Books Ive read in March

The month of March was full of exciting things: It was my boyfriends birthday and we spent half of the day together eating pancakes, sweet potato fries and playing tons of Pandemic. I also opened my etsy-shop and my first enamel pin arrived and I am so proud of it. The first sales via my etsy-shop and friends and colleague came in and it makes me just very happy.

In March, I’ve read six books which I want to tell you about now. Well, apart from one book because I absolutely did not like it. You will very easily tell which one it is 🙂

Books I’ve finished in March

**1. Die Abenteuer meines ehemaligen Bankberaters by Tilman Rammstedt**

This book was so funny. It tells two stories at once: The story of the former bank adviser of the author and the story of the author trying to convince Bruce Willis to play this bank adviser in his new novel. The story is so absurd, yet funny, that I had to laugh out loud multiple times. The humour is right up my ally. This book was definitely one of the highlights this month and I can only recommend reading it.

Er habe vor Kurzem angefangen, Sport zu treiben, sagte mein ehemaliger Bankberater. Und dann habe er wieder damit aufgehört. “Ich bringe Dinge eben gerne zu Ende”, sagte er.

**2. 12 Rules for Life. An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson**

I had to read this book for a book club and all I can and want to say is that I disliked it with a passion.

**3. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson**

This book was the highlight of the books I’ve read in March. It has taught me so much. My review can be found here.

**4. Guru by Ru Paul**

Buchcover über Selbstoptimierung und Unternehmertum

Another book for another book club. I was expecting a book about his life, some kind of autobiography. When I picked up the book, it turned out it is more a coffee-table-book, a picture book. It is full of photos of Ru Paul but I was rather disappointed by it as I feel it has no clear structure and is not cohesive.

**5. “They Can’t Kill Us All”. The Story of Black Lives Matter by Wesley Lowery**

Another book I really enjoyed reading. The book takes us to the protests of the Black Lives Matter movement and I find this such an important and often overlooked topic. My review can be found here.

**6. No More Bullshit. Das Handbuch gegen sexistische Stammtischweisheiten by Sorority**

This book debunks typical sexist statements such as “Women simply don’t want to be in managing positions” and offers a lot of fact based on studies. I am already quite informed about the topics mentioned in the book, so it offered little new for me. However, I believe these books are so important and unfortunately still necessary. The book was published by Sorority, a women network from Austria. And reading about such strong women inspired me to start my own network of women here in the Netherlands and this will be a nice project for this year.

Which books have you read in March?

They Cant Kill Us All – Wesley Lowery

Michael Brown
Eric Garner
Tamir Rice
Walter Scott
Philando Castile
Freddie Gray
Alton Sterling
Jamar Clark

All of the above are no longer alive. All of the above were killed by police in the United States in the last years. Between January and August 2015, 24 unarmed black people had been shot and killed by police. I had heard about these killings. I had heard about the Black Lives Matter-movement, but I had not investigated a lot myself. In the last years, my interest and awareness for racial profiling increased. So when I saw the book “They Can’t Kill Us All” The Story of Black Lives Matter I bought it immediately. And I have learned so much. About the people behind the movement. The people who were killed and whose deaths were the tipping points. And most definitely what the groundwork feels like for journalists. Wesley Lowery, a journalist at The Washington Post,takes us to the protests. He gives insight into his work and what it means to write about killings, police violence and suffering on a daily basis.

Why I liked the book

Lowery was and still is right in the middle of the movement. He is not just a bystander who watches everything unfold from afar. The journalist gained attention because he got arrested in 2014 while covering the protests in Ferguson. He describes what reporting about such a personal matter feels like and how he approached the families of the victims. How he worked with other reporters together and how being surrounded by death impacts his own well-being. I liked the book because it talked about the Black Lives Movement in the context of the history of the US. I learned how the movement came to live. Most of all, I liked the book because it told the stories of the victims and gave a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves anymore. I had never heard about Jonathan Butler, Martese Johnson, Netta Elzie or DeRay Mckesson but now I am definitely wanting to learn more about their impact and activism.

Lowery’s way of writing is easy to follow and understand. It is personal and a little all over the place, which has been criticised by others. I think it only shows the impact these killings are having and helps the pace of the book. It never slows down. The idea of local reporters via social media is interesting and has a lot of power. We cannot always wait for the newspapers to publish information, and we all long for the unfiltered truth.

Why you should read the book

If you are anything like me (white, European woman, female) you probably don’t face racism or racial profiling often. We all have to be aware and most of all acknowledge that racial profiling and institutional racism exists. That it is a huge part of the daily life for many people. Especially in the USA. Black men and women make up around 12 percent of the nation’s population, “but they accounted for nearly 25 percent of those who were being shot and killed by police.” Lowery’s book gives a deep insight into a movement we all have to join. A movement we have to support and to make sure that we raise awareness for. A movement that is called Black Lives Matter for a reason. The book helps to understand the movement. It helps to be outraged. It helps to get angry. About politics, about racial profiling and about the ignorance of so many people. Sometimes we have to get angry to make a change and Lowery’s book shows how being outraged can turn into a movement.

