Aptly named, The Comfort Book is filled with comforting thoughts, anecdotes and snippets of wisdom from author Matt Haig. This tiny book shines[image]
Aptly named, The Comfort Book is filled with comforting thoughts, anecdotes and snippets of wisdom from author Matt Haig. This tiny book shines a light on the importance of emotional intelligence as Haig shares personal experiences with his own mental health and the wisdom, he's learned to help readers weather their tougher times.
The messages are brief yet often powerful and it's the kind of book you can pick up during stressful times, when a nugget of hope is needed. This is the kind of book you don't have to read in order - and honestly, you probably shouldn't read it in a sitting or two like I did. It's meant to be read in short bursts when a comforting nudge is needed because reading all 250 pages gave the book a bit of a repetitive feel.
This is a self-help/self-care kind of book that doesn't read as too 'self-helpy'. Introspective and sometimes poignant, this wee book is filled with messages of comfort, hope and inspiration and will have readers highlighting many passages.
Some memorable quotes: “Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn’t give up.”
“To know which path to take, it helps to take a few wrong ones.”
“Don’t absorb criticism from people you wouldn’t go to for advice.”
“Self-forgiveness makes the world better. You don’t become a good person by believing you are a bad one.”
“The pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
“You can’t climb a mountain that you pretend isn’t there.”
“It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learned while we are at our lowest.”
“But it is helpful to remember that our perspective is our world. And our external circumstances don’t need to change in order for our perspective to change.”...more
Caitlin Doughty, a funeral director and mortician by trade and the YouTuber behind Ask A Mortician, expl[image]
Talk about an eye-catching book title!
Caitlin Doughty, a funeral director and mortician by trade and the YouTuber behind Ask A Mortician, explores and answers 35 questions that small humans have posed about death. She has a great sense of humour, and her answers can be a bit gruesome, delightfully macabre and are often giggle-out-loud funny as she shares bite-sized facts about death.
Broken up into short chapters with a question-and-answer format, Doughty explores questions that range from amusing to kinda-out-there and include:
What would happen to an astronaut's body in space?
Can everybody fit in a casket? What if they're really tall?
Do conjoined twins always die at the same time?
What would happen if you swallowed a bag of popcorn before you died and were cremated?
If I died making a stupid face, would it be stuck like that forever?
Can you describe the smell of a dead body?
and let's not forget the age-old question that's at the top of everyone's minds ...
Do we poop when we die? (a classic, n'est pas?)
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? is a short, fun(ny) and informative book that candidly answers questions about death, corpses, and funeral home secrets. Balancing facts with a delightfully irreverent but still respectful vibe, this was a humorous read that taught me a few things and has me interested in checking out Doughty's YouTube channel. ...more
I requested an advanced copy of this book a couple of months ago because the anniversary of my friend Kym's death was approaching. She was the first (I requested an advanced copy of this book a couple of months ago because the anniversary of my friend Kym's death was approaching. She was the first (and only) friend I've lost, and her death hit me hard, with my grief greatly impacting my life for the first two years after her death.
Now six years later, this book comes along and it is one I wish I had read early on as I navigated my grief. The waves of sadness still hit me, but often they're more subdued. Despite my progress, I thought I could gain insight from Clare Mackintosh, a suspense author whose work I have enjoyed, who in this book shares her thoughts, feelings, and experiences after the excruciating loss of one of her children.
This book was inspired by a Twitter post made by Mackintosh on the anniversary of her son's death that went viral. From that post and the outpouring of comments, she has written 18 assurances based on her own experiences with grief. She reminds readers that not all of them will fit all readers' experiences or timelines in their grief journey and I found I related to some assurances more than others (particularly in the first half of the book).
Grief is universal, but it’s also as unique to each of us as the person we’ve lost. It can be overwhelming, exhausting, lonely, unreasonable, there when we least expect it and seemingly never-ending. Wherever you are with your grief and whoever you’re grieving for, I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This is here to support you. To tell you, until you believe it, that things will get easier.”
As I read this book, I felt the ebb and flow of grief hit me. There were moments where I sat with a massive lump in my throat, others when I shed tears and others where I'd smile at the fond memories of Kym that would pop up - living together in college, the shenanigans we'd get into with friends and her amazing family who our gaggle of girls got to know and love.
This is an emotional and no doubt, cathartic endeavour for the author and by sharing her own journey, she hopes it can help readers who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. Thank you, Clare, for this candid and emotional book that is told with compassion, candidness and grace.
