Book Review - Man's Search for Meaning

 

The memoir of Nazi concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl and his dissection as a psychologist of the thinking behind both Nazi's and Prisoners. 

This book is devastating, clarifying, and should be a far wider read than I believe it to be. While millions of copies have been sold worldwide. With billions of people living on the planet, this book should be read billions of times. I can not believe this was not part of any psychology classes that I had taken (granted only 2 high school classes and an entry university course) but this should be a must-read in highschool. 

The book is broken down into two sections. In a memoir, in the beginning, Frankl talks about his days as a prisoner in a Nazi camp, the treatment, the conditions, and the overall experience. Much like Anne Frank, this is a very personal section. 

In the second segment, he breaks things down into a few observations and life rules. Speaking to the internal void people feel. Healing from great trauma, how to move forward, he speaks to his own practice of logotherapy. This book is incredibly profound and I highly highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. 

The Jordan Peterson Book Challenge

I am posting this independently of the book reviews that I will do.

 I will put my best effort into linking each review to each recommendation as I go along.  

Jordan Peterson is the author of the best-seller 12 Rules for Life and he has a second book Beyond Order, that will be available in March 2021. He is an incredible public speaker and trained clinical psychologist that I have been following on social media for a couple years now. He has recommended the following list of books and I am setting myself a 5-year challenge (2021-2026) to get them all read. 

1. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley

        Read in highschool (2011 Yikes! been a minute) loved it. 

2. 1984 – George Orwell

          Ditto 1984, as a high school read that I loved

3. Road To Wigan Pier – George Orwell

4. Crime And Punishment – Fyodor Dostoevsky

        I read this in 2018?... ISH. Must reread as I don't know if I made it through

5. Demons – Fyodor Dostoevsky

6. Beyond Good And Evil – Friedrich Nietzsche

7. Ordinary Men – Christopher Browning

        One of my 2020 favourites, this is part of my history major along with several very chunky reads including Mien Kempf, A Hitler. The Rise and Fall of the Third Riech, William Shier. On Hitlers Mountain, I. Hunt. and some very heft texts. 

8. The Painted Bird – Jerzy Kosinski

9. The Rape of Nanking – Iris Chang

    Also, part of my history major, although this might be delayed while I chunk through this year. 

10. Gulag Archipelago (Vol. 1, Vol. 2, & Vol. 3) – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

    One of the most anticipated reads on this list *they are all anticipated honestly but this is higher up. Waiting for a birthday or Christmas gift of these on audiobook.

11. Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl

This one touched my soul and made me cry, much like Anne Frank its devastating, illuminating and horrifying in equal parts. 

12. Modern Man in Search of A Soul – Carl Jung

13. Maps Of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief – Jordan B. Peterson

Half tackled. This has been a put up and put down, chapter by chapter read. I am trying not to use my own critical reading style, which involves mass annotation while still reading rather quickly. Trying to really think these through, in-depth a little slower. 

14. A History of Religious Ideas (Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3) – Mircea Eliade

15. Affective Neuroscience – Jaak Panksepp

Book Review - Catch 22. J Heller

    

Not only is this book a classic, but seeing as how 2020 was the year that it was, I figured it was finally the time to get this read of my TBR list. 

A fictional satirical classic.

Set during World War II.

Overall this book was a 5/10 Star Meh. 

I trudged through reading this, it was sarcastic and witty and the whole point was to be ridiculous (mission accomplished); but it was also brutally slow. Built entirely around character development and the concept of "Catch-22", it is the substance of essays and quotes more than a pleasure read. 

Mini Summary

The pilots are doing everything they can to avoid flying missions, as most of the men who fly die. Thus they fake ailment and illnesses in the infirmary to remain grounded. This is a farce between soldiers and officers that culminates in a great many outrageous circular arguments and devious plans to avoid combat. Yossarian is our primary protagonist, with side plots surrounding the chaplain and the head cook/supply man with larger parables attached, to both, concerning the clergy and capitalism.  

With all that went on politically in 2020 and the culture front as well, it is a poignant piece that liked or not should be given consideration. 

2021 and my 2 Year Hiatus

    How crazy is it that my last post was January 2019.... 777 days ago! Insane right?

So my first ever blog post was March 25th, 2015

I was 20, this year I will be 26!!! (how did that happen?!?)

Initially, I posted about all kinds of random things, recipes, life blogs, and book stuff. It has been narrowed down to only posting about books. 

At the time I was a welder, working in the oilpatch, in northern rural Alberta, Canada

I am currently on my Ph.D. journey, I am an incredibly happy wife, and a super proud, excited nervous mama-to-be in central rural Alberta. 

