Reading Slump

I think every reader can relate to this - I am currently in a reading slump **cue the sad music lol**.

I have so many books that I want to read, but I don't have the time or energy lately. When I try to pick up a book, I get through maybe 10 pages (and that is not me at all). I try to chalk this up to the season - it's summertime and I'm out enjoying life, but still...it's taking me forever to finish a book that I would normally have finished in two days. I'll be glad when I get out of this slump!

Hopefully everyone else's summer reading is much more successful than mine has been!

Until we read again...

Review: Here Comes the Sun

Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn has just been added to one of my all-time favorite books. Dennis-Benn's debut fiction novel was so complex, so rich in story, and so well-rounded that it's hard to believe that this is the author's first book.

Here Comes the Sun is set in Jamaica and it follows the lives of Margot, her younger sister Thandi, and their mother Delores. Margot has been selling her body for years to help her mother make ends meet and in efforts to give Thandi a better education and therefore life. Thandi is not interested in the science that Margot wants her to do so well in. She wants to be an artist. Not only does Thandi struggle in what would make her family happy versus what would make her happy, but she also struggles with her self-image. She uses lightening creams to the extent that she shouldn't even walk outside without an umbrella to protect her from the sun. Finally, the matriarch of the family struggles with the notion that she is not a good mother but in fact has ruined her children's lives. For example, she spends a lot of time coming to terms that selling Margot to a man for $600 at the tender age of 14 was not in Margot's best interest.

While I cannot definitively say that this story is true to the native Jamaican experience, I can say that the story seemed so real. I could feel the characters, their pain, their emotions, their hopes and aspirations - they truly felt real to me. This could be in part due to the fact that the author is a native Jamaican and has probably witnessed first hand what happens on the island outside of the tourist experience. I honestly don't know; but, I do know that there was so much life in this book and in Dennis-Benn's words.

This is not an easy read and it is not for the light of heart. This novel took me out of my comfortable American mindset and forced me to once again realize that life is not to be taken for granted. I know that I can speak for myself and say that I take many things for granted - shelter, food, education, women's rights, and more. When you discover that others go to such extremes such as selling their bodies for an education, it is beyond humbling. This is the power that is in this book. It was an absolutely great read.

Until we read again...

Review: Finding Gideon

If you know me, you know that I am a HUGE fan of Eric Jerome Dickey. Besides Elin Hilderbrand, Kimberla Lawson Roby, and maybe a few others, he is one of the few authors that I closely follow. When one of his books come out, I try to read it immediately. I am that kind of fan of his...

With that being said, I was not that thrilled with Finding Gideon. I'm not sure if it was because it has been years since the last installment of the series came out or what. It's not hard to forget what happened in a series and that is exactly what I did...I completely forgot everything about the Gideon series, except for the fact that Gideon was an international assassin. There were characters that I should have remembered, but I didn't. Midnight was one of those characters. I struggled remembering his backstory. While Dickey did a great job of bringing his readers up to speed as to who Midnight was and his relationship with Gideon (because it was the focus of this story's plot), he did not necessarily do that with many of the other characters.

Another reason why I think I struggled with this book was that it was just difficult to read. Dickey has a way of writing in which he throws several allusions at you at once and you spend so much time trying to keep up with them, that everything just becomes confusing. Dickey is the KING of allusions - I just wish that he paced them out a little.

The plot itself, however, was very interesting. I am trying to figure out how Eric Jerome Dickey does not have a screenplay out there, because he could write the best action film in the world. This book was nothing but sex and action! Those moments in his book were the best. They read like a movie scene - but better than any I have ever seen. The premise of Finding Gideon is that Gideon discovers that his father, Midnight, is actually alive, even though he presumed him dead after he shot him in the face decades prior. Midnight wants to exact revenge and Gideon wants to finish what he started. This feud takes the reader to Brazil, London, and Smyrna, Georgia, as the two men and their posses battle it to the end.

Although this wasn't my favorite book by Dickey, I am still a huge fan. There is so much passion in his work that it is hard not to enjoy his writing. I'll definitely re-read Finding Gideon once I re-read the previous books in the series. In the meantime, if action is your thing, do yourself a favor and pick this book up! You will definitely be entertained!

Until we read again...

Review: I Can't Make This Up

Without a doubt, Kevin Hart has taken over the comedy world by storm within the last few years. He has been in several movies, has done stand-ups, and he has even become a fitness inspiration as a face for the Nike running club. Now he can add author to his accolades.

I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart is a memoir of Hart's life and basically how he has gotten to where he is today. He grew up in Philadelphia with his mom and brother and he didn't have many aspirations for himself until after he graduated school and someone told him that he was funny. It was then that he thought that he could make a career out of telling jokes.

As Hart details his upbringing, he drops some nuggets of wisdom along the way. For example, he said repeatedly that if it weren't for his humble upbringing, that he wouldn't be as successful as he is today because he would not have worked as hard and would have taken each opportunity presented to him for granted. Another of his life lessons was that you can't control what happens in life but that you can control your response and your outlook (something that I struggle coming to terms with!). This was a key theme in his life.

