Stella Lane, an econometrician and has autism was trying to learn how to be good around people, most especially with relationships. Hence, she hired Michael Larsen, an escort, to teach her how. First, to be how good in bed but later on ventured on relationship particulars.
I duly can comprehend with Stella’s situation and how she could be around people in her own right. Given her challenges, it is also difficult to get by being her usual self without bewildering anyone.
My 7th book for 2022
I appreciate the books discussion questions that made it easier to comprehend on what I have read and here are some points:
Philip James, Stella’s co-worker, had expressed his liking to Stella after years of working together and she was suprised that Philip was asked out by an intern. In retrospect, men are the usual initiators. Women are usually at the receiving end. Times are changing, innovating even, when a woman ask a man out nowadays it is not a big deal, it should not be a big deal. We have come to know our abilities, confidence, and times have taught us to be more assertive.
On the other hand, Michael issues with his father – a swindler – had definitely affected his disposition, leaving him insecure about his stature and his abilities that also cost his relationship with others. I comprehend with his mother primarily; giving him the boost he needed, knowing what her child really is deep inside—even with the things he doesn’t even know about himself or doesn’t pay attention to. Michael’s mother played a great part to bring out his confidence and let alone make him try to accept his being to be also acceptable to Stella.
When you love someone, you fight for them in every way you know how.
If you can’t stand being with a woman who’s more successful than you, then leave her alone. She’s better off without you.
If you actually love her, then know the value of that love and make it a promise. That is the only thing she needs from you.
Stella and Michael’s differences are apparent. Love alone is not enough to make a relationship work. It takes patience, friendship, acceptance, and understanding combined. Relationships aren’t about rainbows and butterflies but also being committed to another person to make it work even through the toughest of times.
The first question I had for myself after I finished the book is, “what the F*** did I just read?” It is so brilliant, creative, thrilling, and terrifying even!
I’ve read some books by Colleen Hoover–I started with It Ends With Us last year and I knew right then and there that she’s one of the best authors to watch for. Of course, there are tons of raves in Kindle Philippines Groups about books she has written and released and part of me also relied on those posts, so I’d be able to relate (somehow, I am not under any pressure of going to what’s trending or to relate, to be understood even), and to travel through words and story settings I craft in my head while I read the book word per word.
Colleen Hoover is so creative, I’m starting to get inspired by her as I also went back to writing after I stopped a few years ago. Definitely, I could say that she’s very good in her craft and really gives! Verity, for one, is one of those books that terrifies you to the core reading it in the middle of the night, making you so uneasy, tearful but you would not stop reading it–that if there additional four hours in a day, you will avail because you want to finish what you started.
In this book, like Lowen, I don’t know what was true anymore–that “fictional” manuscript that Verity wrote and eventually read by Jeremy even way before Lowen discovered it or that letter of Verity addressed to Jeremy stipulating that fact. I was mindblown. The story was so effective that I couldn’t let this day pass without writing about it here.
Verity by Colleen Hoover (I’m using Kindle Paperwhite, which I think 2nd Gen, but I’m not sure. It still works perfectly fine.)
I sympathize with the children–dead and alive–they did not deserve to be in the middle of it all and suffering the chronic setup their family has become.
I started reading Verity a few nights back, for the first five chapters I’m stalling because I’m terrified of what the book might be and I don’t what to check reviews yet in the fear that they will spoil the ending to me. I did try looking though because I frantically do not want to be caught off guard, but that wouldn’t be fair either.
I posted it on my Instagram Stories and a former colleague commented that the book was stressful, it will be so good, and I wouldn’t be able to put it down. It was true. She was right. I couldn’t. I was ready to spend all my Saturday nights finishing it and continued it today, on a Sunday in between checking and packing orders for Happy Shift.
IN HINDSIGHT: One of the best books I’ve read so far. It’s my 6th book for the year 2022 and I’m happy I was able to finish it before I start a new semester in my doctorate. I wish the best for Lowe and Jeremy and their family. I hope life takes them to a different turn, a turn that may be able to let them start a new joyously and fruitfully. I hope wherever Verity is now, she’s at peace. It hasn’t been easy for her no matter what the version of the truth we are talking about. She really needed to be at peace in her own right.
Nothing is harder in a relationship than not respecting the person you’re with.
The reason why Jeremy and Verity ended up the way they did was not because of the tragedies they came their way, but the loss of respect for one another.
I guess being here in her office for a few days will be one way to test my theory. The richer you are, the more creative you’re able to be.
