Quiet - Book Review

Book: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Author: Susan Cain

Genre: Non-Fiction,  Psychology 

Publisher/Publish Date: Crown / January 2012

Source: SF Public Library

Pages: 333

Rating: 4.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

It might not come to much of surprise to people that know me, but I am an introvert. Though I like being social, I also really appreciate my "me time." This book, that covers what it means to be an introvert, studies about introverts, and how we can function better in the world around us, is the perfect book for introverts and extroverts. Yep, that's right, that means everyone.

For introverts this book helps us feel "normal," and understand what makes us awesome. And for extroverts, this book can help you understand your introverted friends, partners, and coworkers better.

Luckily, I read this for a book club I am part of so I was able to have a good discussion about it. Our discussion group consisted of 4 introverts, on extrovert, and one in between. It was great seeing the positive impact this book had on introverts that grew up feeling left out or a little anti-social. And the extrovert, who is actually already very understanding to her introverted friends, enjoyed hearing about how we interact with the world and how we can work even better.

One challenge with this book is that it's very black and white, and fairly one sided. Someone in our book club mentioned it would be great for someone to write "Loud," so us introverts can learn more about extroverts. 

This is definitely a book I hope to buy, share with friends, and refer back to often.

Want a quick overview of the book? Check out this TED Talks Cain did in 2012, The Power of Introverts.

my weekend - tile decorating at HEATH

I don't know who this guy is.

This sunday I went with a friend to Open Studio at Heath Ceramics in San Francisco to paint a tile. It was fun to be creative and I'm excited to see how it turns out after their fire them later this month.

They provided us with a simple, blank tile, about 6x6" and lots of fun things to use as stencils.

While the dots didn't really turn out how I expected them to, I think they look cool, though who knows how it will turn out once fired. With a couple rubber pads on the bottom with should make a great trivet.

I have loved their beautiful ceramics since I went to their studio in Sausalito for a tour, where they show you how much care and attention they put into their products. If you are ever in the Bay Area I highly recommend checking out one of their multiple show rooms, or at least visit their site to see their dishes.

Requiem - Book Review

Book: Requiem (Delirium #3)
Author:  Lauren Oliver
Genre: YA 
Publisher/Publish Date: HarperCollins, March 5, 2013
Source: SF Public Library
Pages: 432
Rating: 4/5
GoodReads  •  Amazon

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.  

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it. 

But we have chosen a different road. 

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose. 

We are even free to choose the wrong thing. [via GoodReads]

This book, the final in the series, is not quite as action filled as the second book, but does a nice job of wrapping up the story.

The story is told from the point of view of Lena, who has escaped the bonds of the city and is living in the Wilds. And her best friend Hana, who has had the anti-love procedure and is set to marry the new mayor.

Picking up where Pandemonium left off, Lena is in a love triangle when she discovers that Alex is still alive. They then wander around in the woods for awhile, a bit Deathly Hallows-ish, then meet up with other revolutionaries and the book takes off from there.

Knowing how this series ends, I do recommend it to people who enjoy Dystopian YA. And now that all three books are out, you can actually read them back to back.

Scarlet - Book Review

Book: Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi 
Publisher/Publish Date: Feiwel and Friends / February 5, 2013
Source: SF Public Library
Pages: 452
Rating: 3/5
GoodReads  •  Amazon

A sequel up to Cinder, Scarlet introduces new characters and a new story line, but intertwines it with the continuing story of Cinder.

Scarlet's grandmother is missing, and she partners with a stranger, Wolf, to track her down. Yes, I realize how cliche that sounds, but it's only the names that reflect the fairytale, and the story is really good. Scarlet and Wolf go on a journey to discover who her grandmother really is, and how her life is about to collide with the cyborg they keep seeing on the news, Cinder.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoyed Legend, Delirium, or Divergent.

my weekend - sisters edition

Last week I had the pleasure of hosting my two sisters in San Francisco. It was a fun filled 4 days, though somehow, me, the youngest, got worn out the fastest. It was worth it, even if I gained 5 pounds from all the delicious food we eat. The weekend included a day trip up to Sonoma, visits to many coffee shops and restaurants, some walking around the city, and lots of long conversations over food.

I recently got a brand new DSLR camera and had a great time playing with it this weekend. Hope you enjoy the photos.

While up in Sonoma Had a delicious lunch at The Fremont Diner, with chickens running around the picnic area. Aren't my sister's leopard print sunglasses awesome?!

I'm always trying to get good candid shots, and this is one of my favorites. My sister was telling us a funny story about her favorite comedian, Jim Gaffigan, and making us laugh.

I sometimes forget how much graffiti there is in the city. They make the perfect, colorful portrait backdrop and my sisters were willing photo subjects. 

Thanks to my roommate who took a photo of all three of us sisters. (flowers at Mission Cheese)

Miss you sisters!

Going Clear - Book Review

Book: Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & the Prison of Belief
Author: Lawrence Wright
Genre: Nonfiction 
Publisher/Publish Date: Knopf / January 1, 2013
Source: SF Public Library
Pages: 430
Rating: 4/5
GoodReads  •  Amazon

I don't have a ton to say about this here, though if we were chatting in person I would have a ton to say. But I recommend this book who is interested in Scientology and modern religion (and I use the term religion really loosely in connection to Scientology). This is such a complicated topic I think people should read it and make up their own minds.

While the book is a work on nonfiction, the Church of Scientology is really secretive, so it can be hard to know what to believe in this book. Scientologists have come out saying that what Wright reports is untrue, and nothing like their experience in the church. So with each side saying the other are liars, it's hard to know where the truth actually lies.

As for the author, I like about 80% of his writing, but at times facts and topics seemed disjoined and out of order, though some of that may be due to the subject matter.

I do recommend reading these really good articles if you want more details on the book before reading it. 

• A.V. Club
• Slate audio podcast

Have you read it? What do you think?

April - What I Read

April was a great month. Lots of beautiful sunny weather here in SF, both my sisters came to visit for a week, and I somehow still read 6 books this month.

Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore
A fantastical novel, about a distant and mysterious kingdom. For fans of The Infernal Devices & A Song of Ice and Fire. [post]

Winning Balance, by Shawn Johnson
Johnson shares her early gymnastic years, her experience at the Olympics, and how how her life has changed since then. Easy and fun to read.

Clockwork Prince, by Cassandra Clare
Just as good as all of Clare's other books, she creates great characters and plots to pull the reader in. [post]

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, by Barbara Demick
Good, but not my favorite book on North Korea. [post]

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, by Lawrence Wright
Amazing book. Read my review for more thoughts, but I recommend you read it and decide what you think about Scientology. [post]

Scarlet, by Marissa Meyer
This sequel was better than the first, go read it!

Only 4 months into the year and I am 50% done with my goal of 50 books this year. I guess I underestimated myself. Maybe I should aim for 100 next year!