Books #70

Ok, I have some good books for you!

1 – Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith

This is a must-read for parents. And I wish teachers and health care providers would read it, too. The author expertly describes the tipping point to where eating disorders start in our young kids. And I think a LOT of us reading this book as adults can relate to it. The impact a single comment can have on a kid that lasts a life time is huge.

I hate books that have “case study” type stories but this author does them well. I was interested in each story told. There were some hard stories in there–one in particular was about a father who was really into health, was an avid runner and everything fitness was important to him and he just couldn’t understand why his daughter developed an eating disorder. And he couldn’t figure out how to help her with it. The rate of eating disorders is astounding and it grew exponentially during covid. Social media isn’t helping. This is a big issue that needs to be addressed, and unfortunately it needs to be addressed at an even younger age these days. A lot of the kids in this book were under than 12 when they developed their eating disorders. These conversations need to happen EARLY.

The author finishes the book with concrete examples and scripts on how to have conversations around all of these topics and it was really helpful. The book was long, but didn’t feel like it was dragging. I enjoyed it and felt like the research was good enough without bogging the book down and making it boring. I think everyone should read this book.

2- Yellowface by R.F Kuang

“But now, I see, author efforts have nothing to do with a book’s success. Bestsellers are chosen. Nothing you do matters. You just get to enjoy the perks along the way.”

June is an average writer whose first book was a bit of a flop. When her hugely successful acquaintance, Athena, dies, she steals her new manuscript and passes it off as her own. The narration and vibe of the book is very reminiscent of “You” in the voice and “holy shit did that really happen”. June is despicable in every way. There is no sympathy, there is no “well, I kind of see her point of view”. It’s a jaw-dropping read and totally engrossing. I could NOT put it down.

The book is so timely, too. It covers so many issues: racism, cultural appropriation, white privilege…also, is it ok for a white writer to tell the story of another race? Is that not allowed? Or is it censorship to not allow it?

I loved the first 80% of the book and then the ending got a little unrealistic and kind of silly but overall I recommend it!

3 – You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smith

“…on our last family vacation, when I packed my sadness and took it with us to the beach…”

This is a raw, tough read. I think anyone that has gone through a divorce, or a bad breakup, can relate to this book on a guttural level. When a relationship ends it’s like a part of you dies. Then you have to rebuild your life–often time making new friends, or moving to a new locations, or changing jobs. There is a lot of grief and upheaval. I feel like Maggie Smith did an excellent job writing about her experience discovering that her husband was cheating on her, and the subsequent divorce. And a lot of the book was looking back at moments where things had clearly started to fracture.

“For months, maybe even years, I folded and folded my happiness until I couldn’t fold it anymore, until it fit under my tongue, and I held it there. I kept silent in order to hold it. I taught myself to read his face and dim mine, a good mirror.”

I think even if someone isn’t going through a bad divorce/breakup, it’s a good read. I mean, hasn’t everyone experienced some kind of grief on some level? Like a lot of reviewers, the story could get repetitive but overall I enjoyed most of the book.

4 – The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

“Shepherding a dying person through the last days of their life is a privilege—especially when you’re the only thing they have to hold on to.”

I loved this book! I loved the theme of regret and living your life to the fullest. We’ve all thought of what would we think about on our deathbed? Would we regret how much time we wasted doing X and wish we’d done Y? Is there a hobby we never picked up because we didn’t have time? Was there a trip we wanted to take but never did? Was there a love that got away?

Clover is a Death Doula. I’ve known a few and it’s an honorable profession. Clover sits with the dying, often people who don’t have anyone else to sit with them at the end. She records her clients’ final words three of her notebooks: Regrets, Advice, or Confessions. And it finally occurs to her that she’s not living her OWN life.

I loved the book. I loved the story. I loved the most of the characters. I had a hard time with Clover at times. I found it unrealistic that she was in her mid-thirties and had never been kissed or had a relationship of any kind. She was awkward and a little weird (and not because of her profession and preoccupation around death). But then at times she could be endearing and wise. Overall I liked the book and would recommend it!

Happy Reading!