Heartbreaking but hopeful, I highly recommend this book if you've suffered a loss and strongly believe it would also benefit people who want to know how they can support a loved one who is experiencing grief.
Disclaimer: Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review....more
4.5 STARS - If you're Canadian, you'll know the name Peter Mansbridge. For those not in the know, he's a celebrated Canadian journalist and bro[image]
4.5 STARS - If you're Canadian, you'll know the name Peter Mansbridge. For those not in the know, he's a celebrated Canadian journalist and broadcaster who has built a long and successful career as the anchor of The National and the CBC News Chief Correspondent where he informed Canadians about what was happening at home and around the world.
How Canada Works was co-written with Mark Bulgutch, his co-author of 2020's Extraordinary Canadians. This collection of first-person stories gives readers glimpses into the 'everyday' jobs and careers of 28 Canadians from across Canada. From the air traffic controller in Halifax and the Neskantaga First Nations Chief in northern Ontario, to the high-rise window washer in Edmonton and the forensic biologist in Guelph, Ontario to the dairy farmer from Manitoba (which I found fascinating!) and many more, these Canadians share what their jobs entail and how the work they do helps to make Canada work.
Be prepared to be inspired, have your heart warmed with a sense of community spirit and your eyes opened to the wide range of skills and accomplishments these citizens bring to their communities that help to benefit Canada as a whole. While our country is still a work in progress, by working together and doing our part, it is the 'everyday' people who will continue to make Canada better....more
I'm going to preface this review by saying that I'm new to graphic novels and can probably count on one hand the number of books I've read in t[image]
I'm going to preface this review by saying that I'm new to graphic novels and can probably count on one hand the number of books I've read in this genre. But, not one to miss out on a new, well-hyped book, I jumped on the Ducks bandwagon after it won the Canada Reads competition and the Doug Wright Award for best book in 2023. Maybe THIS book would get me to love graphic novels!
I was initially intrigued because the author wrote about her experiences in the very male-dominated Alberta's oil sands industry. Beaton gives readers insight into the lives of the workers (there are a lot of characters to keep track of), the monotony and how female workers (who are outnumbered by male workers 50:1) are treated. Topics range from feelings of isolation and loneliness to mental health, addiction, family separation and unwanted attention from male workers (casual sexist remarks to blatant misogyny and sexual assault).
There is a monotony in the job of an oil sands worker and that dreary sameness came through in how this story was told. There's a lot of repetition in the 430 pages (which easily could have been whittled down), but it was the repeated and abrupt jumping between scenes that was frustrating. I think I got reader whiplash.
I appreciated that Beaton shares her personal experiences and while there were a couple of emotional scenes and the topics were heartbreaking, with the limited dialogue, the emotions felt muted, and the issues handled too briefly. I also would have loved the story to discuss more about the environmental and societal impact of the oil sands industry but that was largely ignored.
In the end, this wasn't a good pick for me - please note that I am an outlier with my feelings. I appreciate the author sharing her experiences, but this massive book was a hard slog through the Alberta oil sands - a location and industry I still know little about. ...more
This small book is a set of seven essays that packs a powerful punch. It is a book that I took my time with, reflect up and reasses4.5 STARS - [image]
This small book is a set of seven essays that packs a powerful punch. It is a book that I took my time with, reflect up and reassess what I was taught in school as a Canadian non-Indigenous person, what I saw in the media and read in books.
Truth Telling should be required reading in high school. Good pulls no punches in describing how Indigenous peoples have been and continue to be treated by the Canadian government and society. From the beginning of colonization and our government's planned pillaging of Indigenous land, intentional starvation and subsequent genocide of Indigenous communities and their culture; to residential schools that resulted in intergenerational trauma, to our government's encouragement of racism and misinformation about Indigenous Peoples.
This is a well-written, often emotional call to action and request for non-Indigenous Canadians to stop viewing history through the colonial lens. It is a time for action, not continued apologies. As Good says
"Let the age of the apology end. We don't need any more apologies. We need an acknowledgement of the harm that's been done. We need a mea culpa, followed by full and proper restitution". - pg 30
Readers need to understand and acknowledge:
From those very early days, Canadians bought into the myth of Canada as the benevolent provider to Indigenous Peoples as opposed to the colonial oppressor determined to control the valuable resources on Indigenous lands. - p 52
Truth Telling is a request for non-Indigenous Canadians to do better. To ask questions, to learn more and understand what restitution means.
