flight paths discussion

Did it seem like November went by exceedingly fast?

It's been a quietly difficult month and not much joy in my reading. Been focusing on getting my reviews completed before the new year. Wasted far too much time searching for my notebook with the reviews for the first half of 2018. The reviews can be redone but I needed the quotes. So I took out a couple of books for that purpose. LOL in Susan Musgrave Origami Dovemany of my post its and markers were just where I forgot to remove.
This is currently the brightest thing I am reading.

Almost finished The Journal of Hélène Berr
Thought about doing so this morning but really there is only so much anguish I can take in at a sitting.

Has anyone read Berlin Noir? Ice, this is more your thing.
Its been on my tba forever and why did I think it would be a good partner for Helene?Just started and already I am having a lot of trouble with his outdated attitude towards women and his clumsy horrible metaphors and stupid similes.

So what is everybody else reading?
May you all be satisfied, warm and with the next few books on your list at hand!

Good morning!
November went by terribly fast. It was a pretty good month (except that we couldn't get together).

Sometimes I find books with outdated attitudes towards women a frustrating but good reminder of how far society has come to equality. We've got a way to go and sometimes we get focussed on that.....and forget the strides already made. It is shocking sometimes to read how women were treated and thought about. Seeing it in print is a good reminder....if the book was written in that time....books written today with the author trying for that outdated outlook sometimes seem a bit contrived.

I am reading Fool on the Hill. I have enjoyed two other books by Matt Ruff and would recommend his books. However, this one is college sophomoric. Turns out this is his first novel and he wrote it while in college. No wonder it reads like this. LOL. It's still an imaginative and lively story but drawn out and college orientated (drinking, partying, etc). I would recommend people starting with Matt Ruff's later books, not this one. He's a good author now; this book needs editing and isn't as sharp as his other books.

I have a few light, seasonal books set up for December:
Dachshund Through the Snow (cute name; probably too cute a story but also probably heartwarming)
The 19th Christmas (nothing like serious crime at Christmas. LOL)
Miss Marley: The Untold Story of Jacob Marley’s Sister (I read a version of A Christmas Carol told from Marley's point of view last year. This is a continuation of the Christmas Carol variations)
That will be all I read as far as Christmas stories goes.

I had set a running goal of 1300 Kilometers last year. It's quite a challenge to keep up with it. I've got 102 kilometers to go for December. I've got a chance of making it but only if I really keep an eye on the finish line. Next year I'm not setting a mileage goal, at least not one set this close to my limits. LOL.

I know 102 k well, it took me 5 days to walk it with my poor toes crimped up in my wrecked boots, the last but of the camino. Good on you Petra, I'm sure you will do it.

Ive not read any Ruff.

And as for casual misogyny, it does spoil the pleasure. I am trying to see it as apropos for the times, but reading a woman addressed as old hatchet face is distasteful. Men don't get off lightly either> he had the look of a man who changes his earplugs 6 times a day|\ and what kind of look would that be? David Downing in his series in the same time frame, did not feel the need to resort to such tactics. So much for the critics who claim Kerrs book is superior.

That sounds like melodramatic writing. I've never heard of a woman called "old hatchet face" in real life, no matter what the times. That plus the description of the man seems to show more the author's views of people (which is distasteful) than a sign of the times. I would find that sort of writing annoying for sure.

Magdelanye, that walk sounds awful. Your poor feet & toes.

For Ruff, I would recommend Set This House in Order. The main protagonist has a split personality disorder (not a spoiler) and the storyline moves around the protagonists needs to find a balance between "real life" & functioning and allowing the various personalities their time in real life.

now that sounds right up my alley!

I liked that one. It was quite well done to portray all the personalities.

The other of his books that I've read, Bad Monkeys, was manic in tone and feel.

November flew by!

You all are reading such interesting books. I want to put them all on my list.

Petra, good luck on your running goals. I used to run but now I go to the gym and confine myself to the bike and the treadmill and weights. But at least I'm exercising.

I'm reading Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. It's slow-going for me but interesting. I like that the major character is an aging woman. I feel about the same about ageism as I do about sexism: it's hard to take and can ruin the pleasure for me. I want books with strong women and it helps if they're also older.

I'm also starting The Overstory--I think, Magdelanye, that you recommended it. And I received Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World as a gift for my birthday. It's about the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918--a subject I'm for some reason actually interested in. Lucky choice: I don't generally read history. I did buy the first volume in the biography of Lyndon Johnson: I watched the movie about him and it so fascinated me I wanted to know more. (It also brought back so many memories of my childhood and adolescence in the 60s.)

The weather here is awful today so I'm going to stay in and read (it was bad yesterday but Katie and I had tickets for a production of The Nutcracker at her college so we braved it--and it was definitely worth the trouble. Such a lovely ballet. But today I have nothing I have to do so that's what I'll do--nothing. :-)

Ellie, I keep entering the Giveaways for The Overstory but no luck so far.

The Nutcracker must have been a wonderful event. I'm glad you got to enjoy it.

I've read further into Fool On The Hill and I'm liking it more and more. It has obvious elements of Tolkien, Greek gods, fate & free will conflicts, with a ton of interesting characters.

Happy December everyone!

@Petra I'm super impressed by your running goal!
@Ellie I've also turned into a gym person. I started doing barre once a week and it's been helping with my back. I wish I could afford to go more. Otherwise, I'm at the gym and doing some yoga as well.

Our house has been in upheaval for 3 weeks now doing a bathroom renovation. My dad and husband did most of it, and now my husband and I are finishing it up. It's hard to get a good amount of work done with an almost 5 year old, so we have had to do most of it while he's asleep at night. The plumber is coming on Wednesday and fingers crossed it will all be done!

I just finished reading Islands of Decolonial Love: Stories & Songs, which I loved. Now I'm reading a very cheeky book We Should All Be Mirandas: Life Lessons from Sex and the City’s Most Underrated Character. This book is sassy but engages in some pretty meaningful conversation about why no one wants to be a Miranda, even though she's a ballsy successful woman. I think times are changing in that regard.

Next up I have First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Story About Anxiety and 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality. So some heavy reads coming up. I'll probably balance them out with some Christmas movies. My son is obsessed with Dr. Seuss books right now so I'm excited to watch the Grinch with him!

@Magdelanye, I feel you about reviews!! My app on my phone doesn't post my reviews, so I realized I had spent so much time reviewing books and then nothing was posting, so I just have up actually doing a written review unless I'm on my actual computer.

Thank you, Megan.

I'm a fan of the gym (although I haven't been in years). A new gym is opening in our neighbourhood in the New Year. Hubby & I are enthused about going there.
I would still run outdoors most of the time, I think, because I run longer than the time limit set at the gym on treadmills.

Megan, we need/want to redo our bathrooms but hubby doesn't want to do the work so we'll have to hire someone. In one sense it's easier but I would like to save a bit of money, too, if we could and wouldn't object to doing the "grunt" work ourselves.

I'm sure your bathroom will look spectacular.

The app must be hell to work with. I use a laptop computer and have no issues with links or posting reviews. It would be nice if the app did the same things as the website does.

Today is gloomy and drizzly. We're enjoying a cozy afternoon at home. Tonight is carving class, which will be fun.

We redid the floors, new vanity, and had to rip out some drywall because of mold due to the previous owner's "renovations". The walls were in rough shape so we just put plywood shiplap over top of them. It's all nice and bright and white now.
Hiring someone is expensive, but it would be nice to not do the grunt work!

I'm happy you'll be able to go back to the gym. I really notice I feel so much better when I go. There's a gym in my building at work so I go at lunch time.

Ellie wrote: "November flew by!

You all are reading such interesting books. I want to put them all on my list.

Petra, good luck on your running goals. I used to run but now I go to the gym and confine myself t..."

\yes to the first remark
as for the gym....who needs it when you don't have a car!

I'm just about to watch the shift visionary summit!

kind of wiped from writing my review of The Journal of Hélène Berr but I felt the need to assure Petra that though there were certainly miserable moments, there was mostly exhilaration and deep satisfaction in walking the camino.

and I hope I didnt offend anybody with my crowing about not needing the gym.

The shift visionary summit is interesting but way too much computr today

None taken! I take the bus to work and do a desk job, so I need to go to the gym. It's also a great mental break during my lunch hour. :)

No offence taken at all. I'm just naturally a lazy type person who's interests are also sedentary so I need to make a conscious effort to get some exercise in and the gym gives me the best "bang for my buck", so to speak.