Although all of this sounds very serious and sobering, Kevin Hart managed to keep his book light. Although you're reading about the time his father got axed in the head for some ambiguous reason, you're not left feeling sad, disgusted, or in shock...it is more of a "WHAT!" Even when Hart discusses in detail his strained relationship with his ex-wife, you won't feel anger or disgust for either...you will laugh and say "WHAT!" He truly couldn't have made anything of this up! (Read the book and you'll understand! lol). I don't remember if Hart said this, but with each of these moments, he reinforced the thought that you just have to laugh at life and not to take it so seriously.

I can honestly say that I appreciate Kevin Hart so much more after reading his book. For the last year or so, he has just been annoyingly everywhere! But, now that I see how long it took him to get where he is, I get it. Even when  he was making it and making money, he faced many setbacks  - financially, in his relationships, and with his family, to name a few - setbacks so deep that he questioned everything. This was a very inspirational and motivational book (which I was not expecting) and it has given me the "umph" to keep pushing towards what I want in life.

**SIDENOTE** Don't read the print version of this book...listen to his audiobook, which is read by Hart himself. You will thank me later!

Until we read again...

Half Year Reading Check-In

How is everyone managing their reading goals so far? I made a goal to read 65 books this year and so far, I have read 42! 13 more books to go! Here's a list of my absolute favorite books that I have read this year...

1. Small Great Things - Jodi Picoult
2. The Sleepwalker - Chris Bohjalian
3. The Shack - William P. Young
4. Flowers in the Attic - V. C. Andrews
5. The Eli's Cheesecake Cookbook - Maureen Andrews
6. Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty
7. Born a Crime - Trevor Noah

Without a doubt, I highly recommend any of these 7 books - I don't know anyone who would be disappointed reading them. 

How many books have you all read so far this year? Are you on track to meeting your reading goals for 2017? Follow me on goodreads - it's pretty cool to keep up with what everyone is reading on the social site. 

Until we read again... 

Barnes & Noble Membership Benefits

For all of my bibliophiles out there, you should seriously consider purchasing a Barnes & Noble membership card, especially if you frequently purchase books. For only $25 a year, you receive a ton of perks, which are listed below...

1. Free shipping on online orders with no minimum order. This is YUGE! It takes the guilt out of online shopping for me because I can save money on gas and I still receive my books in a reasonable amount of time (1-3 business days). I recently bought three books for $13.88 from B&N and did not pay a lick for shipping! 
2. In-store savings. This is also a huge thing for me. Books can be expensive! Especially hard-cover books. With the membership, I receive 40% off on hardcover bestsellers (hello Elin Hilderbrand), and any other books that I purchase, I receive 10% off of those. 
3. Additional savings. Throughout the year, I will receive coupons to use in-store and online. These range from an additional 20% off one item, a percentage off of select items, and discounts on food from the cafe. 

It's easy to see that you receive a lot of benefit for only $25! This year alone, I've probably saved at least $50 by using my membership card! Quite recently, I discovered that they offer a kids club membership, in which you can save money on books as well. For every $100 spent on a kids book, you receive a $5 reward. I spend a lot of money on children's books throughout the year, so this works well for me. 

I'm not a huge fan of store membership programs but the B&N membership just makes sense for me and my family. We frequent the bookstore a lot and it saves us a lot of money. Does anybody else have a B&N membership? How is it working out for you? Are there any other membership programs that work well for you in saving money on books? Drop a comment below!

Until we read again...

Summer Reading Kickoff

Our local library hosts a summer reading kickoff event every year for the kids to get them excited to read. It's a pretty awesome event. They hire a children's performer who plays music, sings, gets the kids dancing, and has lots of bubbles (you can never go wrong with bubbles). In between the fun, he will encourage the kids to read. This year's theme for summer reading is to build a better world, so he was diligent in stressing this point. At one point, he told the kids that if they read and learn as much as they could, they could make a difference in the world - they could even become the president! Like I said, it is a pretty awesome event and very encouraging.

How's everyone's summer reading coming along? Hopefully, it is just as fun as ours is!

Until we read again...

You've Got Mail!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my son absolutely loves Captain Underpants. We finished the first book in the series and he was instantly ready to read the second book! Unfortunately, it's difficult to borrow it from the library due to the recent release of the movie, so I decided to order it online from Barnes & Noble. I have a membership with them, so I get free shipping - so yeah...basically it's worth having it shipped as opposed to driving to the store. Now they say a picture says a thousand words...





















The excitement on his face when he opened up his package was PRICELESS! Have you ever seen a child so excited to get a book? This is what reading is all about!

Until we read again...

News Worthy

http://ew.com/books/2017/06/12/hunger-games-girl-saves-friends-life/

How cool is this?! Who says you can't learn something from leisurely reading?

Review: Petals on the Wind

I finally finished the second installment in the Dollanganger series, Petals on the Wind by V. C. Andrews. I actually finished it a week ago but I've been at such a loss of words about it. When I ended this book, I was left wondering, what did I just read?

