Andrea Nourse's Blog, page 30

Educated, Tara Westover

**Review**

Educated, Tara Westover

This just may be the best memoir I’ve ever read. The story itself was engaging and interesting, but the prose was breathtaking. Her words transported me to Idaho, BYU, Cambridge and Harvard.

Her retelling of the events of her childhood and her growth made me cry, rage and, occasionally, laugh

Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate

**Review**

Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate

I loved every page of this book. Every time I had to set it down, it stayed with me. Each mystery revealed left me with questions.

Rill’s story was heartbreaking. I was desperate to know what happened with her siblings and how Judy fit into the puzzle.

As I learned the truth along with Avery, my heart broke. Knowing that children actually lives nightmares like this is hard to fathom.

Wingate wove together a beautiful and heartbreaking story.

Becoming, Michelle Obama

**Review**

Becoming, Michelle Obama

Oh Michelle. Your voice and story were exactly what I needed.

I picked up both the hardcover and audiobook of Becoming. I much prefer to listen to memoirs rather than read them. Hearing the author’s story is always so much more intimate and personal when you can hear their words in their own voice.

I learned so much about Michelle in a Becoming. I fell I love with her all over again. I cried tears of joy, empathy or sadness in nearly every chapter.

As a working mother, her openness about her struggles with balance and working mom guilt resonated deeply with me.

Her love for Barrack, her daughters, her family and America is genuine and raw. She tells her story with a humbleness that few possess.

I found myself wanting to keep listening to hear the full story but dreading the final words. Reliving the Obama White House years through her words brought me great comfort.

Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi

**Review**

Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi

When I read the synopsis, I wasn’t sure how Gyasi was going to execute the multi generational story outlined.

She did it beautifully with impeccable prose and detail. The pictures she painted were so vivid I felt like I was living with each of the characters.

At first, I was worried I would miss Effia, the first character we meet. She was by far my favorite. I almost put the book down when I glanced at the chapter titles and realized I only had one chapter with her, but I’m glad I didn’t. I then fell in love with Esi and each of her and Effia’s children and their children.

Homegoing is like nothing I’ve ever read before. The story is disjointed and jarring as it hops from one generation to the next, but this jumping is what connects the reader to the family and the history they lived. Gyasi transported me through multiple decades and countries and bonded me to a history I’d never connected to before.

The ending was perfect and did not leave me wanting.

Is There Still Sex in the City, Candace Bushnell

**Review**

Is There Still Sex in the City? Candace Bushnell

I wanted to love this book. I was beyond excited to receive an ARC from Netgalley. But it left me disappointed and wanting.

Is There Still Sex in the City reads like the narration to a TV show, but lacks the imagery and heart that should be playing while the narrator adds their clippy, smart commentary.

The chapters hopped from mini essays on social and dating definitions (Tinder at 50, kids, suicide, types of boys, mid-life crisis, etc.) and character stories without much emotion – lots of telling, little showing. Considering the topics covered, I was expecting to feel something, or at the very least, connection to the characters, but there wasn’t enough to build that connection on.

The writing was choppy and felt like a list of things that happened or of explanations of what was happening. Cliches, acronyms and text speak overflowed throughout. I felt as though it wanted to be smart and edgy, but fell short.

Facts and Fears, James Clapper

**Review**

Fears and Facts, James Clapper

Before I picked up this audiobook, I was familiar with James Clapper’s name. I had a vague understanding of his role in the Obama administration, but was more familiar with him post Inauguration Day 2017.

In Facts and Fears, Clapper goes into great detail of his history of service to America, first in the armed  services and then in the intelligence community.

His service, expertise and knowledge was overwhelming. As was his clear devotion and passion for the country he continues to serve.

Facts and Fears provided me with more in-depth facts surrounding several controversial events in recent American history – Benghazi, Russian election interference and Bin Laden. Clapper served our country during some of the most divisive and impactful moments in our history.

If you have an interest in American history – political, military or otherwise – I definitely recommend Facts and Fears.

Ithaca’s Soldier, Kelly Utt

**Review**

Ithaca’s Soldier, Kelly Utt

A brilliant concept and unique idea! Reading the synopsis, I was intrigued, to say the least.

George is a relatable, caring family man. He is surrounded my amazing and loving people. It was those characters that drew me and that I connected with.

My only complaint was that it ended too soon! Luckily the sequel is already available! I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes as it connects Ancient Greece to modern day Ithaca.

January 2019 Book Recap

I started January with a lofty goal – to read 36 books in 2019. In 2018, I read or listened to 23 books. In 2017, 19. Prior to that, I would guess that number was closer to 0 for several years. As I mentioned in a previous post, somewhere along the way, I lost my reading mojo. I think it is safe to say it is back.

In the past, I have posted one off reviews whenever I felt inspired. This year I want to try something new and post monthly recaps and reviews. (I may or may not change my mind about this… we shall see.)

Below is a complete rundown of each of the books (number of stars is in parenthesis). If you would like to read the full review or keep up with my reviews as I share them, follow me on Instagram or Goodreads. These are posted in the order I read them. In January, there was neither rhyme nor reason to the books I chose. I just read.

Another goal for 2019 is to be more diverse in my reading and to support indie, women and minority authors.

