Read Anything Good Lately?

I have. And I have finally started to read two books (or even more) at a time. I never used to be able to handle reading more than one book at a time, since I can barely remember a book right after I have read it, or even in the middle when I come back to it.  To be fair, I read only one novel at a time, so I read one novel and one nonfiction. And most of my nonfiction lately has been a little out there. Due to what is going on in my life, I have been reading a lot of books about intention, manifestation, and the law of attraction — but also because the topic has intrigued me for a long time. (I am kind of out there!) Most of those books are free with Kindle Unlimited. I  won’t pay for them, and my local library doesn’t have a good selection.

I still like print books, but Kindle books are easier on my eyes. I also must admit I read some large print books. No audio books for me. I have nothing against them, but I think it isn’t really reading; it is listening, like one would listen to a podcast or to the radio.

I am currently reading the 6 Phase Meditation Method by Vishen Lakhiani. It seems like a good method of meditation that doesn’t require much time or repeating a mantra and clearing your mind. I am not a meditator, but I thought I would give it a try. The author is the founder of Mind Valley, which is one of those power-of-intention-be-a-success-and-have-love outfits. I recently attended an online two-day conference they had for $29. It was really good and definitely worth the money. I knew they would eventually get to the $6000 sell! No thanks.

Other than that, the other similar books I have been reading are pretty lightweight: Super Attractor, Just Ask the Universe, Feeling Is the Secret,  and the Audacity to Be Queen (which was actually pretty good).

Okay. Now onto the books you might actually want to read:

I am currently reading Identity by Nora Roberts. I am about 90% done, and I am really liking it. Suspense and romance. I haven’t read Roberts in a long time. Recommended.

I recently read Girls Like Us by Sheila Weller.  It is a nonfiction book about the three female singer/songwriters Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon. To tell you the truth, it is a big book (about 500 pages), and I read only the parts about Carole King because I am obsessed with her. When I was in my preteens or so, I wanted to be a songwriter like her. I have recently started digging out those song lyrics I wrote way back in the 60s, and am scanning them into my computer and seeing which ones I might be able to update and make more mature. I didn’t read much about Joni Mitchell or Carly Simon, not that there is anything wrong with them! Recommended.

On Herring Cove: Mr. Rosen and His 43 Lb. Anxiety by Michael Kroft had been sitting on my Kindle for a long time before I finally got to it. It looked interesting, and I liked the title, so I got it from Kindle Unlimited. Turns out that it was a very good read, for any gender. The only thing I didn’t care for was the ending. It was one of those non endings. Recommended.

I must have heard about End of Story, by A.J. Finn somewhere. It is a popular book with many great reviews, but some agreed with me. I read about 20% of it before I gave up. Boring. Clunky. I guess it is some type of mystery or suspense. 

Convenience Store Woman by  Sakaya Murata was really good with a very interesting main character. Unusual book. Recommended for any gender.

I have loved all the Kristin Hannah books that I have read, and her latest, The Women, does not disappoint. It is about a woman who, against her parents’ wishes, becomes a VietNam War nurse. Great book for anyone.  Highly recommended.

I heard about The Sound of Settling by Tara Dublin on a streaming political television show I watch. She was a guest. I had no idea who she was. She said she was an unemployed writer and she showed a book she had written and is trying to sell to Hollywood.  She said it was about being a super fan of Dave Grohl of  the Foo Fighters. The book, however, is a fiction book that takes off from that situation. Since I was about to embark on a similar book with a similar situation, I identified with her, even though my book will be nonfiction, probably followed by a novel, if I get to it. I thought it was a great love story, although fiction! Recommended.

I had heard a lot about The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by  James McBride. It is one of the big books of the year. It takes place in Pennsylvania in a little neighborhood settled by Jewish immigrants, where blacks are moving in from the South along with other European immigrants.  There are a ton of characters, some minor, and the book kind of rambles on, but even if you can’t remember who everyone is,  you can follow the plot just fine.  It is a lot, but it is a wonderful book. Highly recommended.