Novel-lity

So I read this book quite a while back and it sort of coincided with me watching a video about Stoicism. I could see how there were multiple bridges between this philosophy and Gottlieb’s book. After some consideration, I thought it would be perfect to talk briefly about both and how each approaches death, the practical applications of Stoicism into modern day therapy and the importance of thinking about death to truly appreciate life.

GoodReads Summary:

From a New York Times best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist, a hilarious, thought-provoking, and surprising new book that takes us behind the scenes of a therapist's world -- where her patients are looking for answers (and so is she).

One day, Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who helps patients in her Los Angeles practice. The next, a crisis causes her world to come crashing down. Enter Wendell, the quirky but seasoned therapist in whose office she suddenly lands. With his balding head, cardigan, and khakis, he seems to have come straight from Therapist Central Casting. Yet he will turn out to be anything but.

As Gottlieb explores the inner chambers of her patients' lives -- a self-absorbed Hollywood producer, a young newlywed diagnosed with a terminal illness, a senior citizen threatening to end her life on her birthday if nothing gets better, and a twenty-something who can't stop hooking up with the wrong guys -- she finds that the questions they are struggling with are the very ones she is now bringing to Wendell.

With startling wisdom and humor, Gottlieb invites us into her world as both clinician and patient, examining the truths and fictions we tell ourselves and others as we teeter on the tightrope between love and desire, meaning and mortality, guilt and redemption, terror and courage, hope and change.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is revolutionary in its candor, offering a deeply personal yet universal tour of our hearts and minds and providing the rarest of gifts: a boldly revealing portrait of what it means to be human, and a disarmingly funny and illuminating account of our own mysterious lives and our power to transform them.

This book is one of those few books that made me reflecting on what life can be like, if I just made a few different choices. Evelyn Hugo is iconic, she is a strong bisexual woman who, made a lot of choices that grew her fame, broke some relationships, got her married seven times and ultimately led her to do horrible things. With some choices there leaves regret and here you can listen to Salma and I talk about regret and how the choices we make makes us learn and grow.

GoodReads Summary:

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

This book was the first self-help book that I already know I will re-read and enjoy for the rest of my life. This ignited my mission to recapture some of my old optimism and curiosity in human nature for the new year as well as watching the fantastic TV show Ted Lasso. I also appreciate that toxic positivity exists and should be examined whilst I’m on my year long mission, so listen to me discuss my thoughts and how I’m going to change my mindset this year. GoodReads Summary: The new uplifting book from Matt Haig, the New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library, for anyone in search of hope, looking for a path to a more meaningful life, or in need of a little encouragement.

“It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learnt while we are at our lowest. But then we never think about food more than when we are hungry and we never think about life rafts more than when we are thrown overboard.”

The Comfort Book is Haig’s life raft: it’s a collection of notes, lists, and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to Haig’s future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem. Incorporating a diverse array of sources from across the world, history, science, and his own experiences, Haig offers warmth and reassurance, reminding us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and unpredictability of existence.

Self help books are very popular nowadays with people trying to grow and find happiness and one of the most popular is How to Win Friends and Influence People. I’ll get straight to the point and say I found it quite manipulative at times BUT it had it’s good moments. So hear Agape and I speak about what we got from this book, what’s going on in the mindsets of self - help book readers and I even give her a few scenarios to determine what’s the difference between manipulative and persuasion.

GoodReads Summary:

AN UP-TO-THE -MINUTE ADAPTATION OF DALE CARNEGIE ’S TIMELESS PRESCRIPTIONS FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

DALE CARNEGIE’s commonsense approach to communicating has endured for a century, touching millions and millions of readers. The only diploma that hangs in Warren Buffett’s office is his certificate from Dale Carnegie Training. Lee Iacocca credits Carnegie for giving him the courage to speak in public. Dilbert creator Scott Adams called Carnegie’s teachings “life-changing.”

In today’s world, where more and more of our communication takes place across wires and screens, Carnegie’s lessons have not only lasted but become all the more critical. Though he never could have predicted technology’s trajectory, Carnegie proves a wise and helpful teacher in this digital landscape. To demonstrate the many ways his lessons remain relevant, Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc., has reimagined his prescriptions and his advice for this difficult digital age. We may communicate today with different tools and with greater speed, but Carnegie’s advice on how to communicate.

