Books Books Books: What I’m Reading In January

I told GoodReads that I would read 15 books last year. I read more than that, but I set the bar low, so that I could get a quick win. Meh!

I just set a 2017 goal of 36 books. That’s me committing to read three books a month, which is absolutely doable! But the trick is, writing the review when I’m done.

My 2017 Challenge: Write a short review on each book I complete and publish it! Here’s hoping I exceed this challenge.

So this what I’m reading this month:

I have been reading Luvvie’s blog, AwesomelyLuvvie.com,  for a few years, so when she published her debut book, it’s no surprise that it’s been on my reading list for months. I received it as a Christmas present because I have the best friends! I’m looking forward to reading her “act right” advice and her laugh-out-loud observations of this thing we call life.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Funny enough, this book was also a Christmas present from a friend many moons ago (seeing a trend here). I am re-reading it this year because I cannot remember what I thought of it the first time and I want to be more present to the present in 2017. This is the underlying message from the book, that all suffering originate from not living in the moment. You have to learn to let go of  your regrets from the past and fear about the future.

The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday

I have always admired the works of Marcus Aurelius and here is a book that combines the works of the great Stoic philosophers: Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca in bite-sized pieces. Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman have organized each month into themes. January is the month of clarity and the year begins with Epictetus’s insight into control and choice:

The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own…

and I’m still reading:

I got hooked on this book series because I binge-watched the show Outlander (all two seasons) on Netflix. I’m on Book 5, after having devoured 1 through 4 in one month. This is quite a feat because these books are actually tomes. I’ll admit I’ve lost a bit of my steam but I’ve spent so much time with these characters, I kinda miss them when I haven’t read a few pages in a while.

I love hearing from you…what are you reading? And do you have any recommendations on what I should read next? This is my invitation to you to share below!

29 Gifts

29 Gifts by Cami Walker

My rating* – 4

29 Days of Giving

My odyssey with 29 Gifts started last November, when I was the recipient of a “gift” from my friend, mentor/coach…hmm I’m at a loss for words as to how to truly do justice to Giselle Hudson. She is definitely in my inner circle of awesome and I will soon dedicate a post to her and her tremendous impact on my life thus far.

After Giselle gave me my gift, she then described the book and what it was about to me. I immediately looked it up on Amazon and added it to my wish list. It’s been languishing there for at least 6 months; but nothing before its time.

I finally bought a copy in June.

Cami Walker, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) a month after her wedding day, at the age of 32. She thought her life was over. Then she got a “prescription” from a friend to give 29 gifts in 29 days. Cami took up the challenge and watched as her life changed in amazing ways.

The premise of this book is pretty simple: healing is not just physical, it’s also mental, emotional and spiritual. By helping/giving to others we often times help ourselves. I learned a lot about MS and its debilitating effects through Cami’s struggle and her triumph as well.

This is a great read, but at times it’s not very easy to read about Cami’s struggle to overcome this life-changing diagnosis. She is direct and there is no sugar-coating of her experiences. She however, never once comes across as seeking sympathy. I especially liked the journal-like entries of each day of gift-giving and the fact that the gifts at times, were intangible things, small things given in an “authentic and mindful” way transforming them into great things, priceless in value.

The gifts didn’t need to be big. Anything would do, as long as it was given authentically and mindfully.

Through her journey, Cami launched www.29gifts.org to encourage as many people as possible to take up the challenge and share their experiences. As I embark on my first 29 days of Giving, I also encourage you take up this challenge.


*my personal quality ratings are the scores I give books on a scale of 0-5 based on my personal opinion of a book. 0 is “birdcage liner” and 5 is “off-the-hook good”