"Big fit girl" by Louise Green

Synopsis:

In this kick-ass call to arms, Louise Green describes how the fitness industry fails to meet the needs of plus-size women and thus prevents them from improving their health. By sharing her own story of how she stopped dieting, got off the couch, and got fit, Green inspires other plus-size women to do the same. She provides concrete advice about how to get started, how to establish a support team, how to choose an activity, how to set goals, what kind of clothing and gear work best for the plus-size athlete, and how to improve one’s relationship with food.

She also showcases similar stories from other women.

Review:

...health and fitness do not always include weight loss; you can kick ass in the body you have today.

I'll be blunt: I loved this book!  As a plus-size woman, I've been struggling with finding my place when it comes to exercise and physical activity.  I was reading this book when I discovered the beautiful invention that MEC calls a combo scarf.  This has revolutionized my ability to be outside in the winter.  As a result of this combination of events, I got so much out of this book.  It inspired me to rethink the boring, mundane physical activity I've been forcing myself to do in an unwelcoming environment.

[Dr. Brenda Major] confirms what I've noted from teaching fitness to plus-size women: the fear of judgment is real and often warranted. [...] Major's findings explain a lot about why many people find fitness unapproachable.  When we feel judged by others, our fear and anxiety grows. For this reason, many of us find fitness endeavors intimidating and out of reach.

There is so much awesome information in this book!  I did a lot of highlighting of powerful and impactful parts.  I'm taking her advice about recording my fitness progress, creating a personal workout playlist, and finding fitness friends.  One of the best parts is the stretching routine (Appendix B) because I often suffer from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) from not stretching properly after a workout.  Green's comprehensive routine includes photographs, instructions, and tips on stretches that target various muscles.

To weather the peaks, valleys, and plateaus of your athletic journey, you must base your success on more than just the numbers on the scale.  You are in this for the long-term, and exercise has many benefits that have nothing to do with what you weigh.

This is totally an empowering book that I would highly recommend!  Even though I'm already on my "athletic journey", this book helped me change my physical fitness viewpoint from in-the-now to thinking about what I want to be capable of as I age.

Exercise allows you to say yes; you will have the confidence and strength to show up and live your athletic dreams in the body you have now.  It really can be a limitless life. 

I look forward to delving into more of Louise Green's work.  Her TEDx talk is so powerful and so very much worth watching.  I believe in her any-body activism and unleashing your inner athlete!  And she's a fellow Canadian and redhead!

I recommend "Big fit girl" and Hanne Blank's "The unapologetic fat girl's guide to exercise and other incendiary acts" as a one-two punch for plus-size fitness.

I am so very grateful that I got to read this book!

Read on,

Paula

P.S. I received this book for free from the publisher for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

"Primal fat burner" by Nora Gedgaudas

Synopsis:

Popular nutritionist Nora Gedguadas returns with advice that may sound counterintuitive: Eat fat to burn fat. In her new book, Primal Fat Burner, she explains the benefits and science behind a ketogenic (or fat-burning) diet, which switches your metabolism from a dependence on sugar to running on healthy fats. As Gedgaudas reveals, numerous studies in recent years refute the long-promoted anti-saturated fat and anti-cholesterol agenda. Now, Gedgaudas explains the science that fat isn't a “no-no” but rather a “yes-yes”—if you know the right kinds of fats to eat. In her accessible, enjoyable style, she also lays out a practical meal plan with recipes. When you follow a ketogenic diet, you consume fewer calories overall!

Review:

I was captivated by the history of the human species as told through the evolution of food!  That was a particularly unique lesson that I very much loved.

Similar to "The grain brain whole life plan" by David Perlmutter (who wrote the foreword for this book), I learned more about the science behind how the current human body works in regards to food and its environment, and how best to maximize your own potential.  I will have been paleo for 2 years this coming March and I've witnessed my own benefits, many of them described in this book.  Therefore, I'm already biased toward this book.  I did a lot of highlighting and bookmarking in my eARC.

For many it is a complete paradigm shift, opening the door onto a totally new way of prioritizing themselves and a healthy lifestyle.

 One of the topics discussed in this book is various methods for beating sugar or starch cravings, perhaps one of the most uncomfortable aspects to deal with when switching to a paleo lifestyle.  I'd never heard of Gymnema sylvestre before reading this book but I'm intrigued by it.

