Book Review--Midnight Riot

Book Review

Rivers of London 

(a.k.a. Midnight Riot)

Written by Ben Aaronovitch

Narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

UK cover (a.k.a. the 'right' one)

US cover

My typical habit is to have both a fiction and a nonfiction book going either simultaneously (if I'm listening and reading print) or to alternate between each type of book.  But I had to break the cycle.

I listened, intently, to Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess with the intention of taking the lessons to heart and to put the principles into practice to ease my anxious thoughts.  However, my next read became available after a 16 week hold just after I finished. Just 10 minutes of listening to what seemed like the doom and gloom of the rise and prevalence of mental illnesses such as anxiety/depression/OCD (and more!) from Brain Energy (review coming soon), I knew I wasn't ready for the depth and breadth of the content at that time.

Hence breaking the alternating cycle. Since I had enjoyed Storm Front so much, I went in search of a read-alike and found a whole new fantastical world set in England!

In Rivers of London, our hero, Peter, is a constable who embarks on a journey of discovery, of awakening to power, and the understanding that reality has many more depths than he previously thought. The characters are interesting, very well fleshed-out, and relatable (even the god and goddess representations!).  There are twists and turns and unexpected history and events that rear their head throughout the story.  One of the things I appreciated is that Peter, our hero, comes to a gradual awakening to his gift of magic but is not a phenom that has instant control. He slowly learns, absorbs, and comes to grips with the power and complexity magic brings.

This might not have been a perfect buffer between my mentally draining nonfictions because there are some pretty intense and graphic scenes but it was a wonderful foray into a new series. And I will insert praise for the narrator here.  Kobna Holdbrook-Smith infused the characters with life and imparted the intensity of the story without being melodramatic or over-the-top.  Fantastic with applause all around!

Book Review--Storm Front

Book Review

Storm Front 

Written by Jim Butcher

Narrated by James Marsters

Sometimes, I am late to the party.  This is one of those times.

In my defense, there was a 12 year period of time that I was out of the U.S. living in Singapore (amazing) and Guam (fantastic) and Texas, in between (awesome).  Even when we were stateside, I was the mean mom who didn't let my kids watch much TV and we didn't have cable. That means there were a lot of American pop culture trends that passed by me.  

Now I'm trying to make up for that lack by exploring television shows that aired in the first decade of this century.  I came across a single season (such a shame they didn't keep it up) of The Dresden Files.  This fantasy show is set in modern Chicago but features supernatural elements and a practicing wizard P.I..  Wizards, magic, and mystery?  I'm in!  Enter in my new celebrity crush Paul Blackthorne (no, I haven't read his bio--if I find out he's married, I will be crushed instead of doing the crushing!).  Watching the credits, I realized the show was based on a book series that started in 2000 and if it's one thing I know... THE BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER!

I love it when I'm right!

The book was excellent with a well-rounded main character. Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a moral, hardworking, hardworn wizard who will find the perpetrator of a crime even at the very edge of reality.  We meet Harry when he is already established (although down on his luck) as a practicing private investigator making no secret of his wizarding abilities. His talent and power are fully realized so we follow along his journey to find the culprit as he uses the tools he has available as he searches them out, while scoping out attractive women along the way.  He and his 'assistant', an enchanted skull, combine knowledge to create powerful magic--a dynamic duo, indeed.  (Although I did appreciate the corporeal incarnation of Bob in the show which Terrence Mann portrayed so well.)

I have to insert some fangirling about the audio version of this book.  The narrator, James Marsters, was an exquisite match to the character.  The resonance of his voice, the inflections, the pacing, the ... everything was perfection! And it amused me to discover that this powerful voice performer... is also a screen actor playing in quite a few notable roles! Most recognizable to those of my generation, as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series. I learn something new every day!

If you are a fan of the book series and haven't caught the single season of The Dresden Files, a word of caution. As with any translation from words to screen there are liberties taken; and this season seems to have incorporated and blended quite a few strings from the book series to make a different dynamic flow and some broad license with character names and traits.  Be forewarned!

Book Review--Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess

 Book Review

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess

Written by Dr. Caroline Leaf

Narrated by Dr. Caroline Leaf

"Mom, I can't sleep," I'd complain

 My mom would always reply, 

"Go back to bed and think happy thoughts!"

I would meet with varying degrees of success but, in general, I would go snuggle under the covers with my blankie (and thumb in my mouth) and try to decide which happy thoughts to think.  It usually ended up with playing outside on a sunny day with a dog. But as I've gotten older, I have found it increasingly hard to 1. Pick a happy thought and 2. Think it long enough to impact me.

But Dr. Caroline Leaf maintains that it is never too late to learn to think happy thoughts.  Indeed, it is imperative to our mental and physical health to train or re-train our minds to think about positive things, let go of toxic thinking, and re-frame our understanding of how our brain and mind can work together.

One thing that stood out to me as I began reading this was that Dr. Leaf makes the clear distinction that our brains and are minds are separate entities.  Our brain is an organ that functions with physiological needs and output.  Our minds are our consciousness, our humanity, our sense of self and identity.  They are interdependent but separate in character. We train our bodies and our muscles to improve and we can do the same thing with our minds.  That, in turn, can benefit our brain and whole body.

Dr. Leaf details her "Mind Management Method" in Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess.  The book begins with a detailed explanation of her most recent experiment using both a control and experimental group of volunteers to determine the effectiveness of the 5 step targeted thinking process.  She outlines the parameters of the study, the measurements taken, and the variable tested.  After that, comes an in-depth look at the results of each group, what those results indicate, and then she describes how those results can benefit you.

The tested variable was the experimental group learning and using the 5 step Leaf Mind Management Method, based on what Dr. Leaf calls the Neurocycle which involves: 

    1. Gather

    2. Reflect

    3. Write

    4. Re-check

    5. Active Reach

The second half of the book shows what each of these steps entails and the impact they have on your mind and how they work within the neurocycle.  She then offers examples of how people have used these steps to alter their ways of thinking to become more adaptable and have a better quality of life by building the habit of positive thinking, replacing old bad habits of negative thinking.

Contrary to popular belief, a new habit is not formed in 21 days.  According to Leaf's research, it takes 63 days to make a habit and incorporate it into your life.  Her 5 steps are designed to be followed for 21 days and then use the following 42 days to reinforce the lessons learned in the first third of the cycle. Leaf describes how to use the method, including the writing portion but also provides information on an app designed around the 5 step method which provides an avenue for recording thoughts and progress and also has timers and prompts that you can set to notify you through the rest of the day.  While I can't speak to the app's efficacy, I will say that I am intrigued and convinced enough to try the 5 Step Mind Management Method the old-fashioned way and see if I can't turn some of my anxious thoughts around and go back in time to turn on my brain to again "Think Happy Thawts".