A seat at the table isn’t worth much if your fellow diners refuse to pass you a plate.

Why it has to be Black Lives Matter and not All Lives Matter

While researching about the Black Lives Matter movement I came across the movement of All Lives Matter. I was astounded by it. I cannot understand why people feel offended by the name of the Black Lives Matter movement and I am wondering if these people actually understand what this movement is for (or against) and why the name matters. The Black Lives Matter movement fights against violence and systematic racism towards black people. It does not mean that only black lives matter and that there are people who started a movement called All Lives Matter makes me angry. This name implies that all lives are facing the same risks, which is simply not true. It shows how people don’t understand structural racism and tend to focus on themselves. The Black Lives Matter movement is not a thread to your privilege, it is a movement for basic rights that should be granted to everyone, no matter the skin colour.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

I learned a lot in school but I must admit that I had really no idea about chemistry, physics or biology. Ever. These topics always seemed impossible for me to understand. Sometimes this made me feel a little embarrassed and I was always hoping no one asks me anything about atoms or how the moon influences the tides. During school, I was never really interested in topics such as water, stones and fossils. This all changed because of Bill Bryson’s book A Short History of Nearly Everything. A Journey Through Space and Time which my boyfriend gave me for Christmas last year. You might wonder What is so interesting about fossils? What’s the deal with water? I get it. But read the review and you might understand why this book is here to change your perception.

Book cover of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. Atlas holding the world

Why I liked the book

It is the first book I’ve read by Bill Bryson and I had no expectations other than to maybe learn a little. Bryson manages to make the most difficult theories and finding easy to understand and even entertaining. He writes with wit, deep knowledge and from a perspective of infinite wonder and desire to know more. To know more about the earth, the oceans and its inhabitants, theories and concepts. He takes us on this journey through the history of our planet and the (human) beings on it. The book consists of many chapters, one not longer than 20 pages which makes it easy to read.

Bryson writes in a way that made me stand still and marvel at the things we know about the world, but also at the things that are still unknown. His enthusiasms for science and finding answers really took me by surprise and I am still amazed by how science changed the world, how we take certain things for granted. I have, for example, always thought that Dinosaurs have been known/discovered ages ago. But it turns out the T-Rex was only discovered in 1902.

Why you should read the book

I recommend the book to anyone who has a (very) basic knowledge of physics, biology and our planet or thinks these are topics that are just boring. We all need to be reminded that books actually teach us a lot, that we can get enthusiastic for topics we believed to be boring. I remember my geography lessons and being bored because I was not interested in stones and levels of earth. But after reading A Short History of Nearly Everything I am amazed by the knowledge people have and how we can find beauty and surprises in ordinary things.

Things I learned

The Big Bang Theory became popular only in the mid-1960s.

Only about 6000 stars are visible to the naked eye from Earth.

Isaac Newton was the first person in Britain knighted for scientific achievements.

Richard Owen (a horrible person apparently!) coined the term dinosauria in 1841. It means “terrible lizard”.

Even the cookbooks of Marie Curie contain so much radiation that they are too dangerous to handle.

The plates of Europe and North America are parting at about the speed a fingernail grows – approximately two meters in a human life.

There are apparently 2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or greater somewhere in the world every day

Tokyo stands on a meeting point of three tectonic plates, which makes it an easy target for earthquakes

The Earth would be uninhabitable if it was situated 5% nearer or 15% further from the Sun

At any moment, 1.800 thunderstorms are happening around the globe, making it around 40.000 per day

Every second, around 100 lightning bolts hit the ground.

The Pacific holds just over half of all ocean water (51.6%), the Atlantic holds 23.6% and the Indian Ocean 21.2%.

Extract

This paragraph was my favourite and illustrates brilliantly how Bryson writes about the really interesting characters of the past:

On another occasion, while poisoning himself wit elevated levels of oxygen, Haldane had a fit so severe that he crushed several vertebrae. Collapsed lungs were a routine hazard. Perforated eardrums were quite common, too; but, as Haldane reassuringly noted in one of his essays, ‘the drum generally heals up; and if a hole remains in it, although one is somewhat deaf, one can blow tobacco smoke out of the ear in question, which is a social accomplishment.”

Do you enjoy reading books about science? Did any of the facts above surprise you?

Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything. A Journey Through Space and Time., ISBN 978-0-552-15174-0, 574 pages. All quotes are from the book.

Dear Mrs Bird – the gift of friendship and books

Sometimes I want to read books that warm my heart. That make me realize how happy and lucky I am to have great frienships. I believe that books help us learn and grow, but also to reflect and readjust believes. When I started reading Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce I was in need of some uplifting story; I had just finished 1984. The book starts off rather funny, even though it is said in the middle of the Second World War:

When I first saw the advertisement in the newspaper I thought I might actually burst. I’d had rather a cheerful day so far despite the Luftwaffe annoying everyone by making us all late for work, and then I’d managed to get hold of an onion, which was very good news for a stew. But when I saw the announcement, I could not have been more cock-a-hoop.