Megan, I bet your bathroom will look great. Worth all the work.

Magdelanye, no offense just sadly I do need the gym. I usually go at least 3 times a week but I've been so busy this week I've only gone once. Hopefully, tomorrow. I don't actually enjoy going but the options for exercise in the Bronx are exceedingly limited. There's no place really even to just walk around. And I feel at my age, I'd better do something to keep in shape.

I just finished Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World which I found fascinating. I'm not a huge history reader but this was gripping.

Now I'm focusing on The Overstory which I started months ago and lost focus. I love the way it's written although I'm a bit intimidated by the length.

Petra wrote: "No offence taken at all. I'm just naturally a lazy type person who's interests are also sedentary so I need to make a conscious effort to get some exercise in //

LOL Petra. I think that we have noted the range of your activities!
From digging rocks to learning how to carve, and of course your running and your wanders with step dad. Then theres Ellie, navigating New York and Megan with her remodelling projects and of course her family. I seem to remember that 5 year olds exude and require tons of energy. And I believe that MaryAnne is always into something and often visiting grandchildren. Ice I know commutes and works overtime, I am a slug in comparison with you all, but I cannot force myself into a gym and often these days it takes some effort to get out of bed. After all, I don't have anywhere else to sit, and all my diversions are here. I try to get out no matter the weather for at least a brisk walk but there have been days that I make do with a bit of wild dancing in the square foot I have in the middle of the cabin.
And I have just finished reading Life After Death by Damien Echols Its not a metaphysical book, although DE does take the opportunity to delve into the magikal aspects during the 18 years he spent on death row. He was innocent, btw, and finally released by the state so that his case be closed before the gross injustice of their justice system could be investigated. He had two steps to pace, and periodically the guards would trash his space, or him. He never was let outside. He never walked anywhere outside his cell without chains. I realize I'm damn lucky!

Ellie, I can't wait to read the overstory. I know what you mean by intimidating. But so glorious to push through that.
I have picked up Berlin Noir: March Violets; The Pale Criminal; A German Requiem again. I am not liking vol2 any better than than I did vol 1, maybe even less because theres some gruesome ugly stuff there. But that was part of the Nazi regime and I am a witness so I will carry on.

What I do recommend is The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish by Moscow born writer Katya Apekina. It also has got its dark overtones but its quite wonderful.

May everyone have a calm weekend with a few quiet joys before all the reckless noise of the season overwhelms

@ Magdelanye, life is never dull with a 5 year old. He split his nose open on the weekend sledding so off to the emergency room for stitches. I would love some downtime!
Renos are almost done, just a couple finishing touches on the bathroom, then over Xmas break we're painting our kitchen/dining room. We're burnt out so probably no renos next year (fingers crossed).
I'm still plugging away at First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Story About Anxiety. It is taking me a long time to read.

@Petra you're living my retirement dream! :)

yikes Megan hope your kid is ok!
I like the title of your anxiety book.
Somerhing to read in the emerg waiting room no doubt. But i bet you are loving your renovated bathroom.
I finally galloped through Berlin Noir. There was a point where I started to enjoy it...and then some unnecessary violence put a cap on that. Glad that ones over. It seems that I will have another issue with book im just starting.
My bad but when i went to enter on GR I noticed a 1 star review from someone i respect. Im trying not to let neither the hype or the haters to affect me.

@Magdelanye which Berline Noir are you reading? There's quite a few books with that title.

He's doing great. The stitches are dissolvable so we don't have to go back to get them out. It's his birthday party tomorrow, so I will have 7 5 year olds running wild in my house for a couple hours. Thank goodness for coffee!

Regarding reviews. Books and humans are so interesting. There are books I despised that other people who have similar tastes loved and vice versa. I remember my sister recommending a book to me and I struggled through it and thought it was so strange that she loved it so much. To each their own I guess. Maybe it's down to timing in your life how books affect you at a certain place and time? Who knows. Basically, don't let it stress you out, enjoy your book. :)

Good morning!
Megan, I'm glad your son is healing. That must have been a shock. These things happen in a moment's time.
Happy Birthday to your son! I'm sure the party will be a blast.

