Musing about the weather ~ and a book, of course!

Musing about the weather  (Hurricane Helene) and about how easy it was for Deb at Readerbuzz to convince me to order this book.  That's right; I'm musing about a book I haven't yet seen, much less read.  It snagged me that completely, so let me tell you about the book.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat ~ by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda, 2024, literary fiction, 304 pages

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help.  The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there:  it prescribes cats as medication.  Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they "take" their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound trans-formations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging, yet endearing cats.

Through the chapters of a disheartened businessman who finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigating the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggling to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeking emotional balance, and a geisha unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed.  As the clinic's patients navigate their inner turmoil, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

May your Sunday be joyful

I was looking for something on my blog whe I ran across this illustration and decided it's a great way to start my post for Sunday.  Let's have a day filled with JOY, everybody, whenever you happen to read this!

World Heart Day 2024 is commemorated with a call to "Use Heart for Action."  This emphasizes the urgency of raising awareness on heart health in order to prevent, detect early, and manage cardiovascular diseases.

This Was America ~ by Martin W. Sandler, 1980, social customs, xiv + 274 pages, 8/10

Based on the award-winning television series of the same name, This Was America weaves 250 photographs (chosen from thousands of glass-plate negatives) to make a tapestry of the period roughly from 1890 to 1910, an extraordinary time in the nation's history when industrialization and innovation were completely transforming the way Americans worked, played, and viewed themselves.  I got this from our Crown Center library, but I mostly just looked at the pictures.

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

Number 9, my favorite number

9.  Nikola Tesla predicted the smart phone in 1926:  "When wireless is perfectly applied the whole earth will be converted into a huge brain, which in fact it is, all things being particles of a real and rhythmic whole.  We shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance.  Not only this, but through television and telephony we shall see and hear one another as perfectly as though we were face to face, despite intervening distances of thousands of miles; and the instruments through which we shall be able to do this will be amazingly simple compared with our present telephone.  A man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket."

Thank you, Colleen, for sharing this in your post you entitled Cloud Nine or Number Nine?  Nine is my favorite number, and I love thinking about things like this, that Tesla could see (predict?) the things we have right now in our world.  And to top it off, Tesla is number 9 in your list of 13 things.  Cool!

Beginning ~ with a line out the door

Beginning

Twyla Thompson was thrilled to see a line out the door on the night of New York Times bestselling author Stacy Cruz's book signing.  This was exactly what Once Upon a Book needed — an infusion of excitement and goodwill and the proverbial opening up of the wallet during the holidays for a book instead of the latest flat-screen TV.

Once Upon a Charming Bookshop (Book 6 of 7) ~ by Heatherly Bell, 2023, romance fiction (Texas), 233 pages

Time to rewrite their story?  He’d always simply been her best friend.  But when Noah Cahill moved back to town, bookstore owner Twyla Thompson knew something was different.  Was it holiday memories of the loss they'd both shared or Noah’s surprising decision to reignite a dangerous career?  Their solid friendship had been through so much, yet now Twyla grew breathless every time Noah was near.  Why wasn’t Noah — handsome, fun, but never one to cross the line — showing any signs of stopping?

I rarely read romance novels, but (having once owned a bookstore) I picked this up because it's set in a bookshop.  Now I'm curious about that store, who owns it, and what (if anything) it says about running that place.

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts

Book Beginnings on Fridays.

Books to ponder

That's Life: "Wild" Wit & Wisdom ~ compiled by Bonnie Louise Kuchler, 2003, wildlife, 112 pages, 10/10

Below the quotes from various thinkers chosen by Kuchler is information about the insect or animal or fish on the opposite page.  So the "wit and wisdom" is there, but also interesting things about the various living things pictured.  I loved the page showing two polar bears, where one seems to be gesturing to the other to please go ahead, if you like.  Another page (they are unnumbered) shows a chimp, seeming to ponder things as it nibbles on a weed in it's mouth.  On the opposite page are these words:  "Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination encircles the world."

Calm Reflections: Inspiring Lessons for a Stress-Free Life ~ edited by Jo Ryan, 2004, inspiration, 128 pages, 10/10

Calm Reflections brings together an inspirational selection of powerful and life-affirming phrases that have in one way or another helped people to live less stressful lives, and combines them with evocative and gently amusing animal photographs that bring out the humor and pathos of the human condition.

I have several books coming in today's library delivery, but when the Book Bike came to our little library yesterday for a regular visit to the Crown Center, I got a couple more.  But that's not all.  While waiting (I arrived early (as usual for me), I checked out these two little gems from our own library.  Then I also got a couple of books from the Book Bike.  I don't know when to stop, do I?  I'll talk about the other books later.

Strategies to reduce the risk of dementia

Dementia is a progressive condition that causes a decline in cognitive abilities, such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning, that interferes with daily life.  It's caused by a number of diseases that damage the brain over time, destroying nerve cells.  It's the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities.  Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions, and their personalities may change.  What can we do to reduce our risk?

1. Eating the right breakfast is one strategy that may help reduce dementia risk.
2. Regular physical activity:  Engage in consistent exercise, such as walking, swimming or yoga, to improve cardiovascular health and boost brain function.
3. Healthy diet:  Adopt a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and omega-3 fatty acids.
4. Mental stimulation:  Keep the brain active by learning new skills, solving puzzles and reading or engaging in other challenging mental activities.
5. Social engagement:  Maintain a robust social network and participate in social activities to enhance mental well-being and cognitive function.
6. Adequate sleep:  Ensure 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep per night, because good sleep is crucial for memory consolidation and overall brain health.
7. Stress management:  Practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, mindfulness or deep-breathing exercises to protect the brain from the harmful effects of chronic stress.
8. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption:  Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake to protect brain cells and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
9. Manage health conditions:  Manage chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol by getting regular checkups and by following your doctor's orders.

*I got this information HERE.  Why was I looking?  I've seen too many of these symptoms in my family and in my neighbors in this senior living facility.  That's why I walk a lot and try to eat correctly (often with friends in our Cafe here) and engage my mind by blogging about books.  So dementia is my Word of the Day.

Books two friends are reading

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen ~ by David Brooks, 2023, relationships, 320 pages

Brooks says, "There is one skill that lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society:  the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen — to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard, and understood."  He says we humans don’t do this well.  All around us are people who feel invisible, unseen, and misunderstood.  In this book he sets out to help us do better, posing questions that are essential for all of us:

• If you want to know a person, what kind of attention should you cast on them?
• What kind of conversations should you have?
• What parts of a person’s story should you pay attention to?

Driven by a curiosity and determination to grow as a person, Brooks draws from the fields of psychology and neuroscience and from the worlds of philosophy, history, theater, and education to present a hopeful and integrated approach to human connection.  The book helps readers become more understanding and considerate toward others and find the joy that comes from being seen.  Along the way it offers a possible remedy for a society that is riven by fragmentation, hostility, and misperception.  The act of seeing another person is profoundly creative, he says, so how can we look somebody in the eye and see something large in them and also see something larger in ourselves?  This book is for people searching for connection and yearning to be understood.

Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote ~ by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau, 2024, civil rights, 256 pages

Dyson and Favreau shine a light on the fight for democratic representation, an ongoing and epic quest to build the democracy promised in the Constitution.  Each chapter takes on a new battle between champions of freedom and those who stand in the way of their right to vote — from the American Revolution straight up to the present day as we approach the 2024 presidential election.  This book will help readers understand our past, present, and future.

I notice what people are reading, especially if they seem engrossed in the book.  Then I look it up to see if it seems like something I'd like.  Cindy was reading the first book, and Melvin was reading the second one.