For those that don't have a clue who the Dollanganger's are, please stop everything that you are doing immediately and go read Flowers in the Attic (I promise that you won't be disappointed). For those that have read Flowers, Petals is the next part - in which the surviving kids escape the attic and are en route to Florida by bus. Before they even get out of South Carolina, however, they are forced to get off the bus and seek out a doctor, because Carrie is terribly sick from arsenic poisoning. They find their doctor, Dr. Paul, who nurses Carrie back to health and ultimately takes all three of the kids as his wards. This is where the story takes a turn for the interesting...

At this point, Carrie is of reasonable health, and struggles with her image. Cathy and Chris struggle with their feelings towards each other. Cathy is seeking revenge on her mother and grandmother. Chris would rather move on with their lives, start fresh and become a doctor. Relationships (many of which were completely inappropriate, in my opinion) pursue amongst each other, there are engagements, marriages, several more deaths, and plenty of heartache. This was the ultimate soap opera of soap operas! If you could think of the absolute impossible, then V. C. Andrews went 100 steps beyond that and wrote about it.

Overall, this book was just a mental mind screw. For all the psychologists/psychiatrists out there, you will have a field day with this book - some themes of this book were incest, the influence of money, the importance of health, and how one's childhood significantly affects their adulthood. I already purchased the next book in the series, If There Be Thorns, but I need a break - this book was wayyyyy too heavy for me.

Until we read again...

Review: Can I Say

Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums Drums Drums by Travis Barker was one hell of a read (or listen in my case)! It's interesting that I even considered reading this book, let alone purchased it, because I have never been a huge fan of Blink-182 and I didn't know much about Travis Barker. I liked Blink's song "All the Small Things" and I occasionally watched "Meet the Barkers" on MTV, but there was nothing that stood out to me, except that I knew that he was a rockstar. After reading his autobiography, my perception of him has completely changed.

Barker starts his autobiography detailing his childhood; how he grew up in humble beginnings, how the end of his parent's marriage affected him, how his mother's death impacted him, and how he came about playing the drums. His early life was surprisingly very relatable - like, he could have easily been somebody that I went to school with. 

Beyond his childhood, he talked about how he came about drumming and more specifically drumming for Blink-182. I never knew that he was not a member of the band to begin with. He actually started with Blink-182 years after they were established, as he was filling in for their previous drummer. Not only that, but he was not exclusive to Blink-182. He played for at least 2 other bands simultaneously. Throughout the years, he also juggled a clothing line, a restaurant, his own band, and other side gigs. Very impressive. One theme that was resounding in Barker's book was not to judge a book by it's cover. He detailed several occasions in which people expected him to be some lazy stoner that was in and out of jail; yet, he turned out to be one of the hardest working men in the industry! 

I think I really picked up this book because I was interested in the plane crash that he, DJ AM and two of their friends were in. I remember when it happened and that Travis Barker suffered PTSD from it and it ultimately was a factor in DJ AM's death, but beyond that I didn't know much. Barker did a great job describing what happened and it was unbelievable. I never knew that he had 3rd degree burns over 65% of his body. He ended up having to get over 20 surgeries because of the crash, yet, he managed to persevere through it all. If anything, the plane crash is a huge testament to the strength and willpower that Barker has.

While this was a great story, it wasn't the best to listen to. I do not recommend listening to the audio version of this book - at all. Throughout his book, Barker has important people in his life tell stories of their own about him and in the audio version, it was difficult to tell when their story ended and Barker's continued. There was no significant pause indicating that their anecdote was over, no change in inflection on the narrator's part...nothing. So every once in a while, it became confusing. 

If you are/were a fan of Travis Barker's or Blink-182, I encourage you to pick this book up. I can appreciate why so many people have so much respect for him and why he has been so influential in the music industry.

Until we read again...

Pros and Cons of Audiobooks

I know that I've briefly talked about audiobooks before, but I only really talked about why I liked them. I never really elaborated on the pros and cons of them...so for those of you who are still on the fence about whether to utilize them, here goes...

Pros

1. You can do virtually anything while listening to them. 

Like I've mentioned before, I typically am cleaning, driving, or doing something relatively passive while I am listening to audiobooks. As a working mother, I have a TON of things to do - my to-do list never gets smaller, it only gets longer. So, in order to read as much as I want to, I have resorted to audiobooks. This allows me to read (or listen) to as many as 20 extra books a year. Just think about it...if you have a daily commute to work that averages 30 minutes a day, each way, that is an hour of listening you could do. You could listen to a 5 hour audiobook in a week! I know some people who train for half marathons or marathons and they listen to audiobooks while they run. Depending on how fast you are running, you could almost listen to a complete audiobook!

     2. Better reading experience for auditory learners.

Just as many of us probably know, there are many different styled learners. This also applies to readers! Some readers prefer the actual act of turning pages and visually reading words, whereas other readers may prefer being read to. They are better able to process what they are reading when they are listening to someone else read the material to them. For those readers, audiobooks are your friend!

    3. Convenience.

Without a doubt, it can be burdensome to carry a 400 page book along with me every where I go. Yet, I always have my phone on me! As an Audible subscriber, I am able to go anywhere I want with my purchased books. So, that means that I can listen to my books wherever I am. On the plane, on the beach, in my car, at the park, in the grocery store...wherever. I no longer have to worry about lugging J. K. Rowling's hefty masterpieces with me in order to read them - I can keep them conveniently in my back pocket!

