summary of the latest book – The Fitnessista

Sharing a summary of the latest books and whether they are worth adding to your collection.

Hello friends! how are you I hope your week is off to a great start. We’re exploring Kyoto – it’s SO beautiful here!! – and we have the best time. I’ll share more photos in Friday Faves and a recap when we get back.

Meanwhile, I wanted to talk about books. TBH, my book goal has kind of fallen by the wayside this year. I’ve been so consistent the past few years, but lately by the time we go to bed I’m exhausted and crashing. I can read for five minutes before I decide to fall asleep…and it takes a long time to finish a book like that!

Now that summer is here, I’ll be spending more time reading with the team during the day (<— hopefully that makes a huge difference). My current plan (we'll see how that works) is that in order to have screens, the kids have to make their bed, get dressed and brush their teeth, do two chores, read for 30 minutes, and move their bodies (or at least plan to swim or move their bodies in some way during the day). I'll join them for the 30 minutes of reading time and use the time they finish chores to get work done and we can head out on the day's adventures. We'll see how this plays out in real life.

Here is a summary of some of the books I have read recently. If you have any summer reads that you enjoy, please share the goods in the comments!

final summary of the book

Good grief by Sarah Goodman Confino

She’s one of my favorite authors for lighthearted reads, and this one is about a new widow who has an unexpected long-term visit from her mother-in-law. Her plan to get rid of her is to find her a man and she ends up finding out that her mother-in-law has the same plan for HER. There’s a lot of fluff and I found it to be an enjoyable read, but not my favorite. (My favorite SGC novel is Don’t forget to write). 6/10

From Amazon:

It was 1963, two years after the death of Barbara Feldman’s husband. Raising two children, she finally comes out of her cocoon of grief. It’s not a butterfly yet, but it can’t wait to spread its wings.

Then one day her mother-in-law, Ruth, shows up on her doorstep with five suitcases, expecting her own room with a matching mattress. Abrasive and stuck-up, yet well-intentioned, mother Ruth arrives unannounced to help with the children. How can Barbara say no to a woman who is not only a widow but also a grieving mother? As Ruth’s harrowing visit turns from days to weeks into what seems like an eternity, Barbara realizes that Ruth must go. But Barbara has an ingenious plan: introduce Ruth to several fine gentlemen and marry her off as quickly as possible.

Pretty soon something tells Barbara that Ruth is trying to do the same for her. At least they find common ground — they help each other move forward. Even if it is in the most unpredictable way two completely different women ever imagined.

The Hearts Invisible Furies

This is one of those books that spans a lifetime and it took me a lifetime to finish it.

It’s about Cyril Avery, a man who grew up with adoptive parents in 1940s Ireland, the circumstances of his birth, his evolution and the connections in his life (and how they all intertwine). As I read this book, I found myself wondering if all the extra storylines and details were completely necessary… and they were. It slowly broke my heart and the ending was absolutely beautiful. It is well written, vivid, descriptive – a deep and fascinating read. 10/10

from Amazon:

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery – or so his adoptive parents tell him. And it never will be. But if he’s not the real Avery, then who is he?

Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out of her rural Irish community and adopted by a wealthy but eccentric Dublin couple through the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril drifts along in the world, anchored only tenuously by his cordial friendship with the infinitely more glamorous and dangerous Julian Woodbead. Left to the mercy of luck and circumstance, he will spend a lifetime getting to know himself and where he came from – and throughout his long years, he will struggle to find an identity, a home, a country and much more.

In this, Boyne’s most transcendent work to date, we are shown the history of Ireland from the 1940s to the present day through the eyes of an ordinary man. The Invisible Furies of the Heart is a novel that will make you laugh and cry while reminding us all of the redemptive power of the human spirit.

A high protein dish by Rachel De Vaux

This was a new addition to the cookbook collection as I am always looking for ideas for healthy protein and high fiber foods. I have Rachel’s previous book and we love so many of the recipes so I was excited for some new ideas! I read it cover to cover and although I haven’t done anything yet – I got it in the middle of packing and planning our trip – I’ll definitely report back.

from Amazon:

Getting enough protein is essential. It is necessary for health and strength at every stage of life. The more protein you eat, the more satisfied, energetic and resilient you will feel. It builds muscle, fuels hormones and supports every organ.

In The High Protein Plate, Rachael DeVaux, New York Times bestselling author of Rachael’s Good Eats, shows how anyone at any stage of life can easily incorporate protein into their diet. The high protein plate includes the following:

– 100 high-protein, mouth-watering protein-packing recipes from breakfast to dessert.

– Clear guidance on how much protein you really need – and why it matters.

– Macros for each recipe so you can easily track what works best for you.

– Confidence to plan and prepare balanced, purposeful meals.

– Meal prep tips to set you up for success all week long.

– A 28-day plan to help you get started and stay on track.

Real-life practicality meets science-backed nutrition in Rachel’s approach. She embraces better-for-you swaps instead of strict food rules and shares alternatives to packaged foods so you can create balanced protein plates that are satisfying and simple. From Roasted Buffalo Chicken Tacos and Honey Blackberry Overnight Oatmeal to Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta, these dishes are made for the everyday.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Lisa C is another one of my favorite authors (read Lady Tan’s Women’s Circle if you haven’t) and it was a beautiful story about sisterhood, resilience, and what it might have been like to grow up as a woman in 19th century China. 9/10

from Amazon:

In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were bound by the feet and lived in near-total seclusion, women in a remote county of Hunan developed their own secret code of communication: nu shu (« women’s writing »). Some girls were paired with laotongs, the « same old ones, » in emotional matches that lasted their entire lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs and composed stories, breaking out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams and achievements.

With the arrival of a silk fan, on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily an introductory nu shu poem, their friendship is sealed and they become « the same old » at the tender age of seven. Over the years, through famine and rebellion, they reflect on their arranged marriages, loneliness and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace in developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their longtime friendship suddenly threatens to fall apart.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era in Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most enigmatic of human bonds: female friendship.

Ok friends, what books have you read lately? What’s on your current bucket list?

I’m reading right now The change in hormones and Our perfect storm.

xo

Gina