I might not have as much time as I used to, but after a tumultuous few years, where I did not do very much critical reading and had no desire to keep up the blog, I am back!

Wrap Up l January 2019

New Year, New Goals, see how it all goes.

Not going to fool myself this year on how much blogging I will get done, because it is going to be hit and miss at best. I just don't have the time, or the inclination to find the time, to be consistent and post regularly.

Parasite

Mira Grant

3 / 5 stars
This was a good book, but comparing it to the Newsflesh series, it fell a little bit short. I had guessed most of the twists before the halfway point of the book and I found that it dragged on a little bit. Which probably stemmed from the fact that I couldn't connect with the main character, she seemed silly, spoiled and whiny to me (I know why she was the way she was, but I couldn't get past it to enjoy her and the story as much as I might have with a different lead) 

Devil in the Dollhouse

 Richard Kadrey

4.5 / 5 Stars
This was Awesome, it was everything that I love about Simon Green's Nightside with a Clive Barker, Scarlett Gospel style mixed in. I loved the cynical almost unlikeable main character. For a short story it was pretty action packed and still developed atmosphere and characters. Hoping the library gets the entire series soon because I would love to check it out. 

Castaways

Brian Keene 

4 / 5 Stars
Quick, easy fun read. There was little character development, the setting was pretty simple but when it comes to a cannibal island massacre what could anyone expect? This was exactly what I wanted when I picked up the book. I will have my eyes open for more Keene books from now on. 

Tiger Lily

Jodi Lynn Anderson

3.5 / 5 Stars
The best description of this novel is conflicting. Did I love that it was a Peter Pan, Neverland spinoff? yes and it did a really amazing job of illustrating both Tiger Lily and Tinkerbell. Did I like that it subtracted most of the magic from Neverland? not really, the new world setting and timeline made sense but I would have preferred sticking to the land above the north star. So overall it had its highs and lows, I really think the book tried too hard though, in an attempt to include a little bit of everything it glossed over a few things that could have been very powerful. 

Angelic

and 

Counterfeit Magic

Kelley Armstrong

3 / 5 Stars
I always enjoy Kelley Armstrong's writing but I am very rarely amazed by it and this pretty much followed the pattern with these two short stories. The characters were good but not original, same goes for the plot. The reading was easy and quick, her style is simple but very effective although even when she is discussing adult content or more mature topics I find that it is written in a "young adult novel" ish way. It might be that her voice just sounds young to me after reading so many classics and difficult to read "adult" toned novels. 

The Voice

Anne Bishop

3 / 5 Stars
O.K. novelette, to really understand and appreciate I think you would have to read the series it stemmed from. At a few point I felt Bishop was referencing something that I should have known (from the other books obviously) while that is not a bad thing, I do find it annoying, almost like a tacky sales pitch. 

The Help 

Katheryn Stockett 

5 / 5 Stars

Reread

As always I find this book to be funny and enjoyable, prompted me to re-watch the movie as well. The writing is executed so well, the characters and plot support the statements behind it all seamlessly. The cultural and political statements overt without being obnoxious or out of place. 

What I Saw and How I Lied

Judy Blundell 

This book was great, but after all the hype around it I was still a little let down. The characters were good, strong and well developed but fell into a few cliché's and traps. I could halfway see where the novel was going most of the book although the twists and turns were still exciting. The plot took the perfect amount of time to develop and it was original in choosing the perspective of Eevee over anyone else in the book. I think it speaks a great deal about girls of that era as well as girls of our era. As history repeats itself more than anyone would like to admit. 

The Halloween Tree

Ray Bradbury

4 / 5 Stars
Fun, fun, fun. It was the Nightmare before Christmas meets Alice in Wonderland, meets When A Monster Calls. This short story will be a Halloween tradition for my children I am sure. It was whimsical and wonderful. 

Blackwood Farm & Blood Canticles & Prince Lestat 

Anne Rice

4 / 5 Stars 
Anne Rice is always fun to read and this is no exception. Over the course of her 13(?) novels I have read she has fallen into a bit of a pattern with the stories but they are still great reads. Rice will either be your cup of tea or not though, I can see how her style isn't for everyone. 

The Shadow Over Innsmouth & Dagon

HP Lovecraft

5 / 5 Stars 
Rereads

Meddling Kids 

Edgar Cantero

4 / 5 Stars
HP Lovecraft ran head first into Scooby Doo and its amazing! This was action packed, I loved the characters, I loved the plot. It was a wonderful perfect read.