The novel tells the story of Emmeline Lake and her best friend Bunty. Both women live in London. Emmy wants to be a fearless Lady War Correspondent, reporting from war scenes and becoming a journalist. When she sees the job advertisement for a position at The London Evening Chronicle she cannot believe her luck. She even gets an invitation for an interview, but when she enters the building things take an unexpected turn.

The power of words

Emmy starts a job at a magazine, but it is not as a war correspondent and it is not for The London Evening Chronicle. She starts typing letters for the woman magazine Woman’s Friend and has to pre-sort letters for Mrs Bird. Mrs Bird is answering the letters in a kind of help-section for the magazine. But Mrs Bird does not reply to all letters and has a long list of topics that are taboo. Mrs Bird won’t reply to any letter concerning any type of relationship, political activities or cookery. The list is long and Emmy soon realises that the women who write are in need of answers and advice. She does not understand why Henrietta Bird refuses to reply and she soon starts to think of her own way of helping these people.

Dear Mrs Bird book cover, postcard with balloons, candle, green plant flat lay

The power of friendship

Although Emmy and Bunty are best friends, Emmy is reluctant to tell her what she is about to do. We follow their friendship, join them when they go on dates and trying to find a partner for Emmy. Bunty is Emmy’s biggest fan and their friendship endures some ups and downs, which I don’t want to spoil here. Reading the book reminded me of my best friend and how close we are, even though we don’t live close and what my life would be without her. She is the rock by my side, my fan and cheerleader. I know that I can count on her, always, and that nothing can happen that would tear us apart.

The power of books

My best friend and I share one big love: books. We met during university, in our first lecture actually. Reading Dear Mrs Bird reminded me of how powerful books are. When I started reading the book, I was kind of sad and not so happy. Then I started reading and the book changed my mood in an instance: I laughed, cried and laughed again. I realized again how books do have the power to change the world, to change people. How words and letters can change lives and how we must make sure to share them with as many people as possible. How we must do our best to spread good stories, how we must make it possible for as many people as possible to be able to read. Because I don’t want to miss reading and books for anything in the world and can only imagine that others want to feel this joy too.

Which books have changed your life?

Books Ive read in February

February was a very good month for me. I started working only 24 hours per week to have more time to focus on the things that make me really happy and to move forward with my blog and crafting-ideas/business. In February, I finished 5 books which I find great. In the middle of the month, I started a book (“12 Rules for Life” by Jordan B. Peterson) and find it very difficult to get through it. I still haven’t finished it yet and it took me around 10 days to read 120 pages. I have to finish it though because it is for my book club in March 🙂 Wish me luck, this book is hard work for me. The books I finished in February were quite the opposite and I enjoyed reading all of them.

Books I’ve read in February

1. You May Also Like by Tom Vanderbilt

This non-fiction book started slowly for me and I first couldn’t get into it. After the first 100 pages, it started to focus on art and literature and how we acquire a taste and why we like one painting and “hate” another. I found it very interesting to read about how and why we like the things we like and what our preferences actually tell about us.

2. Das 4-Stunden-Startup (The 4-Hour-Startup) by Feliz Plötz

My best friend gave me this book for my birthday to help me make the next steps towards my dream of having my own business. I found the book quite helpful as it gave great tools to work with. For example, I had never heard about the website fiverr.com, a site where you can get all kinds of services. I used the site to have my first enamel pin design created and had an amazing experience. I paid 10 USD and git a great design which I can also use commercially. And all this within three working days!

3. 1984 by George Orwell

Finally!! I have finally read 1984 and enjoyed it a lot. My friend Zu and I read it for our book club. Reading the book, it scared her thinking that “technology and politics are slowly taking over and making people dumber “. I did not share this feeling. However, I found it super interesting to see that Orwell predicted that literature such as Shakespeare will be simplified and use less complex words. I found it fascinating to see how some things are actually taking place right now in real life. I liked the pace of the story and the style of writing. Unfortunately, I found the plot a bit predictable but enjoyed reading this classic nonetheless.

4. Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce

This book is definitely my favourite of the five books of February. The story takes place in the Second World War and tells the story of two best friends: Emmeline and Bunty. Emmy wants to be a Lady War Correspondent but ends up typing and answering letters for the Women Magazine Woman’s Friend run by Henrietta Bird. The story shows what true friendship can endure and that having a friend by your side makes you move mountains. I laughed, cried and laughed again while reading this book and can only recommend it.

5. Talking With Female Serial Killers by Christopher Berry-Dee

This is the second book I read by Berry- Dee. The other one being Talking with Psychopaths and Savages. This book about female serial killers disappointed me for several reasons: First, many chapters and persons described are not serial-killers. They have killed one or two people. Of course, this is horrible, but if I buy a book that has the word serial killer in the title, I want to read about serial killers. Second, this book was supposed to be about female serial killers. Yet there are several stories about male serial killers. Why? I understand that this was necessary to give some kind of perspective but I just wished this book would be what the title promised. Lastly, I find it annoying when books have a noticeable amount of typos. I don’t mind a typo here and then but when it affects the reading flow, I am no big fan. I have Talking with Serial Killers still on my to-read-pile and hope that this book will keep its promises.

Which books have you read in February?