Cons

     1. Hard to focus.

Sometimes (even for myself), it can be hard to focus on what is being read to you - especially if it is a slow story or the narrator has a less than desirable voice. There have been plenty of times that I have unknowingly drifted off to sleep while listening to an audiobook. It's actually quite frustrating; however, most times, I attribute it to the book that I am listening to. There are some books that are simply not meant to be read.

    2. It's hard to judge your progress.

One thing that many people, as well as myself, enjoy about reading, is watching the progress being made while you are reading. It is rewarding to see a bookmark being placed further and further through the book, until voila - finished! This is a little harder while listening to audiobooks. Sure, you can gauge it by the time elapsed and time remaining but it isn't the same. There is nothing in this world as holding a 400 page book and feeling the accomplishment of getting through it (for anyone who has ever read Don Quixote...you know what I mean).

     3. You become a recluse.

It's hard to engage with others with headphones in your ears. Sure, while you are reading a print book, that is indicative to others that you don't want to be bothered, but people tend to feel more comfortable interrupting you in that scenario than when you have headphones on. As a result, while listening to audiobooks, you tend to take on an anti-social approach, especially if you listen to them for long amounts of time. I know that I have to catch myself sometimes and force myself to stop listening so that I can interact with others; however, if it is a book that has caught my attention and the narrator is doing a phenomenal job ("Flowers in the Attic" by V. C. Andrews, narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan), it is hard to pull yourself from those headphones. 

The audiobook that I am currently plugging through. I listened to almost 4 hours yesterday (anti-social, I know)...review to come soon.

For those of you still on the fence about whether to try audiobooks or not, head over to your local library and rent one first. You may be pleasantly surprised! In my experience, the best audiobooks are biographies that are read by the author, fiction with action (like the Hunger Games trilogy), and humor; however, it goes without saying...whatever floats your boat. It truly is all about preference.

Until we read again...

The Amazing Captain Underpants!

As everyone probably knows, Captain Underpants premiered last Friday in theaters. When I saw that they were making a movie out of it, I knew that I had to take advantage of it as an opportunity to get my son interested in the books! Once I showed him the trailer, he instantly wanted to go see the movie, so I asked him if he knew that Captain Underpants was a comic book. His eyes lit up like a light bulb! He loves comic books, but the problem with most of them is that they are geared towards older readers - so this was perfect. We started borrowing copies of the series from the library and he was immediately hooked! After a short while, he was dressing up like Captain Underpants and running around screaming TRA-LA-LAAAAA - it was nothing short of awesome!

My superhero

Naturally, we went to go see the movie the day that it premiered. My son loved it! He was sitting on the edge of his seat for most of the movie, he was laughing and dancing - it was great. Afterwards, we took a trip to the bookstore and picked up some Captain Underpants books (one thing that I hate when a book inspired movie comes out, is that they are no longer to be found in the library - but it was a good opportunity for us to start this collection in his own personal library).

Movie time!

We started reading the first book in the series earlier this week before bed. We would read 4 chapters a night - which is a huge step in his reading journey. Prior to Captain Underpants, he has not read any chapter books. Without a doubt, kids like to emulate what they see, so when he sees me reading chapter books, he wants to do the same. As each night passed, I would show him the progress that he was making and it was exciting for him. It was rewarding for him to see that he was making progress on a "big boy" book. In turn, it was rewarding for me to see that he was excited to read each night and looked forward to finding out what happened next in his book.


Captain Underpants is the perfect book to get young readers involved and interested. My son could recognize many words in the book - he could even read several strings of words together. In terms of the illustrations in the book - I loved them because they weren't overwhelming. Sometimes when we are reading other books, I notice that the illustrations are so colorful and take up the entire page that it almost distracts my son from the story. He ends up making a story up from the pictures because he is not paying attention to the words. In Captain Underpants, there weren't pictures on every page and if there were pictures, they were in black and white and they were kept to a small size relative to the words on the page. One other thing that I loved about this book was the flip-o-rama - for this to be like an introduction to "big boy" reading, the author kept it fun. There was a small section in the book where you flip one page quickly back and forth to see some sort of animation. It was fun for both my son and I.

I'm really happy that they came out with the Captain Underpants movie because my son and I have turned a new leaf in this reading journey of ours due to it. Now that we have finished reading the first book in the series, it's time to go back to the bookstore and grab a few more. He's already looking forward to it.

Until we read again...

Summer, Summer, Summer...Reading

It's that time of year again!! Summer reading has officially commenced!!

This has always been an exciting time of year for me, because this meant that school was out and I could devote as much time as possible to reading (on a slightly related note and oddly enough, every year for our reading assignments that were due back on the first day of school, I procrastinated until a few days before to read the book and write a report on it).

Personally, summer reading was a time of escape - I could delve into the worlds of Harry Potter, Captain Nemo, any of Judy Blume's characters, or the magical land of Terabithia. Now that I am older and am not in school, but in fact, work year-round, summer reading isn't quite the same, but I still look forward to it.

