14 Comments

I loved reading through this post! This was the push I needed to request Demon Copperhead after hearing about it from basically everyone.

And a book recommendation for you - "How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told" by Harrison Scott Key. It's a true story that is heartbreaking, deeply meaningful, and also somehow extremely funny. It's one of my top books of the year, I think!

Update after reading your spirituality post: I'm giving this book a second thumbs up for you because of how Harrison Scott Key very frankly wrestles with the mess of Christianity and spirituality and how that plays into what's happened in his life.

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Libby, so glad you chimed in! Turns out you and I are already on the same page about How to Stay Married. I read it earlier this year and like you - it's going to be in my Top 5 of 2024 for sure! Any book that makes me weep and laugh simultaneously wins my love. Keep the recommendations coming!. I read I Miss You When You Blink at your reco, and really liked it! Right now I'm reading the memoir The Choice and it's breathtaking - it will also probably be in my top books of the year. <3

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Oh excellent! Yes, same for me. Thank YOU for the rec - adding to my list now! :)

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Love your summary of Paul’s book! I too loved The Poisonwood Bible too, and my favorite of Patchett’s is Bel Canto. I’ve actually been on a trend of books that I’ve loved, which is unusual. Time’s Mouth, You Are Here, The Latecomer, The Ministry of Time, and most recently The God of the Woods. Only two time-travel books in there. No nonfiction (slinks away shamefully…)

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Whoa, what a compelling list!! If you had to pick one of those 5 you just mentioned....which should I read? (I love time travel stuff too.... The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my favorite books of all time.)

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And The Time Traveler’s Wife is one of my all-time favorites too. 😊

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If you love time travel, then The Ministry of Time.

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Added to my TBR list!

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Mrs. Williams, you are such a freakin' great writer, and your energy is so dang infectious. Seriously, you almost make me want to become a reader. Kudos because that's a big accomplishment you didn't even realize you'd accomplished.

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If you decide to give reading a go.... I'll be following along with delight to hear what you think, feel, and experience! Hot tip: reading books on your phone (ex: Kindle App, Libby App) or audiobooks makes reading more accessible if picking up a print copy sounds nice but just isn't realistic for your lifestyle.

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I love seeing your reviews! I have been on the fence about whether and when I want to read Demon Copperhead. I'm not sure it's the best headspace for me right now, but I might give it a try. And Paul Wyman's book looks really interesting, too... It sounds super close to Dick Schwartz's Internal Family Systems. Do you know what the differences are? Just curious!

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I love reading your lists, too, Ariel! Glad you asked about IFS so Paul had a chance to chime in! I wondered if this question would come up...

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Hi Ariel: You're right that there are some similarities between ITD and IFS. They're two branches off the same tree, as it were, and share many assumptions about parts. The big difference is that IFS was created by a family therapist, and evolved to support the needs of therapists and their clients, and ITD was created by a coach, to fit the needs and goals of coaching clients. I've learned lots from Dick Schwartz's work, and admire it greatly. But ITD is not a re-packaging of IFS. It's an adaptation of a process called Voice Dialogue to the scope of practice of coaching, which brings in Polarity Theory, Vertical Development, and some other frameworks too.

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Oh awesome, thanks Paul! I appreciate the response. :)

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