I look forward to trying out the recipes for Chicken Thigh Skillet Supper, Slow Cooker Vegetable Stew, Lithuanian Red Cabbage, Cumin Pork Stir-Fry, Liver and Bacon, and Primal Greek Spinach.  But the recipe for Coconut-Lemon Yogurt Soup is at the top of my list and I will be making it this weekend!

My only complaint about this and other paleo books is that there is a certain level of elitism involved in the paleo lifestyle.  Nora Gedgaudas, David Perlmutter, and most of the paleo authors I've read are American.  A lot of the brands and products mentioned in the books are not available outside of the U.S.  If they are, they quite often require online shopping with high shipping costs.  Perhaps I overestimate the current appeal of this lifestyle since I don't know the actual statistics of how many people follow it.  But living in rural Ontario, Canada frustrates me when I can't find products that should be more widely available.  I think items like coconut cream, coconut butter, cacao butter, and other unique food items should be available in all major grocery stores.

Which could be why this book ends with a rallying cry for a quiet revolution.  Asking for animal products that are more environmentally-friendly, sustainable, humane, and considerate of the animals' health.  

The health of the meat on our plates directly correlates to the health of the animal that meat came from.

Read on,

Paula

P.S. I received this book for free from the publisher for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

"A robot in the garden" by Deborah Install

Synopsis:
Funny, touching, charming, wise and a bit magical, this is a novel that explores what it is to be a man, a sentient being and even a parent. A Robot in the Garden is a gem of a first novel, perfect for anyone who has ever found it difficult to connect with the world. 

     What would you do if you found a robot in your back garden? For 34-year-old Ben Chambers the answer is obvious: find out where it came from and return it home, even if it means losing his wife in the process. Determined to achieve something for once in his life, Ben embarks on a journey that takes him and the endearing robot, Tang, to the far side of the globe...and back again. Along the way Ben begins to change, subtly at first, and then in ways that only become clear on his return to the house he's always lived in.

Review:
Right up front, I will admit that it is a bit twee on the surface.  The want-for-nothing, rich main character with emotional baggage, Ben, goes on a journey around the world to save his new robot friend.  Nothing too dramatic or negative happens.  Although set in a world where robots and androids are a common thing, it's still a very unrealistic plot.  But the writing and characters are so fun that, if you're in the right mood, you won't care about the lack of realism.

I didn't like the character of Ben's wife, Amy.  She's an overly-ambitious, manipulative complainer who doesn't have the guts to clearly tell Ben she's changed her mind about having kids.  But getting pregnant and being away from Ben for two months is enough to "soften" her?  As if!  Although it doesn't say so in the book, I believe she married him for his money, because they don't seem to have much in common at all.  Granted, all we know is how they met and how their marriage ends.

Tang is a child-substitute robot.  Petulant, prone to tantrums when he doesn't get his own way, but also curious, sweet, and caring.

There is, however, an underlying theme of prejudice.  The robot could stand in for other minorities; there are examples of segregation and discrimination.  Separate lines at the airport for humans, androids, and robots.  Not being served because you have a robot with you.  And those are just two representations.

Although none of the characters are fully developed, there is some depth to this novel.  Aside from having a moral about bias, my dislike for some of the characters, and a predictable happy ending, I really liked this lighthearted and fun book.

I also appreciate the coincidence that a book about AI and robots is written by an author with the last name of 'install'.

Read on,
Paula

"Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman

Synopsis:

A stunning debut about a girl who has learned how to survive – but not how to live.

Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend.

Eleanor Oliphant is fine. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except sometimes, everything.

No one’s ever told Eleanor life should be better than fine. But with a simple act of kindness she’s about to realize exactly how much better than fine life can be.

Review:

I was really excited to read this book when I heard about it on BookTube.  It's very different from anything I've read.  I found the first-person narrative startling because of the jarring, blunt way Eleanor revealed shocking tidbits as part of a general statement.  You never knew when she would surprise you with some piece of her dark past.  You never knew what she would say next and it takes the course of the novel for her to slowly reveal who she is.  And despite thinking you know what's coming at the end, there is a final twist I didn't see coming at all.

I enjoyed the cast of characters, with the exception of her mother.  I very much dislike reading books with horribly vile characters because I find it uncomfortable and upsetting.  However, this one was worth it.  It made me more grateful for the people I have in my own life.

It's a somewhat-slow paced novel that kept me wanting to know what was going to happen.  Some of the situations Eleanor recounts struck a little too close to home for me but it made me feel like I wasn't the only person to experience them.  

In the beginning, Eleanor speaks very much like an outsider, almost like an alien, but she does grow in her language while growing as a person.  I loved her personality and her turns of phrase.

Here are some of my favourite quotes:

Regarding "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte:

Pilot is there too, the handsome, soulful-eyed hound.  If the book has one failing, it's that there is insufficient mention of Pilot.  You can't have too much dog in a book.

Regarding the horrible use of improper grammar in texting:

I steeled myself as best I could, and, with teeth gritted, using only one finger I typed: C U there E.

 Regarding Spongebob Squarepants:

A semi-human bath sponge with protruding front teeth!  On sale as if it were something completely unremarkable!  For my entire life, people have said that I'm strange, but really, when I see things like this, I realize that I'm actually relatively normal.

Regarding having pets:

But love is love; animals, people.  It's unconditional, and it's both the easiest and the hardest thing in the world.

I am glad I read this book and will most likely reread it in the future just so I can absorb more of it.

Read on,
Paula

P.S. I received this book for free from the publisher for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

"The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

Synopsis:
The Cuckoo's Calling is a 2013 crime fiction novel by J. K. Rowling, published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

A brilliant mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel's suicide.

After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.


You may think you know detectives, but you've never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you've never seen them under an investigation like this.

Review:
After reading the first page, I realized that I like J.K. Rowling's writing style.  Despite being out of my comfort zone (I'm not a fan of murder mysteries), I found this book to be well-written and engaging.  I rated it 5 stars on Goodreads because I couldn't think of anything at all I would have changed about the book (which doesn't happen very often).  I was a little concerned at first at the length of the book (455 pages) but I read it in just a few days because I found it so captivating and enjoyable.  Even though I am not one for remembering minute details, I liked that I was not able to guess whodunnit, but that could just be me.

I intend to read the rest of the books in the series, including the new book coming out in 2017, unless the others in the series aren't as enjoyable and well-written.  However, I have decided, based on how much I enjoyed this book, that I might actually try reading J.K. Rowling's "The Casual Vacancy" as well.  We'll see what 2017 brings.

Read on,
Paula

Year-end recap 2016

1.  Best book(s) I read in 2016: "Circus" by Claire Battershill, "The cuckoo's calling" by Robert Galbraith, "Jane Steele" by Lyndsay Faye, and "Poles apart" by Terry Fallis

2.  Most disappointing book of 2016: "The view from the cheap seats" by Neil Gaiman

3.  Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2016: "The cuckoo's calling" by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

4.  Books I recommended most to people in 2016: "Jane Steele" by Lyndsay Faye

5.  Best series I discovered in 2016: The Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

6.  Favourite new author(s) of 2016: Claire Battershill

7.  Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2016: "The cuckoo's calling" by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

8.  Book I most anticipated in 2016: "The Grain Brain whole life plan" by David Perlmutter

9.  Favourite cover of a book I read in 2016: 

10. Most memorable character in 2016: Cormoran Strike

11. Most beautifully written book of 2016: It's a tie between "Circus" by Claire Battershill and "What is not yours is not yours" by Helen Oyeyemi

12. Best book that was out of my comfort zone or was a new genre for me in 2016: "The cuckoo's calling" by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

13. Book that had the greatest impact on me in 2016: "Spark joy" by Marie Kondo

14. Book I can't believe I waited until 2016 to FINALLY read: "The song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller

15. Book I read in 2016 that would most likely be reread in 2017: "Circus" by Claire Battershill

16. Book that had a scene in it that had me reeling and dying to talk to someone about it? (A WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc.  No spoilers!): "The slow fix" by Ivan Coyote

Some fun stats:
Books completed: 46
Goodreads Reading Challenge goal: 40
Books by male authors: 17
Books by female authors: 28
Fiction: 21
Non-fiction: 25
Children's books: 9
YA books: 0
E-books: 3
Did not finish (DNF): 3
Re-reads: 0
Translated books: 0
Big fat books (more than 500 pages): 0

Read on,
Paula

"What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours" by Helen Oyeyemi

Synopsis:
The key to a house, the key to a heart, the key to a secret—Oyeyemi’s keys not only unlock elements of her characters’ lives, they promise further labyrinths on the other side. In “Books and Roses” one special key opens a library, a garden, and clues to at least two lovers’ fates. In “Is Your Blood as Red as This?” an unlikely key opens the heart of a student at a puppeteering school. “‘Sorry’ Doesn’t Sweeten Her Tea” involves a “house of locks,” where doors can be closed only with a key—with surprising, unobservable developments. And in “If a Book Is Locked There’s Probably a Good Reason for That Don't You Think,” a key keeps a mystical diary locked (for good reason). 