I must say that retirement is wonderful. I am very lucky. I enjoyed my job and now I'm enjoying my retirement.

Magdelanye, never feel badly about not liking a book. I have recently sent 2 back to the library without finishing them. I don't like doing this but it occasionally happens. Two is a lot in such a short period of time. The law of averages says that this won't happen for a long time to come.
I quite like reading reviews of people who have the opposite reaction to a book than I did. I sometimes learn something from those reviews that I overlooked ….. or, sometimes I think people read a completely different book than I did. The best example of this is a horrible book I read called The Bronze Horseman. Those that gave it 5 stars read a different story completely.

I took a picture of all my carving this year before distributing some of it as Christmas gifts:



I have since painted the penguin (on the left). There's a picture of him in my GR profile, if anyone would like a look. I don't want to overload this thread with photos.
There's also a larger picture of the one I posted. I don't want to make this one too large here.
I'm looking forward to a new year of carving and moving on beyond snowmen and pumpkins. LOL.

I've been reading some Christmas stories......of the murderous kind. LOL.
I enjoyed Dachshund Through the Snow for the characters and humor. The mystery was (unsurprisingly) cozy and "light". The main character & his wife are such nice people that I enjoyed getting to know.
I didn't see the point of The 19th Christmas. Silly premise, silly characters, silly actions.
I found Miss Marley: The Untold Story of Jacob Marley’s Sister was a lost opportunity. It could have been a heartwarming story. Instead it floated over everything that happened without involving the reader.
Not your traditional Christmas reading, I've got to say, but more seasonal than I usually get. LOL.

Megan wrote: "@ Magdelanye, life is never dull with a 5 year old. He split his nose open on the weekend sledding so off to the emergency room for stitches. I would love some downtime!
Renos are almost done, jus..."

I'm so behind with this group--I do so hope your son is ok. That sounds awful. I remember the chronic anxiety when the kids were small about possible dangers!

Megan wrote: "@Magdelanye which Berline Noir are you reading? There's quite a few books with that title.

He's doing great. The stitches are dissolvable so we don't have to go back to get them out. It's his birt..."

Also, happy birthday to him. I hope the party was a success.

I wrote a comment but it seems to be gone. I'm about half-way through The Overstory and am mesmerized. I was afraid it would be a) too difficult for me and b) too boring but so far it's neither. Who thought a book about trees would be so fascinating and passionate. I'm totally loving it.

Ellie, The Overstory is a book I'd like to read soon. I've entered every give-away for it (no luck, though).

Have you read Barkskins? It's another book where the trees are a character in the novel. I enjoyed this story quite a bit.

Thanks everyone! The party went really well and he had a blast. We took him sledding yesterday and he did so well, so I'm grateful for that!!
@Petra Barkskins is on my TBR list, maybe I should bump it up. Glad you're enjoying it.

Sounds like a memorable day Megan. You are both very brave to get him back on the sled after the last emergency room visit!
I noticed you approved my reading of Where the Crawdads Sing. have you read it yet? It starts with and contains some gorgeous writing but the suspension of disbelief necessary to lose myself in the story is a lot of work.

Petra what a wonderful array! Is your class going to carry on in the new year or do you get to go on to the next level?

I'm down to 22 books on my currently reading list!

The Overstory is about trees?? Ellie I can't wait to read this.

@Magdelanye, a lot of people I know are reading that book right now and love it, so I had to bump it up my list.

We had to get him back in the saddle, out here in Alberta it is winter 6 months of the year so sledding is mandatory! Also, he's quite traumatized by our drive to Canmore in the blizzard and brings it up a lot, so I didn't want the same thing to happen with sledding.

@Ellie, I just added Overstory to my list of TBR. The more I learn about trees the more I'm fascinated by them. My favourite part of Lord of the Rings movies was when all the trees fought back. :)

Is everyone ready for the holidays??

Hi everyone,

Megan: I am also impressed that you were able to go sledding so soon but understand why. We have very little snow here and that turns quickly to slush.

I'm so loving Overstory. I'm almost finished and it's one of those books I will miss when I'm done. It's very sad though. I also love trees and am fascinated by them. Even more so after reading this.

Catherine Barnett has a lovely poem about how trees communicate with each other, support and protect each other. I think it's in the collection Human Hours: Poems.

