#5 Glow Kids by Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D

This book took me way longer than the previous books for various reasons. First, it reads slower. It has so much information, (it is extremely well researched) and it's not all written anecdotally. Second, Mateo's birthday party and his changing day sleep habits really messed with my schedule.

Ironically, I broke my resolution of not watching TV by myself as I was tackling this book. I chose to watch American Housewife or The Good Doctor instead of reading this book.  I told myself I was too tired to sit down and read and think and instead plugged into Facebook and shows. Obviously, I felt more tired, less upbeat at the end of the day. (The main reason I had made the resolution in the first place...)

I recommend this book, but it is scary. Dr Kardaras is an addiction specialist, and he talks about many intense cases. From a teenager that doesn't know if he's in an office or a video game to a sweet 11-year-old girl who started to bite and hit her parents... to exposing the Sandy Hook Killer's gaming habits... it's scary.

It's scary to me, trying to figure out how to raise our tiny boy in such an electronic society. Especially since I am so drawn to it, so easily addicted to the "Glow" as Dr. Kardaras calls it.

I think it's important to read about this and to be more proactive against technology addictions. It wasn't an easy read (nor a difficult one, just at times slow) but an important one. My mother in law actually recommended this book, every teacher in her school was told to read it.

Pages: 250
Total Page count: 1434

#4 On Fire by John O'Leary

My other sister gave me this book. I wasn't very excited about it, but two things got me reading it. First, I promised myself I'd try to read any book someone gives me, and two, Lau said it was SO SO SO good and it made her cry. She said it was so inspiring.

I said, "I don't really need that type of book right now. I don't really need to be inspired."

She said something like, "It's really short, just read it. It reads quick."

She was right. I read it in a day.

I was wrong. I did need this book.

It's an autobiography type book. John burned almost 100% of his body when he was 9, the doctors did not think he would make it, and yet now he lives a happy life with his wife and kids. Oops I ruined it for you.

I think the most important part of it, that I did need, is to know that little things matter. That little acts of love matter in the world.

It's so hard sometimes just sitting on the floor watching Mateo play for the 50th minute in a row, with the same blocks he's played with for the past three months. It's hard to want to pick him up and change his poopy diaper and distract him so I don't have to wrestle him. And it's so easy to say, "gosh I wish I was in a classroom with my old students." or "This day is so, so long."

But what John invites me to do is not feel sorry for myself at any moment.  To do everything I do because of love. That's not easy, but it really is worth it.

So today when I was trying to stuff a piece of spaghetti in Mateo's mouth and he kept spitting it out with his adorable tongue, pointing to the sweet mandarine he obviously preferred... I let myself laugh and enjoy it. I told him he had to eat this piece of spaghetti, Mister, and I tricked him into thinking he was gonna get the fruit, then rammed in the piece of spaghetti and followed it with the fruit. He didn't push the pasta out with his cute little tongue. Victory! I smiled at him and laughed, and he smiled back with his trillion dollar smile. A smile that you think will make his face explode because of how much power is in it.

I could have (which I have done in the past numerous times) rolled my eyes and just kept feeding him. Or checking my phone to see what other people are doing right now. Or told Mateo to please eat it. But I can choose to make it a fun experience for both of us, to try to find love and joy in the most menial tasks, like shoving a piece of pasta down an 11-month-old's throat.

Highly recommend.

Pages: 262

Total count:1184

#3 Como agua para chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Como agua para chocolate by Laura Esquivel

I am always afraid to read in Spanish. Afraid of not understanding the syntax, the language, the humor. I'm afraid I'll take too long to read a sentence without getting the message. So I've mostly stayed away from Spanish literature. Marimar sent me this book and I wasn't thrilled. But part of my resolution is to read any book anyone gives me, so I started to read it.

From the first 5 pages I knew it would be one of my favorite books ever. It is so beautifully written, an entirely new experience for me in writing. Old Mexican recipes are woven into the story so seamlessly, you barely notice whether you are reading a recipe or the hardships of Tita, cursed to never marry.

This book came to me at a good time in my life. I am discovering my love (and new passion) for cooking and taking care of Mateo and the house. Tita doesn't have the freedom to do what she loves except for cooking, and yet she perseveres to be herself, to break free from dumb traditions and to cultivate good relationships with those around her. I had no idea I could love a book in Spanish so much. I think it's because it's Mexican Spanish. My mom says that's not true jaja.

Definitely recommend it to everyone.

