a_natural_beauty

'A room of one's own' by Virginia Wolf - This is the first book I have read by her and it won't be the last. I enjoyed this one greatly. She speaks out on how difficult it is for women to write and have privacy, have money and just have what they need in order to live a good life. The way she writes is thoughtful, powerful and beautiful.

'Animalkind' by Ingrid Newkirk & Gene Stone - I always knew that some level of cruelty happened to animals around the world but after reading this book it opened my eyes to the past and the present and how we as a society still treat animals. It also discussed educational information on how smart animals are as well as how they live together and how they connect with us.

'Unfamiliar' volume 1 by Haley Newsome - Being a short graphic novel I liked how I got through it in a day and it was enjoyable and cute. About a young kitchen witch who discovers her home is haunted and how she must go forward with it, also making new friends. I liked the artwork and the plot was simple yet fun.

'500 self portraits' by Julian Bell - Just as the title says, it's 500 self portraits of different artists over many years. In the future I would like to learn more of these artists and their works, it made me realize there are so many that I know nothing of.

'World of wonders' by Aimee Nezhukumatathil - In this book the author talks of her years as a child, young adult, first time mom and how she compared some difficult situations to how animals, insects and plants find a way to survive and make it through. That no matter what happens to you, you may come out ahead stronger and smarter. The chapters are short but cover a wide range of interesting stories and experiences.

'Quozl' by Alan Dean Foster - To be honest this is one of the first sci fi books I've read. And it was a good one! Fun, comical, thought provoking and different. It wasn't until it got to the end that it got weird but overall I loved this book and how strange it was. It's about these aliens called Quozls who come to planet earth and their interactions with us humans. I enjoyed the authors writing style quite a bit and plan on reading more of his in the future.

'The never ending story' by Michael Ende - I'm sure many of you know of this story from the well known movie. Like a good amount of cases - the book was better! It went on to further adventures of Bastan and what happens to him later on. For those of you who don't know the story, it's about a boy who finds a book and goes on an adventure of a lifetime in a faraway fantasy world with wonderful and magical creatures who he befriends and learns more about himself.

'Days at the Morisaki bookshop' by Satoshi Yagisawa - I started this book because it was in a blind book valentines day event that I chose and I'm happy I did. It's about a young girl who is going through some difficult times in her life and ends up working and staying with her uncle at his bookshop. She develops a new love of books and reading while there and also makes some new friends and quick but still a feel good sort of book.


I'll try to stay more on top of my writings of books I'm reading. But doing a short description of books like this was sort of fun.

I'm late at this again - but I didn't forget! :-p I'm a part of a little book club group that tries to meet once a month to talk about favorite books and media. Last month this was one of the books I shared and wanted to talk about. And I find it interesting because it's connected to my grandfather.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/book-review-gifts-of-the-crow-by-john-marzluff-and-tony-angell/

This was a book I bought a few years ago while down in Columbus during covid. I went with my ex because we originally had planned a trip out of state but couldn't do that anymore with the pandemic so we did a trip a few hours away and while in Columbus went to a bookstore where I picked up a few books, this one being one of them. And I read it quickly after I bought it. I heard of this book before, so I was glad when I found it.
What I enjoyed best was the different stories from it. All over the world they discussed different stories of crows and their interactions with each other - with us. How intelligent they are, making tools to use, how they communicate with each other, how they know the difference with us humans. It was an eye opener of a book. I always knew they were smart creatures but to dive deeper into the subject and learn more just made me happy. It took my mind off of a difficult part in my life, gave me something new to think about and appreciate. I remember a time when I took my lunch break and sat outside at a playground reading this book with the thought that I might see a crow any moment since I was just outside reading away. I don't remember seeing one. But just being outside with this book is a nice peaceful memory. If anyone is interested in birds in general I recommend this book!
An finally - the way this book is connected to my grandfather - Raymond Slaby - is because he talked about wanting to come back as a crow after he passed away. He loved birds and who knows, maybe crows were his favorite? I have some funny stories to share about him and this topic but I'm not sure I'll share in this post. But whenever I see a crow, raven or similar bird I think of grandfather and smile to myself.

