No, On with the Butter is not a cookbook or a biography of Paula Deen. Heidi Herman’s nonfiction title is a surprisingly entertaining self-help book about celebrating life no matter what your age. And, her best example, used throughout the book, is her mother, an Icelandic immigrant to the U.S. who lived into her nineties, raised ten children, and enjoyed living.
According to Herman, “On with the butter is an old Icelandic expression that means ‘carry on,’ ‘keep doing what you’re doing,’ ‘forge ahead,’ or ‘keep moving.'” She says she learned that phrase from her mother, who never stopped moving. The book, and the sentiment, seems particularly appropriate right now, when we’re basically housebound, and have to find ways to incorporate joy and anticipation into our lives. I’ll admit, it’s not easy for me when so many activities I love have been taken away from me. And, many of the activities Herman suggests in her book are for the future because we can’t incorporate them right now. But, there are lessons in the book, and suggestions that can be used right now.
Many of the ideas Herman suggests involve a willingness to be spontaneous. Say yes. I said yes when a friend asked if I wanted to go to Paris. I said yes when another friend asked if I wanted to go to Australia. These were opportunities that might not come around again. The Australian trip was canceled due to Covid, but I’ll always treasure the trip to Paris with three other women. Those memories are priceless.
While some of Heidi Herman’s ideas won’t surprise you, she puts them together beautifully, and the stories she uses to illustrate them are fresh. This book, while useful for any reader, is aimed at those of us who are a little older. Looking for ideas for retirement? You might want to pick up this book. She suggests outdoor activities, volunteer ones, family stories and searches for heritage. Take a class. Continue to learn. Explore your hometown. And, don’t look at this book negatively, saying I can’t do any of those activities because of Covid. There are ones you can do right now. There are also plenty of activities you can plan for the future. Planning may be part of the fun.
Perhaps Herman’s greatest message is to be open to the world and embrace life. As I said, her mother is her example. When she was ninety-three, she committed to trying and sharing ninety-three new experiences before her 94th birthday. Herman lists all of those activities at the end of the book. “Keep Moving. Keep Doing. Keep Living.” There are excellent ideas and life lessons in this book. Readers just need an open heart and the willingness to embrace the idea. On with the Butter!
Heidi Herman’s website is www.heidihermanauthor.com
On with the Butter!: Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman. Hekla Publishing, 2020. ISBN 9781947233034 (paperback), 235p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – The publicist sent a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.
This sounds like my kind of book Lesa, I will see if it is available here.
I agree about keeping an open mind, although as you know I am lucky to be able to do most of the things I like doing despite the virus. And i do think of you very often, and how difficult it is for you when the things you like doing are impossible just now.
The one thing you mentioned from the book that I won’t be doing is saying yes to trips! I am such a poor traveller, and in the past I have said yes to people who wanted a travelling companion, only to wish fervently that I had said no thanks. These were all nice people, it’s me!
I’m interested to see what the author’s mother’s 93 things were! It’s a good idea to have some kind of list, though I don’t think it should be prescriptive. I do enjoy those book challenges that suggest that you read a book from various categories over a year or whatever – ‘a book in a genre you never usually consider’, ‘a book you read as a child’, ‘a book in translation’ – etc. I try hard not to get into a reading rut. My mother would normally only read detective and thriller novels, but I pass on to her any other books I think she’ll enjoy, and I do think she’s reading a bit more outside the box these days.
Similarly, when I did a book exchange with my son, some of the books he sent me were ones I’d never have taken off the shelf, but because I didn’t want to disappoint him I read them, and I enjoyed them too – especially John Burns’ The Last Hillwalker, which I thought would be horribly hearty but was in fact very funny and interesting too.
I even tried Jenny Colgan because my elder daughter was enjoying her – some of Colgan’s books are far too saccharine for me, and the ones set on a Scottish island are full of inaccuracies/artistic licence, but I liked Class (about a new teacher in a boarding school) and I have others on my shelf that I now look forward to trying. Anna (daughter) also enjoys Jilly Cooper – I do love her early novels, but the big ‘bonkbuster’ ones haven’t really grabbed me so far. I heard Jilly on Desert Island Discs recent and I did enjoy her – she’s frightfully posh, of course, but very funny too, and quite self-deprecating for such a successful writer.
I hope your week has started OK. We’ve had massive flooding around here over the weekend, but thank goodness we were lucky and it has not reached our house – and now it’s subsiding.
Rosemary
Hi, Rosemary! The nice thing about the mother's list of 93 things? They were 93 things that happened; she didn't plan them a head of time for a certain list. You're right. I'd find a pre-set list boring. I don't think the author's mother was boring at all! That's one element that made the book so interesting.
Actually, I am happy for the people who can continue to do most of the things they love. My best friend still goes out and walks her dog. She still sees her family. They're all part of her "bubble". And, it does sound as if you're still enjoying your life with your walks. I enjoy reading about that.
I like some Jenny Colgan, but not all of them.
I think I like to travel because of my parents. Even when we were little, my mother put us in the back of a car, and drove for hours to visit family. Then, when I was in 3rd or 4th grade, my parents started taking us camping, and several times we went on month-long trips. We all love to travel now.
I hope you have the book there!