Letter from an American by Heather Cox Richardson for historical context to today’s news, Civil Discourse by Joyce White Vance for the legal perspective of today’s politics, and WTF is Going on with Politics by Robin Snyder for her sharp wit on today’s politics. All women, if you didn’t notice. ;) And all on Substack!
I do my deepest reading on planes (so indulgent, and so much easier to focus on challenging content when trapped in a tiny economy seat for ten hours, as I was yesterday!!). Yesterday I read cover-to-cover: the Economist, the Atlantic, and Vanity Fair. Wish I had picked up Bob Woodward’s “War” before flying—it will be my next read. I’ve been on an American history tear since 2020; reading black historians’ work is making me a more educated American.
Everything and anything I can get my hands on about the fight for suffrage in the 1910s. It’s inspiring me to get more involved in our democracy. Currently reading a bio about Lucy Burns who co-founded the Women’s Party with Alice Paul
I am reading books on menopause. Social media: any news on Ukrainian War and US Elections. Future of humanity is so precarious with climate change, autocratic vs. democratic agendas.
The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver. I am just flabbergasted that at my age, 46, I am just now having the ah ha moment like so many other women have shared. All the random body changes ( night sweats, frozen shoulder, my jaw bones overriding each other after a big yawn and stayed stuck for hours, anxiety , sleep disturbances ) that have occurred are also changes/issues that occur with perimenopause! Even as a nurse I just put up with them because they were so random…and I now am working on devising a plan to meet with a healthcare provider about how to move forward with hormone treatments that will work best for me. Totally sharing this book with the 40 year olds so when they feel changes they can get on top of it instead of thinking they are going crazy for years.
I just finished No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister, and it is fabulous. It is a series of interconnected short stories, which was great for my brain, which is constantly racing about the election. I love that the audiobook has a different narrator for each story. I knew on some level that every book is different for each reader, but this book drove that home in a way that I will think about for the rest of my life.
The Color of Law; sobering to realize that racial/wage/housing discrimination is only a generation removed from me and income disparity due to loss of generational wealth still needs to be addressed. Onward, sexy patriots!
Love with a Chance of Drowning. Very well written & this memoir is similar to mine. BUT luckily I'm still happily sailing/living aboard with my wonderful hubby.
Former DOJ official warns of potential “election crisis” Anampour and Company with Neal Katyal. Didn’t read but found it on PBS . It’s also on YouTube. Really concerning.
Reading a used book find, "A Treasury of British Humor" collected by Morris Bishop and published in 1942 -- not only has some big names like Wodehouse and Coward, but it's also introducing me to some presumably forgotten writers like E. Œ. Somerville and Martin Ross, and J.B. Morton (aka "Beachcomber" in the Daily Express). Also some of Thomas Hardy's light prose -- didn't know he had any! Fascinating!
Will be starting to read 'How To End Christian Nationalism' by Amanda Tyler. Really looking forward to this book. The religious extremism in the US is killing this country.
I decompress with music.....Tom Petty and Steely Dan...... it takes me back to better days when I felt free.
I've just re-read Liz Gilbert's wonderful shot of adrenaline, BIG MAGIC. ALL creative people--no I take that back--EVERYONE should read BIG MAGIC. It's about finishing things, not just as writers, but for everyone in this world. It's a wonderful book. Think I enjoyed it even more the second time. AND, I will read it a third time one of these days . . . . .
Now reading the new biography of Audre Lorde by Alexis Pauline Gumbs titled Survival is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde. This is an excellent profile of Lorde's life and work of resilience and creativity which is providing necessary sustenance to me in these current times.
I just finished Leigh McGowan's book, "A Return To Common Sense." I always read Substack newsletters like Joyce Vance, Heather Cox-Richardson, Tim Synder, and ten others.
Letter from an American by Heather Cox Richardson for historical context to today’s news, Civil Discourse by Joyce White Vance for the legal perspective of today’s politics, and WTF is Going on with Politics by Robin Snyder for her sharp wit on today’s politics. All women, if you didn’t notice. ;) And all on Substack!
This is great!
