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boreal_girl's review against another edition
Concept wasn’t for me, I wasn’t engaged with the characters or their challenges. Felt pretty lightweight.
cberlin's review against another edition
4.0
Joy for Beginners focuses on a woman who overcame cancer, and her circle of friends. She challenges each of them to one task, which she gets to pick, and in return, she will go white water rafting with her daughter. Seems like a simple premise, but the author tackled the story with such finesse and insight that I couldn't put it down.
I expected the challenges to be much larger or scarier than they really were. A lot of them were very simple, everyday things, such as cleaning out a bookshelf or starting a garden, but they were exactly the things that they needed to do. It just goes to show how best friends know you better than you know yourself.
Each of the women learns something about herself and grows through the task that they were given. This book made me feel inspired and like I should learn to live life to the fullest.
I expected the challenges to be much larger or scarier than they really were. A lot of them were very simple, everyday things, such as cleaning out a bookshelf or starting a garden, but they were exactly the things that they needed to do. It just goes to show how best friends know you better than you know yourself.
Each of the women learns something about herself and grows through the task that they were given. This book made me feel inspired and like I should learn to live life to the fullest.
elysahenegar's review against another edition
4.0
Erica Bauermeister's writing is beautiful, poetic, even, not only highly visual but engaging ever other sense as well. Cassandra Campbell's narration on audio is carefully articulate and communicates the intentionality behind Bauermeister's diction as well as her skill as an artist. I loved the premise and also the way that Bauermeister explores the edges of true friendship as women friends experience the suffering and joy that always happen in tandem in all of our lives. This book develops patiently, like any truly wonderful experience should, which gave me time and space to turn it around in my mind and find myself also within the text.
alayamorning's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dr_amy_k_west's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
sarahreadsalotofbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
bethomas111's review against another edition
5.0
First book by Erica Bauermeister and best book in so long!
auntblh's review against another edition
4.0
The story lines didn't seem complete but I still enjoyed it. It makes you wonder what challenge you would either pick for yourself or have picked for you.