Lisa Howe > Recent Status Updates

Interesting point reg. the happiness of having faith: "The contrast between the insecure, neurotic, educated “modern” and the quiet dignity and inner peace of the old-fashioned believer, makes the latter a man to be envied. But it is a serious misapplication of psychology to make the presence or absence of neurosis the touchstone of truth, and to argue that if a man’s philosophy makes him neurotic, it must be wrong."

"Then we come down off the emotional high and those aspects of life that we disregarded in our euphoria begin to become important. [...] We have now discovered for ourselves that being in love is not the foundation for a happy marriage."

I've always thought this about arranged marriages — while not the most romantic, they do allow for discussion around the more practical aspects of marriage often clouded by "love".

An interesting read so far — I'd heard of "The Four Horsemen" before as part of the Gottman method, but it was helpful to explore them a bit deeper in that last chapter. I've just gotten to the first principle now, but my partner has actually started a different book on marriage (lol) which is a lot shorter, so I might pause here and read that one first. Stay tuned!

"I look back on this now, and I think how absolutely remarkable this was: In my short lifetime, I’d been able to see not just one woman reach the highest office in the nation, but two. Because of them, it never occurred to me that my gender would stop me from being involved in politics. Or that it wasn’t possible to be a woman and to lead. But the kind of personality you needed? Well, that was a whole other story."

Excited to finally move beyond all the weird male-centric Freud stuff in that last chapter... at least the author acknowledges it's a bit wacky too, lol

"Setting boundaries requires us to be vulnerable — which is uncomfortable. To draw circles of empowerment around ourselves, and to respect the circles other people draw around themselves, we need to find a way through the feely stuff, to live in the deep end of life. It's here we get to explore life in its entirety, rather than avoiding it for the illusion of comfort in the shallow end."

"I had always been taught that everything that happened was a part of God’s plan. If there was a question you couldn’t answer within your faith, then you just weren’t meant to understand it. And that simple view had sufficed. Until now. I still believe in you, God, I remember thinking. But I do not understand this. I will never understand this."

"Sibling rivalry is a critical problem that reflects the basic human condition: it is not that children are vicious, selfish, or domineering. It is that they so openly express man’s tragic destiny: he must desperately justify himself as an object of primary value in the universe; he must stand out, be a hero, make the biggest possible contribution to world life, show that he counts more than anything or anyone else."

Fascinating to learn more about her faith growing up... my Dad's family were also Mormon, and he attended Church College in Templeview where there was (and probably still is) quite a strong LDS presence in the community, as Jacinda mentions here. Small world!

The descriptive, detail-rich manner in which Jacinda shares stories from her childhood really draws you in as a reader — it's vividly engaging, but also, incredibly human.

"Looking back, I think that’s also when I first realized that a person’s life can be altered forever, sometimes tragically [...] everything could change in the blink of an eye, and that made everything feel more fragile."

A captivating start... sad knowing where things are likely heading, but can already see the three different stories connecting...

I am loving this so much… it’s also so surreal, I was just thinking the other day about how I wish I followed more stuff or read/watched more about women training and working out, especially since I’m needing to do more of that myself and actually quite enjoy it now. So it was funny for this to then — very unexpectedly — become a book centred around women training and benefiting from working out too, lol

Oh dear, I fear I may already be obsessed with this couple… what can I say? I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers…

I KNEW IT

Ooh, the shade from Mrs. Liu… “I know, June. Athena never would have written something like that.”

A.K.A. Athena never would have aired out the traumas of her own mother-daughter relationship so publicly for profit, because she probably respected all that her mom did for her despite their struggles. Instead of just never talking to her mom and expecting them to magically have a better relationship…

#JusticeForCandice #theCAUCACITY

In all seriousness though, the entitlement is wild… awww, poor Junie getting her feelings hurt :( Never mind jeopardising Candice’s entire career just because she can’t keep up with her own lies…

Far out, this book is doing an incredible job of making me feel absolutely LIVID — the worst part is that there are so many people who actually think and feel entitled and justify their shitty actions just. like. June. And it’s enabled by everyone around them too. Apart from the people who get it, and have to face this bs every day… shoutout to my girl Candice, you were a real one 🙌

Instantly hooked — such a juicy premise!

Ooh this is getting HEATED with all the courts together in one room, at last… I can’t believe Tamlin actually showed up. And with the AUDACITY to act as if the only way a woman could leave his controlling, sorry ass was if another man tricked her and stole her away… for a fantasy series, this is starting to get a little too real-world, lol (ty Rhys for getting him to finally stfu with his deluded takes)

Hmm… I sense a redemption arc for Eris once he finally drops that betrothal-to-Mor backstory…

So satisfying to see Ianthe finally get what’s coming to her… never thought I’d say this but, after all her sneaky work to take down Tamlin, and now, saving Lucien… Fayre is badass!

Oh Tarquin… sweet summer child…

I’m quite enjoying the friend dynamic of this “Inner Circle”… the characters in this book are definitely way more dimensional and engaging than the last one.

I’m quite enjoying the friend dynamic of this “Inner Circle”… the characters in this book are definitely way more dimensional and engaging than the last one.

Ooh, Rhysand’s Inner Circle… so mysterious… so ominous…

Tamlin is just a walking red flag at this point… 🚩🚩🚩

“My friend never explained anything to me. He thought, perhaps, that I was like himself. But I, alas, do not know how to see sheep through the walls of boxes. Perhaps I am a little like the grown-ups. I have had to grow old.”

“[…] I have suffered too much grief in setting down these memories. Six years have already passed since my friend went away from me, with his sheep. If I try to describe him here, it is to make sure that I shall not forget him. To forget a friend is sad. Not every one has had a friend. And if I forget him, I may become like the grown-ups who are no longer interested in anything but figures…”

Look, I know she’s been through a lot… but Feyre sure is whiny. Looking forward to when we can finally move past all this “I’m an awful person for saving everyone” bs

“There is no such thing as perfection. No one has their Inner Leader activated 100 percent of the time. Healthy and empowering boundaries are absolutely possible when you connect with your Inner Leader often, rather than always. […] often enough is good enough. Progress, not perfection.”