One book that has stayed with me is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. It’s a memoir, written by a neurosurgeon who is diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. Although it’s not a long book, I can still feel its devastating and uplifting impact years later, even upon re-reading. His writing is so beautiful and descriptive without being over-wrought. I saw a copy at my sister’s house recently, and just seeing the cover brought back a flood of emotions. Highly recommended if you haven’t already read it.
Another is Suleika Jaouad’s Between Two Kingdoms. I was lent a copy by a friend who recommended it to me. I was so happy she did! It’s much longer than Paul’s memoir, and her journey is different from his in many ways, but I also see connections between them.
Those are my two suggestions. So great to see titles that I can put on my TBR list! Thanks for organizing this book club, Alice! ❤️
I found the Salt Path at the library and read it - it was amazing. I am going to read it again I loved it so much. I have the next two in the series on request at the library.
But in the meantime I bought a book by Perdita Finn, called Take Back the Magic, conversations with the unseen world. I didn't start at the beginning, but just opened it. The chapter I started on is chapter 9 and called, The size of a Soul. And while I was reading the section about Perdita and her mother, I thought of you Alice, caring for your mother-in-law.
Maybe that was why I needed to start at that point in the book.
From page 138
"Are we related?" she asked once.
"I'm your daughter," I said simply.
She took my face in her hands and kissed my cheeks. "I knew it was something like that! I knew there was a reason I loved you so much!"
What a beautiful, beautiful story and lines here, Justine. And thank you for reading The Salt Path with me. What do you love in a book group? What do you want it to look like? I'm starting to really focus in on this so that I make it helpful and beautiful for us all and not another to-do element....
This is the first book group I have ever been part of - I have never wanted to 'have' to read a book that others have chosen to read. The way you have this is wonderful with recommendations - if we want to participate we can.
For example, I would never read The PIllars of Earth book, if that is the correct title! Just isn't my scene.
How do we join the Life Changing book club? I’d love to! This is just what I need in this uncertain period of life with two small kids and an upcoming cross-country move right now. ☺️
Hi Lauren--to join, all you need to do is read the book (or even just read the conversations about the book.) It's a easy, low-key, read-if-you wish, and make what's possible in your life possible. I'd love to read alongside with you...
What lush idea! “We’ll pick a book for each month. These will come from you: books you share that have changed your life will go into the selection.“ I’ll be watching how this goes.
Thanks, Jennifer. I'm loving The Salt Path so far. Do you have any advice as to how/where to share thoughts on the book together? I know you're good at community on here and I want to make it easy and fun--not another to-do. We all have too many of those, right?
I've somehow never read When Things Fall Apart even though I've read so many excerpts from it. I'm regularly being recommended Untethered Soul.
I'll throw a few into the hat and maybe write something about one or all of them soon ... Glennon Doyle's Untamed, Barbara Sher's Refuse to Choose, Daring to Take Up Space by Daniell Koepke
Thank you for all of these suggestions--I really appreciate each one and I'm excited to take a look at the ones I haven't read yet as well as re-read the ones I have. Daring to Take Up Space appeals because of the title!
It just so happens that The Salt Path fell into my hands just last week! My life is has taken a similar course, losing my home, business, and my life on hold indefinitely while I care for my mum, who has dementia. I'd escaped the house during one particularly difficult day last week, to walk the dog and take a moment to "regroup". My dog led me on a different route round our village, quite out of the way and through the graveyard round the back of the church and up to the church door. It was there that I noticed they had a collection of secondhand books in the porch that parishioners could help themselves to, always too much to resist for me! Anyway, it brought me to this book, which I'm hoping will help give me the extra strength I need right now to carry on, I'm certainly enjoying it so far.
On another note, I agree with another comment, Katherine May's Wintering is another good choice.
Oh, my goodness, life has sent a lot your way. I'm so glad you have the book and such a lovely story of finding it. I really look forward to reading it together with you and finding ways to get you through this caregiving phase with quiet reading moments. xoxox
I feel so honoured that you have begun with the book I told you about - I hope others will find even a glimmer of something inside Raynor Winn's words that will sow a seed of hope or warm their heart. For me, it was almost an allegory of the power of taking charge, not letting the worst define you. I read it after seeing a very brief mention on a television show, but did not expect it to speak to me quite so profoundly. Her words remain a gift, spoken to me as I navigated a period of time where everything seemed to be falling apart, and coming back to me every day as I walk my own Salt Path in bite size pieces (ps I can't see how to join your group chat - there doesn't appear to be a link where its says 'join here')
Oh, I need to get that group chat link sorted, Cate. I'll fix it later today after the soccer centre.... Thank you so much for sharing these comments. I'm so looking forward to opening my copy this weekend. xoxo
I'm doing my Pre-Holiday Election De-Stress 30 Day Yoga Challenge in November, but I would love to do this with you too! I wonder if I could manage both. I guess only one way to find out. I'll see if I can get that book from my library and join you. I was hoping to do a book club in February, but you November one sounds good. Sign me up. Or do I have to sign up or just join the chat?
