"Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn
I promise I had this book done in time but it has been hectic around here and so I am now just getting to the review. I'll try to do better this week!
One thing I will say is that after the last few weeks of emotional readings and positive outlooks I had to adjust to the dark world of Gillian Flynn. I loved her book "Gone Girl" and this book had the same eerie, "I can't believe I'm reading this" type of feel.
"Dark Places" follows Libby Day, a massacre survivor that becomes desperate for cash and agrees to look into her family's murders for monetary compensation. At first she is half-assed with the search but then begins to realize she may be on to something that takes her down a dangerous road.
I finished this book in two days because I couldn't put it down, trying to go through characters and figure out who did it. I really do enjoy suspsense novels and it flowed so well I couldn't find a good spot to stop.
So if you're in the mood for a suspense, I would recommend "Dark Places".
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Week 11: March 13
"You Win in the Locker Room First" by Jon Gordon and Mike Smith
I have read Jon Gordon before with "The Hard Hat" and I really enjoy his philosophies on teamwork. This book builds on that with the 7 C's for developing a winning team. The "team" can be anything from sports teams to business to life. We all could use these concepts to help us focus on what's important and how to get out of the "me" mindset that our culture is turning into.
The 7 C's are:
1. Culture
2. Contagious
3. Consistent
4. Communicate
5. Connect
6. Commitment
7. Care
Along with the "Big C" of Character and the "Other Big C" of Coaching. I admit, I fall short in many if not all of these categories most days and it takes reminders to not be an "energy vampire", someone who sucks all the positivity out of a room. Personally, I feed off of others' energies so if I am around someone negative, it doesn't take me long to fall right beside them. This is something I have had to work on in every aspect of my life from marriage to my career. It's so easy to be downers but it takes true perseverence to be a positive influence.
Growing up in sports I love how Jon makes his writing relatable to not only sports teams but businesses as well. At work, we talk a lot about wanting to be a team but there are many days where we feel more dvided because we are missing some of the crucial "C" components. I am wanting to bring this book to my director and co-workers' attention to see where we feel we are lacking.
As I read this book, I did bring the concepts into my everyday life. At times it was easier than others but I did notice where I was personally lacking more than others and also how it feels to push past that negativity and go forward with a more positive outlook. It felt a lot better than the self-pity I was allowing myself to have over this or that in my life. I encourage you to pick up this book. It's an easy, short read (even though it took me longer to read it due to personal distractionss) and gives you a sense of clarity on how to live your life. Enjoy!
I have read Jon Gordon before with "The Hard Hat" and I really enjoy his philosophies on teamwork. This book builds on that with the 7 C's for developing a winning team. The "team" can be anything from sports teams to business to life. We all could use these concepts to help us focus on what's important and how to get out of the "me" mindset that our culture is turning into.
The 7 C's are:
1. Culture
2. Contagious
3. Consistent
4. Communicate
5. Connect
6. Commitment
7. Care
Along with the "Big C" of Character and the "Other Big C" of Coaching. I admit, I fall short in many if not all of these categories most days and it takes reminders to not be an "energy vampire", someone who sucks all the positivity out of a room. Personally, I feed off of others' energies so if I am around someone negative, it doesn't take me long to fall right beside them. This is something I have had to work on in every aspect of my life from marriage to my career. It's so easy to be downers but it takes true perseverence to be a positive influence.
Growing up in sports I love how Jon makes his writing relatable to not only sports teams but businesses as well. At work, we talk a lot about wanting to be a team but there are many days where we feel more dvided because we are missing some of the crucial "C" components. I am wanting to bring this book to my director and co-workers' attention to see where we feel we are lacking.
As I read this book, I did bring the concepts into my everyday life. At times it was easier than others but I did notice where I was personally lacking more than others and also how it feels to push past that negativity and go forward with a more positive outlook. It felt a lot better than the self-pity I was allowing myself to have over this or that in my life. I encourage you to pick up this book. It's an easy, short read (even though it took me longer to read it due to personal distractionss) and gives you a sense of clarity on how to live your life. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Week 10: Mar 6
"If I Get to Five" by Fred Epstein, M.D., and Joshua Horwitz
There is no doubt that the last couple of books I've read have been a little heavy on the heart strings but I have no regret that I got through them. This book reminds me of what life is really about. It's about being loved and being heard no matter what stage of life you're in.
Dr. Epstein gives example after example of children that have inspired him. Children. These are the people we should look to when we want to know what makes us happy in life. The innocence that children have brings a new light to life. I think of that often with my own children. Do they really care what kind of furniture we have or how big our house is or how many vacations we take? No. They care that they are loved and cared for. They care that mommy and daddy are with them to play with them and read to them.
