palomahelen's reviews
19 reviews

Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by Ted Orland, David Bayles

informative inspiring fast-paced

3.0

this book pissed me off at first because it felt so corporate america in it's presentation of art making - but then the second half shifted its tone and i was able to enjoy some of the philosophical meanderings and critiques of academia. 

it does pose some interesting questions for artists about what makes art successful and why, but the delivery of the message felt clunky and forced. i feel it could have been more effective if there was more of the author's personal artistic experience woven in. okay but not excellent, and there are so many other wonderful books about the creative process that feel more challenging and discerning. 

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.75

"...perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us."

this book feels like drinking a cup of herbal tea while listening to your kind, gay uncle impart his wisdom. 

The Abundance: Narrative Essays Old and New by Annie Dillard

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.75

"we must find a workable compromise between the sublimity of our ideas and absurdity of the fact of us"

(and also) 

"beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. the least we can do is try to be there"

Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke

informative fast-paced

3.75

very informative!! sometimes the tone felt dangerously rigid but ultimately a good intro to the neuroscience of addiction. 

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

exploration of loneliness & desperately melancholy. but the way jhumpa lahiri writes people is so immersive/enchanting

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.5

magical absurdity & delight. my friend said annie dillard is like if mary oliver took drugs and I couldn't have said it better. 

My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

beautifully written, and i appreciate the lens of community and culture. resmaa's approach is generous and integrated to embodied experiences. a great starting place for reflecting on racial trauma/healing. 

Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Crush by Richard Siken

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model by Richard C. Schwartz

4.0

succinct and easy to follow, but I would love to hear about this topic from other voices and from a less western perspective