I’d like to believe this theory is true. If you are not worrying about money or earning, your creativity blossoms because you aren’t confined to what was acceptable for others (for them to sell) or to simply worry about what other people might think (whether it is positive or negative).
I’m not interested in speaking about a woman who chose never to speak of me again.
I, too, isn’t interested.
If an attraction is present between two peole, those two people can only be one of two things. Involved or not involved. There is no in-between.
“That’s the point of luck: it happens when and where it happens.”
By Christina Lauren | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
I’m not good at giving book reviews. I’d probably written two or three as requirements in grad school and post-grad, but I’d like to try. Hehe
This book written by Christina Lauren is so charming and it felt like I’ve vacationed in Maui too! The first four chapters of the book was a little boring for me. I was even contemplating if I will proceed to the next book on my reading list, but I persisted to finish it because I want to be a little organize and I wouldn’t be able to stay still knowing I have some like an unfinished business.
Truth be told that first four chapters built up the succeeding chapters of the book and it gotten so interesting that I spent one night reading until 70% of it.
Olive is somehow relatable to me, she was often misunderstood as a pessimist but really she’s just in touch with reality and out of touch with this world’s ideals that could break her, but yes, it pays to be brave too. Her love story with Ethan, a protective sister to Ami, and calling out Dane for being such a jerk are brave and good qualities of Olive in the book. Their big family is also relatable especially for us Filipinos, specifically those closed knit ones.
Like Olive, some of us think we are not ‘lucky.’ I sort of think that too—that it requires a mixture of skills, excellence, and luck all at once to succeed or even just win raffles!
That’s the point of luck: it happens when and where it happens.
That’s the whole point of luck, isn’t?
You have to trust that it’s not fleeting.
I understand how Dane and Ami and Olive and Ethan went through with their respective relationships. That someway, somehow, things could be difficult and quite impossible at the moment.
Nothing is harder in a relationship than not respecting the person you’re with.
IN HINDSIGHT: like I’ve said, if you read the book, it’ll feel that you are also in Maui having the best time and it made me want to book a flight and accommodation as the story goes. The book is a feel-good kind that after you finish it, you’ll feel renewed and refreshed. Yes, it was happy ending for both Olive and Ethan and I guess they both deserve it. Their personality really matches! Though it was usual and predictable, it was cosmic, sweet, and cute.
It’s a total kilig going through the love story of Olive and Ethan; and it was hilarious at some ends there, too. I’m so glad I persisted to finishing the book because it could be one of the best feel-good books I’ve read in the last two years.
“And that’s where love finds you…in the tragedies.”
Too Late by Colleen Hoover is something I didn’t expect. It is edgier than any other CoHo books I’ve read or at least researched about.
I never expected that I will be into this kind of genre because after reading Priest and Midnight Mass by Sierra Simone (as suggested by reviews in a book group I joined in), I tried to relax a bit and read Before The Coffee Gets Cold.
You see, most of the things I post here in this blog are the books I was able to read. It gives me an outlet to share and reading has been part of my routine (I can definitely make it through without internet connection as long as I have something to read).
Too Late is thrilling and breathtaking! You think you have predicted what happens but NO. The boom stressed me haha I couldn’t stop and I was deciding if I should pause or continue to the next page, to the next chapter.
The love triangle of Asa, Sloan, and Luke (Carter) was so intense. Reader discretion is advised because there are contents that are sensitive especially to a younger audience.
I won’t go into details of what the story will be, but there are quotes/excerpts from the book I’d like to share so you’d be interested to read it too.
General Patton’s theory: how sometimes it’s necessary to sacrifice the live of the few for the good of the many.
Love is not found. Love finds.
Love shouldn’t feel like added weight. It should make you feel as light as air.
Too Late is well written and brilliant! It’s terrifying and impressive at the same time.
“When you go back, no matter how hard you try, the present won’t change.
If you could go back, who would you want to meet?
Before the Coffee Gets Cold was written by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. It was about a fictional cafe in Tokyo, Japan that has an urban legend going that you can time-travel to the past (and to the future) which gained the cafe’s popularity, but later on subdued because not many people would dare to try anymore due to the many impeccable rules that must be followed.
This book originally belonged to my 2021 reading list as a friend of mine recommended it to me last year and told me I have might like it. And yes, I did.