Part of my excitement for summer reading is due in part to my local library. Each year, our library hosts a themed summer reading event, with the allure that some lucky reader could win an iPad or something of equal value. In past years, they have also rewarded readers each time they read 4 books with a free book of their choice. About two summers ago, I really racked up and ended up with almost 10 books! So, yes, each year I look forward to signing up for summer reading with the hope that at the end of the season I will win big (however, so far no luck).

My attempt at summer reading as a mom!

This year is still the same, but there are some differences. Our library has decided to allow readers to keep track of the books that they have read online - which is pretty cool. One other difference is that they aren't giving away free books for every 4 read (I'm actually pretty bummed out about this). There is only one opportunity to win a free book and that's when one successfully completes their "Library Bingo" card.

My kind of BINGO!

The theme this year for summer reading is to "Build a Better World", to "encourage us to look at our home, community, and planet." I think most readers can relate to building a better world, because when you read, you become exposed and open-minded to other viewpoints differing from yours. You truly do travel to different lands with every book that you read, and it allows you to become more empathetic to others, which in turn can help us build a better world around us. I'm all for it.

For anyone reading this blog, I encourage you to reach out to your local libraries and sign up for summer reading. Pick up a book that you wouldn't normally read. Get recommendations from your librarians, other library patrons, Goodreads, etc. How can you translate this theme of Building a Better World to a book? I'd be excited to hear what everyone has on their list to read this summer. As for me, as I stated in a previous post, I am planning on re-reading the Harry Potter series. I am also planning on finishing the Dollanganger series. I love reading chic-lit during this time of year (especially by the beach or somewhere outdoors, preferably with a nice glass of wine). The world is at our library cards (fingertips work too)! Shoot a comment below and happy summer reading!!

Until we read again...

Review: Hey Harry, Hey Matilda

When I first started Hey Harry, Hey Matilda by Rachel Hulin, I immediately had to put it back down. The format of the book was hard to get into, I struggled following the conversation between the two characters, Harry and Matilda, and quite honestly, they were annoying. After putting the book down for a week or so, I picked it back up again and gave it another try - while it wasn't my favorite book, it was okay.

The premise behind Hulin's debut book is an email chain between a set of twins discussing their lives and what they are going through. Matilda is a drunk photographer who can't seem to cope with much or support herself on her own. Harry, who isn't much better, is a professor seeking tenure, who creates a less than desirable situation for himself. The two of them go back and forth, detailing events such as impregnating a student, genetic testing, plagiarism, being unsatisfied in relationships, strained parental relationships, and being unfulfilled in one's career. *yawn*

Enjoying the warm weather and a book

This was a quick read and it kept my interest for the most part but it wasn't really memorable. Matilda drove me bat crazy with her constant whining and Harry was such a weeny (for lack of better words). This book wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a quirky book detailing the email exchange between a set of twins but it wasn't quirky - it was just weird (especially the genetic testing bit). One thing that I did like about this book, however, was the random fact dropping - for example, there was a email from Harry in which he asked his sister if she knew that the days of the week were named after the planets. I did not know that! I love when I read a fiction book and learn something new! Besides this though, I'm glad that this book is finished.

Until we read again...

Review: Mind Over Meds

Mind Over Meds: Know When Drugs Are Necessary, When Alternatives Are Better - and When to Let Your Body Heal On It's Own by Andrew Weil, M.D. was an awesome read. I could be slightly biased because it validated my own beliefs regarding the pharmaceutical industry, medication, and the healthcare system, but I encourage even skeptics to read it - you may be surprised by what you learn. This was not a book written by a conspiratorial kook who wants people to live a hippie lifestyle. He just wants people to be better informed.

In Weil's book, he dedicates a chapter to common classes of drugs and in each chapter he discusses why they are prescribed, what they do to the body, and alternative therapies to try instead of resorting to them. He discussed opiods, antihypertension medication, psychotic drugs, and diabetic medication to name a few. One resounding theme amongst most, if not all of the drugs, is that they should be a last resort for the typical user. Weil described how, too often, doctors push medication on their patients in an effort to correct a medical issue, however, the drug often aggravates the condition and forces a person to continue the medication. This is especially evident with opiods.

One thing that helped distinguish Dr. Andrew Weil's book from others, is that he was not suggesting that people shouldn't take medication at all. He asserted that people should become more discerning in what they are taking, ask their doctor's questions, and make lifestyle changes for a healthier body. For those with chronic diseases or such, he does not suggest that they shouldn't take medication - but he does suggest that they consult with a pharmacist to ensure that the medication that they do take does not conflict with any other medication that they are prescribed. He argues that doctors do not have as well as a sound training in drugs and drug interactions as pharmacists do and he questions why pharmacists are so underutilized.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. I read it in one day - it wasn't a hard read and it was easy to follow. I learned a lot and appreciated everything that was said. Check it out, and drop your opinions on Mind Over Meds below!

Until we read again...

The Summer of Harry Potter

Much like most weekends on Freeform, this past weekend was a Harry Potter one. If you know me, you know that I am a seriously huge fan of everything Harry Potter - so naturally, when there is a Harry Potter weekend, you know where to find me (seriously).