Pages: 248

Total pages: 922

#2 Le Petit Nicolas et les Copains by Sempé and Goscinny

Not a dystopian thriller this time, just a book written for children ages 8+. My dad suggested I read in different languages as well, so I'm going to try to do that. The only caveat (is that how you use that word?) is that I am 10x slower reading in any language that is not English. I decided to start with a short French book for this reason.

This book is only 142 pages (with big font) but it took me 4 days to finish it. It's cool to know I can still read in French, even if the vocabulary is very basic and the syntax is quite childish. It was harder to enjoy it, since I stumbled on a word every few sentences, and because it was a kid's book. But I enjoyed the challenge, and overall it made me very nostalgic. (I love nostalgia)

The book's narrator is little Nicolas, a very sweet child who keeps getting in trouble with all his friends. The author does a great job of thinking like a child, which made me miss my kiddos. Kids have such a sweet way of seeing things. Half the time that they get in trouble they don't mean to do something bad, they just want to play and explore the world. They forget rules or that their actions can have consequences. I like that about kids. I also like to talk to kids about that, I love to see them realize the consequences, to help them see where they come from before they act. It's such a sweet gift. In that way this book is a sweet gift, perhaps a great book to understand kids first if your initial reaction is to get mad at misbehavior.

I am excited to read a grownup book now though.

Page count: 142

Total Pages: 674

#1 State of Mind by John Katzenbach

For my first book of the year I decided to just grab any book from any shelf and commit to to finishing it as quickly as I could. I am worried I won't fulfill my resolution of reading and writing about a lot of books, so I decided to just plunge in. The book I found, a small red book in my sisters' room at my mom's house, is State of Mind. This is definitely not a book I would've ever picked out for myself. The cover has a knife on it and it is not written by any author I've ever heard of; this just made it more exciting.

It was cool to find a bookmark inside it: a piece of paper from the Lafayette Bookstore some 40-50 pages in. This means someone (probably my dad) bought it some 16 years ago and never finished it for whatever reason. (Honestly probably because it isn't THAT great of a book.)

This book is of course a thriller, about a serial killer-- this I expected from the cover. It mostly focuses on two characters, however, as they try to figure out the identity of this killer. I am realizing I am terrible at writing summaries of books without giving them away... hopefully I'll get better at it with time.

Very obviously the books centers on themes of life and death, but also on the illusion of freedom we give ourselves by employing security measures and technology. It was written in 1997. To my delight I realized it is also a dystopian novel a few pages in. I like to read books that imagined today as their future, to compare our reality to someone's dreams 2 decades ago is quite a treat. It's almost as if I was going to a nursing home to talk to someone and ask them what they wanted to be when they were little. Except in a dark way I suppose.

In Katzenbach's world violence and crime rule. The policemen aren't very useful: they more or less maintain the country from complete chaos but no one really fears them. In this future society there is a 51st State, about to be made official. This newborn state boasts of security, there are no crimes here. That is because everything is logged. Anything a citizen does is in the system. They have these amazing electronic computers that you can use to order groceries or buy whatever you want, and it will be delivered to your doorstep. But it is in a log. Safety and ease in exchange for your privacy. It sounds a lot like Katzenbach knew Amazon would rule the world.

There has been a murder (or more?) committed in this 51st state and the politicians are terrified of what this will mean in their lobbying for the legalization of the state. Will they catch the killer?

The questions Katzenbach poses are important, how can you be safe and free in this world? What are you really paying for Amazon Prime? (Ok That one's mine)
 I'll recommend this book if you want to read a dystopian thriller, but not with too much enthusiasm.


Page count: 532 Pages 

2017 Books

1. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

This book was pretty fun. It's about a 30 something woman who hits her head on a gym bike and has the strangest amnesia- she forgets the past 10 years of her life entirely. She wakes up thinking she's pregnant with her first and head over heels for her new husband, but really she is about to get divorced, has 3 spoiled kids, and is a PTA mom dream. Not literature by any means, but a fun short book. Made me wonder where I'll be in 10 years, as well as where I was 10 years ago.

2.    The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins.

I resisted this trilogy for a long time for some reason... but I finally read them this year. I enjoyed it, much like I enjoy all dystopias. I couldn't finish the 3rd one though, it got too corny for me.

3.    Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

Pretty similar to the Hunger Games Trilogy. Enjoyable just like all teenage dystopias are to me, and couldn't finish the 3rd one because it was getting too corny for me.

