Pacing the Cage

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Quite possibly my favorite Harry Potter book! Counts as my re-read for the 2017 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge.

Review: Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone

Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone by Eric Klinenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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I don't feel so bad now.

I love living alone. I didn't automatically choose it years ago but now that I'm here, at 45, living on my own, I relish it! As I've aged, I've learned to endure peace at any opportunity. I don't always turn the TV on and have gone weeks not turning it on. I sit and read in silence and I'm Okay with it. I love the silence. When you have a job like mine where you are constantly inundated with phone calls and conversations around the cube you work in, silence at home, is golden.

For the most part, I do what I want, when I want. I've even started eating out more often (by myself) and going to movies (by myself).

In some ways living alone has changed me. I do get highly sensitive around noise and crowds.Sometimes, I have to just run away when it gets to be too overwhelming.

I do worry about getting even older though. I have no children, no spouse, no "other family" to help me out if or when anything should happen to me. My dog? Not much help there. Hah!

At this point in my life, I doubt it changes. I'm not seeking to change my situation either.

I love this solo life!

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Review: The Fate of the Tearling

The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked this! It wasn't god awful ginormous. Nor did it go on forever. Yes, yes, everything was tied up there at the end but isn't that how it's supposed to be? I didn't want this to go on forever and I'm glad the author did what she did.

I do have a few questions because some things weren't answered but, I'll make my own determinations there.

Good, fast read. I do not understand why I had to wait for months to get this from the library (early reviews that I read concerned me so I didn't want to shell out the $$$ for it until I had read it). I read this book in 2 days.

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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Bridging the Divide Book Club - Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis

I went to a new book club tonight. Crazy, I know. But when I heard about this one, it really spoke to me and I knew that I had to be a part of it. The first book was Robert Putnam's Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis. Honestly, as of today I have not finished this book but I like what I am reading so far.

The book touches on a few things that interest me though because I grew up all over the maps he draws. I had that family that did everything together until I was 12. We had family dinner time. I don't recall watching TV. We read. Or played games. OR talked! Of course there were extra curricular activities but my parents were INVOLVED.

But then divorce happened. We were raised by a single parent. There were serious tough times and yet, I succeeded. I went to college. I own a home. I own a car. I have a 401k.

I will say this though: As a country, we divide ourselves. We create our own division and I can't figure out why.