While I was watching the movies this weekend, I became quite nostalgic. This was the time of year that school was letting out and each summer I would read the Harry Potter series up through the current book that was released at the time. I probably haven't done this in over 10 years and I got to thinking...a Harry Potter weekend won't suffice anymore. I am looking forward to another Harry Potter summer. So, this summer, I pledge to read all 7 of the books again! Now this may seem like an easy feat, but I'm a working mother of a 5 year old that has the same amount of energy as the Weasley twins combined. However, I am ready to relive the excitement of the magical world of Hogwarts. I think as I read them, I'll drop my thoughts on the blog - whether the books are still as magical to me now at 28 as they were at 11, tidbits that I forgot, etc. etc. 

How many of you all out there are huge Harry Potter fans? Was the summer also a time to indulge in the series? Drop a comment below!

Until we read again...

Review: The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was a book reflective on the black lives matter movement and tense police relations. It starts off at a high school home party - shots are fired, so the main character, Starr, decides to leave early with her friend Khalil. The two teenagers are driving home when suddenly and unexpectedly, they get pulled over by a police officer. Tensions rise, as Khalil is on the defensive because he doesn't believe that he deserved to be pulled over and the police officer is demanding respect. In an unfortunate expected turn of events, the police officer, who happens to be white, fatally shoots Khalil, an unarmed black teenager - all while Starr was present and watching. Horrified, she struggles to manage day by day activities, like going to her predominantly white school or having a relationship with her white boyfriend. Much of the book deals with these conflicts and with her questioning how she should or could make a difference in the aftermath of Khalil's death. 

While most of the book is relatively predictable, there were pieces that could lend to great discussion topics. For example, as one reads the book, one learns that the police officer who shot the teenager, did not live in the same neighborhood as said teenager. If he did, could that have prevented the death? Would he have understood the realities that Khalil was dealing with and cut him some slack? Furthermore, because the officer did not live in that neighborhood, he was afraid. He saw Khalil as a threat based on his ill-mannered behavior. What should be considered a viable threat? Should law enforcement be required to live in a community that they serve? Did it make him a bad person because he acted on a perceived threat? Whether you stand on the black lives or blue lives matter line, these are all questions that should be considered and discussed.

Without a doubt, this book was uncomfortable to read (or listen to, as in my case), especially given the climate that we are in currently. I think much of it was oversimplified especially considering the complexity of each similar situation the book was based on, but the overall goal was achieved. It did tell a story - a painful story for all. My hope is that someone will read this uncomfortable story and step outside of their comfort zone and attempt to understand and take actions to help rectify and prevent these devastating incidents. 

Until we read again...

Encouraging Kids to Read

As an avid reader, it was always important to me that I pass that passion on to my kids once I had them. Well, now that I have a son, it remains important. I hear so many parents complain that their kids have no passion to read, that they think reading is "pointless and stupid", or that they just can't read well. In my experience, it is critical to begin early to instill a love for reading. Young children will grow to love to read when they can relate to a story; and as a result, they will develop a love for reading.

There were some things that I did early on with my son to help encourage his love for reading. One of them was to routinely go to our local library's storytime. Since he was 1 1/2, I would take him to storytime once a week. Initially, he wouldn't want to sit down through the whole story and he struggled focusing, but after a few months, he began to settle down enough to listen to whatever was being read. Once we got through that hurdle and he actually began listening to the stories, he really got excited, especially since our reader did a great job engaging the kids.

Besides storytime, I made a great hoop-to-do about reading every night. We would read a story together, and then once he became about 3 1/2, I would also encourage him to read a story by himself while I also read something myself. Obviously, he wasn't (and for the most part, still isn't) reading by himself, but the idea was that it was important to establish a routine to read. Not only that, but kids love to emulate what they see. When he would see me read, he was encouraged to read as well.


My last point to encouraging my son to read is in regards to finding books that appeal to his particular interests. For example, my son was heavily into dinosaurs when he was 2. When we would go to the library, I would point out to him books on dinosaurs and he would light up like a lightbulb! Again, at the time he obviously couldn't read, but he was excited to flip through the pages of the dinosaur books and look at the pictures. That love for reading was subtly set for him. Now that he is older, his interests have shifted from dinosaurs to anything superhero. Now that Captain Underpants is about to premiere in the theaters, I have taken advantage of that and have introduced him to those books and they have been a hit for him!

All in all, consistency and creativity are huge keys to encouraging kids to read - especially at a young age when they are impressionable. What has encouraged your kids to read? Do they still enjoy reading? Drop a comment below!

Until we read again...

Finding Time to Read

One of my favorite questions that people ask me is, "How do you find the time to read?" My first response is, "Well, I don't know, I just do." I love to read and have always loved to read, so reading and finding time to read just comes naturally for me; however, there are some things that I do to encourage myself to keep reading. Here are those things...

