “done” version in a week or so.

What I’m talking about:

The 10th anniversary of Sandy Hook. It is distressing that so little has been done in the past decade to prevent this from happening again. Twenty six-year-olds were killed. TWENTY SIX-YEAR-OLDS. If this didn’t immediately lead to gun restrictions, I don’t know what willThe death of Stephen “tWitch” Boss. Thinking of the pain he must have been in, and the pain of his family, puts a lump in my throat. It’s been hard to see some comments online about his act being selfish. I liked the quote Glennon Doyle shared, from Warsan Shire, writing on refugees: “you have to understand… no one… (leaves home) unless the water is safer than the land” President Biden signing the Respect for Marriage Act on Tuesday, enshrining federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages into federal law for the first time. This good news was very much needed

Interesting things I learned this week:

The 5-star scale to rate hotels began in 1979South Korea is adopting the “international system” for calculating age (which states that a person is age 0 at birth and then age 1 a year to the day after their birth). Currently in South Korea, the most common way to calculate age is where a baby is age 1 at birth and then turns a year older on January 1, regardless of the date of birth (so, a child born on December 31, 2021, turned 2 years old on January 2, 2022)Oregon has a million acres of dead trees (due to drought)“Embargo” spelled backwards is “o grab me”Between 2003 and 2019, the aggregate time-spent-alone went from 43.5% to 48.7%, according to the American Time Use survey. Between 2019 and 2021, it went up to 50.5%. By 2019, the average American spent only 4 hours per week with friends (a sharp 37% decline from five years before, probably due to the proliferation of smartphones). As of last year, the average American spent less than 3 hours per week with friendsVelociraptors weighed less than 35 lbs, contrary to their scary depiction in mediaThe combined weight of all humans currently living on earth is around 385 million tons. The combined weight of our livestock is 800 million tons. The combined weight of every other mammal and bird on earth is less than 100 million tonsEvery year, between 250,000 and 350,000 people gather to watch the Indy 500, making it the largest annual non-religious gathering of human beings on earthThe term “knocked up” comes from the 1800s, when the price of an enslaved African woman was “knocked up” by the auctioneer when she was pregnantDictionary.com’s word of the year is “woman.” Apparently, searches for the word on Dictionary.com doubled this past year versus previous yearsThe most common keys on the keyboard are typed with the left handSnakes have clitorises (thank you to Stephen Colbert for enlightening the nation on this very important fact)

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Bald-faced lie.” I was using this term in my new manuscript and then I thought, “wait, is that right? Bald-faced?” So I googled. Apparently, “bold-faced” is also used, but “bald-faced” is the preferred term (read here).

What I’m grateful for:

Writing. It is my greatest anti-depressant. I’ve been a little down with the holiday season–second one without my dad, first one since my divorce–and writing continues to be a reliable mood-lifterRunning, my other great anti-depressant. I wasn’t planning to sign up for any races soon, but I may do a half marathon in February. I’ll see if I stay healthy!A mostly healthy household. We dealt with a minor cold this week, but have been spared the other big things going around (so far… I probably just jinxed it)

Snapshots:

My best friend got me this sweatshirt and it speaks truth. Cali Christmas. We had a couple days of rain (so nice!) and a few magnificent rainbows. I have a lot of cuteness in my life.

The post Weekly Roundup: December 16, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.