The Artist's Way

By: Julia Cameron

Libby audiobook 10 hours

Read by: Eliza Foss

Published: 1992 (this version 2021?)

Genre: non-fiction, sort of self-help

 

I confess that I did not finish this book . . . partly because of life events, partly because it didn't "speak" to me, and partly because I requested it quite a few months ago and I don't want to wait to get it again (long waiting list!) I enjoyed it but didn't really want to commit to it. Here are the notes I made on the first few chapters.

 

 The Morning Pages

• daily
• 3 pages long hand
• stream of consciousness
• "brain drain"
• nothing too silly, petty, etc.
• just write
• silence your inner censor
• don't skip or skimp
• feed your inner creative child
• fill three pages right away in the morning

 

The Artist's Date

• a time for receiving
• be open to insight or inspiration
• two hour chunks once a week
• preplanned "play date"
• just you and your inner child

She was starting to talk about writing a contract when I stopped listening. I love the morning pages, because I like to write. I liked some of what she was saying about how helpful these things can be, whether you see yourself as an artist or not. The book is really set up to be like an eight (?) week class. I just don't have this as a priority right now.

 

I had to dig through my pile of "recommendations" that I have kept. Lynne Heuton, a quilter friend, recommended this book to me. I used to get rid of the scrap of paper as soon as I requested a book but it bugged me to think "who wanted me to read this?" so now I hang on to them! One day, I'll just get rid of all the scraps of paper, but not today. So many books, so little time . . .  I don't really see Lynne any more, so I can't talk with her about this but that's okay. Perhaps I'll pick this book up in my sixties or seventies and do some introspection.

Not All Heroes

by Josephine Cameron

Libby ebook 432 pages

Published: 2021

Genre: YA realistic

Liked:

• Zinnia (main character) and her ways of dealing with hurt and disappointment.
• The school dynamic with Kris, Trevor, Jade, etc.
• The happy ending and positive message.

 

Disliked:

• Trying to keep the characters and their superhero names straight.
• It wasn't super engaging (not the way her Mermaid book was!)
  

 

 

Page 83 - "Empathy is a superpower. Caring is a superpower. Courage is a superpower!"

(Crystal Warrior talking to the real life super hero group.)

Page 309 - "'Here's what I think,' she said. 'It's hard to be a human. Sometimes it helps to say it out loud. Ask for what you need. If you let things slide for too long, they can pile up and get really heavy.'"

(The school counselor, Mrs. Pryor, talking to Zinnia and her mom.)

Maybe a Mermaid

by Josephine Cameron 

Libby audiobook 6 hours

Read by Karissa Vacker

Published:2020

Genre: YA realistic fiction 

Anthoni Gillis is eleven years old and learning the ins and outs of MLM scheme "Beauty and the Bee" from her ambitious mother. Going to the Showboat Resort on Thunder Lake should be her golden opportunity to make a "True Blue" friend, but things don't work out as her plan entails.

I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I even cried at one part! It's very juvenile in some regards (geared to upper elementary or young middle schoolers), but it actually has some really neat themes and scenes.

I LOVED:

- the characters! Especially Charlotte.

- the unexpected twist that made me cry

- the details - butterfly clip, DJ's rocks, the photographs in frames, Josh's floaties, . . .

- the friendships

I didn't love:

- the whole MultiLevel Marketing scheme crap

- how Anthoni was moved around so much and her mom just wanted her to work on having a positive attitude

- the closet scene at the Quinn's house . . . 

 

The reader did a great job. I actually re-listened to a few chapters because I was on the road and didn't have a different audiobook ready. I look forward to reading more of Cameron's work!

A Dog's Way Home

by Bruce Cameron
Scott County Library audiobook 9 CDs
read by Ann Marie Lee
genre: realistic fiction

• young man lives with mom, a former military veteran with some chemical dependency issues and depression (and seizures)
• vocal work was good, especially with the dog Bella
• I only got through 3 of the 9 CDs, but had to return it to the library because it was on hold. I liked it, but not well enough to get it back again to finish it.
• I loved the warriors at the VA needing Bella and helping to keep her hidden!
• I liked the dog point of view, especially at the start of the book. It made me think of Titus and sharing the book with Louie.
• it got a little too melodramatic for me - the author's text or the reader's voice??? Not sure. The animal rights activists were a bit too gung-ho (IMO) about saving some feral cats.
• The construction guys' (especially Gunther's) meanness and use of the Lord's name in vain got to be overmuch. They were clearly (and crudely) the black-coat wearing bad guys.