16  Women Authors
6 POC/Minority
3 Indie Authors

(4) P.S. Forgive my Adolescence, Torrie Oglesby

(5) The Forgotten Hours, Katrin Schulmann

(5) The One That Matters, Elle Linder

(5) Heart of a Mother, Kim Hawkins

(4) They Called my Wyatt, Natasha Tynes

(5) Saving Ellie, Whitney R.B.

(4) Blood for Blood, Victoria Selman

(5) The Practicality of Dreaming, Bex Jalise

(4) Until the Day I Die, Emily Carpenter

(3) The Happiness Project, Pippa James

(4) Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari

(4) The Spitfire Girls, Soraya M. Lane

(4) Shadow of Night, Deborah Harkness

(5) Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens

(5) The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas

(5) When You’re Gone, Brooke Harris

(3) Sold on a Monday, Kristina McMorris

 

 

 

Rediscovering My Love Of Reading

When I was an undergrad at MTSU, I worked next door to Barnes & Noble. Our store wasn’t busy, so I spent most of the down time reading. I lived off cookies from the Cookie Store, Green Tea refills from B&N Cafe and books off the bargain table. I could devour a book in a day. 

Then I graduated, got an 8-5, got married, had kids and forgot all about how much I loved reading. 

After November 2016, I found myself seeking something to get lost in. Rather than escaping reality, I started listening to memoirs and political history books. I was seeking answers for why we ended up where we did on November 8.

I spent my commute listening to (and, sometimes, arguing with) book after book. Some made me cry, some made me laugh and some made me angry. They occasionally answered a question or provided a new insight or perspective. I tried to find a balance between positions I agreed with and those I did not.

Then in July of last year, I started a new job and my commute went from two hours a day to twenty minutes (hallelujah). This limited the time I had to listen to books.

I missed it. But I also missed the fiction books I used to get lost in. My mom group (I know I’ve mentioned how much I love my mama group) decided to start a book club. We read Girl’s Night Out by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. From there, I started reading more and more.

It also inspired me to look back at works I’d written previously and to also start writing again.

I missed reading and writing more than I’d realized.

During this discovery phase, I found the Bookstagram community and new I’d found my people. Gorgeous photos, thoughtful reviews and TBR piles taller than me (I’m short, it doesn’t take much).

Heading into 2019, I set a goal to read 36 books. It’s January 27 and I’ve read 14. So, I upped my goal to 72. I gifted myself with a Kindle Paperwhite that allows me the luxury of reading as I’m trying to get the kids to sleep. There is a paperback or hardcover book on my nightstand to read before bed. And, I have an audiobook (always nonfiction) to listen to as I get ready in the morning and during my short commutes.

I’m sure I’ll slow down and have good months and bad months, but one thing I know for certain is that I’m not walking away from my love of reading or writing ever again.

Tired as a Mother

Sleep regression. Leaps. New routines. Teething. Sickness. Fears. Anxiety. Nightmares. FOMO.

Whatever the reason, whatever the name, babies and toddlers have incredibly fickle sleep habits. Just when you think you’ve mastered the whole sleep thing, it all changes and your kid is up at 2 am and ready to PAR-TAY.

As a working mother, this is my nightmare. It always seems these moments strike on the nights, er, mornings, before I have important meetings or projects due. While I live and die by my lattes, there is little they can do when I am living on four hours a sleep three nights in a row.

My son, 3.5, and daughter, 11 months, appear to be on the same sleep regression schedule. It’s almost comical how predictable it is. He wakes up at midnight and she’s up at 12:01 am. Worse is his cries or yelling will wake her up more than hers do him. His propensity to slam the toilet seat has resulted in her waking more than once. We’ve not mastered our use of inside voices or gentle toilet lid closing. One day.

Aside from the obvious, the biggest thing impacted by this is my health. Building a fitness routine has been damn near impossible since #2 was born. I am a morning fitness person (just don’t talk to me). My ideal workout time is right around 4 or 4:30 am. (Yes, I understand this may seem insane, but if it doesn’t happen then, it ain’t happening). My daughter loves waking up raring to go around 3:45; this after waking around midnight. I can handle a 4 am wake up if she rocks or nurses back to sleep, but that fifteen minutes seems to be catastrophic to my workout mojo.

The lack of sleep also results in more caffeine (LOTS of coffee and lattes) and really, really shitty food decisions as I seek out desperate (and fleeting) attempts to fuel some sort of energy.

Before you lecture me on the energy provided by working out, I know this. It’s one of those Catch 22 things… I need energy to workout, working out provides that energy, but I need to have it to do the working out part. Aye.

My poor husband is right there with me. Except, he gets the added bonus of my downright tyrannical bitchiness from not sleeping (bless his heart). Honestly, that’s a kind under-exaggeration. It’s more like an unleashed wild rage. At times, the exhaustion is enough to bring tears at just the thought of sleep.

I know these days are numbered and one day I may look back on them fondly (should I do so, please point me back to this post), but right now in the moment, they suck. They suck so much I am at a loss for words to adequately describe how sucky they are.

Saying this does not make me a horrible mother, nor does it mean I don’t love my children in the stage we are currently in. All it means is that this shit is hard, so hard, and sleep is a fundamental need for human beings. I miss it. I miss it more than I miss the feeling of my pants fitting without digging a canyon into my gut.

One day, I’ll sleep a full eight hours. Until then, bottoms up my fellow coffee-loving mamas.