Hey Kim--I'm open to your advice on this! I planned to keep it very easy and fluid, so people can drop in and connect as feels good. I'll create a post in two weeks or so with my thoughts for people to comment on and share there. Sound good?
Perfect, I'll watch for it. I just put a request in for the book at my library Someone has it out until Nov 11th, so I won't get it until after that (as long as I'm next on the list). But, I'm going to try to follow along, even if loosely. :)
Wintering by Katherine May changed my life because it allowed me to see the dark, cold times of life that make humans feel weak and isolated can be beautifully restorative periods of quiet necessary for our healing.
Funny you should ask, just now.. I've been a mother, child (mine) advocate, educator, gran, caregiver ..for decades ..and had entirely lost the habit of reading for joy alone. Awhile ago, while kid-sitting, I picked up a copy of Enid Blyton's, The Island of Adventure, from my daughter's bookshelf and lost myself, once again, in Blyton's tale of courageous, oft-times audacious, youngsters. It reawakened my enraptured, reading-filled childhood ..a happy place I plan to habitually revisit.
This sounds good! I'm going to read it—and use your Life-Changing Book Club as an excuse for spending a morning or afternoon in the company of a good book as in "no, I can't do xxxxx because I have to read this book for my book club."
Wonderful. I'm so happy you're going to join me. Let's shape so it's fun and 'an excuse to spend a morning or afternoon in the company of a good book' together!
One book that has stayed with me is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. It’s a memoir, written by a neurosurgeon who is diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. Although it’s not a long book, I can still feel its devastating and uplifting impact years later, even upon re-reading. His writing is so beautiful and descriptive without being over-wrought. I saw a copy at my sister’s house recently, and just seeing the cover brought back a flood of emotions. Highly recommended if you haven’t already read it.
Another is Suleika Jaouad’s Between Two Kingdoms. I was lent a copy by a friend who recommended it to me. I was so happy she did! It’s much longer than Paul’s memoir, and her journey is different from his in many ways, but I also see connections between them.
Those are my two suggestions. So great to see titles that I can put on my TBR list! Thanks for organizing this book club, Alice! ❤️
I have heard that this book by Paul Kalanithi is wonderful!
I found the Salt Path at the library and read it - it was amazing. I am going to read it again I loved it so much. I have the next two in the series on request at the library.
But in the meantime I bought a book by Perdita Finn, called Take Back the Magic, conversations with the unseen world. I didn't start at the beginning, but just opened it. The chapter I started on is chapter 9 and called, The size of a Soul. And while I was reading the section about Perdita and her mother, I thought of you Alice, caring for your mother-in-law.
Maybe that was why I needed to start at that point in the book.
From page 138
"Are we related?" she asked once.
"I'm your daughter," I said simply.
She took my face in her hands and kissed my cheeks. "I knew it was something like that! I knew there was a reason I loved you so much!"
What a beautiful, beautiful story and lines here, Justine. And thank you for reading The Salt Path with me. What do you love in a book group? What do you want it to look like? I'm starting to really focus in on this so that I make it helpful and beautiful for us all and not another to-do element....
xoxox
This is the first book group I have ever been part of - I have never wanted to 'have' to read a book that others have chosen to read. The way you have this is wonderful with recommendations - if we want to participate we can.
For example, I would never read The PIllars of Earth book, if that is the correct title! Just isn't my scene.
How do we join the Life Changing book club? I’d love to! This is just what I need in this uncertain period of life with two small kids and an upcoming cross-country move right now. ☺️
Hi Lauren--to join, all you need to do is read the book (or even just read the conversations about the book.) It's a easy, low-key, read-if-you wish, and make what's possible in your life possible. I'd love to read alongside with you...
What a great idea…especially for introverted writers. I’m going to check the library for a copy.
We have lots of people checking it out of the library, which makes me very happy.
What lush idea! “We’ll pick a book for each month. These will come from you: books you share that have changed your life will go into the selection.“ I’ll be watching how this goes.
Thanks, Jennifer. I'm loving The Salt Path so far. Do you have any advice as to how/where to share thoughts on the book together? I know you're good at community on here and I want to make it easy and fun--not another to-do. We all have too many of those, right?
I've somehow never read When Things Fall Apart even though I've read so many excerpts from it. I'm regularly being recommended Untethered Soul.