I do my deepest reading on planes (so indulgent, and so much easier to focus on challenging content when trapped in a tiny economy seat for ten hours, as I was yesterday!!). Yesterday I read cover-to-cover: the Economist, the Atlantic, and Vanity Fair. Wish I had picked up Bob Woodward’s “War” before flying—it will be my next read. I’ve been on an American history tear since 2020; reading black historians’ work is making me a more educated American.
Airplanes are a great chance to really dive in!
Everything and anything I can get my hands on about the fight for suffrage in the 1910s. It’s inspiring me to get more involved in our democracy. Currently reading a bio about Lucy Burns who co-founded the Women’s Party with Alice Paul
Love this
I am reading books on menopause. Social media: any news on Ukrainian War and US Elections. Future of humanity is so precarious with climate change, autocratic vs. democratic agendas.
The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver. I am just flabbergasted that at my age, 46, I am just now having the ah ha moment like so many other women have shared. All the random body changes ( night sweats, frozen shoulder, my jaw bones overriding each other after a big yawn and stayed stuck for hours, anxiety , sleep disturbances ) that have occurred are also changes/issues that occur with perimenopause! Even as a nurse I just put up with them because they were so random…and I now am working on devising a plan to meet with a healthcare provider about how to move forward with hormone treatments that will work best for me. Totally sharing this book with the 40 year olds so when they feel changes they can get on top of it instead of thinking they are going crazy for years.
Any specific books on menopause you're really enjoying?
I just finished No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister, and it is fabulous. It is a series of interconnected short stories, which was great for my brain, which is constantly racing about the election. I love that the audiobook has a different narrator for each story. I knew on some level that every book is different for each reader, but this book drove that home in a way that I will think about for the rest of my life.
It's so great when we find a book that resonates like this.
The Color of Law; sobering to realize that racial/wage/housing discrimination is only a generation removed from me and income disparity due to loss of generational wealth still needs to be addressed. Onward, sexy patriots!
Thank you for sharing!
Love with a Chance of Drowning. Very well written & this memoir is similar to mine. BUT luckily I'm still happily sailing/living aboard with my wonderful hubby.
This sounds great!
Former DOJ official warns of potential “election crisis” Anampour and Company with Neal Katyal. Didn’t read but found it on PBS . It’s also on YouTube. Really concerning.
Thank you for sharing
Reading a used book find, "A Treasury of British Humor" collected by Morris Bishop and published in 1942 -- not only has some big names like Wodehouse and Coward, but it's also introducing me to some presumably forgotten writers like E. Œ. Somerville and Martin Ross, and J.B. Morton (aka "Beachcomber" in the Daily Express). Also some of Thomas Hardy's light prose -- didn't know he had any! Fascinating!
Thank you for sharing!
Will be starting to read 'How To End Christian Nationalism' by Amanda Tyler. Really looking forward to this book. The religious extremism in the US is killing this country.
I decompress with music.....Tom Petty and Steely Dan...... it takes me back to better days when I felt free.
Excellent music to decompress with.
I'm reading Hood Wellness by Tamela J. Gordon, as well as Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara.🧡
Love this!
I've just re-read Liz Gilbert's wonderful shot of adrenaline, BIG MAGIC. ALL creative people--no I take that back--EVERYONE should read BIG MAGIC. It's about finishing things, not just as writers, but for everyone in this world. It's a wonderful book. Think I enjoyed it even more the second time. AND, I will read it a third time one of these days . . . . .
It's a really great one!
All Fours by Miranda July. It's so good!
The book of the summer!
I'm going to be reading Creatrix Rising: Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women by Stephanie Raffelock. I love her blog and ordered her book!
This sounds great!
Now reading the new biography of Audre Lorde by Alexis Pauline Gumbs titled Survival is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde. This is an excellent profile of Lorde's life and work of resilience and creativity which is providing necessary sustenance to me in these current times.
This sounds great!
I just finished Leigh McGowan's book, "A Return To Common Sense." I always read Substack newsletters like Joyce Vance, Heather Cox-Richardson, Tim Synder, and ten others.
Substack is such a great place to find inspiring writing.