Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
Emily Nagoski, Amelia Nagoski
“In short, emotions are tunnels. If you go all the way through them, you get to the light at the end. Exhaustion happens when we get stuck in an emotion.”
The number of people experiencing burnout has skyrocketed in recent years. No one is immune, but women in particular must combat extra stressors and cultural messaging if they want to maintain their mental and physical health. Burnout dives into the science of how unresolved stress can lead to exhaustion and burnout, and how “completing the stress cycle” can help women take care of themselves.
I read this book early in the month and still can’t decide how I feel about it. On one hand I enjoyed the science-backed information about stress and the stress cycle; on the other hand I don’t feel like I learned anything new about dealing with burnout. Exercise, getting enough sleep, socializing, finding meaning in life…these things are well-documented. And while I appreciated the authors’ acknowledgement that patriarchy and culture has a negative impact on women especially, I think they put too much focus on it. The Nagoskis’ book was interesting, but through no fault of its own it didn’t give me what I needed to work through my current burnout situation.
A good option for those who are just starting to learn about burnout.
On Christmas: A Seasonal Anthology
Introduced by Gyles Brandreth
“That man must be a misanthrope indeed, in whose breast something like a jovial feeling is not roused — in whose mind some pleasant associations are not awakened — by the recurrence of Christmas.”
A collection of 33 short stories (some magical, some mundane) focused on Christmas, its feelings, and activities.
This anthology begins well enough with some excerpts of Dickens, but would have ended up as a DNF for me had it not been so (blessedly) short. I don’t need all my Christmas stories to be stereotypical or saccharine, but in what world is a Dostoevsky tale about pedophelia/child brides an appropriate addition? Either this just isn’t a good collection, or I’m not “literary” enough to see its value.
This one’s an easy skip.
Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop
Edited by Otto Penzler
DNF
“…I have commissioned an original story from some of the finest mystery writers in America each Christmas season for the past 17 years.”
A collection of 18 short stories written by leading mystery authors. The only criteria: They must be set at Christmastime, they must contain a mystery, and they must feature editor Otto Penzler’s New York City bookshop.
After muscling through On Christmas (see above) I picked up Penzler’s book hoping for, y’know, a Christmas-based mystery set in a bookshop. Unfortunately for me this was another short story collection. Nothing I read before DNF’ing came across as particularly Christmas-focused or mysterious — everything felt disjointed, boring, and like the authors had shoehorned in a reference to Penzler’s store (because they did).
I’ve never really enjoyed short stories, and this collection put the last nail in the coffin. Next, please!
James Herriot: The Life of a Country Vet
Graham Lord
The man who would become known worldwide as James Herriot was born in October 1916 in the tenements of Scotland. His stories were published first in Britain, but hit American bookshelves under the title All Creatures Great and Small. In this biography, author Graham Lord takes readers through the life of Alf Wight — from the winding streets of Glasgow to the wide-open moors of Yorkshire.
Herriot’s books were some of my favorite childhood reading. I loved learning about animals, and the situations Herriot found himself in were by turns funny and heartbreaking. The stories come across as a little saccharine these days, but they’re what a friend’s mother-in-law would call “gentle entertainment.” Wight always insisted that his books were autobiographical, so I can’t say I’m pleased to have that bubble burst. But that doesn’t diminish his storytelling abilities, and his will always hold good memories for me.
A nice read if you’re looking to get to know the man behind the name.
A Holiday by Gaslight
Mimi Matthews
“I value your intelligence and your strength. I’d rather you stood at my side than in my shadow.”
Sophie Appersett needs a husband, but her only suitor isn’t giving her much to work with. Mr. Edward Sharpe seems to have no thoughts or opinions about…well, anything. When he is included in the family’s invitation to celebrate Christmas in the country, Sophie decides to give it one more chance — provided they get to know each other as they truly are.
Picking up this novella was my last attempt at “reading something Christmassy,” and overall it fit the bill nicely. While I had no doubt that Sophie and Ned would end up together, the journey toward that happy ending was enjoyable. Some moments made me giggle, while some scenes were just a touch too sweet, but it was a nice way to wrap up my reading year.
A lovely read if you’re looking for something seasonable and short.
