I wasn't familiar with the author, but learned a lot about him in the audiobook. Interesting, but not earth shattering. I did come away with new knowledge and a few ideas for exploring creativity. Really enjoyed that the audio version includes background music at times for effect!

Just some simple stats from Audible about 2019.

An interesting listen, but sometimes above my head - so I might listen again in the future. Immunology is quite complex and there's still so much more to be discovered was a recurring theme. I was hoping to learn some info for personal use, but that was minimal. The narration was great, plus the author included some humor in the storytelling of the history of immunology.

Definitely a pick for mid grade novel. Pros: the setting as a strong "character" in the story, the premise of the story, the cover art, the self discovery of Serafina.
Cons: Serafina's character sometimes speculated on topics that seemed like a big stretch for her.

Overall, I enjoyed learning a little more about The Biltmore House, which is an hour's drive away.

Wow! An incredible listen! I especially enjoyed the author's own voice for the narration and was amazed the few times he was speaking in some of the other languages he knows. Trevor Noah's personal stories explore the human spirit and how each individual's private logic has immense influence over one's movement forward. Both sad and inspiring at the same time, this book expanded my world view telling of brutal realities alongside hope.

Dan's narration in the audio version was enjoyable and helped me connect more with his personal journey than I might have, if I had read the hard copy. Dan's honed writing skills, sense of humor and openness to vulnerability added extra spices to the telling of his story. After finishing the book, I've listened to a few of Dan's podcasts (10% Happier podcast) and found them to be both interesting and useful.

Natasha Boyd nicely stitched this story together by reading Eliza's actual historical letters and creating strong personal and emotional motives for each character. The different tensions between Eliza and other characters felt solid and propelled the story forward.

Wow! This book felt BIG to me. It expanded my world view and offered new and surprising viewpoints. I especially enjoyed listening to the audio version of Melinda Gates narration. Hearing her tell her stories, in her own voice enriched my experience. I finished this book a few weeks ago and have found myself still thinking about it again and again.

I live in South Carolina, (the setting of the book) so was interested in reading this historical fiction novel about Eliza Lucas Pickney and her experiences and accomplishments as a young woman (a teenager!) whose father left her in charge of the entire plantation plus other nearby properties. I'm still reading and the story is interesting and written to highlight the inequalities among people of the time period.

Trying to stick with this book, but I don't care about any of the characters yet and am on page 77. The premise of the book proves to be highly interesting and the puzzle and reveal of this new biological phenomenon offers suspense.

A very enjoyable read! Light and heavy at the same time. Lots of richness in the author's vulnerability and insight. Easy and engaged reading experience because of the author's style and relatability of the story. Written a bit like a novel, which enriched the telling. Great work, Lori Gottlieb!

I've wanted to read this for a while and it did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed hearing Brene Brown narrate it. Her voice and natural inflection of her own words added to the experience. All of Brene Brown's books help me look inward and offer tools to better navigate and deepen my relationships with others and with myself.

I was pulled into the story by the writing and the narration. It was interesting to view the world through the lens of Sam, someone who's different, yet not so different. I highly recommend the audio version.

Glad I read it. Was insightful, yet not engrossing. The messages have stuck with me though, so have definitely thought about this story several times after closing the pages.

Recently I traveled to Portland, OR. A friend and I did the walking tour of the neighborhood where Beverly Cleary lived in her childhood and also where she took some of names for her books. In Ellen Tebbits, Ellen and her best friend live on Tillamook Street!

Wow! Excellent narration added to the experience of listening to the rich details in Michelle Obama's account of her life up to the point of leaving The White House. I appreciate the vulnerability she conveyed. I learned a good bit and one of my favorite take aways was about the art piece the Obamas chose to hang in The White House

This book had so many strong reviews, but I just couldn't finish it. I liked "The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane" (also by Lisa See) so I will try another book by this author, but Shanghai Girls did not hold my interest. I had a tough time identifying with the main characters, but I realize that their life experiences and traits were probably right on point with the historical setting and family of origin.

Enjoyed the strong interpersonal workings in this story and the detailed writing provided plenty of visual images of important scenery. Cultural elements of a true rural group of people in China were surprising, but true, so this book increased my awareness of interesting belief systems that most would describe as archaic and in direct opposition to nature. I want to learn more about Asian culture, so I'll be reading more from this author.

Beautiful writing made this easy to listen to for hours upon hours. Very interesting at times and at other times, (especially the part that took place out west) the story was less so. I wanted to read a Pulitzer winner, so chose this one. The main mystery in this novel definitely kept it moving forward and I wanted to listen all the way to the end for the the reveal.

"A skilled interior designer can look at five shades of blue and distinguish azure, cobalt, ultramarine, royal blue, and cyan. My husband, on the other hand, would call them all blue. My students and I have discovered a similar phenomenon for emotions, which I described as emotional granularity."

Saw this idea on Etsy-a few vendors are selling collections of books in the same color scheme for the visual appeal. So I went to a thrift store with the sole purpose of looking for books with certain colored covers-to use for decorating shelves. Don't know if I'll ever read these green books, but the collection adds interest & color to my guest room. Bonobo's Handshake looks the most interesting in this stack and one that I might read.

"About 80% of bird species live in socially monogamous pairs.... This is largely because the business of feeding nestlings is so taxing, requiring biparental care. "

"In fact, as far as we know, only four groups of animals on the planet craft their own complex tools: humans, chimps, orangutans, and New Caledonian crows."

Love this!

"When you draw an object, the mind becomes deeply, intensely attentive," Glaser says. "And it's that act of attention that allows you to really grasp something, to become fully conscious of it."

"You break out of the box by stepping into shackles."

Picked this up at the airport on the way to my vacation. I'm REALLY enjoying it and learning plenty about botany. As well I'm pulled in to the author's life story and style of writing. Am a little over half way now. SO glad I decided to peruse the book selection at the airport store.

I'm offering a year online long book study for the book, Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen. #Parenting #PositiveDiscipline #bookstudy #peacefulparenting #discipline

"Intellectually, positive emotions help you learn faster, think more creatively, and resolve challenging situations."

Anita Arrington recounts her first years in China with vivid story telling elements. I enjoyed discovering Chinese culture and traditions through her lens and especially through analyzing the pictorial etimology of Chinese characters.

Had trouble falling to sleep. Reading and wining.

"There she presented two wooden rectangular boxes: coffins. Her children had purchased them .... Our guide explained that this was a Chinese custom. In fact, it was the duty of children to buy their parents coffins, and for the parents to approve. This was a way of expressing care and fidelity."

"Still, in moments of frustration, I consoled myself by noting that this language, which allowed me to view the world from the eyes of a Tang Dynasty poet, called a poem by the same name as shit."

"Unlike most other world languages, written Chinese does not specify how the words are pronounced." ? ?? #Chinese #language

I could not get through Age of Ambition, so am opting for this book instead to introduce myself to China and Chinese culture. I'm 30 pages in and this one is a much better fit for me - a strong sense of story and rich with learning about China and the history of its language. #china

Learning a bit before I go to work with parents. #nonfiction #China

Read a library copy on the beach this summer.🏖 Thinking I can use a double dose of this one. #creativity #fear #BigMagic