Tag Archives: Beastly Beauty Jennifer Donnelly

Love Notes for Love

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Bee Butt Friend. I have decided this will be a distinction of love that I confer on anyone who manifests the ethos. And I will continue to strive to do so myself! 😀

The past week has seen me full on binge the Crowns series by Nicola Tyche. US Review of Books apparently calls it, “The political intrigue of Outlander or Game of Thrones with the magic and thrills of A Court of Thorns and Roses.” I’ve texted Friend Phara (who recommended it to me) multiple times a day (sometimes an hour) since starting the first book 8 days ago. Book Two began three days ago and I’m 88% through. I will hold off on Book Three until after the busy upcoming weekend, if I can manage it. Then we will FaceTime to gush about it together, and I will use that and all of my texts as notes for a future blog post/review of this epic, sweeping story.

And because I cannot help myself, and I will positively burst if I don’t output something about it now, tonight’s daily dozen will all be inspired by these extraordinary books. Oh and I highly recommend the audiobooks–Shane does not narrate them, but Katherine Kennard, Connor Brannigan, and Zach Hoffman do a phenomenal job!

My favorite books of 2024 and 2025 so far were Beastly Beauty and Never the Roses, respectively. This series further clarifies what I love most about romantasy, and also likely historical romance. More on that later.

Meanwhile: LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

  1. OMGosh love makes (us) do CRAZY things! And life would not be nearly as colorful, joyous, meaningful, or deep if it were any other way.

2. However you need to feel loved today, may the people around you deliver in spades. May you feel seen, heard, understood, accepted and FULLY LOVED exactly how you are.

3. When we find ourselves challenged and/or even threatened by others’ words, actions, or ideas, may we 1) find safety, 2) breathe deeply and slowly, 3) withhold judgement, and 4) stand in love first.

4. Is there an experience with more capacity, more depth, more simplicity and complexity than love? I cannot think of any.

5. Rupture. Repair. Repeat. Love mends tears and cracks so the seams are where the art of life (is) strongest. Love on, my friends.

6. Loving is risky, no? “No risk, no reward,” as they say… And loving is its own reward, in a way, also no? Being loved in return is, of course, ideal, but just giving is fulfilling in itself.

7. Phenomenally, our hearts and minds can always accommodate MORE LOVE. It is an infinite resource and its well has no bottom. SMH Cosmic.

8. When you feel overcome with love, what music fills you? I bet it’s crescendo without being loud, sonorous and light yet deep and resonant. ANTHEM-y.

9. It is both vulnerable and brave, I think, to see, acknowledge, and express when someone else in pain needs us, and to go to them in tenderness. These are the moments of true connection. So precious.

10. You know that feeling of total, saturated overwhelm by love? OMG I wish you this ALL THE time! What other energy could possibly be more nourishing?

11. May you(r) love lead you always, ahead of fear, shame, convention, expectations, contempt, anger, indifference, and apathy. Cultivate this as DEFAULT.

12. Love is amazing — It fills and lifts whatever container holds it — However it is required, it shows up and meets the need. It is reliable, versatile, elastic, and renewable. Wow.

Hmmm. Some of these are good, but there is still so much more to capture about Love, isn’t there? I mean DUH. Like twelve little off the cuff notes could cover it. HA! How fun.

Books of 2024

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122 for the year. Not bad.

Followers of the blog may remember me gushing over Dark Matter, The Code of Us, How to Know a Person, The Natural, and Beastly Beauty. I don’t usually choose a favorite book every year, but Beauty stood out head and shoulders above all others in 2024. It was the book that helped me recover from post-election blues, and that got stolen twice before any others at the book club white elephant exchange. I keep print copies of my favorite books to give away, and there are two of this title in my library waiting to meet their future owners.

I consumed fewer books and almost no podcasts in 2024. Quinn listening took up more time than I will disclose here. And I generated far more output than in previous years: Today was Day 330 of my Morning Pages practice, and I have written more specific material toward Book than in any year since I decided to pursue it in 2015. I wrote letters, cards, emails, and social media posts that I’m proud to have out in the world. So 2024 was a fantastic year for original Chenger Words, even if most of them were not published.

Which of the books below did you also consume?
Which do you recommend?

Pam Kirst and I plan to read I Never Thought of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán starting January 1 and will discuss on our respective Instagram feeds, if anyone wants to join us there: @chenger91

Happy New Year, dear readers. May we all continue to cultivate the healthiest relationships in 2025 and beyond, with ourselves first and then with and among others. Let us all walk together on the shared path toward our favorite selves.

