5 stars
In March 2011, a series of earthquakes leading to a deadly tsunami devastated northern Japan. Parry, a journalist in Tokyo, traveled to the affected areas to speak with the survivors and families of those that perished. He focuses on one elementary school, Okawa, and the missteps during the tragedy that left the majority of children dead. This is definitely not an easy read and is absolutely heartbreaking even as it is beautifully written. Many times, when these tragic disasters occur, the rest of the world moves on frighteningly quickly, but what is left of the people who are left to grieve the over eighteen thousand dead and who have to try to rebuild their lives? It is important to have books that remind us and keep those people in our consciences. I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Happiness is a Choice You Make: Lessons from a year among the oldest old
by John Leland
4 stars
Experiencing his own mother's advanced age led Leland to spend one year interviewing six other individuals in their eighties and nineties. What he discovered is that there is still hope for happiness when your body and health begins to betray you, it is just different from the happiness you experience when younger. I really liked the second half of this book so much better than the first, when he devotes an entire section to each person and the wisdom he gleaned. There isn't a perfect answer or formula for happy aging...just like there isn't for anything else in life and the best advice any of them gave is to just enjoy the small things in life and be happy for each new morning. Advice that is always good to hear again and again. I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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