Bibliophile III (2013)
The Language of Flowers: A Novel
Vanessa Diffenbaugh
For some reason, this book blew my mind. As a gardening neophyte, it was wonderful to discover that flowers could be a language in themselves. Although the story is a bit predictable, it was romantic and what I wanted to read. This book's lasting impact on me will be a desire to grow flowers and pay more attention to this old English tradition of floriography.
Inferno
Dan Brown
Typical Dan Brown. Interesting science-fiction/public health ideas and an interesting twist at the end.
Wild
Cheryl Strayed
Honest account of a woman's life before and during a thru-hike of the Applachian Trail. She describes her journey to the trail as a battle against her inner demons from a father who left her, the loss of her mother, and issues with men. While I am impressed by her strength and courage to venture out without much experience, I can't say that I am sure I'd enjoy doing the same. Instead, my aim is something more like the John Muir Trail, which brings me to my next book.
Almost Somewhere
Suzanne Roberts
Recollections of a woman who hiked the John Muir Trail with two other girls (and a few guys along the way). Similar to Wild, she deals with issues of self-confidence and wrote about certain details involving her friendships that I thought were interesting. She describes the way she feels about her hiking buddies -- one of whom is a very Type A woman who is all about efficiency, athleticism, success, and determination, and the other who is a meek but pretty woman struggling with bulimia while attempting to complete a 211+mile hike with no previous hiking experience. I've been toying with the idea of hiking the JMT, so I'm finding this account interesting and potentially helpful for the future.
Vanessa Diffenbaugh
For some reason, this book blew my mind. As a gardening neophyte, it was wonderful to discover that flowers could be a language in themselves. Although the story is a bit predictable, it was romantic and what I wanted to read. This book's lasting impact on me will be a desire to grow flowers and pay more attention to this old English tradition of floriography.
Inferno
Dan Brown
Typical Dan Brown. Interesting science-fiction/public health ideas and an interesting twist at the end.
Wild
Cheryl Strayed
Honest account of a woman's life before and during a thru-hike of the Applachian Trail. She describes her journey to the trail as a battle against her inner demons from a father who left her, the loss of her mother, and issues with men. While I am impressed by her strength and courage to venture out without much experience, I can't say that I am sure I'd enjoy doing the same. Instead, my aim is something more like the John Muir Trail, which brings me to my next book.
Almost Somewhere
Suzanne Roberts
Recollections of a woman who hiked the John Muir Trail with two other girls (and a few guys along the way). Similar to Wild, she deals with issues of self-confidence and wrote about certain details involving her friendships that I thought were interesting. She describes the way she feels about her hiking buddies -- one of whom is a very Type A woman who is all about efficiency, athleticism, success, and determination, and the other who is a meek but pretty woman struggling with bulimia while attempting to complete a 211+mile hike with no previous hiking experience. I've been toying with the idea of hiking the JMT, so I'm finding this account interesting and potentially helpful for the future.
