So, I LOVE to read. Truth be told I am a total bibliophile- in fact its gotten a little bit out of control to be honest with you.
I have no trouble purging and cleaning out the house (ok, clothes are a bit hard to part with BUT I’m getting better). I usually have a few books going at one time and refuse to get rid of them when Im done. Eventually my dream house will have a man (Riley) cave that will be floor to ceiling books with a huge leather chair and a fireplace.
But I digress.. back to May’s books
There is nothing more sickening sweet to me, not to mention disingenuous, than those people who are always “awesome”, “great”, “EXCELLENT” when you ask how they are doing.
I mean, seriously, life just f*cking sucks sometimes and it can be HARD. A little honesty- in fact a lot of it- is not only great to hear but it is also radically truthful.
Sometimes its great to get the response “you know what, Im not doing that well today” or how about “thanks for asking, but today just f*cking sucks”- expressing and showing some vulnerability builds bridges and fosters empathy.
This book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson nails it. The truth of the matter is that we live in a crazy, busy, f*cked up world and there are just far too many f*cks to give.
Want to learn how to better live with those lemons instead of unrealistically always trying to turn them in to lemonade and/or how to ration out the f*cks you give so that you don’t burn out completely? Read this f*cking book!
Cuba, oh yes Cuba. I completed a life-long bucket list trip and spent two weeks there this past January. More on that trip in later posts.
This gem, Waiting For Snow In Havana by Carlos Eire, is an auto-biography of a privileged boy and his family growing up in Havana before the Revolution, his tumultuous survival of it and his current life in Florida.
Books and movies always hit home when we can relate to the setting or the story. I’m so glad that I waited to read this until after my trip.
I can see the ocean and trees, smell the cooking and exhaust from the 1950’s Chevrolets and hear the sounds of music and lighting-fast Cuban Spanish as he recounts his fascinating life. Regardless of your Cuban affiliation its wonderful story of overcoming adversity threaded with powerful social commentary.
Rich/poor, gay/straight, blue collar/white collar, bullied/bully, oppressed/opressor… regardless of any of these words you can identify with there is something for everyone in this quick read.
Another autobiography, The End of Eddy is the sometimes heart wrenching account of Edward, a young boy who knows deep down that his is “different” from the other boys and his constraint struggle to fit in all the while growing up in an impoverished, dysfunctional family.
On the surface it sounds depressing but like the last book, it is a testament to the human spirit and the inherent ability we all have to overcome. There is something in this for everyone.