Christmas for me will be Mass with the kids on Christmas Eve and then presents and food on Christmas. It's just the three of us but I like it that way. Then on Friday we're up to Boston for the Friends pop-up. We are going to a flapper-themed New Year's Eve party. We go every year to this friend's New Year's Eve party and it's very low key.

Watching my kids, I'm glad to not be in the craziness of the holidays at work. Plus all the presents for staff and students; it gets expensive!

I just started The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays. So far it has certainly gotten my attention.

Everyone else ready for the holidays?

Happy Solstice to all of Flight Paths, wonderful trips ahead.
I am so grateful for your warmth and humour and book news of course! Love and literature!

megan how could you have liked my review 37 minutes before it was published?

I probably need to read the collected Schizophrenia!

Started Clarice Lispector the chandelier. I thought it would get me somewhere completely different. Ha!

Happy Holidays and Solstice!! I hope everyone is keeping warm and safe.
It's gloomy and rainy here but not cold. However, I'm living in a bubble of warmer weather. All around the Lower Mainland is snow and awful conditions.
We pick step-dad up from the ferry terminal on Monday. I've cooked up a couple of pork pies, some banana biscuits and will make a blueberry pie as well for the coming week. Everything else is ready, too.
Ellie, we aren't into the craziness of the Season either. We enjoy getting together, spending time with family & friends and enjoying our time and each other. It sure does cut back on the stress.

I just finished another Christmas themed book from the Andy Carpenter series and, I've got to say, I'm really enjoying Andy and his wife, Laurie. They are such warm, giving people who root for and help all underdogs. Andy has a great sense of humor and is such a wonderful family man. I'm going to start the series at the beginning to get to know them better.
The mysteries are light and breezy, yet warm, interesting and entertaining.
Today I finished Deck the Hounds. Yes, Andy & his wife like dogs. I think I'll add this series to our library. These later books do stand up well as stand-alone books, so the series doesn't need to be read as a whole.

Magdelanye, thank you! The carving class continues in January. It's more of a group or club, I think. There is a leader, who also instructs and keeps people engaged; yet most people work on their own projects and just ask him for help when they get stuck. The rest of the time we chat. It's a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to learning more and getting better at carving.
The leader did mention a mouse project for the New Year for the group. He says it's a little, realistic looking mouse that could be placed on a shelf ledge as if he is peeking over. He always tries to find projects that will interest everyone and teach a technique or two.
I am just finishing off two little projects: a Santa that turned out looking more like a 60's long-haired hippy than a Santa (I like how he turned out) and a folksy Snowman. I'm considering turning these into wine bottle stoppers.
Next I want to choose a more detailed, longer-term carving project for the New Year.

Hmmm..... I may have to get a copy of The Overstory after the Holidays. I like books about trees, too, and I'm having no luck at all at winning a give-away for this book. LOL.
Ellie, I'm glad you're enjoying it so much.
I'd also like to read The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World. I took it out of the library once, started it and was really enjoying it when I had to take it back. It's time to check it out again.

Petra: I think your carving is wonderful. What a great activity--sounds like fun to do with a beautiful outcome.

I've requested The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World from the library. Now that I'm retired, I can't keep buying books at the same rate (although I am still buying too many!). I loved The Overstory. Made me want to a) read more about trees and b) read more Richard Powers.

I hate to admit it but I'm getting a little bored with the Schizophrenias, although I'll keep going. But I have so many library books to read--I got back the copy of Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, which I'm very much enjoying. I like the older (actually old) woman who is the narrator and am intrigued by the mystery--her theory is that people are getting murdered by animals because they hunt. {This is not a spoiler; she announces this almost immediately--what the truth is has not yet been revealed.) I find her interesting, eccentric with a wry sense of humor.

I also started The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu which is science fiction--not at all my usual read but the reviews made it sound so interesting I couldn't resist. It's too long to read from the library so I bought it. Now I'd better read it!

I took out the Lydia Davis translation of Madame Bovary which I read years ago in French. I love Davis, both as a writer and as a translator. I've been yearning to reread this but who knows if I'll have the time. I also want to reread Middlemarch which I reread every few years and it's time again. But when?!!

Happy Solstice to all of you too!

Happy solstice!!!