Truth Telling is important in that it restores the human dignity of the victims of violence and calls governments and citizens to account. Without truth, justice is not served, healing cannot happen, and there can be no genuine reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada - pg 54
Thought-provoking, emotional and provocative, Truth Telling is a book that will shock many non-Indigenous readers, but will hopefully inspire the much needed action so that we can honestly and truthfully reconcile with Canada's dark colonial past....more
The Big Bang Theory is a show that was must-see-TV for me each week with its amazing writing and laugh out loud performances. It has made its m[image]
The Big Bang Theory is a show that was must-see-TV for me each week with its amazing writing and laugh out loud performances. It has made its mark on society in a few ways and made being a nerd kinda cool.
This BIG book was more than I could have hoped for. It's a beast at over 500 pages, but I loved getting all the details - from the show's preproduction and its early days to its final scenes. Relayed in chronological order, it is filled with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, photos, secrets and candid (and sometimes poignant) thoughts from the show’s creators, directors and cast which also include guest star regulars like Christine Baranski and Laurie Metcalf to big name guest stars like Bob Newhart, Wil Wheaton, Mark Hamill and Stephen Hawking.
It was interesting to learn how much thought went into the minutest details about what the characters wore, said and how they were portrayed. From Wolowitz’s Nintendo belt buckle to Raj's inability to speak to women, to Sheldon's quirky tendencies, so much thought and energy went into creating great characters with fun yet meaningful story arcs. I particularly loved the tidbits about how certain scenes developed and how well-known and recognizable phrases (Bazinga!) and character quirks (Sheldon's three knocks) came to be.
The book has a conversational tone, like you're sitting on Leonard and Sheldon's couch (not in Sheldon's spot, obviously). The cast candidly share their feelings about iconic episodes and snippets from their personal lives. It felt like nothing was off topic - including who was originally pegged for some roles, salaries negotiations, disagreements and what instigated the end of the show. It is heartwarming that this group of actors loved, supported, and respected each other on and off Stage 25 on the Warner Bros. lot for 12 years.
My only wee beef is that because we get input from different cast members, it sometimes felt like we were rehashing the same incident. And there's a fair bit of input from the creators (Chuck Lorre) and directors which was fiiiine, but I was in it for the casts' POVs.
This was a fun, well-researched read detailing all 279 episodes in its 12-year run, making it the longest running multi-camera sitcom in history. Not too shabby for a sitcom about bunch of science nerds, eh? This book is a better pick for fans of the TV show who want a trip down memory lane. Just be prepared for the urge to binge watch all 139.5 hours of this entertaining sitcom once you're done the book....more
When I saw that Lucy Cooke had a new book out, I was very eager to listen to it. I loved listening to her previous [image]
3.5 STARS - Bitch, please!!!
When I saw that Lucy Cooke had a new book out, I was very eager to listen to it. I loved listening to her previous book The Unexpected Truth About Animals which was as informative as it was humorous.
Since Darwin's famous The Origin of Species (published back in 1859), people have bought into his idea that the females of species are the 'weaker sex' - passive, monogamous and maternal all while deferring to the manly males of their species. Clearly, they've never met a female meerkat or female octopus!
With wit and science, Lucy Cooke is here to prove that these patriarchal biases and plain misinformation in the study of animals is untrue. Well-researched with laugh-out-loud moments, this book brings readers into the fierce females of the natural world and also reveals how the assumed binary gender/sexual roles of the animal kingdom are a misconception.
The book is filled with cool animal/evolutionary tidbits and anecdotes with a humorous vibe that gives this book a lighter feel. I will never think about a naked mole rat (as one does) in the same way again. That said, it took me awhile to listen to this audiobook because I often found the technical parts were a bit dry and overwhelming for this non-sciencey reader. Perhaps reading the physical book may have been a better option for me.
Overall, this is an empowering, thought-provoking read about how diverse, amazing and essential the females of species truly are. With humour and her love of science, Cooke teaches her readers about the ongoing misinformation and patriarchal slant science has given females of various species and how we must dispense with the many myths we've taken as truths.
My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital audiobook of this title given in exchange for my honest review....more
3.5 STARS - Known for playing strong and memorable roles on E.R and The Good Wife, actress Julianna Margulies can now add author to her list of[image]
3.5 STARS - Known for playing strong and memorable roles on E.R and The Good Wife, actress Julianna Margulies can now add author to her list of accomplishments. This memoir focuses on her early days in her eccentric and often dysfunctional family, her rise to fame in Hollywood and her accomplishments in her career and family life.
