Kiss, Marry or Kill: 59

I FINALLY read this blockbuster book...here's what I really thought. Also, a nervous system hack, not your typical declutter, adulting sh*t you need, and why "sweet treats" are on the rise

This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📕 Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver (←read with my eyes)

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I have tried to listen to this book THREE TIMES. I even bought it on Audible, convinced I’d love it. But every time I started it, I just… lost interest. The narrator wasn’t my cup of tea, and I don’t know why, because his voice was just fine? On top of that, I just couldn’t get into the story. It was just… monotone? One note? I’d heard this book was “love it or hate it,” so I figured I was in the latter camp.

I don’t know what prompted me to download a sample on my Kindle. (Maybe because my sister said it was one of her favorite books of last year, and I trust her opinion.) But I started reading it one night when Brandon was out of town, and I was immediately hooked in a way the audiobook simply couldn’t.

I devoured it. This book and Demon buried into my heart in such a profound way. (I’m not sure there is a character who has come more alive through a book than Demon.) The depictions of what it’s like to live with addiction were stark, realistic, and painful to witness. Demon’s story, in fact, was hard to witness. Still, at no point did I feel “depressed” while reading. (I’ve heard it described this way by many.) The energy of Demon (and Kingsolver’s brilliant prose) kept me deeply invested, and relentlessly hopeful. I lived inside this book for five straight days, and when it was over, I wished I could wipe my memory and read it with fresh eyes.

I know I’m not alone; it’s a Pulitzer Prize-winning book. But it strongly reinforced that (for me) some books need to be read with my eyeballs, while others fare better in audio format. So if someone you trust tells you, “You’ll love this book,” but you can’t get into it… try a different medium. (You can listen to and read samples on Amazon, then borrow in either format using your library card.)

Also, I’ve since tried getting into other Kingsolver books, and none of them are hitting, in either format. If there is one I should absolutely visit next, let me know in comments.