1. Commit to reading a specific amount of pages each night.
As a mom of a soon-to-be 5 year old, I know that time is scarce. There are 100 things to do within a short amount of time - let alone time for myself or reading. This is exactly why I try (the key word here is try) to commit to reading at least 50 pages a night. Some nights I find that I can barely get through 1 page and then there are nights when I coast through 100, but the effort is always rewarding. It's my quiet time, my time to unwind, and I have had to learn that I have to make time for myself and things that I like to do so this is one step to doing that! I've found that by reading at least 50 pages a day, I can read one 350 page book a week! That's 52 books a year! Now obviously, I am not reading one book a week - but the point is that it is possible.

2. Create a paradise conducive to reading.
Without a doubt, setting the stage for anything is key to getting stuff done. A photographer isn't going to process pictures in a light soaked room, so why not create a space where you will get excited to read and enjoy it? For example, I personally have a hard time reading in the bed. Especially at night. I get too comfortable and end up drifting off to sleep. Instead, I prefer to read while soaking in a bubble bath, with a nice candle burning, some soft jazz playing in the background, and a glass of wine readily available. I could read for hours like this. Recently, I've found another "paradise" - one of my local libraries. There is a corner in this library that has open windows with a gorgeous view of a garden outside. An absolutely beautiful and inspiring view. I don't know why I enjoy reading here but I feel a great sense of peace there, so I can easily get lost in a book.

3. Try audiobooks.
I know some people aren't going to be too happy with this suggestion but I promise you, audiobooks are awesome! As I've said in a previous post, some books are meant to be read aloud! For example, here are a few that I've absolutely adored listening to:

Working Stiff by Judy Melinek, M.D. and T.J. Mitchell

Every Day I Fight by Stuart Scott

Born with Teeth: A Memoir by Kate Mulgrew

Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir by Amanda Knox

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

How to Be Black by Baratunde Thurston

#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

What Really Happened: John Edwards, Our Daughter, and Me by Rielle Hunter

Those are just to name a few. I really could go on and on. I've found that for myself, the books that I really gravitate towards in the audio format are biographies and memoirs, especially when they are read by the author. It adds so much personality to the story - you can feel the emotion in the words and it helps to bring the story to life. I listen to them on the way to work, while at work, while I'm cleaning, while I'm at the grocery store, etc. Anything that I am passively doing, I will use that opportunity to listen to an audio book. I find that that allows me to read at least 20 more books a year. 

4. Always keep a book with you.

There are some things that I always have to keep on hand at all times. These things include my wallet, my phone, some yarn and a hook, and a book. You never know when you are going somewhere and have to wait for something - so I keep a book on me, just in case. My son does a lot of activities outside of school and while I enjoy watching him partake in them, most times I try to use that time for myself, so I read. In most cases, that adds an extra hour a day of reading time. If I'm going to the DMV and end up having to wait an hour just to renew my license, I have a book ready in my purse to pass the time along. 

All in all, there are things that you can do to get more reading done. Some of these may work really well for some and for others they just won't do, but anything is worth trying. I'd be interested in hearing what others do to make sure that they keep reading and/or read more - be sure to leave a comment!

Until we read again...

Review: Settle for More

Can I tell y'all that I was beyond excited to read Megyn Kelly's, "Settle for More"?! Most people that I know aren't big fans of hers but whether I have agreed with her stance on issues or not, she has always stood out to me as a powerful woman. What better way to become a powerful woman than to read and learn about another powerful woman?

Having said all of that...I am conflicted after reading her memoir. I was head over heels with what I was reading until I had less than 100 pages left of her book. Much of her book discusses her foundation - what she believed gave her the standing to become a successful lawyer and journalist. While I didn't appreciate some of her language and attitude (she referred to people who coddle their children as "cupcakes"), I was still interested. I could appreciate how she felt as if she was successful because her parents didn't tell her she was a winner when she was just average at something. In her opinion, that taught her that she had to work for what she wanted, that nothing would just be handed to her. If she wasn't good at dancing, then her parents would tell her that and she would realize that maybe dancing wasn't her niche. Apparently, law and journalism were hers.

While reading, I was impressed by her accolades. After logging in endless hours of work and study and overcoming some sexism, she became an impressive lawyer in her early 20's. She recounted a conversation that she had with another lawyer who basically told her that after 7 years or so she would not be so enamored with her profession, which so happened to be true. Eventually she felt static in her career, as if the passion that she once felt for law fizzled out. So, she sought out something new - journalism. What was unbelievable to me was what happened following her epiphany. Within several short years (2-3), she quit her job at a highly respectable law firm (the same law firm the late Antonin Scalia practiced for), began reporting for a small, local station, and then ended up on Fox News (eventually with her own show). While I was reading this, I was like whoa! She must really be good! However, it isn't until you almost finish the book, that you learn that there were some other factors that most likely led to her quick promotions through Fox News, all while having little prior experience. How disappointing?! For me, it almost felt as if she quickly detailed this at the end of the book so that it wouldn't have so much command on her success.

Without a doubt, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the attention that she gave Donald Trump throughout her book. He was a central topic in her book from page one. It almost felt as if she was trying to prove herself amongst Trump's claims that she was not worthy as a journalist. What I found to be interesting, however, was that she reminded me of him in several instances. For example, Trump is notorious for mentioning how great a person is if they like him or support him. Megyn Kelly did this in several instances in her book (e.g., Katie Couric).

