Roberta Romero

Goodreads Review of Gut Feelings

Roberta Romero — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:05:59 +0000

Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious by Gerd Gigerenzer

This pretty much sums the book up:

“…Gut feelings are in fact neither impeccable nor stupid. As I have argued, they take advantage of the evolved capacities of the brain and are based on rules of thumb that enable us to act fast and with astounding accuracy. The quality of intuition lies in the intelligence of the unconscious: the ability to know without thinking which role to rely on in which situation…there is no way around intuition; we could achieve little without it.” (p228-229)

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Goodreads Review of Mortality

Roberta Romero — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:29:23 +0000

Mortality by Christopher Hitchens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was not familiar with his work but read a review of the book and thought it would be an interesting read. Over the last few years I’ve attended more funerals than weddings. Most were friends’ whose mother or father passed. More and more of my friends have family members who are/were ill. Death has definitely visited family members. Hitchens’s writing is very honest and if you have a few hours and are at ease with your own mortality I highly recommend the book.

“Death is the dark backing that a mirror needs if we are to see anything (Saul Bellow).”

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Goodreads Review of Be Love Now: The Path of the Heart

Roberta Romero — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:44:01 +0000

Be Love Now: The Path of the Heart by Ram Dass

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 1st Ram Dass book I have read. I did watch the Ram Dass documentary ‘Fierce Grace’ before reading the book, so was familiar with some of Ram Dass’s background. I assumed the book would be a quick read because it is about 300 pages. The book is intense and deep on so many levels and I found myself having to stop to really let what I had just read sink in. I found the book while looking for another book at the library, never checked out the other book and glad I found Be Love Now. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

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Goodreads Review of The Hummingbird’s Daughter

Roberta Romero — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:46:18 +0000

The Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading the Hummingbird’s Daughter I do want to read more of Urrea’s books. This book is fiction but based on a relative of Urrea’s. I would label it Magical Realism and lately I’ve found myself drawn to a few books in that genre. Teresita is a very interesting character along with every character even the minor ones and nameless ones. Even though she is a Saint you don’t need to believe in god to read the book..it stands on its own.

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Four Generations

Roberta Romero — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:04:06 +0000

The summer before my senior year in college my parents decided to take me on a trip to El Salvador. They were born there, I was born there and we still had family there. I was not too excited about having to spend a summer away from friends in a place as humid or more humid than Houston (I spent a few weeks there). The start of the trip was tumultuous and disorienting. I got Montezuma’s Revenge the first night and got pretty much bitten by every mosquito in the country. Hello developing nation.

The majority of the trip was spent visiting relatives & friends of the family I had never met, well they remember me as a very young child, but we moved to LA when I was very young so I had no recollection of them. My great grandmother, who was in her late 80s at that point was one of the relatives I found very fascinating. She was feisty and happy and full of love & life. She just passed away at the age of 105. Because of work I did not attend her 100th birthday, and sadly that is one party I wish I had attended. I was considering visiting for her upcoming birthday, she and I share the same birthday month, and now it will not happen.

I know she lived a full life and had all her senses to the very end. She was surrounded by a loving family, friends, and community. I know that no matter what she will live on in her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. <3

Me, My Mom, My Grandma, My Great Grandma

Goodreads Review of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Roberta Romero — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:46:22 +0000

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There were nights I stayed up until my eyes couldn’t stay open so I could finish this book. While my experiences are not like Cheryl’s there are some I can relate to and if I had read about the PCT at certain points of my life I may have been done the hike as well. I did a marathon once because of a tumultuous experience I felt I needed to get over.

Cheryl has become one of my fav authors over the last few months, I recently read Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar. She really knows how to pull you into a story and really get your attention. As she hikes the PCT Cheryl talks about her hiking boots and all the physical ailments and then in another moment there is a very poetic moment about a fox or spider webs.

A few months back I read A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail about another Trail written by a man. I really enjoyed reading about Cheryl’s solo experience on the trail. The situations and perceptions held mostly by men. I have never hiked the AT or PCT but I do travel overseas solo and have heard many of the same things uttered by men when I’ve told them I am travel solo.

The book is very cathartic and you feel as if You lived it right along with Cheryl.

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Goodreads Review The Thing on The Doorstep and Other Weird Stories

Roberta Romero — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:53:18 +0000

The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Always wanted to read Lovecraft but never got around until now. I read most of the short stories – At the Mountain of Madness, The Music of Erich Zann, etc – all at night. Definitely got chills as I read the stories. Look forward to reading more of his works.

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Happy Valentine’s Day

Roberta Romero — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:34:35 +0000

The Parents

Happy Valentine’s Day to my friends, family, to those I known for decades and those I’ve only just met or have yet to meet.

To my favorite Valentines my parents. They are pretty inseparable and my childhood memories of them is of love and lots of PDA and well that has not changed to this day. Maybe that’s why I always wear my heart on my sleeve and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I am not big on the consumer side of the Holiday but do appreciate the love and friendship side, and everyday is Valentine’s Day. Showing love and appreciation for those you meet for a lifetime, or a year, a week, or 5 minutes.

“You are what you love, not what loves you.” – Adaptation.

Goodreads Review of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Roberta Romero — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:00:39 +0000

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I stayed away from the book because of all the hype and finally borrowed it from a friend. If you enjoy magical realism I highly recommend it. Quite a bit of history on the Dominican Republic which made it very informative. How could you not feel for a nerdy, sci-fi loving kid and his family.

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Goodreads Review Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child

Roberta Romero — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 17:53:17 +0000

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating read. Other than watching her on PBS and Julia & Julia I did not know much about Julia Child. She was one of the first to do a book tour although the term did not exist at that point. Julia was the first public network star. She was an advocate for women raising money for Planned Parenthood. She was also a product of her time. The book is comprehensive and kept me entertained. Bon Appetit.

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