When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

This book came highly recommended by both Troy and Levi (brothers-in-law) as well as many others. I have wanted to read it for a long time, and when my friend Kathy lent it to me, I was delighted to be able to finally read it.

It was a wonderful, gut-wrenching read. This young man who chronicles his decisions related to his cancer is a moving writer. He's so honest and open about his feelings and his experiences that I was drawn in immediately. This is a courageous person! His thinking about life and its meaning was enlightening to read. Very good.  I was weeping several times as he describes his joys and his pain...

It also made me think about issues of death vs. quality of life. Of cancer treatment vs. a natural approach. It surprised me that he didn't reach into the spiritual realm of his religion more or even describe this part of his experience more. Still, a very worthwhile and rich experience.

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I read a review of this on a book list somewhere, found it used on Amazon, and ordered it to read on the flights to and from our Florida cruise. It was a good book for that, fairly light, and fairly intriguing as different outcomes to choices are explored in the story. Kind of a choose your own adventure kind of book. The characters were fairly interesting...but not enough to make me want to lend it out or read it again.

Sometimes I think I'm in the mood for something light, but when I choose with this in mind, I'm often disappointed. I guess I really do like some substance or at least a good laugh or some redeeming and uplifting value. Not here. Not this time.

The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

I was hoping this book would be as good as Dr. Laura's advice on the radio. I wanted a succinct and well-organized summary of the philosophy she uses to give marital advice. This is not it. She is a much better speaker (on the radio) than she is a writer. Her writing style is informal, feels unedited, and in many ways is just a re-hash of many of her calls. It's too bad. She really needs a good editor to get this job done!

I was hoping for a book that would be a worthy wedding gift or a gift for couples I know are struggling. While there's good advice in this book, it's not easy to get out of it, and the tone is honestly kind of annoying.

What I admire about her philosophy that I was hoping would be in this book are these things:

Men and women are different. They were designed to be different and complementary. Let's understand the differences and celebrate them.

Children's needs are paramount. Do not think you can divorce or date or anything else until your children are raised.

Your relationship with your spouse is private. Do not discuss intimate details of your sex life with your children. Your relationship is sacred and it comes first...

Do the right thing. For the right reasons. Sacrifice is hard AND it's often the right thing. Do it.

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage by Mark Gungor

My friend Darci lent me this book and told me it was a very useful book for her, and had much better content than the title implies. She was right! It was enjoyable and offered solid advice from a clergyman. What I appreciated about his thinking is the acknowledgement that men and women are very different creatures. And we need to understand and celebrate the differences in order to get along. That fits right along with Len and my on-going admiration of Dr. Laura Schlessinger on the radio. We admire her and she often hits this point with her callers.

I also appreciated the frank and practical way a clergyman wrote about sex and its importance in marriage.  He drew on his long experience in working with couples as well as on his own marital experiences to make the book full of examples.

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

I was distracted during the summer I read this...taking care of Irene. I thought this book might be a good diversion. Truth is, I couldn't really follow it. I couldn't make sense of it. I think there are parts that are brilliant... I think I liked it well enough to give it another try....

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I ordered this book after seeing it on a list of little known, great books. I was disappointed. I may have been too distracted to enjoy it, but I couldn't follow all the characters and the mystery.  And I would reread it to try it again if I liked the characters or the mood or the setting. But I did not. So I won't. Out it goes.

A Man Called Ove: A Novel by Fredrik Backman

My friend Amberly recommended this book. I bought it at the airport during the end of the hectic period of moving and moving Irene in with us. May 2016. I was in need of something light-hearted, and this wasn't it! I knew there was humor there, but it just wasn't reaching me! I may have to try it again, because Mary found it hilarious.

What I did appreciate was the way the story unfolded...it wasn't clear at first why Ove was so negative and anti-social, but that became clear as I read of his life and experiences. It was a heart-rending story...of his losing a wonderful wife whom he cherished. I enjoyed the way his neighbors reached out and gave him something to live for... but otherwise, it was not a joyful or fulfilling read for me.