All the Words

Just Another Sunday. And A Bit About Books.

Sunday. That’s my fun day? Well actually it’s more of, that’s my cleaning day. But I don’t mind so much. The boys are out of the house, off on another adventure that involves cars and things I try not to involve myself in too much. My husband has a car collecting problem. For realz. But it keeps him busy and sometimes happy though just as often frustrated. But he has the teen to take along with him now. And to talk with about cars and car parts and car swaps. So. That’s good right? Yes. Yes it is. Because as mentioned, I try not to involve myself in it too much.

Enough about cars, now for my passion. Books. I read a few books over the last couple of weeks, all of them very different.  One of my favorite expressions is that no person ever reads the same book.  Meaning of course, that we all take different things from the same book, depending on our life experiences and many many other factors.

One of the books I read was a Sourcebooks YA title that recently made the New York Times Bestseller list. I was curious about what propelled it to that list and was browsing through my eBook reader because I’d already finished the two books on my bedside table. I was proud of the company that published 6 of my YA novels, and of course, a little jealous because, human.

Anyhow, the cover is fantastic.  Really really well done.   Find it on Goodreads

I enjoyed it and understood why it did as well as it did.  Very readable, unputdownable even. Many of the characters came alive so clearly and it incorporated a whole line-up of diverse characters without needing to point out that they were.  If that makes any sense. I  also liked the way the author remained a little objective in her story too, and think it worked well. It related in a very small way to the other book I just finished, The Glass Castle, which was completely different but also so very strong and SO VERY objective.

Anyhow, I enjoyed how the author of TIWE didn’t try to over explain the shooter’s (school shooting book btw) motivations too much other than some background and character building. I thought that was well done because so many times it seems we search and search for the why in these horrible tragedies and there really aren’t any. There’s maybe reasons, excuses but never a clear cut "why" when a person goes over the edge. How can you explain it? You can look for an answer, why, but it will never ever be clear cut.  

So, kudos to her and to Sourcebooks for an amazing feat!

I also really enjoyed The Glass Castle, which is non fiction and one of those books that makes you think for days and days after. I don't know why this book was never on my radar, as it's an older book and a popular NYT bestseller as well. Probably because it's not something usually in my wheel house. I've been reading a lot more books that aren't YA lately. There's some great books in different genres, but when I go back to YA, I'm always happy. 

The parents in The Glass Castle are so off the charts that it’s hard to read at times. It also made me think about how much I spoil my child. Which he may discuss with his therapist later in life. Right now I’ll just say, sorry little dude. There’s no perfection in parenting, fo shizzle.

Another book I read (I won’t say what it was because one thing I’ve learned as an author, is that I don’t want to say bad things about other people’s books because they are probably really fricking proud of them) bugged the crap out of me. As above, what doesn’t work for me, might be the best thing someone else ever read.  Anyhow, it was by a very famous author who is a brilliant writer, but it just BUGGED THE SHIT out of me. It started out so good, and I was so happy with it and then it went all wonkers and got off course and by the time it ended I was like WTF? But I did finish it, which means something and I have to admire the author’s writing.  So there’s that.

I also finished a YA that is the first in a series. Not my favorite book, by an author I usually love. It was good. I finished it, but I expected GREAT. Because. Reader expectation.

Anyhow. I could go on and on about books and thoughts but my upstairs is calling to me.
“Janet. Janet. Come and clean me.”

Damn you upstairs. I must go.

From Flab to Fab... Walking to Runing to Making Healthier Choices.

Hello Bloggity Blog.

So much new. So much the same.  That is the journey of life.




So. I was on holidays all last week and spent time in beautiful BC with my family and some friends. It's a treat to spend time with The Boy now as he is deeply entrenched in his Teenage years and doing what he must do. ie- preparing to spread his wings in preparation for flight. He's not going anywhere yet, but as most teens, he prefers the company of his own species most of the time, so it was nice to steal some time for ourselves (my husband and I).


Now I'm home and back to life and have decided it's time to try to make some healthy changes. On Friday, I went for my first walk/run in a long (long)time. I've decided to give the running thing a go. Again.  My goal. A 10 km run. I've never managed a 10km. I mastered the 5km a few years back, even managed a sprint triathlon one year, but in the past few years I've been a sluggish Janet instead. Now it's time to fix that. From Flab to Fab? Fab at Fifty, of course. Which looks much different, I suppose. I'm trying to focus on health vs looks. This is a quest to feel better. In my skin and in my head.

Tomorrow I'm back to work and the business and busy-ness of life. Board meetings, golf committee planning, course selection meeting for high school next year for and with The Boy. Book writing and book signing and of course, the Day Job.

But fitting in the Flab to Fab plan too. 4 walk/runs this week to build the running platform and 2 yoga's for my mind and soul.  Doable? Yes.

My Mantra for the week- Happiness is a HABIT I will develop. I will work to chose happiness whenever I can- all week long!

Let's do this thing.