———-

Key to the list below:

[Open bracket: as yet unfinished but not abandoned
[Closed bracket: abandoned]
Bold: favorite
–Dash in front: Repeat read/listen–number of additional times consumed this year
Blue (not shown on WordPress): Romance titles
ARC/ALC: Advance Reader/Listener Copy

Books and Media 2024

  1. [Write a Must-Read, Anjanette Harper
  2. Thick As Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
  3. [Outlive, Peter Attia
  4. [The Fourth Turning, William Strauss/Neil Howe
  5. Theirs to Cherish, Serena Akeroyd
  6. What Is Health? Peter Sterling
  7. The Lady and the Orc, Finley Fenn
  8. Death’s Obsession, Avina St. Graves
  9. —Sanguine, Sierra Simone–9
  10. —Making Merry, Kerrigan Byrne
  11. Vines, Brynne Asher
  12. Diamonds and Dukes, Lauren Smith
  13. Penthouse Prince: A Lunchtime Romance Read, Lauren Smith
  14. —For Love of Magic, Simon R Green
  15. Hers to Hold, Serena Akeroyd
  16. [Ex-Wife, Ursula Parrott]
  17. The Love Connection, Denise Williams
  18. In Like Flynn, Lauren Smith
  19. —Dr. Off Limits, Louise Bay
  20. The Chasing of Eleanor Vane, Sierra Simone
  21. The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hind, Sierra Simone
  22. The Conquering of Tate the Pious, Sierra Simone
  23. Do Your Worst, Rosie Danan
  24. —Two Pretty Lies, Kelleigh Clare
  25. Kingfisher Lane, Grant Gosch
  26. —Misadventures with a Professor, Sierra Simone
  27. Misadventures of a Curvy Girl,Sierra Simone
  28. Wicked Awakening, Sarah Piper
  29. Wicked Devouring, Sarah Piper
  30. Wicked Ascending, Sarah Piper
  31. Supplicant, Sierra Simone
  32. Tom Lake, Ann Patchett
  33. The True History of The Elephant Man, Michael Howell, Peter Ford
  34. The Awakening of Ivy Leavold, Sierra Simone
  35. Love in the Wild, Emma Castle
  36. [The Little Village of Book Lovers, Nina George
  37. Dr. Single Dad, Louise Bay (ARC)
  38. Kryn, Patricia D Eddy
  39. The Devil Made Me Brew It, Sarah Piper
  40. Dirty Charmer, Emma Chase
  41. Mr. Masters, TL Swan
  42. [The Art of Quiet Influence, Jocelyn Davis
  43. How to Plot a Payback, Melissa Ferguson
  44. —The Art of Possibility, Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
  45. The Education of Ivy Leavold, Sierra Simone
  46. My Story of Us Zach, Chris Brinkley
  47. The Story of Us Thomas, Chris Brinkley
  48. Why We Remember, Charan Ranganath
  49. –-Perfect Chaos, Jodi Ellen Malpas
  50. The Punishment of Ivy Leavold, Sierra Simone
  51. Mr. Spencer, TL Swan
  52. The Many Lives of Mama Love, Lara Love Hardin
  53. The Knife Man, Wendy Moore–2
  54. My Story of Us Grayson, Chris Brinkley
  55. Beastly Beauty, Jennifer Donnelly–1
  56. Return of the Thief, Megan Whalen Turner
  57. Perfect Liar, Kelleigh Clare (ARC)
  58. Mr. Garcia, TL Swan
  59. Twisted Beautiful Lies Extended Epilogue, Kelleigh Clare
  60. Baby Proposal, Evie Rose–2
  61. The Fae’s Captive, Lily Archer
  62. —Curious, Ian Leslie
  63. Fear and Fortitude, Cheri Champagne
  64. Moira’s Pen, Megan Whalen Turner
  65. Midnight Mass, Sierra Simone
  66. The Rest Is History, Sara Madderson
  67. Dark Matter, Blake Crouch
  68. [Born Liars, Ian Leslie
  69. Let’s Hang Out, Chris Duffy
  70. The Code of Us, Liv Evans
  71. Adrenalized, Phil Collen and Chris Epting
  72. [Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl
  73. Midnight With the Devil, Emma Castle
  74. Duke of Depravity, Scarlett Scott–2
  75. When the Duke Bought a Wife, Mariah Stone
  76. [The Left Hand of God, Paul Hoffman
  77. All Duke and Bothered, Mariah Stone
  78. Her Rake Fiancé, Mariah Stone
  79. Project Duke, Mariah Stone
  80. Betting On the Scoundrel, Mariah Stone
  81. How to Know a Person, David Brooks–2
  82. The Natural, Richard La Ruina
  83. Lost With a Scot, Lauren Smith
  84. —Rory in a Kilt, Anna Durand
  85. Reckless Chance, JD Carothers (ALC)
  86. The Lady’s Command, Stephanie Laurens
  87. A Buccaneer at Heart, Stephanie Laurens
  88. The Daredevil Snared, Stephanie Laurens
  89. Lord of the Privateers, Stephanie Laurens
  90. Dark Wild Night, Christina Lauren
  91. Escaping the Earl, Lauren Smith
  92. White As Snow: Blanche Wood, May Sage
  93. The Earl of Zennor, Lauren Smith
  94. —The Duke’s Twin, Lauren Smith
  95. The Heiress and the Orc, Finley Fenn
  96. The Best Strangers in the World, Ari Shapiro
  97. The Keeper of Happy Endings, Barbara Davis
  98. Sleeping Beauty: Aurora Stephenson, May Sage
  99. The Duke’s Dove, Lauren Smith
  100. —Sweet Liar, Laurelin Paige
  101. –-Sweet Fate, Laurelin Paige
  102. No Rest for the Wicked, Lauren Smith
  103. The Echo of Old Books, Barbara Davis
  104. [Wild, Cheryl Strayed]
  105. Faking With Benefits, Lily Gold
  106. Rival Secrets, JD Carothers (ALC)
  107. —Bossy Brit, Kendall Ryan
  108. [Connie: A Memoir, Connie Chung
  109. You Are Why You Eat, Ramani Durvasula
  110. Midnight Blue, LJ Shen
  111. Groom Gamble, Evie Rose (ARC, ALC)
  112. Waltzing in the Snow: A Regency Christmas Romance, Lauren Smith
  113. [Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous, Gillian Anderson
  114. The Wedding People, Alison Espach
  115. A Very London Christmas, Sara Madderson
  116. [Guns, Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond
  117. Grave Talk, Nick Spalding
  118. Duke of Rath,Mariah Stone
  119. Merry Kissmas, Piper Rayne
  120. Duke of Luhst, Mariah Stone (ALC)
  121. [Once Upon a Christmas Tree: A Valentine Nook Chronicles Prequel, Lulu Moore
  122. [The Will to Live and Other Mysteries, Rachel Naomi Remen