This book has four different stories about the cafe, Funiculi Funicula–the love story of Fumiko Kiyokawa and Goro Katada, the marriage of Kohtake and Fusagi, the sisterhood of Kumi Hirai and Yaeko Hirai, and the motherhood of Kei Tokita to her daughter Miki Tokita.
If you haven’t read the book yet, I guess you stop from here hehe as I might include spoilers. I was able to read the book for less than 24 hours as the story is something you’d look forward to unfolding. My favorite would be Kohtake and Fusagi’s story.
The cafe can indeed transmit you to the past (and to the future, you’d know once you read it) given that there are rules to follow and only one seat that will allow the said time travel. The rules are:
You can’t meet people who haven’t visited the cafe.
The present cannot change.
There is only one seat that takes you to the past (or to the future)
You cannot move from that seat (if you do, you’ll be transmitted back to the present).
There is the time limit.
Your time in the past will begin from the time the coffee is poured, and you must return before the coffee gets cold.
This last rule was later on revealed: you can only do it once, you cannot do it again once done.
If you were not able to return before your coffee goes cold, you’d be a ghost.
The book has some touch of reality that I’d like to emphasize that sometimes, us, people, would be willing to dire change; we often forget that some things happen for a reason (or if it is, in fact, true) and that there are things that we aren’t able to control in this life–the only thing that we can get a grip on or control is our attitude and receipt towards the situation; others we can’t, no matter how hard we try, even if are given a chance to time travel.
When you go back, no matter how hard you try, the present won’t change. xx
Don’t go meddling in anythng that is going to change the present.
One thing that I have also pondered on while reading and finishing the book is that the present won’t change, but you can. Your attitude or character towards the situation you are facing, because it is true what Kei said in the book,
I was so absorbed in the things that I couldn’t change, I forgot the most important thing.
Kei Tokita
By the way, I got the book on sale on Amazon (Kindle) at $2.99 (instead of $19.99).
2021 was productive and here are the books I read.
The year 2021 is going to end in a few days. Reminiscing the beginning of 2021, I promised myself to give way to my mental health and free myself from screentime as much as possible– it was a good practice, though; two weeks of constantly doing it, it becomes a habit and I couldn’t even be more grateful.
This year I surpassed my target of 15 books (by one! hehe). I’ve read 16 books and all moved me and has given me comfort especially during the on and off quarantine and lockdowns left and right. Books have taken me to a lot of good places (something that I don’t like doing physically because truth be told, I don’t like traveling that much). I’ve met a lot of people through the books I read – may it be the characters in the novels I indulged myself in or through fellow readers who gave great recommendations.
Reading is therapeutic and enhances my creativity. It was also a good practice to immerse ourselves in the wilderness and expand our vocabulary, keep our social distance (hehe in the pandemic), and ease of anxiety.
Below herein is the list of the books I’ve ticked from my list (in sequence) and some excerpts, thoughts, notes, and anything I want to share about the books (not a review and I won’t spoil):
Photo from web
1 The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
If you have seen the series Bridgerton on Netflix, it was patterned by Julia Quinn’s book series. The Duke and I is the first book in that installment which was centered on the love story of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset (Bridgerton Season 1). Hence, as I go forth with the book and its succeeding installment, I finally understood why Rege-Jean Page will not be appearing on the succeeding seasons of the Bridgerton series on Netflix.
The book is quite different from the series–there were characters in the TV series that aren’t in the book, but both are good! You may want to finish it in one sitting. I got hooked!
2 The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
I have a stressful life so reading romances is quite nice! Haha! This second installment of Julia Quinn’s book series is focused on the love story of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield (season 2 of the TV series). Anthony was the eldest of the Bridgerton siblings (the first letter of their names is patterned to their birth orders); he was his father’s successor as a viscount when the patriarch Bridgerton died and has then become the head of the family.
Kilig also! Something that you won’t expect from Anthony Bridgerton as he was stiffed and too focused as the head of the family. He also had the fear of the believed that he won’t be alive long because his father died at quite a young age. It was a safe and good love story (in my opinion) and it was just light and sweet!
3 An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
By far, my most favorite book in the Bridgerton book series! The books centered on Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Beckett’s love story. It was like a Cinderella fairytale romance that is also quite steamy and hot, romantic at the same time, just like the previous two.
Bridgerton siblings’ birth order (for context hehe): Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth.
If there will be a book in this series that I’d probably read over and over, it’s this!
