Sunday, August 21, 2016

Your Shelf Nothingness : Philosophical Insights into Psychology Ditte Winther-Lindqvist, Jytte Bang, Jaan Valsiner

Summary
This book addresses nothingness as not only the untangible presence of an emotional, cultural, social, or even political void that is felt on an existential level, but has some solid foundations in reality. The death of a loved one, the social isolation of an individual, or the culture shock one may experience in another country are examples of situations in which an external sense of absence mirrors an internal psychological and philosophical sense of nothingness.



Not much has been explicitly written on nothingness in the history of psychology. On the other hand, nothingness seems to be implicitly embedded in many scholars' work. This duality of explicitly and implicitly expressed ideas about nothingness reveals how psychology finds inspiration in philosophy, and vice versa. The book aims to illustrate how the concept of the presence of absence--nothingness--fills a void in contemporary psychological theorizing. 




Impressions
Nothingness was a feeling I was experiencing without being able to properly explain it to people without them thinking I was a nutcase.

When I've spotted this book, I was really excited and curious about what I will learn. And I was not disappointed, as you have great informations on the philosophical, social and psychological aspects of Nothingness.

It is an impressive work of thoughts that lead you to reflect on different aspects of your life and society.

After each chapters, you also have a bibliography with all the references. A great help if you want to know more about a subject.

Probably not a read for the beach but a very good one to give some food to your brain.
I've really enjoyed it!

Quote

"Nothingness, is not simply « nothing », it is the presence of the absence." 


About the authors

Ditte Winther-Lindqvist is associate professor of psychology at Aarhus University. She is a scholar occupied with phenomena central to the development of children and young people from a point of view of lived experience.

Jytte Bang is associate professor of psychology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She is interested in developmental psychology and developmental science with a focus on ecological and cultural-historical perspectives.

Jaan Valsiner is editor of Transaction's History and Theory of Psychology series.

Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

The Master Communicator's Handbook by Teresa Erickson and Tim Ward

Summary
This book is for people who want to change the world. Here’s the challenge: it’s impossible to change the world all by yourself.
To have an impact, you need to communicate. In these pages, we share with you what we’ve learned over 30 years as professional communicators and advisors to leaders of global organizations. We seek to move each client from competence to excellence.
As authors, our goal is to give you the tools you need to become the most effective and powerful communicator you can be.
We want you to become a catalyst for transformation. We want you to discover that you have the potential to change the world.


Impressions
You have a presentation to do? A speech to give in front of an audience? An article or a text to write and you want it to have an impact? Then, this book is great for you.

Through simple advices and communication tip, it will help you to be more at ease when you have to face people or questions.

Personnaly, if I've liked the easy way it has been formulated, I was expecting something more than just superficial tip about body language and communication structured plan.
I will say that it covers all the aspects, if communication is not your forte and not your discipline.

Great to read if you want to boost your confidence and convey better your ideas.


Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy by Jirō Ono, Yoshikazu Ono, Masuhiro Yamamoto

Summary
An authoritative guide on how to eat sushi by master chef Jiro Ono, subject of the award-winning documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.


Succinct yet comprehensive, this little jewel of a book takes you through the seasonal offerings at Ono’s famed restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro. Descriptions of each type of sushi, featuring commentary from master Ono, are accompanied by beautiful full-page photography. You’ll learn the seasons in which the sushi is best served, the correct methods of eating it with either fingers or chopsticks, and how and when to use condiments.

Small, portable, and stylish, Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy is the distillation of a lifetime’s worth of knowledge and a great gift for sushi lovers everywhere.


Impressions
Awesome!

I'm a fan of sushis, all Asian dishes and Japanese culture. So when I've seen a book about sushis from Jiro Ono, the three-Michelin-starred chef, I was really curious.
The book is yummy!

Lot of beautiful pictures. The food is delicately and elegantly put in display and it becomes pieces of art.
I've also liked the descriptions. You will learn about the fish, the way it's cooked or some other informations given by the chef. It really puts you in a mood for some sushis.

At the end, a "do or don't" way of eating the sushis. It was funny as I'm always enjoying them with some soy sauce...a huge...no no! LOL!

If you like food as a creative art, this book of suhis will transport you!

About the chef
Jiro Ono is the chef and owner of the Michelin three-starred restaurant Sushi Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo. Born in Shizuoka Prefecture on the coast of Japan, master Ono began apprenticing at a young age. In 1965 he opened Sushi Sukiyabashi Jiro, widely considered to be one of the best sushi restaurants in the world, and in 2011 he was the subject of the award-winning documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.


Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Adventures of Katie Button by Lizzie Koch

Summary
What happens when your dreams collide with reality? 

Katie Button doesn’t believe in soulmates. When charismatic Jack Masterson asks her out on a date, despite him being her new boss alongside his more aloof brother, James, she agrees. 

But her romantic dreams about a dashing highwayman, heroic gladiator and Tudor lord are becoming more frequent. And, worryingly, they feel real. She remembers every detail, every touch, every kiss. Until she realises the man in her dreams is James. 

But Katie doesn’t even like James. And what about Jack, who is whisking her away for sexy mini breaks in the here and now? 

Katie knows she needs to put an end to her dreams before they ruin her life. But how? 



Impressions
I was looking for a light read to be entertained. And this story was easy to enjoy and to appreciate but a little too plain for my taste.

The main character, Katie, is nice. She has something, a fire inside her, but is depicted as a doormat. So it was difficult to really appreciate her. Even when she doesn't want to stay with a guy, she still sleep with him. Ok...

As for the plot, it was too flat, too even. Would have loved some action. And the romantic part is rushed.

Can't say the story is bad, because you will read it easily, but I will forget it quickly.

Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Awakening from the Daydream David Nichtern

Summary
Hell realms, gods, and hungry ghosts—these are just a few of the images on the Buddhist wheel of life. In Awakening from the Daydream, discover how these ancient symbols are still relevant to our modern life.

In Awakening from the Daydream, meditation teacher David Nichtern reimagines the ancient Buddhist allegory of the Wheel of Life. Famously painted at the entryway to Buddhist monasteries, the Wheel of Life encapsulates the entirety of the human situation. In the image of the Wheel we find a teaching about how to make sense of life and how to find peace within an uncertain world.

Nichtern writes with clarity and humor, speaking to our contemporary society and its concerns and providing simple practical steps for building a mindful, compassionate, and liberating approach to living. 




Impressions
In Awakening from the Daydream, I've been surprised as how the concepts and ideas are easy and clear to understand.

It has giving me a lot of food for my brain.

The explanations of the 6 realms are comprehensible and make you think of your own behaviours. It's perfect if you want to take a look at yourself and to change.

A really good book ! I've been amazed at its clarity and all the great thoughts it has awakened in me.
Very happy to have read it!

Quotes

"We are rarely, if ever, aware of how much our own mental habits fabricate and distort our experience of life. We do not see the situation clearly. It's as if we wear special glasses made of all of our thoughts, feelings, impulses, and so on, which color and distort how we see our lives. "


"In fact, every aspect of our lives, is governed by impermanence."

"When we lose something we want, we suffer. When we gain something we don't want, we suffer. When we vacillate between wanting to get something and wanting to get rid of something, we suffer. Underneath all of this is a vague feeling of uncertainty about the whole situation, which is another  kind of suffering - the suffering of existential stress or anxiety."



Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Lost Reaper by Shelley Russell Nolan


Summary
For twenty-five year old Tyler Morgan, being murdered was easy. Easy in comparison with working for the Grim Reaper.

Jonathon Grimm may have brought her back from the dead in exchange for working as a reaper for her hometown, Easton, but she has to find his lost reaper before she can enjoy her second chance at life.

Only … the lost reaper isn’t actually lost. He has a new body and a new life and no intention of turning himself in, even if it means giving Tyler her life back.

Tyler begins the grisly task of reaping the souls of Easton’s dead while searching for the reaper. He could be anyone – the intriguing detective, Sam Lockwood; the handsome, wealthy Chris Bradbury; or the serial killer stalking the women of Easton. Women who bear an uncanny resemblance to Tyler.

But what is the ancient secret, hidden from mankind, that has motivated Grimm to choose Tyler for the morbid task?

As the killer closes in and Grimm’s deadline draws closer, Tyler discovers she is fighting a much bigger threat than the Grim Reaper and time is running out for everyone.


Impressions

The plot is good, interesting and the flow is fluid.
I've appreciated my time with Tyler even if some parts of the story were a little too repetitive.

Would have loved more actions between Chris and Sam and not this back and forth dance.
Even if I understand that the reader needs to wait for the sequel to receive more answers.

An easy read to spend a nice evening. Just wish we will not have to wait until the end in the next opus to have all the adventures and actions.




Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

The Order of the Eternal Sun: A Novel of the Sylvani by Jessica Leake

Summary
Lucy Sinclair’s debut will be a parade of everything opulent Edwardian London society has to offer. Most importantly, it will be nothing like her older sister’s dangerous experience—especially if her overprotective brother-in-law, Lord Thornewood, has his way. As if screening her dance partners isn’t enough, Thornewood insists that his brother, James, train Lucy in self-defense. She wouldn’t mind so much if her treacherous mind didn’t continue to replay the kiss they once shared.