Lately I have finished some good books and currently reading a good mix of books! Here they are if any of you are curious! I don't think I have talked about them and wanted to share them incase any of you have been looking for a new book to check out. If any of you would like me to describe them or talk about what I liked best I can. I didn't want to make this post too long since it already felt like it would take up room on the reading page! ^^;;
~~~

These are the ones I have finished:

'The cat who saves books' By Sosuke Natsukawa & Louse Heal Kawai

'You are here' By David Nicholls

'The 1923 tornado in Lorain & Sandusky: deadliest in Ohio history' By Betsy D'Annibale

'Promised Neverland Volume 5' By Kaiu & Posuka Demizu

'Nana Volume 5' By Ai Yazawa

"Lore Olympus Volume 5' By Rachel Smythe

~~~~

These are ones I am still currently reading:

'The original sin' By Marius Gabriel

'Dinosaurs: 300 prehistoric creatures (mini encyclopedia) by Gerrie McCall

'The promised neverland Volume 6' By Kaiu & Posuka Demizu

'Lore Olympus Volume 6' By Rachel Smythe

One goal I want to do in the future is read more banned books. This seems to have gotten more popular over the years and I am happy to see it. Those who wish to band any works of literature regardless of who wrote them and what the subject may be are people who I will never understand.
Back in 2020 I watched the show The handmaids tale. And it completely captured me. I think after the events of January 6th especially. As I watched the show I had the sinking feeling: "this could actually happen... help us all". I know it's a show that isn't for everyone. When I've mentioned it to some - the reactions are of shock and questioning like "You know women get R*#^& in that show, right?!" Yeah... I know. There are many things that happen that are hard to swallow. I think to date it's the darkest show I ever watched. Then I joined fellow handmaid groups on facebook and I learned it's a book series by a woman named Margret Atwood.
It took me a few more years, but I finally found the Handmaids tale back in July while on a trip with Mike and we stopped at a cool little bookstore. Gosh, it was a hard read at times. There were times where I had to put it down for day without picking it up again. But I finished it and I am so glad that I did. Next up! The testaments. This one was also slow and hard to read at times, but eventually it gets more... strong, hopeful are words I would use to describe it. It was well over twice the size of the fist one, but covered many different characters as opposed to the fist book that covered Offred. And after finishing that I was grateful and glad I did.
I do recommend reading these books, but do be cautious as you read them. They are very heavy ones. Also the show is good in it's own way. But heavy and dark, too. There were a good number of differences from the show to the books... But I think each was good in it's own way.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2019/09/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-testaments-real-life-inspiration

Awhile back, what maybe two weeks ago now...?? I watched a movie at random with my boyfriend Mike. It was a random movie that my parents gave us to sell in the yard sale back in June. It didn't sell and we figured we'd watch it at some point, so I kept it. He rolled a dice to see what movie we'd watch out of I think five choices. And it went on this random movie called "A bag of hammers": A film by Brian Crano.

This little rant will have spoilers, you have been warned ~

On the DVD cover it is a bright background, yellow with a bit going on... three of the main characters and some random other things like hammers, ect. "A comedy about good times and grand theft" they say... Okay, so we thought this was a comedy... boy, if could we ever be wrong about anything, it was this movie and the the label "Comedy". This was one of the most recent depressing and heart wrenching movies I've seen. I got teary eyed two or three times. On the back is also the misleading sentence "Featuring touching performances from it's young cast, A bad of hammers is a hilarious offbeat comedy about learning life's hard lessons."

