On our descent into the canyon, my husband mentioned that Bryce Canyon is a misnomer; unlike the Grand Canyon and other true canyons, Bryce wasn’t formed by a flowing body of water. Instead, the hoodoos were formed by weathering and erosion due to rain and ice: water got trapped in cracks in the rock, that water froze, and frost wedging broke apart the rock to form the sculpture-like spires. That morning, in between scoping out secluded spots for my kid to pee, I marched my 37-year-old body over the trails and spent a lot of time thinking about how we are all a lot like the hoodoos.
“Nightbitch” by Rachel Yoder is unlike anything I’ve read in a long time. (A woman believes she’s turning into a dog—wait, is it all in her head? Is this really happening?) It’s full of the strange and surreal, yet it also holds some of the most spot-on descriptions of motherhood, particularly life as a stay-at-home mom, that I’ve ever read. There were lines that nearly moved me to tears, laugh-out-loud descriptions of suburbanite moms, and deeply unnerving scenes. I think I’d have to read this again for a better understanding of what the heck happened … but I’m not sure I want to. This book isn’t one of my favorites, but the story it tells is important and unique. I’d call it weird and almost wonderful, and I can’t wait to read what Yoder creates next.
With the exception of SNL cast members, I don’t think I’ve read a single celebrity memoir. I don’t generally like rom coms. I’ve never been crazy about Matthew McConaughey. And that is all my long winded preface before telling you that I thoroughly enjoyed McConaughey’s book, “Greenlights.” I asked some friends awhile back for audiobook recs, and this one came up several times. I didn’t bite. Then more and more people whose readerly advice I respect said this was a good book, and I decided to give it a try. I listened to “Greenlights” — full of stories about McConaughey’s childhood, his foray into the Hollywood scene, and even a strange year in Australia — while I cleaned our home before moving, on last walks around the neighborhood, and while cooking the last few meals in our Las Vegas home. His signature voice captivated me, as promised, and so did his stories. The tales from his youth instantly reminded me of my dad; this is a book I’ve recommended to both 30-something moms and 60-something grandpas since finishing it a few weeks ago. Every now and then I considered eye rolling MM’s new-agey advice, but he comes across as genuine, thoughtful, and funny, and the book is entertaining and interesting, even to someone who knows and cares little about pop culture. “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Slip, slide, swear, and cry your way through the Game of Deployment! Allow the Air Force to spin on your behalf to see how you can get through each day without going insane while your partner works in an undisclosed desert region on the other side of the world. See which new curse words enter your daily vocabulary! Burn with resentment as your spouse gets uninterrupted sleep each night and you clean vomit out of bed sheets at two o’clock in the morning. Will your spouse be home for the holidays? Will he miss every single birthday this year? Will your geriatric dog still be alive when he returns? Keep bumbling along until you, the pawn, greet your spouse at the airport and he can comment on your undereye circles and ask, “Have you always had those gray hairs?” But watch out! If the Air Force says so, you go all the way back to start at any point in the game!
Melissa Kutsche 