4.    Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

After watching the show on Netflix I ordered the book. I wanted to know that the book wasn't as open-ended as the show, that it offered suicide as a wrong alternative, not as a good revenge. Although it wasn't super well written, it offered me some comfort. The book makes it very clear that teen suicide is wrong and a problem. It was a quick read, wouldn't ever really recommend it unless someone needs closure after watching the show.

5.    Pastel Orphans, Gemma Liviero

     Extremely sad book about two Jewish siblings during WWII. I don't remember it too much to be honest, now I wish I'd written about it, but I remember really liking it. It tugs at your heart strings and shows you the beauty of life in suffering. It left me sad but uplifted at the same time. Definitely recommend it.

6.    The Handmaids Tale Margaret Atwood

    Dystopian novel again of course. This time it was mostly fueled by the HULU show I watched with Joe. Not the best show in the world, but very well made. I don't think I'd read it again, but it made me think a lot of how Christianity is perceived by non-Christians. How Christians are portrayed in the media, and how non-Christians are portrayed as well.

7.    Precious Little Sleep By Alexis Dubief

This one is more practical than literature, and just about Baby Sleep, but still counts as a book. I loved it, and it helps a lot with my "business."

8.    Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Favorite book of the year. It is, of course, a sad and hard novel, a murder mystery. It is so harsh, so blunt about Soviet thinking. We have it so easy, not being forced to think about survival, not having to make certain choices, but being able to practice our morality. How easily I take it for granted that I can read a book and talk about how terrible the conditions in it are without fearing for my family's well being. 

So there you go, not many, but way more than in 2016 or 2015, so it's a start. (I of course didn't even includ Elmo's Potty Time Book, Curious George's Good Night Book, Baby's 100 First words, The Farm or Your Baby's First Word will be DADA, all of which I read a minimum of 100 times this year). 

Next year I want to read a LOT more books, and write about my thoughts on them. If you feel kind send me a book in the mail or through Kindle and I'll read it. If you feel less kind but still want to suggest, then please send me suggestions for this year. 

2017

2017 was a very different year for me. I like to think I'm accustomed to change (definitely write that in my resume) because of all the moves and changes I grew up with, but in reality all those changes were very minimal compared to this year.

10 years ago we moved from Brazil to Spain. Entirely different cultures, language, people... but all the same my role as a teenager didn't change much. I still went to classes, did pretty well without trying much, still played basketball and loved it, eventually made close friends and had countless sleepovers with them.

8 years ago now (wow) I moved to UD. This was tough, but still very much the same teenage-like life. Just worry about school and basketball until I eventually quit basketball.

Even starting to work didn't feel very different. I had somewhere to be 7am-5pm and people to see after that. Predictable, reliable, mostly out of my responsibility. Same principle of life applied:  do as I am told and do it well. Then enjoy life.


After January 18th of last year, however, my whole life shifted in ENTIRELY. No longer could I rely on the same things I was used to relying on. I couldn't rely on someone to tell me how to do everything, a professor or boss to tell me when I was headed the wrong way, or proper sleep to help me think straight, or on ANY sort of schedule to feel like I had some control on life. Baby Mateo changed my entire view and experience of life.

I began to love like never before. I eventually gave up 3 of my most favorite things in the world for this tiny creature that just takes and takes and takes, and makes life grand.

1.  First I gave up sleep. I've always been an 8 hour person. I much rather sleep than party or go out. I love sleeping early. That went out the window before he was even born. 
2. Then I gave up teaching. After working my entire academic life towards being a teacher, and absolutely loving my job, I gave it up for him. I still miss it every day, and it hurts, but I won't go back until I know Mateo's fine without my constant presence. 
3. A few months later I had to give up Cheese (luckily only for about 5 months). I never knew I could love someone so much that would make it easy to all of a sudden cut out 70% of my diet. 

I lost schedules, I lost my good mood for a while... This change shook my world like I could have never expected. I had to try to re-find ME, and I'm still doing so now... but something I found was something I'd left behind I don't know how many years ago: reading for pleasure. 

The newfound TIME for ANYTHING was (is) terrifying, but books help to deal with it. 

 I realized I needed something for ME, something I could do with no previous notice, something to do as I took a bubble bath or while Mateo napped on me, or as I nursed him... and I realized that (besides netflix and facebook and instagram, and phone games that just suck my life away) books were the answer. I didn't want to start out too strong and give up so I started to read fun wishywashy books, and start to create reading habits. I ended the year reading quite a few books -next entry- and now I want to try to read even more during 2018. So here is blog attempt #16 (ha!) an attempt to document the books I read this year and my thoughts on them.