Holding Stories of Humanity

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My intuition knows.

“My TBL is so long, I should only listen to new books.”
“I should listen to my open non-fictions and keep learning–The Fourth Turning, Man’s Search for Meaning, Born Liars.”
“I should start something relevant to now, to help me help, like I Never Thought of it That Way.”

Nope. Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly wins, and it’s all good. I can only engage with this story in this moment, and I know exactly why. My review from earlier this year:

Donnelly retells Beauty and the Beast with astute and imaginative gender role reversal. Such exquisitely clever writing, an intricate and stimulating story, and so many life lessons intertwined and artfully presented–HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Heroine is nerdy, kind, and complex, caught between her own strong, gifted nature and toxic, choking social norms. Hero steals a reader’s heart with his own one of gold, his fortitude and loyalty. Ancillary characters provide depth and elaboration to the twisty, always engaging story arc–11 hours of audio went by in a flash–I could hardly put it down. I have admired Steve West’s solo full cast performances in books like For Love of Magic and the Queen’s Thief series, but his talents shine forth on even brighter display in this piece more than any other: Men, women, children, and personalities that span all of humanity and our full sweep of emotions, quite literally.
I have purchased the book in print now to annotate and consolidate lessons in self-awareness, self-regulation, effective communication, and emotional integration… All from a reinvented fairy tale. BRAVA!

Sometimes we can approach politics from a new and different angle. Tonight I approach by way of excellent fiction. Thank God for gifted writers like Donnelly, who show us our hearts, traumas, demons, and foibles with compassion, humor, and grace. Fiction’s paradox is that it provides escape and introspection all at once–freeing us from while also bringing us deeper into ourselves. Themes from Beastly Beauty that speak to me in this moment:
-Rigid and destructive assumptions based on convention, expectation, and limited information
-Despair and Hope
-The healing forces of deep, abiding Love
-Faith in self, others, and humanity in general
-To be known in one’s wholeness
-Invention and co-creation
-Urgency for action lest the world as we know it ends
-Collaborating with ‘the enemy’
-The slow turn of trust
-We, together, are the answer

“…Self-awareness, self-regulation, effective communication, and emotional integration…” How many of us think we do these well, and ‘they’ do not? How many of us believe the ‘others’, about half of the voting population, are unworthy humans, willfully, destructively ignorant, and otherwise unfit to wield a vote? We are sure, just based on how they voted, right? Of course this is true, just look at the facts, we insist. We forget that our perceptions are already half formed in advance of information input, and shaped by more than just ‘facts.’

How do our self-delusions of superiority and attitudes of disdain keep us separated, miserable, and collectively utterly dysfunctional? I ask this of myself and us all, my friends, Red and Blue alike. We are all emotional beings with the capacity for reason. Our decisions are emotional at their core, filtered, mitigated, and moderated by rationality, unless and until we get hijacked. Our degrees of awareness and self-regulation are directly proportional to our degrees of intellectual humility, openness to perspectives other than our own and thus openness to change, and the psychological safety for vulnerability provided by those surrounding us.
How well do we provide the latter for one another, even in our own tribes? Try expressing a dissenting view among friends one day and see.

I had meant to recommend this book to you all tonight, even including spoilers to make my case. Again, nope.

I Hold Stories of Humanity for Us all tonight; this one happens to speak deeply to me.
I Hold Stories of Humanity for Us so we may all feel seen, heard, understood, accepted, and loved, no matter who we are, how we voted, or anything else about us.
I Hold Stories of Humanity for Us because these are the stories that save us from and for one another. I hope you find stories that do this for you, too.