Comments on: Books read in March 2018

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 21:50:49 +0000

In reply to Angela. @Angela - thanks so much, I'm glad you enjoy my perspective. I will be sure to post the full Ulysses review here when I finish! Hopefully I finish in time to include it on the April list!

By: Angela

Angela — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 19:53:04 +0000

In reply to Angela. and by Odyssey, I meant Ulysses, lol

By: Angela

Angela — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 19:49:52 +0000

ah, the comments!
I love your honesty, Laura. You and I are very different, and it is that difference that makes me appreciate your voice so much. Bless you for sharing little personal quips. I love that you read Come as You Are, bc if you hadn’t I never would have heard of it.. and now I am putting it on my to be read list… bc, yeah, I need some help in that area… anyway. Also your perspective on You Are A Badass. Loved your takeaway. Personally, I loved this book because it challenged me to think a different way. ( I am not surprised this book didnt really speak to you, as you really are a bad ass but you don’t need anyone to tell you how to get anything done, again, this is why I love your writing and your perspective).
I haven’t read The Secret, and I have no intention of reading it, but I really, really loved the Jen Sincero book. I also bought her book You Are A Badass At Making Money.
I am sitting here wondering if I should have a desire to read the Odyssey… but I think I will wait and see what you have to say about it before I put it on my list.

By: June

June — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 18:41:46 +0000

In reply to lauravanderkam. I thought I was well-versed in self-help literature, but obviously not. Wow, your Dave Ramsey example made me a little ill. Plus, you can't be a self-help book while suggesting people purchase a car you can't currently afford. Sounds like you went easy on the book.

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:24:05 +0000

In reply to June.

@June – the author of that book has a story toward the end about needing to purchase a car. She was debating between (let’s say) a Honda and an Audi. The Honda was practical and cheaper. She loved the Audi – though she didn’t think she could afford it. But she decided to buy it anyway! And then had a moment of clarity about how she could hustle to earn the money to pay for it. Which is great for her, though I think it’s questionable advice to hold this out as broadly applicable – buy a car you can’t currently afford because the idea for how to pay for it will come to you.
There’s a story in Dave Ramsey’s book (one of them) about a luxury car too – in his case, he had a Jaguar when he was young and irresponsible, and then it got repossessed. Later in life he was on the hunt for a car that he could get a good deal on and one of the dealers he’d worked with contacted him about a Jaguar that he could get for a very reasonable price. Ramsey says something along the lines of after he’d been humbled, God allowed a Jaguar back into his life.
This is the sort of narrative that winds up in a lot of these books. Car as part of the evolution narrative. As opposed to car as car.

By: June

June — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 14:57:41 +0000

In reply to Virginia.

I’m glad you raised this because I didn’t understand Laura’s point about the luxury car. Laura/Virginia, please help me understand, what did the author say? Virginia’s point about the identity of being a well dressed person is interesting. I definitely do know people like that – I’m not one who sees myself as fashionable so I don’t place much priority on it (despite liking new clothes).

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 12:33:57 +0000

In reply to Rinna.

@Rinna- I think if it weren’t Ulysses, I would have quit the book by now. But…goals. I may read the Odyssey next…

By: Rinna

Rinna — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 03:04:39 +0000

I’m way more impressed that you are re-reading Ulysses than I am about the fact that you don’t have the usual mid-marriage sex slump caused by errands and kids! 😉 I am a pretty voracious reader and really just HATED that book. I mean, I couldn’t finish it, and that was back in the day when I used to force myself to finish pretty much every book in case it had a great ending. So kudos!

By: Virginia

Virginia — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 01:18:40 +0000

I am laughing at your luxury car comment. Sometimes we have to be honest with ourselves! I try to pretend that buying new clothes is being true to my identity as a well-dresses person…..but actually I just like new clothes like everyone else .
I appreciate that you don’t find dirty dishes a deterrent to intimacy! I have been constantly pushing back on this idea that being a “good woman” means having a tidy house/life. It’s incredibly oppressive and asserts that we are all supposed to put happiness and fun last once we become women. If that’s the truth, I don’t want to be good and I don’t want my daughter to be either!

By: Lily

Lily — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 12:36:37 +0000

In reply to Riley.

I actually agreed with what you’re saying but the tone of the comment was inappropriate and I’m glad Laura is ignoring it.
(Meanwhile I’m focused on being grateful that even though Laura was dismissive about it, it at least this blog brought this book to my attention)