I strained my lower back earlier this year and I’ve strained my back again! The first time I strained it, I was wearing a pair of structured pants that were so hard to put on and take off. This time, though, I have no clue what could have caused it. My suspicions lie with the non-ideal seating configuration in my classroom but it could be something else entirely.
Anyway, since I was basically laid up in bed all weekend after an intense acupuncture session, I booted up my e-reader (a Kobo Clara - the black and white version, if you’re wondering) and borrowed a bunch of books from OverDrive. So far, I’ve finished 4 books.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
An insightful book. I really appreciated how Gottlieb gives insight into her practice, her clients’ and her own emotional messes and defenses in a compassionate and real manner. Underlying all these individual stories, there is a sense of how we all struggle with the same feelings of anger, grief, loss, insecurity, shame, fears of growing old, fears of being left behind, etc. The humanness of all of us, in our imperfect nature. She also shares some insights into how therapy works, though to be fair, there’s definitely room for intersectionality.
Rating: 3.5/5
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I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
I love Jennette McCurdy. I love her voice throughout the memoir. She’s self-aware and a little sardonic. I love how she brings us through her life, her struggles with her abusive mother, growing up doing her best to cater to her mother’s whims and fancies, feeling responsible for her mother’s emotional and mental states, and the eating disorder(s) that she was coached into having, and the ones that they evolved into. It does go into detail about eating disorders and sexual abuse.
It verged on a little too much detail for me at times but it wasn’t too indulgent or anything, just discomfiting. it was interesting to read about Jennette’s experience as a child actor in Nickelodeon, on shows that I’ve watched in my teenage years, iCarly and Sam and Cat. I remember my sister watching the spin-off series quite a bit. I never got that into it. I definitely think people who don’t know Jennette McCurdy would also enjoy her memoir, though people who do, might get a little more from it.
Rating: 4/5
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Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica, translated by Sarah Moses
It’s been a while since I’ve read dystopian fiction. This one explores a future where animals are no longer safe for human consumption and people have turned to sourcing their meat from other humans, or heads, as they call it in the novel. It follows protagonist Marcos as he goes about his life, working at a special meat processing plant. Throughout the book, Marcos comes across mostly resigned to the way his life is after what’s termed The Transition, after the death of his son, his wife leaving him, and his dad suffering from dementia. The book explains the new reality quite plainly and how people come to terms with it by way of cognitive dissonance. The specific language used regarding the special meat is dehumanising and objectifying. As a result, the book was not as difficult to stomach as I’d thought, but I really do suggest checking the trigger warnings first before thinking about picking this book up.
It’s also interesting to read about how Scavengers, people who procure whatever special meat they can get, however they can get it, are juxtaposed with the people who follow all the regulated ways of procuring the special meat. The parallels to the meat industry we have today aren’t missed and in a depressing way, the way women (females) are treated in the story is very similar to what happens today. If you’re looking to find some kind of light at the end of the story tunnel, there isn’t one.
Rating: 3/5
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Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
A novel about an Artificial Friend (AF) named Klara and how she, a solar-powered companion, is chosen by Josie, a child who’s afflicted by some kind of condition that weakens her. It starts off with Klara in the shop, and how she observes the world and AFs around her. We understand the world through Klara’s perspective and experiences, which felt very limited. There is a little touch of how technology has replaced many humans and taken jobs away, and how tenuous but long-lasting connections can be. It’s an interesting exploration into what makes humans human.
I like how fervent Klara is in her belief, and I like how the other characters Klara interacts with all struggle with their different decisions and Josie’s illness. The ending was bittersweet. It underscores how our relationships to people naturally diverge and how connections that used to seem so strong and intense can fade away. It was a touching story, but I really do wish I could have learnt more about the world the story took place in.
Rating: 4/5
Honestly, I find it hard to share my experiences because I never know how people will understand what I’m trying to put across but I hope these reviews are a little helpful and if you’ve read any of these books, feel free to let me know what you think. What books have you read recently? I would love to pick up more books on OverDrive. Right now, I have Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister, and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng borrowed. I’m not going to talk about the physical books that I have bought and have yet to unwrap / crack open.