“Decision-making is a complex, messy activity that can lead to significant stress. But it doesn’t have to. One of the goals of this book is to remind us not to fall prey to the numerous social forces that increasingly turn making a decision into an unnecessarily anxious process.”
I can’t remember the last time I read a book that made me cry as much as More Than Us by Ryan Jones did. This book deals with themes of suicide, mental health, and self-harm, so please be aware if you decide to add this title to your TBR list.
“Life is not a series of crises to be endured. Life is to be enjoyed.”
Friends, I recently read another collection of personal essays, and oh my GAWD, this one was GOOD. I really enjoy books like this, but I’ve never read one that hit so close to home before. Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster was like looking into a mirror, if a book can be a mirror. Does that make sense? I don’t even care.
“Depression affects everyone on the planet, directly or indirectly, in every possible sphere.”
I try to be fairly open about my mental health, and I’ve written posts on here before about certain books that have helped me. While reading Bellevue Square I cried in public quite a bit, and then sobbed uncontrollably when my book club discussed it. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine also tore my heart into pieces because I related to the main character so much. I even have a bookish tattoo that helps me stay grounded during panic attacks.
So when I had the opportunity to read and review a copy of Matt Haig’s Notes on a Nervous Planet, I was both excited and nervous. I knew that this author had written on mental health before, and was looking forward to a fresh, new perspective, but was also worried about what exactly this book would say.
I always knew that my first tattoo would be both book-related and nerdy. Books have held a special place in my heart since childhood, and, well, I’m a huge nerd. It just made sense. So I don’t think it came as a surprise to my Dad when I finally told him, “Hey, just so you know, I have the phrase ‘DON’T PANIC’ forever scarred into my skin.”
Happy World Book Day, fellow readers!
I wanted to spend today talking about one of the best books I’ve read so far this year: Bellevue Square, by Michael Redhill. I read this story back in February for my book club, and have wanted to talk about it ever since. It’s been hard to put words down for this one, but I think I’m finally ready.
(I’m going to stop you right here and let you know that if you don’t want any spoilers about this book, don’t read this post. I’m sorry, but in order to write this review, I had to ruin the plot.)
