2023 has turned out to be a lot. In times of stress I read a lot BUT I don't retain a lot...it has been that kind of a year to put it mildly. And yes, often it has been exactly this type of a year.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy this year, finally after almost 30 years of these episodes, I finally got a diagnosis. If you think being told that "if you have to have epilepsy, this is the type to have" is a comfort--guess again.

I have yet to do a lot of reading on the subject and this is book is my first foray into the reading. It is one person's journey, whose symptoms at least resemble my experience. Not quite but enough to hook me in to reading this book. I was dismayed to find out that he used the ketogenic diet to get his siezures under control. I have tried both keto and paleo--last time I lost about half of my hair--but no real weight. I have sworn off dieting altogether.

For now I will take my medication, and ponder whether I should read the other book I got about epilepsy.

2023 has turned out to be a lot. In times of stress I read a lot BUT I don't retain a lot...it has been that kind of a year to put it mildly.

I alway enjoy a Michael Pollan book and this one is no exception. I was curious to read about the science behind using psychedelics as a means to treat despression, anxiety, and addiction. I was also pleased that it discussed the Default Mode Network (a more recent discovery) in more detail. Fascinating--finally a bit more science about why meditation helps. A subject that I will be devoting alot more of my reading time. 

I would really like to find a pathway that keeps my DMN from shutting down all my previous attempts at a meditation practice.

2023 has turned out to be a lot. In times of stress I read a lot BUT I don't retain a lot...it has been that kind of a year to put it mildly. And yes, it has often been exactly this type of a year.

I wanted to learn more about the constant anxiety that a family member was struggling with...imagine my dismay when the books I read began to uncover my own anxiety.

This is a quick read is stuffed with really good information. Highly recommended. Most of the things we believe about anxiety are half-truths at best and complete myths at worst. This book was the beginning of my education.

2023 has turned out to be a lot. In times of stress I read a lot BUT I don't retain a lot...it has been that kind of a year to put it mildly. And yes often it has been exactly this type of a year. 

This is the second book I have read on the subject of anxiety. Redefining Anxiety by Dr. John Delony began a journey of understanding and this book took me further along the path. After I read his book I came to the realization just how much anxiety I was holding on to--in my mind and my body. At some point during the summer of 2023 I began to have (panic/anxiety) attacks--what ever--giant chills would run through and sieze up my body. 

For what it is worth:

Here are the methods I used to get my "chill spells" to simmer down, fade away and eventually stop occurring.

I am a yoga teacher and a birth doula. I know an abundance of technique to alieviate anxiety. It was time to practice what I preach.

1)The best breath practice to employ for anxiety is a two step process. Notice your breath--particularly which direction you are breathing. The breath of anxiety goes in and up to your chest--perfect recipe to produce the adrenaline that anxiety thrives upon. Deep belly breath, using your diaphragm to breathe is what is needed. Once that is accomplished then iniate the 4/8 breath practice. Four counts on your inhale, followed by an 8 count exhale. Not going into the science here other than to note that this methodology, slows your breath which changes the amount of CO2 in your respiration--thereby stopping adrenaline production and slowing your heart rate. Some times inhaling through the nose but exhaling through the mouth will calm your breath more rapidly. It is also more relaxing for the shoulders and your sphincters. (A person holds everything in and up especially when anxious or in pain)

Once I had my breath under control, it was time to practice some other technique (a mix of yoga and methodology from books I have read):

Instead of running away from these sensations I looked at them through the eyes of curiosity. Approach and an attempt to understand, looking in rather than out. Yoga trifecta (breath, movement, and one pointed focus) allowed me to look in towards these chills so that I could determine: What thoughts, people, situations where in my head, where I felt the anxiety as a physical sensation in my body.

So essentially I got my breath in control, used a science based breath practice, then I was able to find where I was holding my axiety, what it felt like, and I was able to breath into that space to encourage it to release. I had actual conversations with the people causing my out of control thoughts and calmed that down with the sound of their actual voices. Imaginary versions of these conversations (monkey mind) can get crazy and out there. I changed the things that I could and let go of things that where out of my control. 

The more I employed these techniques during these episodes the easier they where to endure and the faster they cycled out of my system until they eventually stopped altogether--at least until next time.

Welcome to Book of the Month Club where my goal is to read a book with that particular month in the title for as long as the books hold out. I have separated the titles out into each month as it is cleaner that way.