Les Misérables 

Victor Hugo 

3.5 / 5 Stars
Finally got to this novel and can check it off my TBR list, it was an easier read than I had expected but I think that it will be a better movie or play than it would be a book. 

Smoke 

Ellen Hopkins

3 / 5 Stars
The second novel in this series and was perfect, I didn't love the characters as much in both these books as I wanted too, I found them to be believable but a little bit flat, it wasn't the roller coaster I was expecting after the Crank, series. Not bad books but very different from Hopkins other writing. 

A Gathering of Shadows

VE Schwab 

3.5 / 5 Stars
I was amazed by the fist novel, so I wasn't surprised to find the second novel a little pale in comparison. It was still a good read and the characters were equal to the first novel, it was a huge setup for the final book, that I can't wait to get my hands on. It was a little long considering not much went on but character development. 

Wrap Up l November 2018

It is really starting to feel like winter, and with that come the on-set of Christmas spirit. While I can see lots of movie watching and maybe a Harry Potter reread or two I am not planning on reading much through the holidays and into the New Year. 

November was a roller coaster, Elevation has been one of my most anticipated reads, and while I don't think it is Kings best novella ever (being a different genera, fantasy) it was still a great little read. I expected more from Lost Boy, Lost Girl than what I got; I had no expecations for Heartsick and I now can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the books! The Deep was my most disappointing read this month, from the creator of Jaws! Sir Peter Benchley, it was slow, boring and incredibly anticlimactic. 

Onto the complete Wrap Up :

Novels (6)

• Bed of Nails, Michael Slade 
• Lost Boy, Lost Girl, Peter Straub
• Elevation, Stephen King
• The Book of the Dead, Douglas Preston
• Heartsick, Chelsea Cain
• The Deep, Peter Benchly

Audiobooks (7) <-- the only good thing about driving 

an hour to work and an hour home every day.

• The Funhouse, Dean Koontz 
• The Eyes of Darkness, Dean Koontz 
• Baja Blood, MEGA #2, Jake Bible 
• When Giants Collide, MEGA #3, Jake Bible
• Blood of the Fold, Sword of Truth Book #3, Terry Goodkind
• Temple of the Winds, Sword of Truth Book #4, Terry Goodkind
• Soul of Fire, Sword of Truth, Book #5, Terry Goodkind

Started 

•  Faith of the Fallen, Sword of Truth Book #6, Terry Goodkind

***Hopefully by the time this is published I am onto The Pillars of Creation, Book #7 of the Sword of Truth. 

Stephen King l 2018

Stephen King is my favourite author and I think he is one of the best writers of our time. With his incredible characters and gripping plots in every genera from Drama, Horror, Thriller, Western, a little bit of everything. 

I don't think there is anyone on earth who can dislike all of Stephen Kings books, if you don't like one? try another until you find one you like because there will be one in the mix I promise. 

READ

 Carrie 

 'Salem's Lot 

 Rage 

 The Shining 

 The Stand 

 The Dead Zone

 Cujo 

 The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger 

 Christine 

 Thinner 

 Cycle of the Werewolf

Desperation 

 IT 

 The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three 

 Misery 

 The Tommyknockers

 The Dark Half 

 The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands 

 Gerald's Game 

 Dolores Claiborne 

 Insomnia 

 The Green Mile

 The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass 

 Bag of Bones 

 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon 

 Black House 

 The Dark Tower V: The Wolves of the Calla 

 The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah 

 The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower 

 The Colorado Kid 

 Cell 

 Black House 

 The Dark Tower V: The Wolves of the Calla 

 The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah 

 The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower 

 The Colorado Kid 

 Cell 

 The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole 

 Joyland 

 Doctor Sleep 

 Mr. Mercedes 

 Revival 

 Finders Keepers 

Duma Key  

Under the Dome 

11/22/63 

 End of Watch 

 Sleeping Beauties 

Night Shift

Nightmares and Dreamscapes

Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales

Just After Sunset

 Different Seasons

Skeleton Crew

Four Past Midnight
Gwendy's Button Box

Lisey's Story 

Hearts in Atlantis

 Dreamcatcher
The Outsider
The Talisman

2019 TBR
15 Books to completion!

The Long Walk
 Danse Macabre
 The Running Man
Firestarter
 Roadwork
Needful Things
Rose Madder
The Eyes of the Dragon
The Regulators 
Pet Sematary
 From A Buick 8  
 Blaze
 On Writing
 Full Dark, No Stars
 The Bazaar of Bad Dreams