I really enjoyed this book and how each chapter is laid out to teach us how to live life through the mind of a child. It's easy to let bills and labels get in the way of our happiness as adults and a daily reminder of what really matters gives me a new perspective on life.
There is no doubt that the last couple of books I've read have been a little heavy on the heart strings but I have no regret that I got through them. This book reminds me of what life is really about. It's about being loved and being heard no matter what stage of life you're in.
Dr. Epstein gives example after example of children that have inspired him. Children. These are the people we should look to when we want to know what makes us happy in life. The innocence that children have brings a new light to life. I think of that often with my own children. Do they really care what kind of furniture we have or how big our house is or how many vacations we take? No. They care that they are loved and cared for. They care that mommy and daddy are with them to play with them and read to them.
I really enjoyed this book and how each chapter is laid out to teach us how to live life through the mind of a child. It's easy to let bills and labels get in the way of our happiness as adults and a daily reminder of what really matters gives me a new perspective on life.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Feb 27: Week 9
"Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson
Like I said before, I am really starting to love autobiographies! It's that raw, harsh truth that just really sucks me in and Lone Survivor was no different. I have to admit, it did take me longer than a week to read this one because of a variety of factors and I have no doubt if I had begun reading this at any other week, I would have finished earlier. But I didn't so here's my late post on it!
Marcus Luttrell tells this story as if he's sitting in his favorite chair in his own living room. Just reliving the Navy SEAL life. At times it could be annoying, but this was the raw reality I was talking about. There are times he's more laid back and humerous in telling the story and then he is focused and serious when he needs to be to make you see and feel what he went through.
I had a lot of emotions reading this story as I often do with a true story. I don't normally cry when I'm reading a book, but this one I had to stop a few times because I couldn't see the words from tears overflowing. It was intense. Not only with the main story of the book, when Marcus and three other Navy SEALs became over-powered by the Taliban in the Afghanistan mountains, but when he expressed how military men and women are treated by the USA. The very country they are fighting for. It was gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, embarassing, how we don't give these very brave people the respect that they deserve. As Marcus says in the book, not everyone can be a SEAL. It takes a very special person who is physically and mentally strong to go through what these men and women go through to protect us who are constantly judging them. It's sickening and I am ashamed at how they are treated. They deserve so much more.
Marcus pays a beautiful tribute to the three fallen SEALs that were with him on the mountain as well as the others that sacrificed their lives to rescue them. The details he gives to their lives and their last breathing moments really pulled me in.
If you don't think the military does enough or they don't deserve the best of care, read this book. Even if you do have a deep respect for them, this book moves it to an entirely different level. Finishing the book, I couldn't help but hope that my own son would be brave enough to join the military, at any level. Nothing would make me prouder. Thank you to all that have served, are serving, were hoping to serve but couldn't for any reason, thank you for all your sacrifice and loyalty to the USA.
Like I said before, I am really starting to love autobiographies! It's that raw, harsh truth that just really sucks me in and Lone Survivor was no different. I have to admit, it did take me longer than a week to read this one because of a variety of factors and I have no doubt if I had begun reading this at any other week, I would have finished earlier. But I didn't so here's my late post on it!
Marcus Luttrell tells this story as if he's sitting in his favorite chair in his own living room. Just reliving the Navy SEAL life. At times it could be annoying, but this was the raw reality I was talking about. There are times he's more laid back and humerous in telling the story and then he is focused and serious when he needs to be to make you see and feel what he went through.
I had a lot of emotions reading this story as I often do with a true story. I don't normally cry when I'm reading a book, but this one I had to stop a few times because I couldn't see the words from tears overflowing. It was intense. Not only with the main story of the book, when Marcus and three other Navy SEALs became over-powered by the Taliban in the Afghanistan mountains, but when he expressed how military men and women are treated by the USA. The very country they are fighting for. It was gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, embarassing, how we don't give these very brave people the respect that they deserve. As Marcus says in the book, not everyone can be a SEAL. It takes a very special person who is physically and mentally strong to go through what these men and women go through to protect us who are constantly judging them. It's sickening and I am ashamed at how they are treated. They deserve so much more.
Marcus pays a beautiful tribute to the three fallen SEALs that were with him on the mountain as well as the others that sacrificed their lives to rescue them. The details he gives to their lives and their last breathing moments really pulled me in.
If you don't think the military does enough or they don't deserve the best of care, read this book. Even if you do have a deep respect for them, this book moves it to an entirely different level. Finishing the book, I couldn't help but hope that my own son would be brave enough to join the military, at any level. Nothing would make me prouder. Thank you to all that have served, are serving, were hoping to serve but couldn't for any reason, thank you for all your sacrifice and loyalty to the USA.
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