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ovenbird_reads's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable read about seeing the value in the everyday moments of our lives. The author uses laundry, dishes, and gardening as philosophical methods for living a fulfilled life. While perhaps simplistic (the author seems to have the finances required to live in a lovely house with a huge zen garden while working as a homemaker and that just isn't possible for many people) it was a fast read and often uplifting.
inthecommonhours's review against another edition
5.0
My treat for the drive to Boise. Loved Momma Zen and looking forward to this.
ETA: Finished, though it's in the car & I wish I had it to quote correctly. Best thing I've read in ages. Thank you, self, for the gift, Thank you, Karen Maezen Miller for writing it, and thank you Brian for doing all the driving so I could read it in one long stretch.
You know when it feels like everything you come across is conspiring to tell you the same message? I feel like Brene Brown, Katrina Katison and Karen Maezen Miller have formed some sort of superhero tribunal that will change the world through their readers.
And yet the book isn't anything like that, isn't one of those "stand up and change your life or the world" reads, but more of a wake-up and see the world in front of you. I had read her first book, and I enjoy her blog, so I didn't expect to be blown away. I was---especially while sitting across from Bri on a 9 hr drive with three boys in the backseat, days away from celebrating our 17th anniversary, and silently steaming over trivial things.
I wouldn't describe it as an easy read---I know I need to go back and reread. Is she suggesting we give up story? Story---that which I've spent my life studying, teaching, reading, writing? It's a bit of a paradox, because I know what she means, this year of mom being sick has been so much about letting go of the old stories...yet it is the stories that stay with me much more than the fleeting insightful truths. The story of her dishwasher, the magical moment in a garden with a realtor, of her father's dog.
I loved it. And will be invoking it all week as I try to give my boys the attention they crave.
ETA: Finished, though it's in the car & I wish I had it to quote correctly. Best thing I've read in ages. Thank you, self, for the gift, Thank you, Karen Maezen Miller for writing it, and thank you Brian for doing all the driving so I could read it in one long stretch.
You know when it feels like everything you come across is conspiring to tell you the same message? I feel like Brene Brown, Katrina Katison and Karen Maezen Miller have formed some sort of superhero tribunal that will change the world through their readers.
And yet the book isn't anything like that, isn't one of those "stand up and change your life or the world" reads, but more of a wake-up and see the world in front of you. I had read her first book, and I enjoy her blog, so I didn't expect to be blown away. I was---especially while sitting across from Bri on a 9 hr drive with three boys in the backseat, days away from celebrating our 17th anniversary, and silently steaming over trivial things.
I wouldn't describe it as an easy read---I know I need to go back and reread. Is she suggesting we give up story? Story---that which I've spent my life studying, teaching, reading, writing? It's a bit of a paradox, because I know what she means, this year of mom being sick has been so much about letting go of the old stories...yet it is the stories that stay with me much more than the fleeting insightful truths. The story of her dishwasher, the magical moment in a garden with a realtor, of her father's dog.
I loved it. And will be invoking it all week as I try to give my boys the attention they crave.
onelitchick's review against another edition
3.0
Over the past few weeks, I have noticed a trend developing. I don't get much, er, allow myself to get enough reading done during the week. So I end up saving all 200+, 300+ or even some 400+ page books to devour all day every Saturday (and sometimes into Sunday). Now, this is not a problem if:
a) The book is totally awesome.
b) I can get through it quickly (especially if I am not digging the book).
c) I want to make plans to do something other than reading.
This occurrence of the weekend reading slam-and-cram has, as you can probably imagine, left me feeling a little off-balance, a little chained to the project and a little bit cranky about it. And I haven't even hit the halfway mark. What's an over-committed-but soon-to-be-committed-reader-if-I-don't-make-some-changes-and-fast to do? Chill out and pick up another book that can remind me of the simpler things and how to get in control of myself. Duh.
The book I chose to revolutionize my life--or at least provide some perspective--was Karen Maezen Miller's HAND WASH COLD: CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR AN ORDINARY LIFE. I came across this book when I was actually searching for another of Miller's books, Momma Zen, that I found through a blogger I follow, Kerenika. Part memoir, part self-help guide on Miller's path to finding balance and appreciating life, HAND WASH COLD seemed to fit the bill I needed to pay.
I don't want to get too much into comparisons (as Miller says that's one of our biggest problems worrying too much about how others do things, live or navigate the world), but her account had sprinkles of similarity to Elizabeth Gilbert's wildly successful Eat Pray Love. I say that because, I don't think this quiet little book has the backing or support of Gilbert's, but I found it as nugget-worthy about living in the now and living our life's purpose, whether that's eating your way through Italy, praying through India or possibly finding love in Indonesia (no spoilers here, but really hasn't everyone read [b:Eat Pray Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1269870432s/19501.jpg|3352398]?) as Gilbert did, or becoming a Zen priest as Miller did.
