The grittier Australian version of magic realism.'Cloudstreet' by Tim Winton follows the merging lives of two families (the Lamb's & the Pickle's) as they move into a shared house in Perth. We see the hardships that individual characters go through and how family and kinship is what saves them. It incorporates real life events with absurd fictional elements to give a taste of Aussie life in the 1940's-1960's.Huge thanks to Sir TJ The Wrathful & Ashley Glenday for supporting the show. Very much appreciated!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:16) - Initial Impression(3:01) - Plot/Style(8:40) - Themes/Questions(18:22) - Author & Extras(21:25) - Summary(24:00) - Boostagram Lounge(27:28) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

Never have I ever more wanted to be a homeless peasant!'Tortilla Flat' by John Steinbeck is the tale of how an eclectic bunch of friends live together in Monterey. Danny becomes a house owner and experiences the highs and lows of a raised social status. To help Danny his friends begin living with him and hijinks ensue. They rotate between fights, wine, fire and women whilst being lovable rascals.Huge thanks to Cole McCormick for supporting the show. Very much appreciated!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:00) - Initial Impression(2:19) - Plot/Style(9:06) - Themes/Questions(15:57) - Author & Extras(20:10) - Summary(24:24) - Boostagram Lounge(28:28) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

Hopefully I'm not as boring as Cicero is ..... but don't count on it!'On Government' by Cicero is a collection of his writings set out in a chronological format. The large bulk are orations he delivered in front of the senate (or law court) and some smaller sections on his ideals for what a government should look like. I found it pretty boring to be honest but did give me some historical insights into the time period of ~100-0 BC and showcased why politics has always been a shitshow.Huge thanks to Petar & Cole McCormick for supporting the show. Very much appreciated!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:04) - Initial Impression(3:08) - Plot/Style(9:27) - Themes/Questions(18:56) - Author & Extras(22:31) - Summary(25:32) - Boostagram Lounge(27:29) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

Join me as I dive into the heartwarming and insightful pages of "The Daily Dad" by Ryan Holiday, exploring 366 meditations on fatherhood, love, and raising great kids. This book, structured to be read daily, offers a unique blend of historical context, stoic principles, and practical advice, all condensed into one-page chapters. I share my personal journey of reading it aloud to my baby girl, turning it into a cherished daily ritual and sparking meaningful conversations with mypartner. Discover how this book, meant to be revisited year after year, can offer new perspectives and become a timeless guide for all.Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

What's it really like to work in the United States Post Office?'Post Office' by Charles Bukowski is a fictional yet semi-autobiographical account of Henry Chinaski working as a mailman/clerk in the post office. His life sucks and gets increasingly worse as he deals with frustrating bureaucracy and seeks escape through sex, gambling and alcohol.Huge thanks to Ashley Glenday for supporting the podcast. Very much appreciated.Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:40) - Initial Impression(4:42) - Plot/Style(9:05) - Themes/Questions(17:54) - Author & Extras(19:59) - Summary(24:44) - Boostagram Lounge(28:10) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

Will the Jews ever find a peaceful resting place?'If Not Now, When?' by Primo Levi is a fictional story of Jewish partisans surviving behind German lines during WWII. It follows Mendel as he tries to forget about his suffering/pain but is constantly reminded of his deceased wife and the uprooting of his life. He joins a band trying to escape the horrors of war but is constantly drawn into conflict and revenge.Huge thanks to Cole McCormick and Ashley Glenday for supporting the podcast. Very much appreciated.Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:42) - Initial Impression(3:43) - Plot/Style(10:42) - Themes/Questions(18:17) - Author & Extras(20:44) - Summary(24:02) - Boostagram Lounge(28:17) - V4VValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

How can you heal a damaged mind?'The Body Keeps The Score' by Bessel Van Der Kolk is a book focused on mental health plus the what/why's of PTSD and trauma. It's split into 5 parts dealing with history, brain science, child abuse, memory and healing strategies. It has a mix of case studies, hard/soft science and personal opinion.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a dense read that was more scientific than not. The tone was empathetic and despite being about heavy topics it focused on the positive of how trauma could be overcome. I didn't learn much new information but it did make me grateful for my upbringing and understanding of why other people behave how they do."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:31) - Synopsis(3:58) - Trauma: Why all the acronyms?(9:17) - Healing: Strategies for recovery(18:03) - Observations/Takeaways(25:18) - SummaryValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

I'm changing up the book review channel and starting a book club.In September 2023 we reviewed 4 books on the channel. No real standouts to be honest so instead I'll mention why and how I'm going to do things differently. Basically I'm putting in a lot of effort but don't feel like I'm getting much value in return. So I'm going to streamline the process by doing them live, focusing less on creating highly detailed notes/images and by trying to engage more with you, the readers at home. Big thanks to Cole McCormick (from the America+ podcast) and Ashley Glenday for supporting the show. Very much appreciated!I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:45) - Bitter Orange Tree: Jokha Alharthi(3:55) - The Diving Bell & The Butterfly: Jean-Dominique Bauby(5:27) - Swearing Is Good For You: Emma Byrne(6:48) - Zen & The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance: Robert M. Pirsig(8:33) - Boostagram Lounge(11:33) - Coming Up In October 2023(12:56) - Changes To The Channel(17:53) - V4V: Would You Join A Book Club?Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

What's it like to lose your own body?'The Diving-Bell And The Butterfly' by Jean-Dominique Bauby is a short memoir describing life with locked-in syndrome. It's a mix of personal recollections before his life altering stroke and daily hospital trivialities afterwards. He focuses on the hardships of being trapped within a mute body but the joy of unlocking his mind.I summarised the book as follows. "A complex series of emotions arise whilst reading. Heartbreak, mirth, horror & fascination all alter quite rapidly due to the small chapters. It is written in that journalistic editorial style so never gets too deep on anything, also understandable because of the way he had to 'write' the book. Ultimately it's a tragedy and a reminder to enjoy what you have."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:29) - Synopsis(3:44) - The Body: Trapped within yourself(9:09) - The Mind: Unlimited possibilities(13:49) - Observations/Takeaways(17:39) - SummaryValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

Don't weep for lost dreams, they were never real to begin with.'Bitter Orange Tree' by Jokha Alharthi is a fictional series of recollections told by a young Omani woman about her life, family and relationships. It mostly focuses on her grandmother's tribulations and her own personal grief/regret of her passing away.I summarised the book as follows. "I came in to this blank was pleasantly surprised considering it is outside of my normal genre's of reading. There are some nice cultural insights to take away and I was impressed by the qualities of fortitude and hardiness found in the grandmother. The constant style of switching back and forth was ok for this book, but certainly would get tiresome if I read more like this."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:31) - Synopsis(3:20) - Lost Dreams: Accepting the bitter reality of life(12:02) - Lament: A passionate expression of grief(18:04) - Observations/Takeaways(21:33) - SummaryValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast