Women Who Run With The Wolves

Amazon Used ($4 total)

An interesting thing happened while I was reading this particular book, which has been strongly recommended to me from various sources and bought for one cent (used) on Amazon (with shipping - $4 exactly). Though some women have expressed interest in it, men have definitely given me different reactions - for the most part very condescending reactions. Hopefully, my review will explain why that is a really unnecessary and ridiculous reaction. It is worth noting that while reading this book, it got a lot of negative attention - more so than when I read basically anything else. I got less negative attention while reading smarmy Christian romance novels. At least four different people have given it a quick glance and automatic disdain. Anyway, I don't expect this to be my most popular review.

So you should check your expectations at the door. While I can understand why some people would find the title off-putting, I'm still surprised by those strong reactions. Even more so because I know that those expectations are completely unfounded. If you are expecting this book to be a furious bohemian feminist manifesto or "self-help," you are absolutely wrong. The sub-title says it all - "Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype" - as in, Jungian Archetypes in Mythologies and Folktales Explained to YOU, Dear Reader. So yes, maybe that is a form of "self-help." "Wild Woman" really just means, "every female that doesn't fall into the same category as the virgin mother," in other words, every daughter, sister, mother, friend, lover who isn't pure and perfect. And that's basically all of us, no matter what.
It's academic, wise, and non-critical. While I started off reading it alongside The Heroine's Journey, I found that this book was more informative, fair, relaxed, and pleasant as a whole than the other book was. It's a good way to discover lesser known folktales and myths, if you're interested in that (which I completely am). It's wonderful if you want the common nuances and motifs in those sorts of stories explained, though remember that that means it's focused on feminine motifs.
It's also so inspiring! If anything, it was a great reminder and coach that in my own life, I should use these stories as guides for any season I find might find myself in - be it illness, grief, motivation, romance, family, career, whatever! It's almost as good as therapy and, uh, so much cheaper. I know I'm going to continue to revisit this book over and over, and I'd like to recommend it to all of the women that I know - provided that they're receptive to it.

Story of a Soul

In the past year I've discovered a huge fondness for St. Therese "The Little Flower." I've also begun spending more time as a guest in Adoration Chapel, and this book is the most recent thing I've read while there.
Why is she special to me? She was an innocent soul - very girlish and sweet. The kind of girl you want to be friends with. I'd read some things about her and her philosophies that left me quite stunned. It really changed my perspective. But I felt like a fraud for only having read someone else's thoughts on the matter and needed to go straight to the source - her autobiography. To explain further, I have to first review this book.

The Story of a Soul reads like a school girl's scribbles - which is essentially what they are. Therese of Lisieux was only 15 or 14 when she became a Carmelite nun. One of her sisters (who also happened to be her sister - her biological sister, also a Carmelite nun) asked her to write about her life. And so she did - in a school notebook, at an old, plain wooden desk. What makes Therese so cool, as a person and not as a saint, is that she knew from the earliest of ages that she was destined to be a Carmelite nun. From the earliest of ages, she was passionate about Christ. It's a rare trait, but in your life you will see it. I know personally, try as hard as I might, I need a lot of guidance as my passion and interest flags. Just the tone Therese uses sometimes grabs be by the shoulders and shakes me hard - she is so literally humble in the truest sense of the word that it's, well, humbling. Overall, the book is like re-reading Pollyanna or Anne of Green Gables, just a more Catholic version.
Specifically Pollyanna - you know how Pollyanna played The Glad Game? St. Therese played a similar game - and this is the part that is so endearing about her as a saint. This is the part that makes people write and talk so much about her, even if you aren't Catholic perhaps you can appreciate it. Therese realized that she wasn't necessarily destined for greatness. She saw herself as a "little soul." She couldn't do great, grand things to honor The Lord. Not many of us can. So instead she decided she would take extra care to make small gestures and do them with great love. It's the sort of thing some of us would consider "self-improvement," if Catholicism offends you - and indeed it shouldn't. "Small gestures with great love?" you're wondering. What does that even mean? If someone offends or annoys you, for instance, it's usually hard to let it go. The least you might end up doing is giving them a cold look - but Therese says to even resist it. Smile at them, be kind to them, go out of your way to show them some love. Whoa. That sounds insane. So if someone hurts you, you're supposed to send them some flowers? Who does that? But reverse the mirror and look at it another way. Is it really benefitting anyone - yourself included - if you cuss the offendee out? It really only makes you an enemy, and while that's hard to avoid (even in her life, Therese had her enemies), life is too short to have enemies. So think about it. I'd rather be kind even to jerks. Sometimes you might forget to, but there's always going to be other chances.

On Heaven and Earth

This is the first book I've received and reviewed from the program "Blogging for Books."

Published in English for the first time since it's initial publication in 2010, this is the new Pope Francis' book before-he-was-Pope. As one of my aunts said, "it's a big job to review the Pope!" But be that as it may, I have nothing negative to say about it.
First, I have to explain that while this book was written before Pope Francis was Pope (so I except many people will be interested in reading it) it is actually a transcript of a conversation between he and his friend, the Jewish Rabbi, Abraham Skorka. Readers might be caught off guard by that. It isn't a book of essays written by Pope Francis on every hot button political and moral issue of the modern world. Instead, it's a conversation about every political and moral issue. Both are men are religious leaders, but besides this they are also men of the sciences (Skorka is a Doctor of Chemistry, Bergoglio a chemical engineer). As such, their insights are more three dimensional than some would expect.
What did I think? I thought it was amazing - it should be on every Catholics shelf. Read it and re-read it. Think of it as a sampler book of the brain-pickin's of Pope Francis. An "FAQ," to use internet lingo. Since most of us will never get to sit down with the Pope and ask him questions personally, reading this book will give you an idea of what he would say to you if you could. I can imagine going back to this book over and over again and finding something different.

psst! If you thought this review was any good, please rate it here!

The Abbess of Andalusia: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O'Conner

The Abbess of Andalusia is a unique biography on the Southern author, Flannery O'Conner. What makes it unique? Flannery was a Catholic woman in the Bible Belt South, and this book focused primarily on her faith - not entirely on her work.
I read this book in it's entirety during my weekly Eucharistic Adoration, since there is no restrictions on what you can do during your hour spent in chapel, as long as it is quiet and pious literature.

Flannery O'Conner is a very important and special figure to me, regardless of her religion - though that is a common bond we share. I love any Southern woman with a wicked, dry wit - and her stories are so dark and soul crushing. Talking about her with Catholics who have never heard of her has taught me that no one believes that she was actually Catholic. Surely someone who writes about murder so casually shouldn't be associated with The Holy Church! But that's what I love about her.
So, I never got to take a formal class on Flannery O'Conner's life and writings while in school, though I would have never passed on the chance if it had come up - but I'm the sort of person who will research the heck out of something that interests me anyway.

It's difficult to write a review on a biography the way one would for fiction. Everything is just laid out for you. But I can tell you what I learned from it. The whole "How Can This Be Catholic" criticism isn't new. During her life, Flannery wasn't well received for just exactly this. That the stories were actually parables for Christian life was lost on everyone but a few of her readers - and they were the sharpest readers. This book does not delve into her writing career. Rather, it focuses on her life with Lupus and how, though she suffered for a long time, she always took time to help her friends. To me, this is what Catholicism is about - sacrifice. To give up your time and interests and go out of your way to help someone, or even be kind to someone (that you may or may not like) will lead you to so many things. Thats the basic long and short of it. Flannery would continue long correspondences with friends and fans, advising them in all manner of things. I think she still may be, because she set a few things straight with me through this book.

If you're a fan of Flannery O'Conner, I recommend this book (published by Tan Books) - especially if you are interested in religious studies. To my knowledge, there are no other books written about Ms. O'Conner's spirituality. This one is well researched and an interesting read.

It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken

photo credit: alt3rd-state

I have to say, I'm not super proud of this post. But I've always been super honest and open on the topic, and I promised to review every book I read from cover to cover here, so here goes nothing.

The book: It's Called a Breakup Because it's Broken. The authors: husband and wife duo, Greg Behrendt & Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt (Should we trust them more because they are happily married? Especially because 1/2 of them is a Dating Advice Rock Star?)

How did I ever come to find myself in a situation where I would need to read a book like this? How did I become "that girl"? Oh well. Self-help books exist for a reason, as bad a wrap as they get. I poured over the titles in the self-help section of my local library, hoping to find something that would jump out at me. This was the closest thing I could find, though it wasn't quite what I was looking for. The proverbial ship has sailed on this situation, but the scabs haven't completely healed over, so I decided "Eh, well I may as well give it a read."

The book is funny, light-hearted, and very, very frank. No, it didn't eventually answer the question I went into it asking, but I'm afraid some things can't be found in books, my dears. Did I mention it was frank? (And by "frank" I don't mean your stupid friend who tried to get himself deported, only to try to get back. ...Who doesn't have a Frank in their life?) What I mean is it hit some raw nerves that somehow hadn't been touched on yet. How can a book, published 6 years ago, be so all knowing? Answer: (you might want to write this one down and stick it on your vanity mirror) You Aren't That Special! Oh sure, you're a snowflake alright. But the situation you're in? It's been done. It's been done by Hollywood, MTV, the Ancient Greeks, Revolutionary Frenchmen, Dr Who, you name it. Is there some comfort in that? Maybe. 

This book does not guarantee a major plastic surgery on your broken, train wreck of a heart. But this book does have something great to offer - caution and self-esteem boosts. Here, let me pull up some gems for you gals:

“The time it takes to feel better about a breakup is directly proportional to the time it takes to feel better about yourself.” 

“Even with all the mayonnaise in the world, you can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit.” 

 “It's an odd thing to think about, but try imagining that your breakup is a disease. If you were told that you had a serious yet curable disease, would you go get hammered on a regular basis? Eat two bags of Oreos? Chain-smoke, pop, pills, get stoned, or fuck around? NO YOU WOULDN'T. You would take great care of yourself and cut all the unhealthy things out of your life."

Just keep reminding yourself that you're a catch. Yes, it hurts like hell to have someone choose another person over you - especially because you cared very much and very deeply for that person. But don't take that to mean that you're disposable. You aren't. Think of those home decorating shows - people (okay, gay men) literally decorate their beautiful, exquisite homes with things that they find in other people's garbage or flea markets. You're like that pine chifforobe left out on the curb, and then an Antonio finds you and makes you desirable. But you are, in fact, a human person. Which means that you have legs and upward mobility and you can walk yourself off of that gross curb or out of that dusty flea market and you don't even have to wait around for your fairy gay-mother. In fact, you don't even need a Prince Smarming either, but you're entitled to one if you really want one.
This book is really cute, and it's good to have handy when cupid whacks you in the face with the back of his hand. Don't do anything crazy, live your life, and if you can't well... fake it til you make it. That's what I always do!

"Hair For Hazel" and a Full Circle

Almost a year ago, I was prepping for college graduation. As an art major, I was anxious a lot during my college career, and one of the ways I tried to resolve my anxiety was to cut my hair - myself. Always a terrible, terrible idea. I'm not even sure what it was meant to accomplish, but I did it over and over again. At some point I decided to resist the urge and allow my hair to grow out until graduation - by then I could cut it and donate it to Locks of Love as a symbolic gesture. I wanted to know that something good could come from all the stress and fear and pressure I'd spent years under, though Art school doesn't compare to having cancer, or suffering from serious burns. Not at all. Still, as my hair grow longer and longer, I thought of it as the physical compilation of the long hours spent in the studio, away from friends and family, the frustration of never having enough money after having spent it on expensive art supplies that would likely just get thrown out, the arguments I would get into with my teachers and classmates, the blows to my self-esteem, the loss of a beloved pet, breaking relationships, the daily 30 minute (both ways) commute, rising gas prices, the after school job, politics, vegetarianism, bank balances, everything, everything, everything. I let my hair grow well over 18 inches, and when I became a real college graduate, I would cut it off and give it to someone who deserved it more than me. Someone who might never make it to college, but would want to.

This is what it looked like after I cut it.

Earlier that year, the ever popular YA author published the book The Fault in Our Stars. I've never read it, but I hope to. I got on to Tumblr today to see that the new trend among Nerdfightia is a similar project - cutting your hair to donate to Children With Hair Loss in honor of "Hair For Hazel" (Hazel being the heroine of The Fault in Our Stars). Read this article to understand more. Now, I understand that the two events aren't individually related. But I knew at the time that I did it that I was sending something good and wonderful into the world, though it was a little gesture. I'm not going to claim that this was the result of that tiny gesture - clearly it isn't. Still, in my heart I feel like I'm seeing something I did come full circle. I'll never get to see the beautiful kid I donated my hair to, but I did get to see this instead. And I'm going to encourage you all to consider helping too, if you can in some way. I'm so proud of my fellow Nerdfighters, and so in awe of them. This is really huge, and it makes such a big difference. It's totally humbling and so inspiring. Remember, hair grows back.

How To Steal Like An Artist

Here's a relatively tiny e-book I read on my phone over the course of a week while babysitting. In a way, Austin Kleon has summed up everything important and useful that I learned while in college, and made it into this book (and also a popular lecture).
Basically, this book could have saved me 6 years of expense and emotional torment if it hadn't been released the very year I graduated from college. If you know someone who is in college studying art or something creative, someone who is interested in studying something like art, or someone who is simply passionate about creating things, please get them this book. It's quite impossible for me to review a book like this, but basically it says what I would want to tell anyone - or rather everyone - who has that creative gift. It's reassuring to read this book and be told that, yeah! Your guilty pleasures like video games and comic books? Even though they aren't considered high art, if you get some inspiration from them then by all means - do not give them up! They contribute to something bigger and very personal for you. You like to write fan-fiction? Who hasn't written fan-fiction at one time? Keep writing! The reassuring message is just to keep going!
For instance, I keep a "sketch diary." This is a personal and extremely honest little book where I draw auto-biographic comic strips about my day, emotions, anxieties, etc. I keep scads of notebooks - I'm a notebook collector. Every book serves a certain purpose. In fact, I cannot leave my house without a notebook, pen, and highlighter. I use it for "collecting" or "stealing." I did this even before reading this little book, but that's exactly what this little book encourages. Because from my sketch diary to my note-collecting, all of this is research, and it is very telling. For one thing, collecting like this has become a very vital and important habit I've formed. It is in essence why I am an artist at heart. Not because I've been one of the best drawers in my class all through my formative years.
In a sense, everyone who owns a Tumblr blog is keeping a notebook. Everyone who has a Pintrest account is too. But you're not an artist unless you try them out for yourself, and only then when you forgive yourself for not making a perfect imitation of those cookie monster cupcakes, for example.
But enough about me. Let Austin Kleon tell you himself what this book is about: