The Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change your Life and Achieve Real Happiness by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

I'm not sure what it was expecting but it wasn't an allegorical conversation between a youth and a philosopher. I suppose I should have read more reviews but I liked the title and decided to pick the book up. I really loved the ending but, ifda, it was a slog to get ti there.

The youth is combative and wanting to know how to be happy. The philosopher is telling him it is a choice and walking through different philosophies to prove that thought to be true.

There is a lot of discussion on Adlerian philosophy but some of the advice boils down to, "it's  none of my business what other people think of me."

In the end, it boils down to your own self being the only one who can change the world. If you shift your philosophy, the world will shift for you.

Three stars

This book came out December 12, 2013

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

The book starts with the furthering of the familiy trying to get in good with Damian's family. Yor knew the mother but Anya is really working on the son. It's not going well. Yuri visits and is still creepily obsessed with his sister.

Most of the book is based around a school trip that has gone terribly wrong when two of the buses are waylaid by dissidents. Anya and Damian are able to work together to get everyone home safely. 

Four stars

This book came out April 4, 2022

Follows Vol. 10

Followed by Vol. 12

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Spy x Family, Vol. 10 by Tatsuya Endo

Oof. We get the story of Loid's early childhood  and it is bleak. We see the start of a war between East and West and how it decimates and grinds people down.

We also see the story of an opera singer whose trip to the West might begin to thaw tensions... as long as the bad press about him doesn't get out.
We also get the story of Yor rescuing the former first lady, Desmond's mother. She joins her for a rousing game of volleyball and then some tea. Meeting Melinda gives Yor a friend and some chance at normalcy.

Four stars

This book came out April 4, 2022

Follows Vol. 9

Followed by Vol. 11

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

'Til Heist Do Us Part To Have and to Heist #2 Sara Desai

The group is back together again. Like many heist movies, there are some additions to the crew. And, like many heist movies, the additions are necessarily allies. 

At the end of the last book, the team had successfuly stolen and sold a necklace that, while it wouldn't set them up, certainly would set them up for the long run.

This book opens with Jack and Simi having broken up and Detective Garcia making some inroads. The others have, sort of naturally, drifted apart. And into that void comes a demand. A demand that the necklace be returned or the conspirators will be killed. Or maybe their families. But the necklace has been sold. And who has it now? Jack's former flame, Clare. In order to get the necklace back, Simi's team is going to have to do something for her. And that job is going to be even more outrageous and more dangerous. And the team is going to have to be working with the potential betrayal of one of their own.

Four stars

This book came out August 20, 2024

Simi Chopra #2

Followed by 'Til Heist Do Us Part

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz

Ever since she woke up from a night she didn't remember, Amelia's talents for seeing people auras has magnified. She can't see them during the day, but at night, she sees a fog of emotions that people have left behind them. This new sight has made it so that she fears going out at night. She's even seeing a therapist for it. But now, her life has gotten stranger since there seems to be a man stalking her. So she calls in some help. 

Gideon Sweetwater is a private investigator. He's wealthy enough to be able to pick his own cases. And he's interested in Amelia's. While he's not exactly sure she's actually seeing what she thinks she sees, he's willing to take a chance. And thank goodness he does, because there actually are some forces after Amelia and not everyone in her life is as they appear. 

You don't HAVE to have read the other books in this series to enjoy it but it would help. 

Four stars

This book comes out January 7th, 2025

The Lost Night Files #3

Follows The Night Island

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread as hard copy from library March 2025

Flashpoint by Catherine Coulter

Characters from previous books return in this one. The first is Lady Elizabeth Palmer. She was caught in a plot that would have killed any number of people. Since then, she's been trying to live a simple life. But now, someone is trying to kill her. Could it be linked to the man who pulled her into his web last year?

The second character is Autumn. She's twelve and is watching a younger boy for the summer while his father goes on a belated honeymoon with his new, young wife. But while Tash's father is away, Autumn discovers that she and Tash share some abilities. And his are warning him that his father is in danger.

I still read this series even though it's a little off the wall for me.

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 2, 2024

FBI Thriller #27

Follows Reckoning

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi

This was an okay book. Definitely branches off of Adachi's first book and her podcast about being a lazy genius. There is an idea of zones which would work fine in theory but that's not always going to be a possibility. That was about my biggest takeaway from the book. Enjoyed the ideas but most were not helpful for my particular situation.

Three stars

This book came out May 3, 2022

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi

I listen to the Lazy Genius podcast and thought I might read Adachi's books. I like reading about ways to simplify life, especially if I can do it lazily. Are any of the ideas really new in the realm of self-help? Not the overall pictures. But I did like the subset of "Let People In" that mentioned not telling people that you're sorry. Don't pre-apologize for things that don't matter.

Three stars

This book came out August 11, 2020

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte

I can't remember why I put this on my TBR list. It's fine (telling you how to better organize your self and your life by using technology). However, I feel like this is one of a number of books that was probably a 10 minute speech that someone enjoyed and had the author try and build it into a larger book.
While none of Forte's ideas are particularly new, they actually acknowledge that by talking about where they got their ideas from.

Three stars

This book came out August 2, 2022

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Give and Take by Adam M. Grant

If you really thought about it, you might assume that people who hog all the glory or keep all the money for themselves are the only ones who get ahead. Grant uses this book to argue that the opposite is true, that we need to look for the givers in our lives. The chapters are split into topics like influencing people,  recognizing potential, and burn out and each looks at how givers and takers approach each. Each chapter also provides real-world examples.

Chapter 5 specifically talks about how to approach communication from a place of non-dominance. That an average interviewer was looked down on when they spilled coffee but it made an expert more relatable. In this chapter, he also references "powerless speech"- hesitations, hedging, disclaimers and more. Normally, you might think this displays a sense of inferiority but it can make people more receptive than a forceful arguement would.

Grant does a deep dive to understand why some people succeed and others fail. His theory? There are givers and takers in the world. The people who lift up everyone around them and the ones who are only in it for themselves. 

Grant weaves together stories of both givers and takers and why they succeeded and what they did to help or hinder others. My biggest surprise is that successful givers aren’t immune from self-interest, they just help others succeed as well.

Four stars

This book came out in 2013

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose

Wrex receives a note from a friend of his brother's, asking him for help. But when Wrex arrives at the college, the friend is already dead. It will be up to our intrepid team to find out what happened to the man. 

As we get further into the books, the mysteries are fine but, for me, it's more about the characters. And there is some growth for them in this book. Sheffield and Cordelia get closer to marriage, the Weasels start to interact more with their newest member, and we get to learn more about Wrexham and his brother. 

Four stars

This book came out September 26, 2023

Wrexford & Sloan #7

Followed Murder at the Serpentine Bridge

Followed by Murder at King's Crossing

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Grit by Angela Duckworth

The title pretty much says it all. If you have stick-to-it-tive-ness, it will generally take you farther than innate skill. Duchworth's own father used to tell her that she was no genius but she stuck to it and turned out fabulous.
Do the stories start to sound the same? Yes. Does Duckworth tell you that you need to cut your losses sometimes? Yes. Did she tell us how to identify when that is? Not really.
I did overall enjoy this book but there is nothing new for regular self-help readers.

Three and a half  stars

This book May 3, 2016

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

Technology was touted as making our lives easier but that is often not what has happened. Instead, we are working harder than ever, often, without considering what it's doing to our mental health. there is an overwhelm of emails.
Newport brings together the works of many other authors who have written similar themes. There are stories of people who have worked both slowly and productively. He also presents ideas on how achieve productivity without burning yourself out.
This book was fine but it felt like a lot of filler- references to other similar books or the author's own writings.

Three stars

This book came out March 5, 2024

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis

When Anna Moore finds a coin in a collection of her dad's things, she doesn't expect Owen Harris to show up, accusing her father of having stolen a collection of rare goods including a necklace known as Ruby Red.

Owen's great aunt is his only family member left. She's ninety-five years old and, before she dies, he's like her to know that he recovered the property that was stolen so long ago. 

Together, they will solve the mystery of what happened oh so many years ago. All while Anna is also dealing with her sister Wendy who is pregnant with triplets. 

This is hypothetically part of a series but there isn't really a through line that I can see. This was a fast, fun, and fluffy book. Not much substance but an enjoyable book for a day off.

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 11, 2024

Sunrise Cove #6

Follows The Bright Spot

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Murder at an English Séance by Jessica Ellicott

Big things are happening in this book. Beryl has her plane and is enjoying flying to her heart's content. Edwina has finished her book and is just working up her nerve to get it shipped out. Of course, she'll have to post it where the town's biggest gossip (i.e. the postmistress) will see it. So she reroutes to a tea shop to fortify her nerves.

It is at the tea room that she meets psychic, Maude Dinsdale. Maude has just moved to town but she is about to set Walmsley Parva on its ear. While some people are eager to believe in her talents, others are being torn apart. And one person ends up dead in a mummy's sarcophagus.

There is a lot going on in this book including Charles being given care of his cousin's two-year-old son. The end of the mystery wasn't really fairly clued so that was a bit annoying but this was overall a nice book. 

Beryl and Edwina Mystery #8

Three and a half stars

This book comes out June 25, 2024

Follows Murder at a London Finishing School

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma

Have we read books before where the two best friends of the hero/heroine from the first book fall in love? Why, yes, yes we have. But have they perfectly played off the repartee of Beatrice and Benedick? Maybe. But I haven't read them. Highly enjoyable book although I thought the B-plot was a bit rough and really could have been left out.
Bobbi and Bunty have been thrown together for some wedding planning. He became her number one enemy when he, well-known chef, turned her down in for catering a wedding. She lost a lucrative contract and her uncle lost confidence in her. Now the man that raised her seems like he is pulling her dream further and further out of reach.
Bunty is trying to juggle the life he wants with the expectations of his family. While he is still in food, his father is trying to woo him back to the family business, frozen naan. To add to the complications, it is on the West Coast while his friends, and Bobbi, are on the East Coast. What is going to be more important in the end?

Three and a half stars

If Shakespeare Was an Auntie #2

This book came out August 1, 2023

Follows Dating Dr. Dil

Followed by Marriage & Masti

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery

As is usual in Mallery books, three women find their matches. Of course, for Paris, that new man is actually an ex-husband. They broke up years ago and he remarried and has a son. But now Jonah's back in town with his son to help while his mother undergoes surgery. While Paris believes they are on their way to being friends, Jonah might have a different idea.

Her best friend Laurel has two daughters and an ex-husband who doesn't see the girls. Her oldest is acting out toward all males. She just needs a friend. A male friend. One who can show that not all men are flakes who can't be counted on.

Last is Cassie. She's just joined the friend group after inheriting some land from a great uncle. She's feeling raw after her brother and sister kicked her out of the nest. While both of her siblings got money, she inherited land. Land that an apparently very hot archaeologist is working on. 

An enjoyable book but the ending was incredibly fast like the author ran out of time and wanted to wrap up the storylines quickly.

Three and a half stars

This book came out February 13, 2024

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie

 Nurse Amy Leatheran has just finished a position with a nice young family and decides to stay in Iraq with an archaeological dig. Famous archaeologist, Dr. Leidner, is married to a woman who is very stressed out. She is worried that her former husband is coming back to get even with her marrying another man. The only problem? Her former husband died in the war. 

Nurse Leatheran is only there a short time but she sketches a short outline of each of the characters at the dig. It's just too bad that Mrs. Leidner is killed in a locked room manner; there was no way for anyone to get in and out of the dig without being seen so it has to be someone on the inside.

Hercule Poirot #14

Four stars

This book came out July 6, 1936

Follows The ABC Murders

Followed by Cards on the Table

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens by Andrea Penrose

Charlotte and Wrexford are getting married. That means that they are incredibly busy with wedding plans and the social twirl of being a newly engaged couple. It is at one of the parties, one at the Royal Botanic Gardens, that Wrexford is summoned into another room. He has gained a reputation for solving murders and the murdered man's friend is convinced this is not a natural death. Yes, the man had heart problems but the white powder around his mouth points to a different reason for death. 
An old enemy comes back and a new comrade (a cousin of Thomas Jefferson, no less) is made. 
A nice book with a branching into the botanic realm of the time, stepping out of the technical one a little bit. 

Wrexford & Sloan #5

Four stars

This book came out September 28, 2021

Follows Murder at Queen's Landing

Followed by Murder at the Serpentine Bridge

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Atomic Habits by James Clear

A coworker of mine was talking about this book so I picked it up. It was an interesting premise, boiling down to four steps to develop better habits, all of which seem fairly obtainable. Clear also brings up some other ideas that resonated with me. One was the "Plateau of Latent Potential." He mentions that this is a place where you've been working hard for awhile but not seeing any results. But if you keep plugging away, it will seem like you have sudden results.

Another idea that Clear brings up is the idea of systems vs. goals. Goals are what you are trying to achieve, systems are the way that you get to those goals. These are actually MORE important than the goals themselves as they are markers of how you get to what you need to do.

An idea that really hit home for me is that your identity is tied to the things that you do regularly. That means, the best habits are the ones that help you to define your identity. 

The rest of the book (the bulk of the book) is set on defining the four laws (and their inverses): Make it obvious (invisible); make it attractive (unattractive); make it easy (difficult); make it satisfying (unsatisfying.)

These all made a tone of sense and seem like they could be easily actionable. 

Four stars

This book came out October 16, 2018

Borrowed as hard copy from library 

Opinions are my own