Miller is restless, hyper-critical of herself and unfulfilled. It's only through the demise of her first marriage and losing everything that she takes time to reflect and take care of herself through focusing on her spiritual health that she finds her way and the real ease that exists in just living life and focusing on the here and now.
Miller is bright and clearly a solid writer. Those factors may have contributed to the book feeling little more literary than conversational, and that's my only real complaint. I am not knocking a smartly written book. It just created, for me, a bit more distance from her than I would expect when reading such a personal story. Despite this, it did inspire me. I am going to work to make one hour of reading a daily priority. I am going to focus on one thing at a time. I am going to put my phone not just down but away when it's mommy-kiddo time. I am also going to return to these (among the many other) gems Miller offered up:
On time:
Time doesn't even exist. You are what exists. Time is what you are doing at the time you are doing it. There is no other time than this, so stop searching for the perfect metaphor for time and pick up the rake already. It's time to rake, it's time to cook, it's time to clean, it's time to write, it's time to drive, it's time to rest, it's time to pay attention to how we use our time.
On seeking perfection:
We must go farther and completely forget ourselves to see that there is no need to perfect the life that appears before us. It is already perfect as it is.
On balance:
When I grow weary of what's undone or anxious about what's to come, I remind myself that I am not the maker or the order-taker in this life. I am this life, and it is unfinished. Even when it is finished it will be unfinished. And so I take my sweet time. Time is savored when you take it by the hand.
a) The book is totally awesome.
b) I can get through it quickly (especially if I am not digging the book).
c) I want to make plans to do something other than reading.
This occurrence of the weekend reading slam-and-cram has, as you can probably imagine, left me feeling a little off-balance, a little chained to the project and a little bit cranky about it. And I haven't even hit the halfway mark. What's an over-committed-but soon-to-be-committed-reader-if-I-don't-make-some-changes-and-fast to do? Chill out and pick up another book that can remind me of the simpler things and how to get in control of myself. Duh.
The book I chose to revolutionize my life--or at least provide some perspective--was Karen Maezen Miller's HAND WASH COLD: CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR AN ORDINARY LIFE. I came across this book when I was actually searching for another of Miller's books, Momma Zen, that I found through a blogger I follow, Kerenika. Part memoir, part self-help guide on Miller's path to finding balance and appreciating life, HAND WASH COLD seemed to fit the bill I needed to pay.
I don't want to get too much into comparisons (as Miller says that's one of our biggest problems worrying too much about how others do things, live or navigate the world), but her account had sprinkles of similarity to Elizabeth Gilbert's wildly successful Eat Pray Love. I say that because, I don't think this quiet little book has the backing or support of Gilbert's, but I found it as nugget-worthy about living in the now and living our life's purpose, whether that's eating your way through Italy, praying through India or possibly finding love in Indonesia (no spoilers here, but really hasn't everyone read [b:Eat Pray Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1269870432s/19501.jpg|3352398]?) as Gilbert did, or becoming a Zen priest as Miller did.
Miller is restless, hyper-critical of herself and unfulfilled. It's only through the demise of her first marriage and losing everything that she takes time to reflect and take care of herself through focusing on her spiritual health that she finds her way and the real ease that exists in just living life and focusing on the here and now.
Miller is bright and clearly a solid writer. Those factors may have contributed to the book feeling little more literary than conversational, and that's my only real complaint. I am not knocking a smartly written book. It just created, for me, a bit more distance from her than I would expect when reading such a personal story. Despite this, it did inspire me. I am going to work to make one hour of reading a daily priority. I am going to focus on one thing at a time. I am going to put my phone not just down but away when it's mommy-kiddo time. I am also going to return to these (among the many other) gems Miller offered up:
On time:
Time doesn't even exist. You are what exists. Time is what you are doing at the time you are doing it. There is no other time than this, so stop searching for the perfect metaphor for time and pick up the rake already. It's time to rake, it's time to cook, it's time to clean, it's time to write, it's time to drive, it's time to rest, it's time to pay attention to how we use our time.
On seeking perfection:
We must go farther and completely forget ourselves to see that there is no need to perfect the life that appears before us. It is already perfect as it is.
On balance:
When I grow weary of what's undone or anxious about what's to come, I remind myself that I am not the maker or the order-taker in this life. I am this life, and it is unfinished. Even when it is finished it will be unfinished. And so I take my sweet time. Time is savored when you take it by the hand.
ronni_sw's review against another edition
Oh my God, this book is so self-indulgent and kind of boring. I roll my eyes at least twice every page. Yet, I keep reading it.
Didn't finish it. Maybe someday I will, but I give up for now.
Didn't finish it. Maybe someday I will, but I give up for now.
suzyqhf's review against another edition
3.0
Read this in about 24 hours. While I couldn't get behind everything she had to say, I found the overall message compelling.
heatherjm's review
5.0
This book reminded me of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, as both books tie experiences in the author's life to a larger subject (writing, Zen Buddhism).