I listened to the audiobook of this memoir, which was interesting, well-written and wonderfully narrated by the author who has quite a recognizable voice. But it was not the memoir I had expected. Margulies excels at storytelling, but there was a lot less about her time on popular Hollywood sets than you'd expect. I loved ER and The Good Wife and while I enjoyed learning about where she came from, a big part of me wanted the inside scoop about what it was like on the sets of these super popular TV shows (and some celebrity name dropping for good measure). What was it like to work with George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Christine Baranski and guest stars like Michael J Fox and Martha Plimpton? What about some funny anecdotes with Noah Wylie or Archie Punjabi? We won't find out in this book, unfortunately. She does finally open up and talk ever so briefly about how and why she walked away from the $27 million dollars she was offered to extend her contract on ER into its seventh season.
This was an interesting memoir that is down to earth and much more introspective than I had anticipated. She shares her early family life - her absentee father, her eccentric mother and her almost nomadic childhood living in different countries and continents. Through these anecdotes, we witness her hopes, struggles, strong work ethic and her commitment to what truly brings her joy. While I wouldn't have minded a bit more focus on her days in Hollywood, I appreciate getting a close look into the life of this woman, actress, mother, and wife who just happens to be a celebrity. ...more
This Audible Original, narrated by the author, is a brief look into the life of Molly Burke, a young Canadian blind woman who's casual, perky v[image]
This Audible Original, narrated by the author, is a brief look into the life of Molly Burke, a young Canadian blind woman who's casual, perky vibe has made her a popular YouTuber to her almost 2 million subscribers. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at a young age, she lost her sight in her early teens and in this book she shares her experiences with her vision loss, her mental health and living independently as a one-woman perky powerhouse from her beginnings in Toronto to her work as a motivational speaker/model in Los Angeles.
This memoir has a light feel and I enjoyed learning about her early life in Toronto, her work experiences and how she educates her listeners on misconceptions about blind people. But this audiobook had a scattered feel with Burke jumping from topic to topic without going into enough detail or emotion - particularly when she lost her sight and her struggle with mental health. It felt like a missed opportunity to share that part of herself with her listeners. A can-do attitude (and a quick shopping trip to Paris) doesn't always resolve mental heath struggles.
This is a cute but brief glimpse into the life of this YouTuber who has made a name for herself as a petit and plucky force. I appreciate Molly's positive attitude and her work in disability advocacy, but this book was a bit too perky/self-help for my tastes and I wasn't a fan of her scattered writing style or how she narrated her book (which felt like she was talking on her YouTube channel). I'm not the target audience so take my harumph of a review with a grain of salt.
Final Thoughts: Motivational, perky and positive without enough substance....more
Tanya Talaga is an Anishinaabe author and journalist whose fight for Indigenous inclusion, acknowledgement and truth is well known in Canada. I[image]
Tanya Talaga is an Anishinaabe author and journalist whose fight for Indigenous inclusion, acknowledgement and truth is well known in Canada. I read her previous book Seven Fallen Feathers a few years ago and decided to listen to this audiobook which was offered on Audible.ca.
This heartbreaking and candid lecture, which was part of her 2018 Massey Lecture series, describes the suicide epidemic within our Indigenous population - now the leading cause of death in Canadian First Nation communities. As Talaga shows, it is prevalent not only among Canadian Indigenous youth, but within many other Indigenous communities across the world.
At the heart of this suffering is the impact of colonialism, the genocide of Indigenous peoples and the horrific abuse Indigenous children suffered at the hands of their government and religious institutions at residential schools. Talaga provides many stats and facts, which sometimes became a bit overwhelming, but the content is important and heartbreaking.
This lecture should be considered a starting point for people to learn more about the issues facing our Indigenous peoples. We cannot move forward without acknowledgement of what has happened. It was only last week that the Pope finally acknowledged the Catholic Church's part in Indigenous residential schools. It's a good start - a baby step, but unless it is followed up by real action (*ahem, Canadian government) and justice for our Indigenous peoples, I fear little will change.
This 5-hour lecture is not an easy listen, but Talaga's passion and knowledge of the issues are clear. I come away from this audiobook, narrated by the author, with a better understanding of how colonialism has impacted the globe and encourage people to listen to it and consider it a first step in understanding the long-lasting impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples around the world....more
I wholeheartedly admit that I have a major crush on this sexagenarian. With his charm, humour and bald pate, Stanley Tucci (or The Tuch as I re[image]
I wholeheartedly admit that I have a major crush on this sexagenarian. With his charm, humour and bald pate, Stanley Tucci (or The Tuch as I refer to him), has that somethin' somethin'. My husband doesn't understand my crush, but he accepts it. Good man.