But awkward defense lessons are the least of her problems. Her arcana, a magical talent that allows her to mentally enter any scene that she draws, grows stronger by the day. Again and again Lucy is compelled to draw a portal to her mother’s realm of Sylvania—and with each stroke of her pen, she risks attracting the attention of the Order of the Eternal Sun, the sinister brotherhood that steals the power of Sylvani blood for their own dark ends.

When a bold new suitor arrives from India, Lucy can’t help but be intrigued—though her family questions his mysterious past. But as Lucy’s own suspicions grow, and the threat of the Order looms larger, Lucy will have to learn to harness her unpredictable power or risk falling under the Order’s shadow forever.


Impressions
Fun with a fast original pace !

I've liked the characters...all of them! Jeassica Leake has created a great family with strong women who have mind of their own and are not afraid to take risks. It's intriguing, light and amusing.

Spending time with the personnages, I've discovered an interesting stories with powers and a fantastic world. I've also appreciated the description of England at the begin of the XXe century.
There is romance, betrayal, fights and drama. The perfect combinaison to enjoy a great adventure.

Since it was the second volume, and to be honest I didn't knew it and it has not perturbated my read, I will hapilly go back to the first one to know more about the lovely headstrong Katherine Sinclair.


Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

The Boy & the Bindi by Vivek Shraya

Illustrations Rajni Perera 

Summary
A beautiful children’s picture book that showcases a young Indian boy’s fascination with his mother’s bindi, the red dot commonly worn by Hindu women.

Rather than chastise her son, she teaches him about its cultural significance and doesn’t flinch when he asks for one himself. Wearing it allows him to joyfully explore and express his difference.




Impressions
A really poetic and well illustrated book!

Short and perfectly well created for children to ask questions and to understand the importance of a Bindi. This story is also great to talk about bonds between a mother and her child, curiosity, roots, beliefs, spirituality and differencies.

I've enjoyed the illustrations. They are colorful and full of positivity. They goes well with the rythm of the poetic words.
A really great surprise!

I've appreciated also the interview of the author who explained why he has decided to write a children book and the importance of introducing variety and differencies into our children's world from the start.

A real great discovery!



Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Monday, August 1, 2016

The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy

Summary
In this electrifying literary debut, a young woman who channels the dead for a living crosses a dangerous line when she falls in love with one of her clients, whose wife died under mysterious circumstances

In an unnamed city, Eurydice works for the Elysian Society, a private service that allows grieving clients to reconnect with lost loved ones. She and her fellow workers, known as “bodies“, wear the discarded belongings of the dead and swallow pills called lotuses to summon their spirits—numbing their own minds and losing themselves in the process. Edie has been a body at the Elysian Society for five years, an unusual record. Her success is the result of careful detachment: she seeks refuge in the lotuses’ anesthetic effects and distances herself from making personal connections with her clients. 

But when Edie channels Sylvia, the dead wife of recent widower Patrick Braddock, she becomes obsessed with the glamorous couple. Despite the murky circumstances surrounding Sylvia’s drowning, Edie breaks her own rules and pursues Patrick, moving deeper into his life and summoning Sylvia outside the Elysian Society’s walls. 

After years of hiding beneath the lotuses’ dulling effect, Edie discovers that the lines between her own desires and those of Sylvia have begun to blur, and takes increasing risks to keep Patrick within her grasp. Suddenly, she finds her quiet life unraveling as she grapples not only with Sylvia’s growing influence and the questions surrounding her death, but with her own long-buried secrets. 

A tale of desire and obsession, deceit and dark secrets that defies easy categorization, The Possessions is a seductive, absorbing page-turner that builds to a shattering, unforgettable conclusion.



Impressions
I was very intrigued by the synopsis and decided to plunge into it. The beginning was good and has reminded me of Aldous Huxley's atmosphere as well as the movie Gattaca.

As readers, we are following Edie, who is able to let dead people reconnect with loved ones through her body. She is cold, distance and doesn't live if not for her work. Until she meets Patrick, a widower who is hiding secrets about his wife death.

To be honest, I was curious and eager until the middle of this book. Then, I've started to ask myself when action will really take place.
Sure the ending is not bad but the author wasn't able to pull me back into her story after she lost me. And believe me, I was really trying to stay hanging to Sylvia and Edie's adventures...

A bit dissapointed.

Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

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