Takeout Sushi

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Today is my stop of the blog tour centered around Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green. I enjoy a good collection of short stories and this one came at a great time. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump and the short stories can often be great during such times as you can enjoy the full narrative in one sitting (especially when time to read is harder to come by).

This collection is engaging and keeps your interest within each narrative. Some are comical, some are mysterious, some are alarming, but nearly all have that unique human quality that allows the reader to contemplate the curious events that happen within a life. My personal favorite is probably “Spinning Wheels” which is a story that imagines a company that implements robots as managers.

Below you will find the full schedule of the blog tour promoting this book, including which bloggers to keep an eye out for, so check out what others are saying as well. Also below is a section about the author and an official blurb with more details about the collection.

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About the Author

A long-time resident of Japan, Christopher lives near Tokyo with his wife and daughter. Christopher writes short stories and children’s stories. His first collection of short stories Takeout Sushi is due for publication by Neem Tree Press in May 2024.

Blurb

Takeout Sushi is a collection of 17 illustrated short stories set mostly in contemporary Japan that explore feelings of belonging, displacement, and the strangeness of everyday human interaction.

In an innovative, fast-paced company, a man’s job comes under threat when a team of robots are brought in to replace the HR department. A husband’s search for shortcuts to his domestic tasks goes painfully wrong. Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, a foreigner takes a weekend break and discovers something other than solitude in the mountains.

Marking Christopher Green’s debut adult fiction and inspired by his own experiences, these whimsical slice-of-life tales are full of heart and humour—perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

50/50

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50_50 Dean KarnazesThe long title is 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days–and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance by Dean Karnazes with Matt Fitzgerald. This books is a memoir about the Endurance 50 event that occurred in 2006 where Dean did in fact run 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. That’s right, a marathon each day in a new state. Quite a feat which is why I am recommending this book almost on that premise alone.

This books covers a lot of basics that those new to fitness can greatly benefit from. These are sprinkled among the stories that give some detail into each marathon he ran.

I had no idea who Dean Karnazes was prior to reading, but he is prominent figure in ultra running which has been a growing field for the past several decades. More and more people are running marathons or 5Ks or ultramarathons. The events of this book are nearing 20 years ago, but at the time Dean was already competing in ultramarathons such as the Badwater event which consists of 135 miles partly through Death Valley and partly up Mt. Whitney. So Dean running a marathon could be compared to a marathon runner completing a 10K (just trying to give perspective, not to diminish his incredible feat).

A handful of the marathons he ran were live events where thousands of runners participated, and the rest were recreated events specifically for the Endurance 50. Photos included in the book give some insight into the thrill, and exhaustion, everyone involved experienced during the 50 days. The first marathon was the Lewis & Clark Marathon in St. Charles, Missouri (where I live) and the final marathon was the live New York City Marathon which included 38,000 runners.

Dean’s journey is inspirational to say the least. Reading Dean’s accomplishments will likely encourage you on your own path to better health and fitness through running if you are just getting into running, are interested in starting, a longtime casual runner, or compete in marathons. The story is also fascinating even if you have no interest in running.

Personally, from the perspective offered in the book, I think the travel took more of a toll on Dean than the actual running. Once the 50 crazy days were over, Dean apparently didn’t know what to do next so he just started running going from New York all the way back to St. Charles, Missouri before officially calling his adventure complete. Running for the love of it is at the core of who Dean is, and he does it well.

I signed up for my very first marathon a few months ago which is why I’ve been reading several books about running. I have about 6 months left to train for my event which will be a major feat for me. I’m just hoping to finish. I also signed up for 5K that goes through the St. Louis Zoo next month (I love our zoo here). If I catch the “running bug” that I hear a lot about, I may complete more running events in the future.

My decision to run was to get in better shape and become healthier with the main goal to live as long as possible to spend time with my kids. Having a set goal to work toward has made the training, or exercise, much easier to complete. I encourage everyone to focus on their physical and mental health through nutrition and fitness. I hope this book is another chapter on your own journey or perhaps it could be your first step on a new journey.

Happy Reading.

Spring Reading List

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My reading year started out great but tapered off a little as life got busy. There were also a few books that seemed to slow me down as I failed to remain fully interested in them, but I’ve renewed by reading vitality having finished those few slower reads and have set sights on my next round of books to check out.

I have three books I technically still have in progress. These are The Daily Dad which is a one-page-a-day read that I am enjoying as I navigate fatherhood, The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett which is my first dip-of-a-toe into his Discworld series, and finally How Not To Age which is a nutrition tome by Dr. Michael Greger. I should be wrapping up The Color of Magic soon, then I will move on to the books on this list (lest my interests change before I get to them).50_50 Dean Karnazes

I’ve been reading several books about running as I’ve signed up to run a marathon later this year. My current running read is 50/50 by Dean Karnazes with Matt Fitzgerald. This book covers the Endurance 50 event that occurred in 2006 where Dean ran 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. That’s right. A marathon every day in a new state. This one will likely be my next recommendation.