Oyeyemi’s tales span multiple times and landscapes as they tease boundaries between coexisting realities. Is a key a gate, a gift, or an invitation?

Review:
I read this book because Simon from The Readers podcast mentioned it on his Booktube (aka YouTube) review.  It's mid-December and I haven't quite completed my Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge so I've been seeking out titles to help me accomplish that.  I'm glad I decided to actually read it because I enjoyed it very much.

The book is a collection of short stories.  Although they are all meant to have the theme of keys, there were a few where the key wasn't as obvious to me as in the others.  The stories are lightly interconnected; characters from other stories are mentioned but play no part in the story you're reading.  Simon mentions that they are fairy tale-like and there are some where this is more obvious, especially the one with the red cape and the "wolf".  However, none of them seem to me to be retellings of the "famous" (Western world) fairy tales.  They just require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief because of the tangled realities.

Because it is a book of short stories, I found it hard to follow the plot/story sometimes because of short, interrupted reading (a short lunch break, for example).  But I found the writing compelling, even in the weird stories that I didn't "get", enough to continue reading.

As a single (aromantic asexual) white female, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the fluidity of gender relationships in this book.  This book talks indirectly about romantic relationships as if the ideal world already existed where the gender of who you love is irrelevant.  In a book where labels were not affixed, it made me realize that the labels for same-sex relationships are too harsh for what they represent.  Especially in this book where relationships are not always the focus of the story/plot.

The first story in the collection, "Books and Roses", was my absolute favourite.  I LOVED it.  I took a break after reading it just so I could contemplate the various threads and how they interwove.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fairy tales that aren't exactly fairy tales, light fantasy, and/or short stories in general.

Read on,
Paula

"The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan" by David Perlmutter

Synopsis:

With more than a million copies sold worldwide, Dr. Perlmutter's books have changed many lives.  Now, he's created a practical, comprehensive program that lowers the risk for brain ailments while yielding other benefits, such as weight loss, relief from chronic conditions, and total body rejuvenation.  Science-based and highly accessible, THE GRAIN BRAIN WHOLE LIFE PLAN expands upon the core advice from Dr. Perlmutter's previous works, and introduces new information about the advantages of eating more fat, fewer carbs, and nurturing the microbiome.  Including original recipes, tips and tricks for common challenges, meal plans, and advice on everything from sleep hygiene to stress management, exercise, supplements, and more, THE GRAIN BRAIN WHOLE LIFE PLAN shows how to live happily and healthily ever after.

Review:

I am rather biased because I first read Perlmutter's book, "Grain Brain" last year.  I own it and "The Grain Brain Cookbook".  I am very grateful to Hachette and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of his upcoming book, "The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan".

I am one of those generalized people that Dr. Perlmutter mentions in his introduction.  Going Primal/paleo/following the Grain Brain principles relieved my depression, almost-daily headaches, and frequent heartburn.  My brain is everything to me and the threat of Alzheimer's disease is the scariest possible future; I changed what I eat to thwart that likelihood.

The "Grain Brain Whole Life Plan" is a perfect balance for people who have never read his other books (giving an overview of his thesis) and people familiar with his work (adding new information).  I particularly enjoyed it because it motivated me to switch back to the Grain Brain lifestyle from paleo.

Aside from an abundance of references to his website, I liked the book a lot because (like his previous books) he discusses science-based research studies and what they mean in relation to how our bodies function on the small scale.

As a hobby chef, I found some of the provided recipes to be a little bit fancy for everyday people.  I live in a small town where some of the ingredients used would require a special trip to the city.  But then, I live in Canada so maybe things like jicama and juniper berries are more common in the U.S.  On the other hand, I'm excited to try roasted onion with balsamic vinegar in a salad!

Overall, I'm glad I read this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to be healthier.

Read on,

Paula

P.S. I received this book for free from the publisher for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

Year-end book recap 2015

1.  Best book(s) I read in 2015: "Ratscalibur" by Josh Lieb, "The readers of Broken Wheel recommend" by Katarina Bivald, "Stone mattress" by Margaret Atwood, and "Spinster" by Kate Bolick

2.  Most disappointing book of 2015: "Go set a watchman" by Harper Lee

3.  Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2015: "The time of your life" by Margaret Trudeau

4.  Books I recommended most to people in 2015: "Rising strong" by Brene Brown and "Big magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert

5.  Best series I discovered in 2015: Although it's not listed as such, "Ratscalibur" by Josh Lieb ends on a cliffhanger which could mean the beginning of a series.  I so hope this is the first in a series!!

