Did I read this front to back on a plane ride? Yes. Did I find it interesting? Yes. Did I predict the twists? One of them, yes, one of them no. Was that good enough for me? Yes. Is this a book I'm going to remember in ten years and think of as the best book I read in 2025? I doubt it. But I'd read more from this author. 4/5 stars
Line of note:
More than anything, Chelsey wishes there was a way to know when you were experiencing the happiest moments of your life. (location 634)
Right? If only I had known how good it was when I was sixteen. And twenty-six.
Thing I looked up:
Our substitute English teacher held the whole class captive two minutes past the final bell to finish a poem about a snowman and a moor. (location 344)
This one? What else could it be, right?
Hat mentions (why hats?):
Another of him and his family at the rodeo—parents and all six kids in jeans and cowboy hats. (location 94)
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Did you know you were experiencing some of the happiest times of your life?
I think I'm more aware than ever now about happy times. There's a line in Carly Simon's Anticipation: "These are the good old days." and I think about that a lot.
ReplyDeleteYes. I always think that I'll never be younger or hotter than I am right now. And I can keep on saying that right until I die!
DeleteSo this book was good but not great? It sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question- yeah, I think it's kind of hard to identify those "happiest" moments, especially when you're young. Because when you're young you somehow have this feeling that life is just going to get better and better, right? I do have moments now where I'll suddenly think "this will stand out in my memory."
It was a diverting book, but I don't think it will stick with me forever, you know?
DeleteI liked this one as well, too. I probably gave it 4 stars. I don’t think I predicted any of the twists but I so rarely do!!
ReplyDeleteI can see that big moments in life like our wedding as a happiest memory kind of time but outside of that I think I under appreciate how good I have it. I am trying to work on that but it’s hard!!
I do try to be in the present. I helped someone today (like I had to send an email to "remind" someone to do their job and it helped a student right away - it was needed to get them to graduate!) and I was aware when I got the thank you email that I was happy and that I had made someone happy and it was great! I try to focus on those things. But it's hard to think of myself as "happy" in this stage of my life, you know?
DeleteI always treasure those moments when I realize I'm in the middle of something pretty terrific. Doesn't happen often enough!
ReplyDeleteRight? And sometime that terrific thing passes by and we didn't realize it at the moment!
DeleteThis sounds like a good book, and I just added it to my TBR list. I like to think I know what times are the most fun times when they are happening, but sometimes hindsight shines the light on those times. I loved, loved when my kids were little and we were all together and I literally resented stupid school for snatching them up and depriving us of our little club. I believe I'm in the minority here. Having older kids is also a ton of fun. They have such fun chats and sense of humor. My childhood was fairly ideal, aside from always feeling like I wasn't enough because my parents played favorites and my brother outshone me SO MUCH, and that was a big sticking point for me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're in the minority on enjoying little kids. LOL. I love that my niblings are older, to be honest. They're like real humans with opinions and thoughts and don't need to be watched every second of the day!
DeleteDid you know you were experiencing some of the happiest times of your life? The older I've gotten the more aware I've become of happy moments in my life— while they're happening. Perhaps it's the gift of age or of a more centered approach to my life. Great question.
ReplyDeleteYES! I think it's easier as I get older to be able to be in the moment and have perspective on good/bad/happy/sad. Who knows if it's age or a more "in the moment" time.
DeleteYes! In university, I 100% started to realize it was a magical season in my 3rd and 4th year! My dad was forever saying "These are the best years of your life" and one day it finally clicked that I understood what we meant. A singular focus (get through university), limited attachments, no kids, the vitality of youth.
ReplyDeleteHa! I always say that if I could go back and do four years of college again, I would do it immediately. I think everyone should be able to spend ages 50-54 doing college again. Wouldn't that be amazing?
DeleteI read this earlier this year and felt similarly. Good, not great. Some predictable twists, others that were kind of off the wall.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I do have a moment where I think, "I am so incredibly happy right now, I want to capture this moment forever." But it's not like it's SUSTAINED happiest-ness, you know? I think happiest can take place right alongside saddest or most mediocre or most challenging, which is what makes life so awful and beautiful.
YES! Sustained happiness is not happening for me right now, but there are moments. And I do try to treasure those moments.
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