Welcome to Book of the Month Club where my goal read a book with that particular month in the title for as long as the books hold out. I have separated out the titles so that they appear as separate months, it is cleaner that way.

A category dedicated to books with "September" in their title.

One of my reading projects is known as Book of the Month Club where my goal read a book with that particular month in the title for as long as the books hold out. I have also separated out these reading lists so that they appear as separate months.

2023 has turned out to be a lot. In times of stress I read a lot BUT I don't retain a lot...it has been that kind of a year to put it mildly.

I did enjoy this fourth outing with Cormoran and Robin. This author (aka J. K. Rowling) gets a lot of leeway. There is a lot of rambling about and a lot of extra verbage. I will no doubt continue reading. I just wish I remembered more of the plot.

2023 has turned out to be a lot. In times of stress I read a lot BUT I don't retain a lot...it has been that kind of a year to put it mildly.

The most recent in the Outlander series and most likely the penultimate book. Another journey with Jamie and Claire on Fraser's Ridge. I took this is as a long leisurely read and spun it out as long as I could. Perfect book for this type of read. Not much happened and it seemed to be more of a place holder as the author decides how she is going to bring this epic to a fitting end. I shudder to think what that end might be...

2023 has turned out to be a lot. In times of stress I read a lot BUT I don't retain a lot...it has been that kind of a year to put it mildly.

A Detective Declan Walsh novel. Second in the series. I am enjoying this series thus far. Will read more from this author.

I didn't think I would but I really enjoyed this book. It was exactly the cozy cup of tea type of read that I needed. My worry was that the tale would be ruined by the shift of locale to an Italian vacation but instead it fit right in to this tale of middle age second chances at love and life.

I really liked this book and it's setting in what is now a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. An young adult book, told through the eyes of Annabelle, a tale of courage and kindness set in the immediate aftermath of WWII. It was reading time well spent.

Five young mothers meet in a neighborhood park in the late 1960's and the story follows them through the years, sickness, health, sorrows, triumphs as their writing group gathers each Wednesday in the park. As a child of the sixties I found myself relating with these women and it was a pleasant reminder of those days.

In my continuation of reading The Irene Huss Investigation series out of order--here is my next one. This one had ties to another of her previous books which thankfully I had already read--not that I remembered much. I remember liking this one as I read it but I don't remember much of the plot at this time, too much time has passed and I have been in a bit of a reading fog.

The second in this series that takes the reader around the neighborhoods of Paris. There are a lot of competing plot lines and this reads more like a thriller than a mystery but I'm liking Aimee Leduc thus far--no matter the opinion of various GoodReads reviewers. I will continue on... although for a girl who claims to be a cyber crime investigator there is no evidence of this to date--these have all involved murder and violence.

I liked this book as I read it--indeed I could hardly put it down. Alas it was read as an escape during foggy times (drama and trauma IRL) so I have very little memory of the plot. I'm definitely going to read the next book and hopefully most of the details of this one will float back into the forefront of my brain.

I am reading this series out of order, which hasn't been much of a problem. This title is I believe the first in the series involving parapsychologist detective Elizabeth Chase, and while it would have been nice having known all this back story while I was reading the other installments--I am glad to have it now. Alas the author stopped writing so I only have I believe one more book to read. Boy do I wish she had taken a full spin around the zodiac.

I really wanted to like this story more than I did. It has a great premise as it was inspired by the true events surrounding the New London, Texas school explosion in 1937. The story went back and forth in time, it had deep hidden family secrets, and the clearing out of an old house. But it also had a gazillion other side stories and these came at the expense of what could have been a more remarkable book. It was spread too thin, as if the author couldn't decide what story she wanted to tell so she just plopped in all of them. 

One of my reading projects is known as Book of the Month Club where my goal read a book with that particular month in the title for as long as the books hold out. I have separated out these reading lists so that each month has it's own list.

Ms. McNamara became obsessed with trying to find the identity of The Golden State Killer. I became obsessed with the author's back story as it's a little infamous in and of itself. She was the wife of the actor Patton Oswald, became obsessed with true crime starting in her teens with the yet unsolved mystery of the death of a young girl in her childhood neighborhood. She became a true crime journalist and managed the website True Crime Diary. Alas Michelle died suddenly while she was writing this book, it was pieced together by members of her research team and published after her death. And yep I did some googling, accidental overdose (too many pills + a heart condition). She never uncovered the identity of the killer but it is thought that her research kept the case alive. The killer was ultimately traced by DNA evidence thanks to the development of website companies such as Ancestory and 23&Me. He is prison.

