As a business owner and writer, slowing the heck down is one of those things that sounds good in practice but never actually happens. Even when I schedule a do-nothing day, it seems to get booked up with all kinds of activities until the day off is no longer exactly that.
So it was a vicarious pleasure to read Dominique Browning’s book Slow Love: How I Lost my Job, Put on my Pajamas, and Found Happiness.
When Home and Garden Magazine folded, Browning found herself suddenly, unexpectedly out of a job. After a few months of daytime cocktails and slow strolls in her pajamas, she started to realize that maybe slowing down, instead of being a horribly depressing idea, was actually something she’d needed to do for some time.
Browning has a meandering, introspective style that’s appropriate to the topic. Through the memoir, she examines her relationships with her adult kids, her ex, and the world around her. Woven through it are sharply-written insights about home, food, and the garden.
A few quotes from her gardening life:
“Worms, like tortoises, like children, seem to take forever to get anywhere, but turn your attention away and they are gone by the time you think to look again. It is a challenge to watch a worm long enough for it to bury itself completely – a perennial piece of theater, but until now I’ve never made it past the first act.”
“Over the years, I’ve learned not to worry so much about what will or won’t make it: I’m learning the “So what?” lesson. So what if it fails? That doesn’t mean it was all a mistake. So what if it ends? That doesn’t mean it should never have begun.
I’ve seen, too, how things thrive in the most unlikely places. Sun-loving plants sometimes establish themselves in deep shade. They just take on the attenuated, melancholic inclination of those creatures of the gloaming.”
While this isn’t a book about gardening so much as it is about getting OK with slowing down and coming to love the mixed-up messiness that is life, I’m guessing a lot of you are fans of Browning’s work from the Home and Garden Magazine days, and perhaps have even read her past books, like Paths of Desire: The Passions of a Suburban Gardener or Around the House and in the Garden.
Want to win a copy of Slow Love? Plume, the publisher, has generously offered no fewer than TEN COPIES for you to win. Just leave a comment below to enter! US only; I’ll choose the ten winners on Sunday September 18th. Good luck! EDIT: The ten winners have been chosen and emailed. Congrats, and thanks for entering!
In the meantime, catch up with Browning on her blog, Slow Love Life.
22 responses to “Slow Love: The Editor of Home and Garden Magazine Learns to Relax (and Even Garden a Bit)”
This sounds like the exact book I need to be reading right now.
Sounds like a great read–but I don’t want to slow down too much.
I think she is onto something. Since I retired I’ve noticed the difficulty I’ve had slowing down, but also the beauty of life when I do. I’ll be interested to read more of her experience.
Sounds like a great book!
I read Dominique’s first book, Around the House and in the Garden, and really enjoyed it. I’m sure this one is good too!
This Canadian can’t enter — but thanks for the recommendation. Going to see if I can find it on Amazon.ca — sounds pretty good rainy day reading.
I’ve been forced to slow down this year – against my wishes. I still fight it, so I guess I could use some pointers!
Might be just what I need.
Goodness, I need to read this. Probably nothing I don’t already know and subscribe to, but this is timely in my crazy life. I’d love the chance to slow down and READ this book! If I win one, it would be a great birthday present, because my birthday is the day after the winners are chosen! 🙂
I would love to win this book. Here I am finally retired and I am wearing myself out!!
Please enter me for this book as I really need it!
I would like to win a copy for my daughter, and then borrow it from her after she learns to slow down a bit!
This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
This sounds like a book that would get passed around my circle of friends for everyone to read.
I think I’ll relate well to this book; hope I can get a copy! Thanks, Gen.
Sounds like a wonderful book that I probably need to read.
This sounds perfect for me. Count me in, please.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I would love to have this – I need coaching in the art of slowing down
As a current third year medical student I’m learning how to speed up! Slowing down would probably be better for my health…:) My time in the garden is the only time I move slowly but even then slowly for me is probably about warp speed for most individuals.
Thanks, as always, for all of your interesting and educational topics
I enjoy your blog, Gen, and Ms. Brownings as well. I would go to hear her reading in Seattle if I were going to be here.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the book.
I’ve been in a reading frenzy lately and would love to read something like this to give me a little nudge in getting busy with my fall garden prep for next spring! It sounds like just what the doctor ordered!!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy!! Even if I don’t win, I’ve been able to add another wonderful blog to my blog lines page and for that I’m thankful!
Diana 🙂
I read this book recently (library copy) and was enthralled. I would love to have my own copy to re-read and lend. Thanks for the giveaway!
I think I could definitely relate to this book! I currently an unemployed landscape architect, starting my own business, and searching for my own way of making money and bringing more happiness to my life. I would love to read this book! Thanks for the opportunity!