One Day by Dave Nichols

Em and Dex, Dex and Em.

I started reading this book thinking it would be kind of a light weight, happy-go-lucky, romantic-shenanigans type of affair.

Boy, was I wrong!

Emma and Dexter connect the day of their college graduation. After the first 24 hours of their meeting, they go their separate ways but remain in contact via post cards and letters.

They have various levels of contact over the years with both of them experiencing their own challenges in family, relationships, and careers. Their friendship itself  also experiences its own ups and downs.

Do they finally get together? The book answers that question. I have to say that this was not an ultimately uplifting book. It has an increasing level of "realness" as the book progresses through their lives. There was never a moment where I really cheered these two on. I really became convinced that Dexter was kind of a lead weight and a liability to Emma . For her part, Emma had plenty of awkward experiences and perhaps her storyline hit a little too close to home for me at certain points  in the story.

The book explores the deepening friendship and bond between these two individuals, for better or for worse. There is no sugar coating on this little pill of the reality of love between two people and perhaps that is the crowning achievement of this book.

Affluenza by Oliver James

It's been a while since I have updated this blog but I have been reading! I've not been reading religiously from my reading list but I have been having some wonderful reading experiences.

I would definitely use the word "wonderful" to describe this book, Affluenza, by Oliver James.

As the name suggests, it discusses the "sickness" of the affluent: the unhappiness of the never-ending pursuit of "more" and "better". This book ties in with my interest in minimalism but it goes so much deeper than just "have less stuff." It explores why we feel we need more stuff and it also tells us why capitalism has highjacked everything from feminism to how we value ourselves.

This book was an eye-opener to me as I have been completely taken in by Selfish Capitalist values...not necessarily with material possessions but I am totally guilty of using my career to define my identity and to determine my self worth.

The truth is that this has not always been the case. Prior to the rise of Selfish Capitalism, people were judged by their character, not their earning potential. Motherhood was something that women could be proud of...now society puts mothers at the bottom because they don't get paid a wage. People are unhappy because they feel they can't trust others who are also in pursuit of more and better. Can't we just relax and be happy with what we've got and who we are? Can't we enjoy the beauty of the world around us with the need to possess it? Putting family before career is the recipe for satisfaction and this is totally possible if people would let go of the need to "keep up with the Joneses" and focus simply on their needs.

I had never really thought about a lot of the points James raises in this book but I agree with all of them.

Read this book and free your mind from the never-ending cycle of consumption and dissatisfaction!

Five stars!

-Laurie