LIVING MY BEST LIFE

Before I get back to my series of “Why I closed the store“, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite strategies for distracting myself from anxiety or shutting out the outside world and/or intrusive thoughts . . . audiobooks! When I am working on a task that lets my mind wander … knitting, spinning, housework, mowing the pastures, etc. . .I put in my AirPods and get whisked away to another world! I am a big fan of Stephen King, and I just finished Desperation. It is a long and winding book and it is one that you must pay attention to or you will get lost. Ask me how I know . . . I was out mowing and I guess my mind wandered or maybe I was overwhelmed with the beautiful coming fall days, and dreaming of crisp fall sweater weather. I got to a new chapter and I realized I had NO idea how we got to that point of the story. I had to go back about 90 minutes to get to a place I recognized. If you are a King fan, this story will not disappoint! I give it 4 stars because it meanders a little bit.

Others by King that I have finished in the last 6 months include:

• Billy Summers – (Audible) Billy is a hit man that wants out and this is the story of his last “job” – trigger warning – sexual assault – 5 stars
• Fairy Tale – (Audible) a fantasy story about a hidden world that will leave your heart full – 5 stars
• Duma Key – (Audible) Edgar needs to find a new locale after a terrible accident. Recovery, friendship and the supernatural mix in this novel that you will not want to end! 5 stars

What am I reading/listening to now?

• Animal Farm by George Orwell (Physical Book) – For Homeschool with my daughter – we are doing several classics this year and she picked this one first. I am actually reading the physical book. Animal Farm is a classic that I think everyone should read. If you haven’t read it, it is a quick easy read. Orwell’s indictment of totalitarianism and political hypocrisy is still relevant today. He originally wrote this in response to the Russian Revolution but it still resonates by highlighting the dangers of unchecked power and the manipulation of ideology for personal gain. (Note – if you are a homeschooling parent, look for future posts of how to use AI to aid in your teaching and organization). Animal Farm is featured 🙂
• Spite House by Johnny Compton (Physical Book) – I picked this up during a trip to Barnes and Noble (my daughter loves that store), because I am a fan of horror and this new author looked promising based on reviews and awards. So far it has not disappointed. It is a slow burn thriller that will give you chills. I will rate it when I finish.
• Parable of the Sower – Octavia E. Butler (Audible) – listened to this years ago, and just started it again. It is a dystopian story which is my most favorite genre, even more than horror.

What are you listening to / reading right now?

Let me know by leaving me a comment.