I'll throw a few into the hat and maybe write something about one or all of them soon ... Glennon Doyle's Untamed, Barbara Sher's Refuse to Choose, Daring to Take Up Space by Daniell Koepke
Thank you for all of these suggestions--I really appreciate each one and I'm excited to take a look at the ones I haven't read yet as well as re-read the ones I have. Daring to Take Up Space appeals because of the title!
I’ve been told by several friends that Untamed was one of the most incredibly life-changing books they’ve encountered.
It just so happens that The Salt Path fell into my hands just last week! My life is has taken a similar course, losing my home, business, and my life on hold indefinitely while I care for my mum, who has dementia. I'd escaped the house during one particularly difficult day last week, to walk the dog and take a moment to "regroup". My dog led me on a different route round our village, quite out of the way and through the graveyard round the back of the church and up to the church door. It was there that I noticed they had a collection of secondhand books in the porch that parishioners could help themselves to, always too much to resist for me! Anyway, it brought me to this book, which I'm hoping will help give me the extra strength I need right now to carry on, I'm certainly enjoying it so far.
On another note, I agree with another comment, Katherine May's Wintering is another good choice.
Oh, my goodness, life has sent a lot your way. I'm so glad you have the book and such a lovely story of finding it. I really look forward to reading it together with you and finding ways to get you through this caregiving phase with quiet reading moments. xoxox
I’ve been wanting to read this book so this seems like the perfect incentive! Looking forward to reading along with you.
That's great, Sam. I'm going to open up my copy this weekend xoxox
I am happy to read along with you! Just ordered The Salt Path and looking forward to
Next month’s choice already.
This is lovely, Blanche. We're going to have fun!
I feel so honoured that you have begun with the book I told you about - I hope others will find even a glimmer of something inside Raynor Winn's words that will sow a seed of hope or warm their heart. For me, it was almost an allegory of the power of taking charge, not letting the worst define you. I read it after seeing a very brief mention on a television show, but did not expect it to speak to me quite so profoundly. Her words remain a gift, spoken to me as I navigated a period of time where everything seemed to be falling apart, and coming back to me every day as I walk my own Salt Path in bite size pieces (ps I can't see how to join your group chat - there doesn't appear to be a link where its says 'join here')
Oh, I need to get that group chat link sorted, Cate. I'll fix it later today after the soccer centre.... Thank you so much for sharing these comments. I'm so looking forward to opening my copy this weekend. xoxo
Here you go, Cate--I think this works now. I've linked it above and here it is for you (and all of us!):
https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/3cef5336-d823-4fb1-9ef1-76332a5d895d
xoxo
I'm doing my Pre-Holiday Election De-Stress 30 Day Yoga Challenge in November, but I would love to do this with you too! I wonder if I could manage both. I guess only one way to find out. I'll see if I can get that book from my library and join you. I was hoping to do a book club in February, but you November one sounds good. Sign me up. Or do I have to sign up or just join the chat?
Hey Kim--I'm open to your advice on this! I planned to keep it very easy and fluid, so people can drop in and connect as feels good. I'll create a post in two weeks or so with my thoughts for people to comment on and share there. Sound good?
Perfect, I'll watch for it. I just put a request in for the book at my library Someone has it out until Nov 11th, so I won't get it until after that (as long as I'm next on the list). But, I'm going to try to follow along, even if loosely. :)
Lovely--I'm glad you'll get a copy in your hands. Cate's comments about it are very wonderful....
Wintering by Katherine May changed my life because it allowed me to see the dark, cold times of life that make humans feel weak and isolated can be beautifully restorative periods of quiet necessary for our healing.
SUCH a great choice. I wonder if that could be our December pick--feels good for Winter, no?!
Funny you should ask, just now.. I've been a mother, child (mine) advocate, educator, gran, caregiver ..for decades ..and had entirely lost the habit of reading for joy alone. Awhile ago, while kid-sitting, I picked up a copy of Enid Blyton's, The Island of Adventure, from my daughter's bookshelf and lost myself, once again, in Blyton's tale of courageous, oft-times audacious, youngsters. It reawakened my enraptured, reading-filled childhood ..a happy place I plan to habitually revisit.
Oh fun! Children's books are a wonderful place to dive into reading. Thank you for the suggestion! I'll add it to our list...
This sounds good! I'm going to read it—and use your Life-Changing Book Club as an excuse for spending a morning or afternoon in the company of a good book as in "no, I can't do xxxxx because I have to read this book for my book club."
Wonderful. I'm so happy you're going to join me. Let's shape so it's fun and 'an excuse to spend a morning or afternoon in the company of a good book' together!
I’m in! Always interested in reading something new, and being able to share with others on this platform is great!
Yay. I'm so glad you're with me on this!
I would like to read a book with you as I'm always into discovering a new book.
Great. Let's try The Salt Path together. I'm excited...