4 Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
This book was my backlog from my 2020 readings because I couldn’t get the strength to actually finish it, but I guess that was the purpose of the book–to make you think, wonder, and be surprised (cringe, too). It follows the story of Humbert Humbert, a professor, middle-aged man, who has this fetish and attraction to younger females (girls, aged between 12 and 14). He fell in love with Dolores Haze who, technically, was his step-daughter as he married Haze’s mother who was his former landlady.
I took a break from the Bridgerton series because Benedict and Sophie’s love story was toooooo good! Hehe
5 It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
The first book this year that made me cry! It hurts! Haha! But yeah, that was a good call by Lily Bloom to leave an abusive relationship no matter how good it gets sometimes because we cannot change people, we can only love them. Hee hee.
The rest of what I’ve read, I’d probably just list below and do a separate review on another post (there are just too many things I want to say!)
6 The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
7 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
(see I took a rest from the Bridgerton book series because I need a rebound from Benedict and Sophie’s love story hehe)
8 Management Communication in the Global Era: Readings for the Asian Manager by Gloria S. Chan
This is one of the reference book our late professor, Dr. Felix Librero, asked our class to read. It was so memorable to me I could not even believe it will be our last encounter. I have learned a lot in his class. He was strict and thorough, but he was fair. May you rest in peace, Sir Lex. You are missed.
9 Romancing Mr. Bridgertonby Julia Quinn
After that semester, I went back to continue reading the Bridgerton book series. This installment third installment is the story of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington and the last appearance of Lady Wistledown and how she was unveiled. It was perfect and one of the best books in the series, too!
10 To Sir Philip with Love by Julia Quinn
This book is the story of Eloise Bridgerton and Philip Crane. It was sweet and quite modern, if I may say so given the setting of the novels.
11 When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
In the Bridgerton TV Series, Franchesca Bridgerton wasn’t highlighted. This book tells the story of Franchesca Bridgerton and Michael Sterling, and their quest of love and challenges of having their kid of their own.
12 It’s In His Kiss by Julia Quinn
This book tells the story of Hycinth Bridgerton and Gareth St. Clair. Their story is also a good highlight of the book series, given that Gareth is also the grandson of Lady Danbury. Theirs is quite a battle but it was sooo good!
13 On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
This is the second to the last book installment in Julia Quinn’s series. This book stressed me out hehe! It centers on Gregory Bridgerton’s love story, quite a challenge too. It left me a lot of ‘ugh’ and ‘no no no’ before I finally made peace and lean on the flow of the story hehe
14 Bridgerton, Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn
After you finished all the Bridgerton siblings’ love stories, you would wonder what their lives after all those and how Violet Bridgerton and Edmund Bridgerton began their story and create such a great brood, this book has it. It was a refreshing ending that will close all your ‘what now?’
15 Bared to You by Sylvia Day
One word: HOT! This book is so steamy yet so catchy! I think I’ve finished this one in just one sitting.
16 Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
I saw this in a book store in the cut-off prices section, but it turned out it was on its original price and was just left there; nevertheless, the book is funny and probably can be turned into a good film with either Amy Poehler or Tina Fey as Eleanor Flood, the lead character.
Life is one long headwind. To make any kind of impact requires self-will bordering on madness. The world will be hostile, it will be suspicious of your intent, it will misinterpret you, it will inject you with doubt, it will flatter you into self-sabotage.
Eleanor Flood
Life is a confounding and sadistic in its cruelty. That when things go your way, it never makes you as happy as you’d expected, but when things go against you, it’s a cold water jolt, an unshakeable outrage that dogs you forever.
Eleanor Flood
The worst thing a person can experience is being on the receiving end of “hatred and misunderstanding.”
The world isn’t your friend. It’s not designed to go your way. All you can do is make the decision to muscle through and fight the trend.
Joe, Eleanor’s husband
That’s it for me for the books I read this year! More on the next! I’ll probably will not make a list of the books I’m going to read because I’d like to be surprised, but for sure, I’ll probably target more for next year.
When we started the new year, I have a full list of the books that I will read this 2021 like what I always do every last of month of the year before we welcome another one.
The year 2020, when the pandemic broke out, indeed took a toll on my reading goals because of the occurrence of anxiety, keeping my businesses afloat, focusing on survival, and prioritizing health and safety, oh but of course. Needless to say from my original target of 25-30 books annually, I read only eight (8). Not that it’s a competition but it is a form of gaining new perspective and indulging myself to literary pieces; by which, helps me to relax and expand my vocabulary.
