Untamed by Glennon Doyle

 

We completed our sixth book of the year in early October! Liz's pick was Untamed by Glennon Doyle, a memoir about how to break out of cultural norms that tend to box women into accepted roles. In the book, the author describes her journey of shedding her traditional life with her husband and embracing a new life with the woman she loves. Along the way, she explores important issues including how to raise children so that they have more awareness of society's unspoken rules and constraints, how to trust your inner Knowing, how to let go, how to accept yourself, and how to create your own beautiful life even if it doesn't fit in nicely with expectations of others.

Many parts of the book resonated with us. For some, it was all too familiar reading about resisting a culture where women are always trying to please people. Descriptions of an inner Knowing spoke to some, while others enjoyed reading about a mom who found herself. Generally, we liked the book, although it lost most of us at one point or another, and we explored reasons why this was. 

The book inspired discussions about parenting, keeping perspective, fear of living without a spouse, controlling other people, the view that things will always work out, manifesting, therapy, and many other topics.

We also started talking about plans for where to get together after the pandemic is over. As we wrestle with fires, bad air quality, political turmoil, and COVID, in addition to person issues, it is always a welcome thought to consider how we will one day see each other in person again.