What I’m Reading: And The Mountains Echoed

With a crazy work schedule and the holiday season just behind me, it’s been a few months since I’ve had the chance to finish a book (at least one that I’ve thought was worth writing about after). Hosseini’s first book, The Kite Runner, is one of my favorite stories and I was anxious to get my hands on this — as I expected, his work did not disappoint. This captivating and complex story about finding a lost piece (or pieces) of yourself in someone else, had me in tears before I had finished the first chapter.

In nearly every chapter and story line that run throughout the book, love is tested, pain is inflicted and the boundaries of patience are pushed. It grapples with many of the same themes that crisscross his other novels: the relationship between parents and children, and the ways the past can haunt the present. Page by page, chapter through chapter you uncover deeper insights about each of his characters and their lives, and finish the book with an intimate understanding of who his characters are and how they’ve defined themselves over the years through the choices they have made between duty, freedom, familial responsibilities and independence, etc.

Hosseini is one of my favorite authors and this book was by far my favorite of his to read. If you haven’t already, check it out. You won’t regret it.

xoxo

What I’m Reading: The Birth Order Book

Let me just throw this out there up front — this isn’t a typical read for me. A dear friend of mine recommended that I give it a shot, and I’m honestly really glad that she did.

With a very conversational style, Dr. Leman attempts to get inside the head of children and adults based on their birth order (first born, middle child, baby and many combinations thereof) to attempt to explain why we behave the way that we do. Dr. Leman’s book is heavily focused on application — how our birth order applies to the business world, marriage and dating, parenting style.

As I said, this isn’t typically the type of book that I would be compelled to read. In fact, I’m not usually a fan of books that are written in a conversational tone (I usually find them difficult to follow and tend to lose interest quickly), but Dr. Leman does a good job keeping this book interesting and informative.

Give it a shot when you’ve got some time. If nothing else, it will make you take a step back and think about how you behave and may shed some interesting insight into the why behind your actions.

What I’m Reading: The Drowning House

Elizabeth Black makes her debut with a novel set in Galveston, Texas featuring protagonist Clare Porterfield. Porterfield, a photographer, returns to her roots in Galveston to direct an art show — and in an effort to escape the  loss of her only child and her subsequent crumbling marriage. The basic premise of the story: two mysteries disrupt her exhibit research — the tale of the drowning of a young woman in the island’s historic Carrady house in 1900 during the Great Hurricane, and an unresolved incident from Clare’s teen years and her “boyfriend’s” exile from the island.

When I first picked this book up, I thought I would love it. The book summary provided enough to entice me with what I thought was going to be a very dynamic storyline. It took me several weeks to get through this story. While Black’s writing style was intriguing, many of her characters and her storylines were underdeveloped, making this less than a page turner.

With so much packed in this work, the conclusion leaves many strings hanging and questions unanswered. Porterfield’s teenage relationship is often discussed, however, readers aren’t introduced to the character until nearly the end of the book — and it’s a bit of a letdown. The other major mystery the novel is centered around also finds a seemingly unsatisfying conclusion.

While the end of the novel may have been a bit disappointing, perhaps that was Black’s point? Regardless, I enjoyed the tone and style of the book and will be curious to read whatever she may have up her sleeve next. Check it out if you can!

What I’m Reading: The Wisdom of Compassion

I’ve just finished reading The Wisdom of Compassion: Stories of Remarkable Encounters and Timeless Insights by the Dali Lama and Victor Chan.

A thought-provoking and engaging read, this book brings forth numerous stories of empathy and consideration that Chan and the Dali Lama have both personally witnessed. Based on the belief that a person’s goal in life is to be happy — and that unhappiness is primarily based on internal bouts of anger and ignorance — the stories shared in this book, and the Dali Lama’s wisdom principles revolve around the practical application of compassion.

Throughout the book, he and Chan share stories they’ve encountered in various locations around the world — from his friendship with a blind Irishman to the Dali Lama’s collaboration with a neuroscientist that led to significant discoveries about the human brain. No matter a person’s religious beliefs, this book helps readers gain a deeper understanding of human nature and our ability to show compassion and consideration for those around us.

An excellent read — I recommend you check it out.