This is the first novel in the Declan Walsh series of novels featuring the detectives of the 'Last Chance Saloon'. A complicated story but a very good read. I look forward to reading more by this author.

My brain is getting better and I remember a lot about this outing with Kinsey. Not everything but more than the last book. She gets her apartment back as it is finally rebuilt after the explosion that mostly gutted it at the conclusion of "E" (I think). She is joined by a new fellow PI/body guard as it turns out that she is on a hit list of a baddie whom she helped put in prison. A favorite plot device of Ms. Grafton ---Kinsey takes what she thinks will an easy case that shortly turns out to be anything but...good quick read I'm looking forward to "H".

The first book in the Aimee LeDuc private investigation series. This series involves the investigative team of Aimee and her partner Rene. I started this series because each novel features a different Parisian section. It starts with The Marais or the old "Jewish Quarter". A mix of WWII history and present day (1990's anyway) Parisian mystery, murder, and other adventures. This series gets a beating on GoodReads but so far I like it.

My second outing with David Wolf and I wish I liked it more--I found the story a little convoluted and confusing. I will give this series one more try--because there is much to like about these characters--but if it is another strike then he's out.

A real life memoir and as it turns out a prequel to the author's more famous book (Running with Scissors). Dark and haunting. The author re-creates his childhood growing with a sociopathic and cruel father and his mentally unstable mother. Compelling reading.

I will admit to the fact that the majority of my reading during the spring of 2023 has been done to escape from the drama and trauma in my personal life and as a result much of my reading has been filtered through a heavy fog. I have no doubt that I enjoyed this outing with Kinsey while I was reading it but looking back over a space of several months since I read this book--I have to be honest and admit that absolutely none of the plot stuck with me. I feel I should read it again.

I don't read a lot of Ms. Picoult as I find her books to be a little too melodramatic for my taste. A book that revolves around the decision of whether or not to pull the plug. A father's obsession with wolves often at the expense of family. Plus many family secrets. It was a sursprisingly good read. 

This was a good read and a good start to a series. The characters are interesting and likeable. Wasn't expecting to like the sudden story departure to Italy as David Wolf went off to investigate his brother's sudden death. Looking forward to reading the second in the series.

The second outing of the Thursday Murder Mystery Club. This was definitely reading time well spent. Can't wait to read what these 70 year old's get up to next. As I'm a gal in my 60's its nice to read about enterprising "old" folks. Witty, smart and spry.

I got this book because it fit in with my Wolf Out category. It was a good fast paced read. A little over violent and the plot was a little far fetched. I think I would have appreciated it more if I had read the series in order instead of reading the #5 outing first.

This book plunges one right into the thick of the author's mania, indeed, I felt almost manic after reading the prologue. It was a quite harrowing read. It is a testament to the overwhelming need for better mental health care, finding the right doctors, therapists, medications, and support. As a mother with a son with his own mental health and addiction problems I found my sympathizing a bit with his father. It is hard to tell if the author's impressions are reality based or mostly based on paranoid delusions. His father may have been gruff and stand-off ish but he continued unfailing to give his son support--a roof over his head, money, time, effort etc. even during the repeated times when the author subjected the man to nothing but physical and verbal abuse.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I wish I had realized that this was a continuation of a previous book, The Winter Sea. While I found the mind reading psychometry parts a little hard to believe--I went with it for the sake of the story. I love reading about little known parts of history and since (Outlander) a history buff for the Jacobites. I also do a fair amount of "Royal Reading" primarily about the English monarchy. By far my favorite part of this book was the several paragraphs at the end where the author discusses her nonfictional characters and her research. --Sometimes in books there are simply too many plot devices thrown into one book and I think in this case a lot of the plot devices got short shrifted. It is a book in which events are strung together but nothing really happens. And by the end I thought Rob was a bit shady in his treatment of Nicola. 

Of all the books in my "fire" category I had been looking forward to this one the most. Don't get me wrong this is a very readable book but I guess I have been down this particular pathway one too many times. I get it the dark ages are called the dark ages for very good reasons. This book read like a newpaper rag publication--flipping from one sensationalist gossipy historical tidbit to the next, the gorier, more gruesome the better. I did like learning more about Martin Luther and Magellean. And he has a good for further reading section at the end.