Stanley Tucci is a man of many talents. He's an actor who has been in such films as The Hunger Games, Julie and Julia, Captain America: First Avenger, The Devil Wears Prada and Easy A (my personal fav) to name just a few. He's a humanitarian and a self-proclaimed and avid foodie and it's this love of food that is the basis for this memoir.
No matter where he is - Westchester, New York to England to film sets around the world - Tucci's love of food is clear. With charm and wit, he shares personal anecdotes to show how food has influenced his life and how this appreciation of food connects him to his family and Italian heritage. He also shares his health battles, how his family has handled the pandemic and I loved the touching way he mentions the two loves of his life.
'The Tuch' reveals a bit of food snobbery at times, but all is forgiven because he is charming as he shares touching moments and humourous bits. His name dropping of his celeb friends was thoroughly enjoyable - particularly Meryl and a very famous Canadian (who was a surprising connection - and also one of my crushes). I was delighted to know these two men are such good friends.
Charming, funny (with a hint of snark), smart and simply marvelous, this memoir with a side of foodie love was a thoroughly enjoyable read/listen. I bought both the hardcover and audiobook (something I rarely do), but a must in this case. I highly recommend the audiobook to listen to Stanley tell his story and the hardcover for the recipes. ...more
Baggage: Tales From a Fully Packed Life is the follow up to Alan Cumming's previous memoir Not My Father's Son which took readers through Cummi[image]
Baggage: Tales From a Fully Packed Life is the follow up to Alan Cumming's previous memoir Not My Father's Son which took readers through Cumming's horrific childhood at the hands of his abusive father. It was an emotional read and one of my all-time favourite memoirs. Yup, it was that amazing. This new book picks up his life story as he begins his career as a stage actor, Hollywood movie star and simply a young man trying to figure out his way in life and love.
Cumming is an engaging, charming storyteller. He is frank, funny, and humble as he tells the story of his ups and downs as a celebrity with funny anecdotes, often with his famous friends (wee gripe - I wish he had dished a bit about his time on The Good Wife - a role that I loved him in!). And although this book is more focused on his life on stage, he also shares his personal life - loves, losses, marriages, his pride in his Scots heritage and his experiences in Hollywood as an openly queer actor.
I had borrowed both the print and eAudiobook from my public library and although I enjoyed the pictures in the hardcover, I opted to listen to Alan tell his story in the audiobook. I get all swoony for a Scots accent and always prefer having the author read their memoir to me. I loved his easy-going, conversational tone and Cumming once again proves he is a compelling writer who skillfully balances emotional aspects with humour.
This was a great memoir, but I'll admit that I liked his first memoir a bit more. If you're looking to pick this book up, I strongly recommend reading Not My Father's Son first so you understand more about Cumming's childhood and how and why it continues to permeate his adult life.
This memoir is a blend of Hollywood who's who, an honest portrayal of his struggles and successes with a hearty dose of humourous anecdotes as Alan Cumming (no 's' at the end, if you please!) describes his life in and out of Hollywood....more
Known for her iconic roles in popular films and her signature grace and style, Audrey Hepburn is a household name. But while she is known for h[image]
Known for her iconic roles in popular films and her signature grace and style, Audrey Hepburn is a household name. But while she is known for her movie roles and iconic fashion sense on the Red Carpet, what has always stood out for me was her dedicated work for UNICEF to help the world's most at-risk children.
Warrior is an inspirational biography of this iconic actress turned humanitarian that gives readers an unbelievable amount of depth into the life of Ms. Hepburn. I enjoyed learning about her Dutch heritage and early life living in The Netherlands during WWII (and the fact that she is not related to Katherine Hepburn which was news to me). When she passed away in 1993, the world lost a talented woman and a crusader for the world’s most poverty-stricken children.
Audrey Hepburn lived a fascinating life, but I didn't enjoy the way Robert Matzen tells her story. His writing is repetitive and regularly gets bogged down in the minutiae of her life and her many UNICEF trips. This made Warrior read less like a biography and more like a textbook or encyclopedia entry for this star and humanitarian. By the halfway mark I had had enough and skimmed the last half of the book.
I have great respect for Audrey Hepburn and the legacies she has left the world. My feelings about how Robert Matzen tells Hepburn's story are, in no way, meant to diminish her work in Hollywood or her life beyond the glitz and the glamour where she made her biggest impact in her tireless work to help the world's underprivileged and most vulnerable children.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. ...more
Laurie • The Baking Bookworm
>
Books:
non-fiction
(77)
Loading...