6.  Favourite new author(s) of 2015: I look forward to seeing what else Erika Swyler and Katarina Bivald write in the future

7.  Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2015: None this year but "The Martian" by Andy Weir was close

8.  Book I most anticipated in 2015: "Go set a watchman" by Harper Lee

9.  Favourite cover of a book I read in 2015: "Ratscalibur" by Josh Lieb

10. Most memorable character in 2015: Owen Wedgwood from "Cinnamon and gunpowder" by Eli Brown

11. Most beautifully written book of 2015: "The book of speculation" by Erika Swyler

12. Best book that was out of my comfort zone or was a new genre for me in 2015: "The Yard" by Alex Grecian; the series have such interesting covers but I found this book more gory than I thought it would be and I'm disappointed that I don't think I can read the rest.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on me in 2015: It's a tie between "Big magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert and "Rising strong" by Brene Brown

14. Book I can't believe I waited until 2015 to FINALLY read: "The Penguin complete Sherlock Holmes" by Arthur Conan Doyle

15. Book I read in 2015 that would most likely be reread in 2016: "Ratscalibur" by Josh Lieb

16. Book that had a scene in it that had me reeling and dying to talk to someone about it? (A WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc.  No spoilers!): "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Some fun stats:
Books completed: 50
Books by male authors: 28
Books by female authors: 22
Fiction: 21
Non-fiction: 19
Children's books: 10
YA books: 0
E-books: 2
Did not finish (DNF): 4
Re-reads: 0
Translated books: 1 (Swedish)
Big fat books (more than 500 pages): 0

Read on,
Paula

Why I don't read as diversely as I could

Yesterday I started reading "Don't Let Anything Dull Your Sparkle: How To Break Free of Negativity & Drama" by Doreen Virtue.  Although Doreen Virtue is known for her spiritual/new age books, this one (so far?) appears to be a non-spiritual book.  At least, that's what I'm hoping for.  One of the things I enjoy about human life is how events, thoughts, ideas, etc. all mix together in the mind and then sometimes combine to make a better idea or to create an epiphany.  This happened to me yesterday.  I was reading the Doreen Virtue book after spending hours listening to book-related podcasts (The Readers, Book Riot, and Books on the Nightstand to be precise).  And that's when I read this:

Studies show that we can become traumatized by hearing about another person's trauma." (p.4)

 I realized that this is why I do not read as diversely as I could.  I didn't know the exact reasoning behind why until now.  Although I am sure that the books I pass up for this reason have their own merits and value in the world, I find I just cannot read books about abuse, violence, manipulative psychopaths, war, etc.  Everyone has been raving about "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn.  I listened to the Overdue podcast episode about it just so someone who had read it would tell me what the big deal/secret was: manipulative psychopaths.  Frequently, books by diverse authors and authors of colour are books about overcoming hardship.  Typically, that hardship takes the form of abuse, violence, and/or war.  "Beloved" by Toni Morrison deals with the topic of slavery, and according to the synopsis on Goodreads '[Sethe] has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened'.  Who wants to read about hideous things?  Despite reading the Book Riot article in defense of reading offensive books, I will continue to read whatever I want to read even if it's not as diverse as someone else thinks it should be.  However, I am not saying I will never read a book that has diverse settings, topics, authors, etc.  I voluntarily read "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee last year because it was not in my assigned reading in school.  I enjoyed it very much.  I'm guessing because it was pretty tame as far as racism goes and didn't have gory details.  I do not like being scared; this is the reason why I don't read murder mysteries or crime novels either.  Sure, I could read diversely and feel so much better about my somewhat-privileged white North American life.  But as a person who reads for plot more than anything else, I highly doubt many diverse books would appeal to me.  I recently read "The Book of Speculation" by Erika Swyler.  If the main characters had been of a different ethnic background, I would still have enjoyed the book.  I read and enjoyed "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.  I enjoy a fair amount of LGBT writing, especially that of Ivan Coyote and Caethes Faron.

So I guess I could say that I read diversely in the same way that I read in general: by whim.  If a book plot sounds attractive enough for me to read the book, I don't care about the gender and/or ethnicity of the author and/or characters.  To me, reading is all about the content and plot.

Read on,
Paula