So we put it in and gave it a watch. The start of the film made me laugh a few times, but then slowly we got into darker waters - murky waters it was starting to feel like. The two main characters make a living off of stealing cars and live a somewhat dull, quite life. But the one guy had a relationship end to this, the first car we actually see them steal is his ex's who they confront at her dad's funeral nonetheless and she lets them have it! Then we meet more characters - a waitress at a small dinner who is the one guys sister. And these two main characters have a house next to theirs that they own and rent out. So this is where the other main character comes in, a boy and his mother who came here after a hurricane destroyed their home. Already we see that they are struggling since she mentions how she is late on rent or needs some money and will pay it back from her landlords - which to me honestly takes some nerve. Just to ask or assume someone will give you a large sum of money is a bit disgusting if you ask me.

But anyway, as the movie goes on we see this boy who lives next door struggle. He gets bulled at school, seems to have no friends, has a terrible home life. His mother is trying to find jobs that she isn't qualitied for because as the interviews go on and they ask her these questions she only responds with things like "I like to help people". At first you feel a bit sorry for her, but as time goes on she proves that it's difficult to keep feeling this way. She's verbally abusive to her son, not keeping food in the house, not keeping things clean. The waitress I mentioned earlier finds this out while being invited inside for a soda and makes a call to have someone come and do an investigation. On and off everyone around them sees the mother as she verbally abusive her son. She even sneaks into the landlord's home to take a check back or steal money, honestly we aren't sure because they come in and find her in their house unexpected. And she claims she came for eggs. Then when the subject of rent is due she suggests sleeping with them.. in order to pay, I assume... it was a painful and weird scene to watch. As the movie goes on things go from bad to worse and one thing leads to another and then we find out she takes her own life!

Now the two young men are left with a bad situation - they have to report this - but will they keep the kid or let him go into foster care? They both had bad experiences from foster care and the one is more hesitant than the other about this choice. The boy then stays at their place for the time being. They eventually have to tell him about his mom, while out at the dinner with the waitress. He can order anything he wants, which in itself is heartbreaking because throughout the movie you can tell he isn't given much food or choice to food at all. And here is where the movie finally announces the title. They talk to the boy about how life will sometimes hand you a bag of hammers and it all depends on how you use those hammers. I've never heard this expression before, but it seems to fit this strangely sad and messed up moment we now have been brought to. The kid asks to stay with them and they keep him for a short while before the two young men have a fight about their situation. One wants to keep the kid and the other doesn't. Eventually they make up and decide to keep the kid, give him the best life they can with what they have. Which honestly is a much more happier fate for this kid than he had with his mother.

The final part of this movie was about the school finding out now where this kid lived and taking him away. When the teacher asks the kid about where he would want to be, what would make him feel happy basically. The kid talks about how he's felt unwanted so much of his life and he's finally wanted now by these two guys who he looks up to. Then we get this weird sort of rush of moments and experiences for the boy and all of the people he knows - from the waitress to these two new guys - and how happy he is. From birthdays, to telling them to stop stealing cars, to daily living together, to seeing the waitress finish college, to the boy growing up finally happy with a good, solid support system - it was unexpected, emotional and heartfelt beyond words. But then we find out it was all just a dream, or a daydream... or a wish on what could have been... Back to reality now and He goes into some sort of foster system that is pretty bad considering how he looks and talks when we see him being asked questions about it by a social worker. Something damaged him there. They said they have a set up a new family for him to go to. Then we find out it's the two young men! Happily he goes with them and they have a good life together. At the end they show the boy grown up and going off to college with a guitar strapped on his back. Both the guys are there, aged but proud and excited for their adoptive son's next new chapter.

And that was it! "A bag of hammers" was a movie honestly I wasn't expecting and now I think it's one of my new favorites. It was NOT the comedy they said it would be - but something to me made it feel all the more better. Real. Which I will take anyway over a comedy. Secretly I love movies, music, art and books that make me think and feel. And this one completely did that. I'm not a huge movie person, usually I fall asleep halfway through most movies I watch these days (My couch is too comfortable) but this movie kept me awake and engaged. I feel like what I said about it doesn't give it justice. I'd say give it a watch and see how you like it, but be warned - you might get teary eyed or cry. And that's okay. This movie goes to show you that we know little of those around us until we take the time to be there for them, listen to them and care for them.