Red RisingI have a friend who has been wanting me to read Red Rising by Pierce Brown. He claims it is the best book series he has ever read (or was it best sci-fi series?). I’ve heard this series is good. It consists of two trilogies so I think I will dive into the first book after I finish the few I have in progress. I have not read any science fiction this year so hopefully this one can reignite my passion for that area.

The Midnight LibraryNext I’m thinking I will try out The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. This book was everywhere a few years ago and the premise makes it sound like it will be a good read. I haven’t read anything by Matt Haig yet, but he seems to have quite a few fans. The premise of this novel is: Nora Seed’s life has been full of misery and regret until she finds herself in the Midnight Library, a place where she can access various versions of her life had made different choices. Now she must try to answer the question: What is the best way to live?

And that’s about it for now. My reading interests can always change abruptly as I find a new topic I want to explore. Having read almost exclusively non-fiction recently, I’d love to get lost in a story again. Maybe one of these will do the trick, but also maybe I’ve been resistant to getting lost in a story because I’m too focused on trying to be a great dad. With number two on the way, my time for reading may diminish further. I’d love to hear any tricks you have if you are a parent and find time to carve out for reading.

Happy Reading.

Quiet

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QuietQuiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain was released in 2012. This book focuses on more than just the differences of Introverts and Extroverts. It provides a history of the vernacular itself (the societal recognition of the dichotomy of interpersonal interactions), the history of these behavioral traits, how much of the world has societal expectations and recognitions suited better for extroverts, and even how parenting can be impacted by recognizing, or failing to recognize, the tendencies of a child’s behavior.

Not only does this book help the reader better understand which behaviors they may lean toward, or have developed over time, but it also encourages the reader to evaluate their communities and the societal structure of nations. This perspective may make it easier understand why others behave the way they do, when they may be outside their comfort zone, or perhaps even understand why they have consistent conflict with certain individuals.

Overall, this book is a great insight into personal behaviors. The focus on the value of introverts is refreshing in a world consumed by technology that encourages constant attention or interaction. I think there will be a societal shift in the upcoming decades away from this and toward the value of personal space and time. I know I do (though I recognize that having a blog is participating, to an extent, in the consumer-type culture, but it’s on my own terms).

It is a large world out there filled with literally billions of people. Knowing yourself will make it easier to survive. Recognizing the tendencies of others will help reduce conflict, improve communication, and possibly even save a life. Make sure you take care of yourself.

Happy Reading.

No Meat Athlete

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No Meat AthleteNo Meat Athlete by Matt Frazier was the latest book I read to help me focus on nutrition and exercise. What I liked most about it was the incorporation of both. The first half of this book focuses on nutrition with the theme of vegetarian or vegan eating. I say theme because Matt doesn’t make any pushy statements to try and turn the reader vegan, he rather discusses his own journey and how his nutrition shift to vegetarian/vegan actually improved his athleticism as he worked toward his goal of qualifying for the Boston marathon.

The expanded edition includes recipes after the nutrition section before moving on toward the exercise/athleticism section. This second part focuses mostly on running, but again Matt doesn’t focus on just one athletic area. He writes from his own experience but incorporates other areas to encourage and promote all forms of exercise. Since his focus is on running, he does provide tips for beginners as well as those who have been running for some time. He includes training schedules to complete a 5K, 10K, and two versions for a half marathon depending on your goal.

I’ve made a few minor adjustments to my own running based on advice in this book that I had heard prior but didn’t incorporate at the time. Though at the time I wasn’t running like I am now. I am glad that I’m building a good habit of running and am actually enjoying it more than I had previously. Not necessarily because of this book, but I think I did read this at the right time.

This book hit the two major areas I wanted to focus on for myself. I’m curious about reducing or eliminating meat from my own diet (though I may keep fish if I do make the adjustment). I am also curious about running more long distances and the physical and mental health improvements that often result from doing so. Matt does mention nutrition within the exercise section as they are intertwined, such as when and what to eat before and after a workout to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs to sustain long bouts of exercise and to recover afterwards, the latter of which can reduce time needed between sessions of physical exertion.

I think this is a great book for beginners or intermediate athletes (or in my case a former athlete who is looking for a way to improve and maintain great health). It is also a great book for anyone thinking about altering their diets to be less meat-focused or if you just want to be more plant-focused. My wish for you is to give this a read to help build or reinforce a habit and work toward a healthier you. I plan on doing so myself.

Happy Reading.