I saw your star rating on my news feed .

Our entire house is under quarantine because of cold/flu dramatics ... hopefully everyone is back up and running for Xmas. Luckily it’s just the 3 of us for Xmas day and then down to my parents on Boxing Day.

Megan wrote: "Happy solstice!!!

I saw your star rating on my news feed .

Our entire house is under quarantine because of cold/flu dramatics ... hopefully everyone is back up and running for Xmas. Luckily it’s..."

I'm so sorry Megan that you are all sick. Hope you all get well quickly. Not the greatest way to spend the holidays! Hope you are all well for Christmas Day. Enjoy Boxing Day--I''m always a little confused about what that is no matter how many times I look it up!

Whose star rating are you referring to and for what book? Just curious.

Petra: I may take a look at the mysteries you're reading. Once again, I think my reading may be a little lopsided; all these "serious" books. Maybe I would benefit from more balance and at least one lighter book! I used to love mysteries but hardly read them any more. I feel a sense of time pressing on me as I get older and that I want to make every moment count. Sometimes that's oppressive but it can also be very feeling.

Megan was referring to my review of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens I guess thats the way it works, the rating is published as the book is marked as read.
I hope that you do actually like my review Megan it was not an easy book, neither to read nor evaluate. Will be very interesting to know how others react.

I am down to 21 books on my currently reading list, and most are from 2018. In fact I am currently reading a balanced array of 5 books covering all my favourite topics from philosophy to travel. Missing is a poetry book but I have been happy enough for now with the poems in I Feel Great About My Hands: And Other Unexpected Joys of Aging.

Megan may your household be free of sickness and down for a cosy season. The weather looks good for your trip to Twassessen today Petra. And Ellie, I think you meant freeing....
I am impatient to get my hands on Drive Your Plow but I am reading my adored Clarice Lispector right now, and next week I have Olga TokarczukHouse of Day, House of Night lined up PLUS Elif Shafak 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World so I'm set for the holidays/

calme* luxe* volupte

just wrote up reviews for the last 4 books I have just read...
now I can devote the rest of the evening to Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. which somehow jumped my queue

Hoping everyone had a good wrap up weekend !

I'm reading--and loving--Essays One by a very favorite author of mine, Lydia Davis. I love her short (often short short) stories for their writing quality and originality. They are also so thought-provoking. I've also started her translation of one of my favorite novels, Madame Bovary. I especially like her essays on the writing process, or her writing process and suggestion as well as her discussions of other writers most of whom I know and don't read much about (Maurice Blanchot, Rae Armantrout).

I've also started a book about trauma, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Ellie, I hope you have your own copy of Body Keeps Score! I once briefly had a library copy that I had only begun when it was recalled by the library where it's still in heavy rotation. I hope you find it useful.
As for Lydia Davis, I do recall years ago looking for her at the library and only finding Lindsey, who I quickly discovered is not for me. Time to do a more formal search.
I finished Girl, Woman, Other last night and so glad for all the awards its picking up because it's brilliant.
Looking forward to hearing xmas went off for everyone

@Ellie and @Magdelanye, I just finished Body Keeps Score. I found it to be VERY useful and informative. I find the bottom up approach fascinating as I was trying top down approach for years without much success, but now I'm doing body work and things are going a lot better for me. The mind/body connection is so interesting!

My last read of the year is Anodea Judith's Chakra Yoga. I'm getting ready for 2020: my year of healing.

We had a lovely Xmas at my mom and dad's house, now my husband and I are back at work and my son stayed at my parent's for the week. By all accounts they're all having a blast. Meanwhile, we're going to do our last reno for the year which is painting our kitchen.

Hope everyone had a great Xmas and has a lovely new year's eve!!

Megan wrote: "@Ellie and @Magdelanye, I just finished Body Keeps Score. I found it to be VERY useful and informative. I find the bottom up approach fascinating as I was trying top down approach for years without..."

Megan, so glad your holidays went well. We were very happy here as well.

I found The Body Keeps Score fascinating, although often painful and unsettling. Ultimately, he offers so much hope although I doubt that my country has the will to implement any of his many helpful suggestions, especially the school-based ones. And Big Pharma will certainly fight the non-drug ones. Nevertheless, I found the information hopeful.