Agape’s Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZCkwONWK20wBNrSgyIC7P?si=633Nww1jQjucCoSn33uLHg

It’s an interesting concept that when you die and venture through Heaven that you be met with five people on which you had or they had a very big impact. It had me thinking of the idea of the butterfly effect and simply how entwined our lives are. I realised that there is beauty and much more complexity in living an “ordinary” life. Conversely, I has some dissonance with some aspects of the book talking about the importance of forgiveness. I had a few things to say about that and why I simply believe that acceptance over forgiveness is more essential.

GoodReads Summary:

From the author of the phenomenal #1 New York Times bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie, a novel that explores the unexpected connections of our lives, and the idea that heaven is more than a place; it's an answer.

Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew, others who may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his "meaningless" life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?"

A friend recommended this book and I’ll be honest it frustrated me a little. It was a caveat that fire safety is very important 😅, and secondly that you should always check your privilege and interrogate the story you tell yourself. Hear me and my friend Alia discuss privilege both macroscopically (class) and microscopically (in everyday circumstances) when it comes to the book. And also hear us explore the inventions and lies and stories we tell ourselves that create our personality traits and why Cadence decided to tell her particular story that way.

GoodReads Summary:

A beautiful and distinguished family.

A private island.

A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.

A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.

A revolution. An accident. A secret.

Lies upon lies.

True love.

The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

P.S. Sorry the episode is a day late, I was VERY exhausted yesterday. Have a good week. ☺️

Guys, this romance appealed a lot to my strict time-oriented planner self. I was able to recognise (with the help of tick, tick BOOM!), my relationship with time and the greatness of being spontaneous. Hear me discuss all of the above as well as think of the distinction between spontaneity and Impulsivity through the lens of our main characters Olivia and Max.

Goodreads Summary:

A chance meeting with a handsome stranger turns into a whirlwind affair that gets everyone talking.

Dating is the last thing on Olivia Monroe's mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm. But when she meets a gorgeous man at a hotel bar and they spend the entire night flirting, she discovers too late that he is none other than hotshot junior senator Max Powell. Olivia has zero interest in dating a politician, but when a cake arrives at her office with the cutest message, she can't resist--it is chocolate cake, after all.

Olivia is surprised to find that Max is sweet, funny, and noble--not just some privileged white politician she assumed him to be. Because of Max's high-profile job, they start seeing each other secretly, which leads to clandestine dates and silly disguises. But when they finally go public, the intense media scrutiny means people are now digging up her rocky past and criticizing her job, even her suitability as a trophy girlfriend. Olivia knows what she has with Max is something special, but is it strong enough to survive the heat of the spotlight?

Link to Article Read: https://jemmajorel.medium.com/impulsive-vs-spontaneous-7dc9569180df

WATCH tick,tick BOOM!: https://youtu.be/YJserno8tyU

Now I read this book just looking for a simple romance that will help me relax on the weekend. But I noticed a few different things here - these guys are child free?, she’s plus sized?, this is actually funny? 😅. But after those revelations I then went on a deep dive on the internet (mainly Reddit) to learn more about being child free and looking at typical romance arcs. So listen to Hafsah and I discuss children and romance arcs. I also blatantly stole a game from the JBU podcast (Just Between Us) so check that podcast out, WAY BETTER than mine.

TW: Weight Issues and Diet Pressure

(P.S. this is a re-record so you may hear us mention a lot of “last times”, that’s what we are referring to)

Hafsah’s Instagram - _hafsah.16

Hafsah’s podcast - https://crossleggedconversations.carrd.co

Just Between Us Podcast - https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/just-between-us/

Goodreads Summary:

Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes and keeps him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon, they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all—true love.

Right guys so this was a speedy read that had me… unsatisfied? This anthology of poems (I guess?) was interesting but mostly had me thinking: is that was so-called “insta-poetry” is? And I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. Listen to me talk my likes and dislikes about this book and also hypothesise if Instagram and my preconceived prejudices made me dislike aspects of this book, or was it just the craft itself? FYI: THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, IM NOT A LITERATURE STUDENT AND FEEL FREE TO DISAGREE IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. ☺️. Summary: Milk and honey' is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. About the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity. It is split into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose. Deals with a different pain. Heals a different heartache. 'milk and honey' takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look.

YA fantasy has finally levelled up. Representation has improved and being integrated into literature without eclipsing a larger plot - just like this amazing debut novel by Tracy Deonn. Without taking the colour blind approach it also includes amazing historical context in the magic system with a diverse and likeable cast. Anyway, hear Salma and I gush over this book and speak about representation and race in media. 😃 PLOT SUMMARY: After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight. tw: death of a parent; generational trauma (depictions of slavery, abuse, rape); gore; possession; demons; racism and micro-aggressions