Half of the year has passed, I just finished my 7th book last night, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. There were a lot of good reads aligned this year because I have started reading the Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn – it wasn’t supposed to be part of my list for 2021, but when I started – can’t stop, won’t stop! Indeed a good ice breaker from all the blunders of the world and extreme academic reading. Hehe
I’m also in post-graduate studies so I am (required) to read a lot of textbooks, array of research, journal articles, and the like – which, by the way, I also enjoy. It gets too technical at some point, but always always a great experience when you read works of others of intellect.
I read books even the ones that got me bored along the way. I try to power through because sometimes its end is better than how it started. In addition, it is also a good practice to read something that does not interest you much to gain deeper comprehension of matters that, sometimes, you don’t fully understand. It makes you more open-minded, more understanding in various aspects, if I may say.
I’ll find the time to share book reviews here as per usual – probably once or twice a month of those I have already read and hopefully real time of what the books I am to savor on. I like to document such because the new perspective I gained is sometimes worth more than of my travels (and I don’t like to travel much, plus given the current health crisis globally, it will take longer for us to board transport to different places again).
I’ve read a lot of books in my life; and I’m reading quite a ton in the last 2 years, which by the way, good to be shared here. Every book I read is different and creates a big impact to me as an individual in all given characters – a daughter/grand daughter, a partner, a friend, a career woman, to name a few.
Words make huge sense to me as always and sometimes books can verbalize and interpret my emotions for me – especially the ones I’m having problems about. In this book, The Power of the Other by Dr. Henry Cloud, it showcased my pertinent emotions; especially the ones I don’t acknowledge or even recognize. The book helped me and support me to re-shape my mind and my whole being eventually realizing good forms and notes to take in.
I might have to do this in two (2) parts as I want to concentrate on the sections that really mattered to me whilst I was reading.
It says…
Your well-being depends on your brain, your relationship and your mind.
With that being said, we have a full control of our well-being because we have the complete access to our brain and mind, that if created balanced and rational, affects our relationships not just with others but with ourselves.
Here are other important points that we shall live by:
If you want to live a happier life, you have to work on yourself as a whole. This means taking care of your mental health, which means taking care of your brain.
Consider it done. I’m independent for as long as I can remember. I really can’t remember when was the first time I moved out of my grandparents’ home to live on my own. It sure made me feel the freedom every person of my age is craving for. It was fun and still is fun, if I may say. But this being independent has its downside too. There have been so many glitches in this independent life but then I’ve thought that it all depends on me; and if I’m not going to make myself happy, no one’s going to do it for me.
I quit all the unhealthy drama and feed my mind happy thoughts to get pass through the hardest of times. I have worked on how I can be more cheerful and pleasant for myself and towards other people.
Your success and well-being also depend on your relationships.
I’ve made myself not just physically strong but mentally strong most specially. I’ve eliminated things and people who don’t serve me right – even the ones who have been so dear to me. I always thought that perhaps we are growing up as a human being and this is maturity kicking in and sometimes… people do it apart. Their time in my life and my time in theirs have been concluded. It was a good story. It was a good experience. No matter what.
I took charge of my brain. I took charge of my mind. I have become optimistic more than ever and eventually become happier. In this happiness, I have influenced colleagues and more and more I can feel that people like to be with me. It made me glad knowing that they want my presence around even though I know it’s not something so grand.
I couldn’t feel more successful; being surrounded by my trophies and medals – my family, good friends, colleagues and life partner – is priceless.
Strong relationships help us cope with stress, overcome setback in our lives and even heal pain.
I live alone and I don’t get home to a place that there are people who can ask how my day went. In spite of, I keep my connection good (and even better now) with my family and friends even the stressful long distance between us. Before, I was thinking that I’m going to be forever alone and nobody would want me. I passed through this thinking and learnt to love myself more to give more love to people.
I have come to making my relationships stronger and by that I rarely feel stressed-out, sad, or even upset. It made me overcome setbacks and fortuitous events that, come to think of it, can get the best of me. My relationships with other people heal me in the most ways possible and in the shortest of time.
Unhealthy relationships, on the other hand, add stress.
I used to be in a very unhealthy relationship before. The relationship was one-sided and verbally abusive. I didn’t like it and but I didn’t have too much courage at that time to get over it and let it go. I felt like it was my dead end and I need to make it work or else there’s nobody out there for me anymore. It stressed me out – all out. I was underweight and sickly. I rarely get enough sleep. I was a walking skeleton and my eyes were always sad and depressed. For sometime, my work performance suffered and my relationship towards my family and friends went on a downward slope. It was so unhealthy.