I'm chugging right along in my quest to read the alphabet and the books are getting longer. Finally got a little more back story involving one of Kinsey's exes. And if you don't like spoilers then stop reading now.

Kinsey get's almost blown up twice. And in thrown away plot devices--her ex husband is gay, incest factors into the mystery, and the perp ends up being a serial killer. No matter the ex hits the road, again and almost everyone else is dead. I guess I like a little more plot development than having random things thrown in at the end as "explanations".

Do I like these books--yes will I keep reading--yes.

This is an Inspector Irene Huss investigation novel. Yet another series that I am reading out of order--this time the fault of a friend who supplies me with titles as she reads them--also out of order-when she gets them from her cousin. So far this has not been a problem as the author usually concentrates her writing more on the case rather than family back stories. Rather dark but it is Swedish Noir after all, a good tale. This one also featured a bit more family life and with no spoilers it was nice to finally read about the incident that caused her huband's difficulties and have one of her daughter's in tow for a few scenes.

This book is subtitled "A journey through the madness industry". It is a series of essays based on interviews with a variety of characters: actual pyschopaths, fake pyschopaths, pyschopath profilers, pyschopath hunters, etc. What exactly is a pyschopath and does he/she live next door?

One of my reading projects is known as Book of the Month Club where my goal is to read a book with that particular month in the title for as long as the books hold out. There is a category for each month as it makes things cleaner.

A swift little slice of Kinsey Millhone, same quibbles, and the quirk to this mystery is that her client is dead before we even get out of the first couple of chapters.

This is the second book I have read by this author, who is writing a series around the cases overseen by Detective Inspector Jooma Linna--Swedish Noir at its best.

Once again reading this series out of order, but in my defence the sign Pisces does come after Capricorn. Turns out I am glad for two reasons, without giving any spoilers I'm definitely glad I have a heads up about some the happenings in the previous book. And two it is easy to keep up with the action as her books almost read as stand alone titles. This book makes me regret that I only have three more before I have to say goodby to Elizabeth Chase and that I am going to have to look elsewhere to complete this Zodiac themed category.

A book I wanted to like way more than I did. Don't get me wrong--it is vey readable--and an interesting story. I always like learning a little bit of history. In this case, the art thievery by Nazi's during WWII. 

I love Anita Shreve. I used to read her books all the time but somehow she must have fallen off my radar. I am so glad to have found her again. This is a marvelous book and reading time well spent.

Elizabeth Chase is a reluctant psychic and a private eye. Another quirky single female ala Kinsey Millhone. There are at least four books involving Ms. Chase, all titled with a zodiac sign--but apparently the author stopping writing after 9/11. Here is hoping she sits back down at the typewriter as she is very good at her craft. Because it was January and Capricorn is my sign..I read this book out of order.

This book is part of the Gabriel Allon series (#5) and as usual I like these books. But apparently I am intent of randomly reading through this series, reading each one that randomly stumbles across my path, often years apart. Always think I'm going seek out and polish off this series but as yet I never have...

Slowly making my way through the alphabet. Each book I come more a part of the Kinsey Millhone fan club. May not always agree with or understand her but I like her and will read on...although my quibbles remain and the books are only getting longer.

A very unusual book. It travels from the United States to Italy and from the present day to WWII. From the horrors of the Holocaust, the plight of the Jews in Italy, to the weirdness of the human brain. I like a thriller with a history lesson thrown into the mix.

Kinsey is back for book #2. I'm getting into the Kinsey groove. Same quibbles I had with the first book remain a prevalent feature of the second...that being said these are enjoyable quick reads thus far.

Kinsey Millhone is a very quirky independent single woman, who I don't always agree with but...these mysteries are quickly read. I found the early titles a bit thinly constructed and mostly glued together with overly descriptive paragraphs about scenery and what not--that do absolutely nothing to further or give depth to the storyline. However, I think the author is growing into her craft, and these books get better over time. At least that is my hope as each book in the series is longer than the one that precedes it. Wish me luck I hope I make it to the end of the alphabet, even if Ms. Grafton sadly did not.

One of my reading projects is known as Book of the Month Club where my goal read a book with that particular month in the title for as long as the books hold out. I have separated out these books so they appear as separate months, it just looks cleaner that way.