Proud to say my duolingo study streak is 14 of 14 days in this new year 💪🏼 Hoping my next celebration is in honor of my Covid “learn Italian” goal actually coming to fruition this year!

FEB 2023 UPDATE re 👆🏼 I am competitive and wanted to get to the diamond league (and working on a tournament!) … I fell back on French for the easy Duolingo points. In addition, please note, the streak continues.

A few years ago I published some of the books I was reading, and since it’s a new year, and I am excited about my current stack, I’m back!

2023 Book 1: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Platform: Apple Books, published 2019, 352 pages

Overall: loved it; but it dragged on the last handful of chapters

###

It should be noted a lot of these books by Mr. Backman are in my “WANT TO READ” Apple Books folder.

2023 Book 2: Spare by Prince Harry

Platform: Read by the Author, Apple Books, published 2023, 416 pages

Overall: he’s hurt, he never healed from losing his mom, he’s happy, go with it.

###

“Oh yes, the press” - Prince Harry

###

Hearing Prince Harry read this memoir was the way to go. Sure he was bestowed a royal title from the world’s most famous monarchy upon birth, but he certainly isn’t free from feeling hurt, having lies printed, and consumed, by millions around the world, and wanting to live his life on his own terms.

Cheers, Harry, you do you. And honestly, the South Park épisode wasn’t THAT funny.

2023 Book 3: Single. On Purpose. by John Kim

Platform: Apple Books, published 2021, 256 pages

Overall: I mean I don’t think if you’re in a relationship you want this on your night side table, but the message is a good one. Be thankful for the awesome spirit YOU are first. A lot of your experience is a mirror. Have fun. #2023

2023 Book 4: My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman

Platform: Read by Joan Walker, Apple Books, published 2015, 400 pages

Overall: Like a fairytale for adults. The narrator was fabulous. Miamus is forever in my heart.

2023 Book 5: The Human Side of Innovation by Mauro Porcini

Platform: Read by Sean Pratt, Apple Books, published 2022, 264 pages

Overall: This book was recommended to me by a UX engineer at T-Mobile. As a marketing person, it speaks to the process by which any successful product follows. Design for the human. Ok, that’s what marketing professionals do every day. Nothing really new here, but it’s nice to know corporations really are funding innovative, in-house “labs” to give investors, and employees, a raffle ticket to accessing the next idea that changes the world. Be the unicorn to “fight the dictatorship of normal.” Sure.

2023 Book 6: Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

Platform: Read by Gibson Frazier, Apple Books, published 2017, 352 pages

Overall: My daughter’s favorite author, Stuart Gibbs, taps into readers’ imaginations, and peaks curiosity in areas beyond every day thinking and experiences for children and adults, alike. Cute book to listen to with the ‘tween set, we even have a family inside-joke about AI-generated breakfast treats.

2023 Book 7: Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

Platform: Apple Books, published 1981, 632 pages

Overall: Just starting it. But if the author has such a colorful story in dodging assassination attempts, it’s worth a go.

2023 Book 8: The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner

Platform: hard copy, published 2022, 336 pages

Overall: I picked this up in the SeaTac airport en route to a “spring break” getaway. This is the story of a New York family with a summer home on Cape Cod. As I stayed up late reading this book, I found myself disliking each and every one of the characters, despite the need to keep turning the pages. Each chapter is told by one of the characters, further drawing the reader into this unlikely family drama. It was a quick read but the book will be dropped off at GoodWill today, not securing a spot on my permanent bookshelf.

Next!

2023 Book 9: The Club by Ellery Lloyd

Platform: Apple Books, published 2022, 320 pages

Overall: Do you ever read a book and think, “This doesn’t sound completely unrealistic.” I thought that while reading this book, about a series of global “Homes” à la Soho House. That is, a global private member social club that I’m betting has spent some money on crisis communications over the years, and I am not just talking about the press from failing to accept the membership applications of Britney Spears and Kobe Bryant.

2023 Book 10: champagne at seven! By Toni Glikman

Platform: Apple Books, published 2022, 242 pages

Overall: I finished this book in a day, not because it was good, instead because it would’ve taken more effort to glance through a Neiman Marcus catalog. I was hoping for a light and fun comeback story but instead I got a “book” with merely a list of every brand the author has every come across thrown into a hodgepodge of the life of fictional character Olivia Wyatt. Pass on this one. You’re welcome.