Recent Reads and a Book Review
One of my very favorite things to do is read a good book. I am always asking friends, strangers and just about anyone what they are reading, have read or what they suggest I read next. I always have a list in my notes or just in my head of things I want to get my hands on. Finding the time to read is just another challenge. Lately, my time has been so limited by end of the school events, sports, and, yeah, trying to sell our house and look for and buy a new house. I so wish someone would buy our house so we could stop keeping it so clean! I am constantly hiding things from myself and shoving things away and, with three boys, keeping the dirty clothes out of sight is a job in itself!
I usually share my recent reads so here goes. I have to warn you, though, that I read in "stages" or genres. I get hooked on an author, a time in history, or a particular subject and I read on that until I am ready to move on. Last summer I read Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl" and then proceeded to devour every other book she had written. When I read the fabulous book, "Unbroken", I then read even more books on WWII. After reading "A Paris Wife", I went through several Earnest Hemingway books that I had either never read or enjoyed re-reading. Recently, I read "Z, a memoir of Zelda Fitzgerald." I couldn't put it down! It went so well with recently reading "A Paris Wife" that it was a great flow. I then prepared to re-r ead "The Great Gatsby" but in looking to download it ran across "The Beutiful and the Damned" which I hadn't read and got right into it. So, this is how it went:
I usually share my recent reads so here goes. I have to warn you, though, that I read in "stages" or genres. I get hooked on an author, a time in history, or a particular subject and I read on that until I am ready to move on. Last summer I read Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl" and then proceeded to devour every other book she had written. When I read the fabulous book, "Unbroken", I then read even more books on WWII. After reading "A Paris Wife", I went through several Earnest Hemingway books that I had either never read or enjoyed re-reading. Recently, I read "Z, a memoir of Zelda Fitzgerald." I couldn't put it down! It went so well with recently reading "A Paris Wife" that it was a great flow. I then prepared to re-r ead "The Great Gatsby" but in looking to download it ran across "The Beutiful and the Damned" which I hadn't read and got right into it. So, this is how it went:
This is a great read about the life of Zelda with F. Scott Fitzgerald and how their tumultuous relationship, alcoholism and mental illness overtook their lives.
The story of Adam Patch as told by Fitzgerald with a look into his own experiences with Zelda.
Always the classic. I was in the middle of this book and went to see the movie. It was an interesting comparison and I enjoyed reading it again after so long!
Now I have moved on to something completely different. I just started a new book that is more health and fitness related. I read about Mark Bittman's "VB6" and was very intrigued. I began it yesterday and am looking forward to finishing it and writing a full review.
I read a little about this book in a recent edition of "Outside" magazine. It was in an article about the hype and interest of Paleo diets. Of course, I wanted to read the book - I love reading nutrition and diet books. I was intrigued by this one particularly because I totally get the health benefits of eating paleo but know how hard it would be for me to jump right in and be successful. Bittman's philosophy is a more flexible way of eating that worked for him. In a nutshell, he took on the paleo diet during the day and allowed himself to eat what he wanted for dinner. Interestingly, he says that after a period of time those dinnertime choices also began to change as his body and attitude toward food changed.
In reading just the first 5 pages Bittman offers these statistics:
"More than halfof U.S. grain and nearly 40 percent of world grain is being fed to livestock rather than being consumed directly by humans."
"More than 75 percent of the $2.8 trillion in annual U.S. health-care costs are from chronic diseases which often can be prevented and even reversed by eating a plant-based diet at a fraction of the costs."
Eating less meat, even part time, can have an important impact on global warming, health care costs and energy conservation. The food choices we make each day affect other important areas besides our own personal health. What is good for us is also good for the planet.
I'll let you know my full review when I'm finished!
As for today, it's Memorial Day! I hope you enjoy a wonderful day off with family and friends - and good food! I am preparing my grandmother's potato salad to go along with whatever we decided to throw on the grill. Maybe I'll share. . . but it's not the healthiest choice out there I promise!
ENJOY!
What are your plans today? Have you tried a vegan diet? Think a part time flexible plan would work for you?
In reading just the first 5 pages Bittman offers these statistics:
"More than halfof U.S. grain and nearly 40 percent of world grain is being fed to livestock rather than being consumed directly by humans."
"More than 75 percent of the $2.8 trillion in annual U.S. health-care costs are from chronic diseases which often can be prevented and even reversed by eating a plant-based diet at a fraction of the costs."
Eating less meat, even part time, can have an important impact on global warming, health care costs and energy conservation. The food choices we make each day affect other important areas besides our own personal health. What is good for us is also good for the planet.
I'll let you know my full review when I'm finished!
As for today, it's Memorial Day! I hope you enjoy a wonderful day off with family and friends - and good food! I am preparing my grandmother's potato salad to go along with whatever we decided to throw on the grill. Maybe I'll share. . . but it's not the healthiest choice out there I promise!
ENJOY!
What are your plans today? Have you tried a vegan diet? Think a part time flexible plan would work for you?