By the time I got the courage to let it go and move forward, every little thing about my life blossomed. My career soar high and little did I know I was at the peak of it. My friendships went on strong and my I rarely have any conflicts.
Your mind isn’t the same thing as your brain. Your brain is a piece of hardware, where your mind is the software that runs it.
When you understand your mind, you can stay in control of your thoughts and better manage your emotions.
Don’t let your emotions overrule you. When you really know what you have in mind and you can decipher it, you will have a better understanding on how you can react to things and happenings in your environment. Our emotions can get the best of us if not managed carefully. The understanding of our own self to interpret things in a more rational way is more precious than the other way around.
A lot might be at stake sometimes and all of these can affect our daily lives and individuality as a whole. But if we can have a strong mindset and develop better understanding to give things rationality, it will be better not just for ourselves but also for our relationships/people we value.
I am very thankful that THE Paulo Coelho published his manual of the Warrior of Light on Inkitt.
If you were able to read my last entry in this blog categorized in Good Reads, the last entry was The Alchemist by, again, Paulo Coelho.
What I have was the 25th Anniversary edition of the said book and he gave a glimpse of the Warrior of the Light in the afterword. His idea of communicating to his readers is impeccable. He speaks for the people and what’s within them, turn it into words; into characters and everything else becomes exquisite.
We are all Warriors of the Light. We are all capable of understanding the miracle of life, of fighting to the last for something we believe in – and as well, hearing the bells that the waves sets ringing on the seabed. That with all these, we can distinguish between the transient and the enduring.
We know that without inspiration and experience, no amount of training will help us. And by the words of the one who is also and an indeed Warrior of the Light, Paulo Coelho:
A warrior of light know what he wants. And he has no need to waste time on explanations.
Victors never make the same mistake twice. That is why the warrior only risks his heart for something worthwhile.
These repeated experience have but one aim: to teach him what he does not want to learn.
Time works in his favour; he learns to master his impatience and avoids acting without thinking.
The Good Read: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
(c) Shainne Hostalero
This book was one of the many books I have read before. On this renovated blog of mine, I have decided to share the books and articles that made sense to me, moved me or caught me in between of this mad life. It’s pretty much amazing how gloomy things and days can turn so vibrant when reading a book. It’s mesmerizing. I felt like I have different worlds aside from the one I was into.
I remember buying this book in Fully Booked when I was waiting for a friend. I bought it along side with Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood which I have yet to share – a power-enriched book too like a nutritious food, only it touches deeper than internal, if you know what I mean.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is about Denny Swift, a former race car driver turned Customer Service Representative, his dog, Enzo and his whole family and career matters. Very timely, we all revolve like it. If you are a dog lover like me, you will surely appreciate this book more. Brilliant, Garth Stein!
Here are some of the best quotes from the book (in my lovely opinion) that moved me and left me thinking about my struggles and how I can trust myself more to survive and be happy or happier (naks!):
“There is no distance in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you’re afraid to lose.”
“He died that day because his body served its purpose. His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave.”
“That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our success and failures have been bought by one other than ourselves.”
“To live everyday as if it is had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live. To feel the joy of life, as Eve felt the joy of life, to separate oneself form the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter everyday, to say I am alive, I am wonderful. I am. I am. That is something to aspire to.”
“So much language is unspoken. So much of language is compromised of looks and gestures and sounds that are not words. People are ignorant of the vast complexity of their own communication.”
“You should shine with all of your light all the time.”
“My soul has learned what it came to learn, and all the other things are just things. We can’t have everything we want. Sometimes, we simply have to believe.”
“I learned that from a program on the National Geographic Channel, so I believe it is true. Not all dogs return as men: they say, only those who are ready.”
“I know this much about racing in the rain. I know it is about balance. It is about anticipation and patience. It is also about the mind! It is about owning one’s body. It is about believing that you are not you; you are everything and everything is you.”
“We had a good run, and now it’s over, what’s wrong with that?”
“Memory is time folding back on itself to remember to disengage from the present.”
“Your car goes where your eyes go. Loneliness is unable to service without a willing host.”
“Suppressing the symptom does nothing but force the true problem to express itself on a deeper level at some other time.”
“Do not mistake confidence and self-awareness for egotism.”
“Do not blame other people for being themselves, you will only be frustrated by it.”
Shainne Hostalero 