Author Archives: kassmangione

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May 8, 2023

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April Wrap-Up

Happy spring! April flew by — lots of travel and lots of work. Despite all the busyness, I still managed to read 5 books! I read two books of poetry, two pieces of nonfiction, and a contemporary fiction I’ve been meaning to get my hands on.

Here’s what I read in April:

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson

I read this one for book club and it was okay. Some parts were funny, and the other parts were just overkill. Some parts were really vulnerable and real, which I appreciated. I don’t plan on reading anything else by her.

Maame by Jessica George

I wanted a little more out of this one. I enjoyed the premise but felt like the execution wasn’t there. It read like a first draft that needed some polishing. The narrator was not my favorite (she was pretty boring), and her narration/prose was very flat.

Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World by Eve Rodsky

This book was recommended by a friend and it was just what I needed to get stoked about my writing and creating my own unicorn space. Stay tuned 🙂

Blue Horses: Poems by Mary Oliver

I just love Mary Oliver. Her poems are as easy as breathing. They are inspiring and warm and comfortable and nostalgic. She was truly a gift.

Please Love Me at My Worst (Poems) by Michaela Angemeer

I picked up this book of Poetry at Powell’s Books in Portland and flipped to a poem that got me hooked. Michaela taught me that my poetry is poetry. That even the simplest of verses can make the most impact on your heart. I love that about her poetry.

What did you read in April?

Check out my 2023 wrap-ups:

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April 1, 2023

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March Wrap-Up

Well, March wasn’t so strong when it came to completing books BUT I had a really good month circulating between six books!

Here’s what I finished in March:

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

One of my favorite books… ever. It’s so good! Sad, heartwarming, funny, sweet … bookish, smart. It’s just so good!

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown

I am happy to share that I am one book away from reading all of Brené’s works, and she’s always a breath of fresh air and a good level set when I need a push. I believe this is her first book, and I see so many themes that she’s really honed in on over the years and mastered.

What I’m currently reading

  • The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy #3) by S.A. Chakraborty
  • Maame by Jessica George
  • Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky
  • Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

What did you read in March?

Check out my past wrap-ups:

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April 1, 2023

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Monthly Musings

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Monthly Musings | April showers

THANK GOODNESS IT IS SPRING.

Thank. goodness.

Don’t get me wrong – I love winter when it’s clear blue skies and there is a beautiful, white blanket of snow covering the earth. But when you have a mild winter with hardly any snow?! Nah-uh. Buh-bye. See ya next time.

The weather is starting to warm up in Connecticut, and like the picture above, I am starting to see my perennials pop their sleepy heads from the hard earth. Last week, I went outside when it was nice and sunny and warm and raked back some leaves to find my stonecrops already budding tiny baby succulents. EEP! I love spring!

March was the month that seemed to never end. Lots of working, lots of colds (just getting over one now as I type this…again), and lots of sneaking outside to try to get some walks in before it got too cold again.

I went to New York City for work … and had a freakin’ blast with my coworkers. When I used to go to NYC, I’d just go to a Broadway show and then come home. This was my first (actually second, but this was a different experience) overnight in NYC and I loved hanging with my coworkers. The account I support had a big event at the New York Stock Exchange, so it was pretty darn cool to go there and stand on the trading floor. Now, I’m prepping for my long trip to Portland, OR for another client event and to see my best friend, Nicki!

I read two books in March (it was a super busy month!) but I’ve been reading six books since March started.

Here are the books I read:

  • The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
  • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

What I’m up to this month

Lots and lots of work and work travel. April is going to be a craaaaazy month for work. I have a big report coming out mid-month, an Earth Day campaign to pitch, and two events that I am traveling to. First, I am going to Portland, OR in mid-April for 5 days (the longest I’ll be away from Nora) to visit my best friend and support a live event for one of my accounts. Then at the end of the month, I will be going to Atlanta for a huge conference and to support one of my clients. May is just as cuckoo bananas, and June is too! Looking forward to some well-earned PTO in July!

And, I am keeping up with my movement challenge – currently on day 15. And let me tell you – I can already see and feel a difference in my body and mental health.

You’re starting what now? A podcast? And a book?

Yeah. Yeah … I’m doing that too. I’m excited to announce that I am going to start a podcast called (?!?!?! idk) that focuses on pregnant and postpartum parents and the many things we are afraid to talk about. I have a dream to publish a book in the next year, and already have a list of like 11 people who are interested in doing interviews! I plan to lay it allll out in a separate post, so more to come!

What I’m reading

Here are the books that I was reading all March long:

  • The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy #3) by S.A. Chakraborty (it’s a big ol’ book, so working my way through it).
  • Maame by Jessica George
  • Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky
  • Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

What I’m watching

  • Love is Blind S4 (you’re a jerk, Irina)
  • Parks and Rec
  • Shadow and Bone
  • Daisy Jones and The Six
  • You (going to start that this month on the plane!)

What I’m listening to

  • The 1975
  • Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation (Faves: Jaded, Rose Colored Lenses, River)
  • Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust
  • The Head And The Heart

Happy spring!

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March 5, 2023

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February Wrap-Up

Another solid month of reading for the month of February! I made it a personal goal to read more poetry this year, and I read two books by poets I now love!

Here’s what I read in February.

The Winners (Beartown #3) by Fredrik Backman

Well. :-/ Sighhhhhh. Unfortunately the final book in the Beartown series let me down. It was very, very, very, very, very, very, very long. So much was happening. Too many storyllines. Every chapter was *something* and I felt like there was no closure whatsoever even though the book was nearly 700 pages. Sigh.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Finlay Donovan #3) by Elle Cosimano

These books are so, so silly and I can’t get enough. BUT … I kind of wanted the series to end here? What else can be done here?

Why I Wake Early: New Poems by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver’s poems are like breathing naturally. I feel immediately calm when I read her poetry. Can’t get enough.

Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades

An amazing debut with lyrical prose that read more like poetry. Very insightful and powerful and emotional.

The Kingdom of Copper (Daevabad Trilogy #3) by S.A. Chakraborty

This one certainly took a while to read, but I loved the pacing. These books are so fascinating and while I didn’t care for any of the characters at first, I really enjoy Nahri and Ali. Once the book ended, I had to get the third book, which is more than 750 pages long.

Good Bones: Poems by Maggie Smith

I thought her poems were just okay. I am glad I read them, but I don’t like hawks as much as she does … and all of her poems were about hawks … so…

What did you read in February?

Check out my past wrap-ups: