Over the course of my life, I've faced a few different challenges with my mental health. By far the most persistent, however, has been my battle with anxiety and panic attacks. I've suffered from crippling anxiety for as long as I can remember and have lived with panic attacks since childhood. All of us have … Continue reading Bibliotherapy For Anxiety and Panic: Fiction Recommendations For Tough Times
Still steeped in the dregs of winter's last remaining weeks, it is the opportune moment to revisit the most interesting and exciting literary happenings for the month of February. Whether this has been a month of sweet anticipation for the oncoming spring, romantic indulgence, or a continuing demonstration of hibernation habits, this edition of The Monthly … Continue reading The Monthly Reader: February 2019
" 'Not even I know all the rules', says the old officer under his breath. 'There are things that cannot and should not be explained. But there is no cause for concern. The Town is fair in its own way. The things you need, the things you need to know, one by one the Town … Continue reading Review: Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
"The child is dead. There is nothing left to know. I hear there is a queen in the south who kills men who bring her bad news. So when I give word of the boy's death, do I write my own death with it? Truth eats lies just as the crocodile eats the moon, and … Continue reading Review: Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
"The Greeks had a word, xenia - guest friendship - a command to take care of traveling strangers, to open your door to whoever is out there, because anyone passing by, far from home, might be God. Ovid tells the story of two immortals who came to Earth in disguise to cleanse the sickened world. … Continue reading Review: The Overstory by Richard Powers
"I conjure the boy I knew. Achilles, grinning as the figs blur in his hands. His green eyes laughing into mine. Catch, he says. Achilles, outlined against the sky, hanging from a branch over the river. The thick warmth of his sleepy breath against my ear. If I have to go, I will go with … Continue reading Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
"In front of me, there's the old TW. Beyond it, a scratchy wooden tableland. There are mismatched salt and pepper shakers, and a company of stubborn toast crumbs. The light from the hall is yellow, the light in here is white. I sit and think and hit here. I punch and punch away. Writing is … Continue reading Review: Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
"What I mean to say is, we had been considerable. Had been loved. Not lonely, not lost, not freakish, but wise, each in his or her own way. Our departures caused pain. Those who had loved us sat upon their beds, heads in hand; lowered their faces to tabletops, making animal noises. We had been … Continue reading Review: Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
"...sometimes in life we can't grasp the boundary between reality and unreality. That boundary always seems to be shifting. As if the border between countries shifts from one day to the next depending on their mood. We need to pay close attention to that movement, otherwise we won't know which side we're on." You would … Continue reading Review: ‘Killing Commendatore’ by Haruki Murakami
For years now, I've been absolutely fascinated with the concept of bibliotherapy. I discovered it almost by accident when I came across the book The Novel Cure: An A-Z of Literary Remedies by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin. The book delineates various ailments and the works of fiction that may serve as a cure, or a … Continue reading 10 Classic Novels Everyone Should Read In Their Twenties (Part One)
The Book Habit 