Regardless of Kelly's ascension through Fox News and Trump's aversion to her, I had to admit that Megyn Kelly is nothing short of impressive. I was glad to read her book, as I found plenty of things to take away from it. In regards as to whether I line up with her ideologically, to me that is a moot point. For me, it is just as important to read or listen to people that do not share similar ideals as me as it is for me to read or listen to others that do. While sometimes it may be uncomfortable, it opens up my perspective on things in life and helps me be more empathetic to others. So whether you like Megyn Kelly or not, I challenge you to at least give her book a try and see what you can get from it.

Until we read again... 

Review: You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain

Phoebe Robinson's "You Can't Touch My Hair" was not a book that I necessarily wanted to read; however, it KEPT coming up as a suggested book. After being recommended to read a book so many times, you start to believe that you need to read it. So...after the perpetual reminders, along with the knowledge that I needed to use my audible credits before I lost them, I purchased the audiobook version.

"You Can't Touch My Hair" follows the premise that even in modern times, African-Americans, women, and African-American women have to explain or deal with things that they frankly shouldn't have to. For example, she talks about how it is okay for men to be assertive but when women take charge, they are referred to as "bitches". As a female comedian, she details the double standard in her profession - during their stand-ups, men can use foul language, make jokes about their (and females) genitalia, and just be straight up crass. Women, on the other hand, cannot. According to Robinson, female comedians are not supposed to be crass but should be lady-like and not too pretty. The stereotypes are endless, ridiculous, and unbelievable. Although the majority of us ladies are not professional comedians, I think that we can all concur that we face double standards in our work and home lives that we probably shouldn't in 2017.

Another topic that she discusses, which lends to the title of her book, was about touching women's hair and more specifically African-American's hair. This is such a taboo topic that it's shocking that it still has to be discussed. She details the pride that many African-American women have and some still struggle with while combating disgust, amazement, and intrigue from others outside of the race. Our hair is our pride and glory. There is nothing like it in the world - the many textures that one head of hair has, how soft and plush it is, how it can be essentially transformed into works of art - so it should be obvious that we don't want anyone picking and touching at it like it's a pet asking to be coddled. One of my favorite pieces in this story was when she recounted historical moments in African-American hair - such as Grace Jones' assymetrical fro, or when Viola Davis took off her wig in How to Get Away with Murder.

Unquestionably, Phoebe Robinson had great commentary at times, but this was not my favorite thing to read/listen to. For those that know me, they know that I am a HUGE fan of audiobooks. There are just some books that are meant to be orally read (e.g., "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, read by Tim Curry). I tend to purchase quite a few biographies in the audio format, especially if they are read by the author. However...listening to Robinson hold out words or scream "hashtag ____" every 30 seconds was quirky at first, but quickly grew annoying. Nobody I know talks like that and if they did I wouldn't know them for long. It made her sound very juvenile and it made it difficult to listen to the content of what she was saying.

I also had a hard time getting into this book because I am not a fan of crude or crass language - from a man, woman, dog, alien, moose, whoever. I don't want to listen to somebody drop f-bombs (or any other expletive for that matter) every other word that comes out of their mouth. That is the quickest way to lose my interest in something. So be warned - if you have sensitive ears or eyes, this may not be the book for you.

I'm a little sad to say this but this book was just not memorable for me. Like I stated above, there was some really great commentary and then there was some that was just blah. I'm just glad I don't have to see it pop up on my suggested to-read list anymore.

Until we read again...

Review: Flowers in the Attic

I remember being in high school when my mom was talking to me about the movie adaptation of "Flowers in the Attic" by V.C. Andrews. She sounded as if she was haunted by it, and I remember thinking, "Well how bad could it have been...wasn't it made in like the 80's?" It's not like it was the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Ugh...yeah...no. Don't judge a book/movie made in what you supposed was the 80's by it's cover because it just may be absolutely haunting.

Written in 1979 by V. C. Andrews, "Flowers in the Attic", tells the tale of 4 young children who are forced to live in a confined attic. Within a matter of months - due to a tragic accident and what one initially thinks as a necessity, the children go from living in a loving two parent house to an attic by themselves. Once a day, they are given a basket full of food from their grandmother, whom they've never met prior to, and are expected to keep quiet and act morally just and restrained. Their mother tells them that this arrangement is only temporary - possibly a few days...at the most, a couple of weeks. Days and weeks eventually lead to years of these precious children living in an attic. They are deprived of any fresh air, contact with anyone other than themselves, their mother, or grandmother, and opportunities to exercise and be free. As a result, and as expected, their health deteriorates. The oldest two children plan an escape but it isn't until one fatal night that they actually resolve that their lives are at stake while living in said attic and that it is imperative that they escape immediately.

This book read like a nightmare that I couldn't wait to escape. This was more scary than the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It is written through the eyes of the oldest daughter, Cathy, who is living in the attic and she spares little detail. She descibes in horror the conditions in which they are forced to live in and the hurt that she feels when her mother comes to visit her and her siblings while detailing her lavish excursions even though her children can only look out of a window. She describes in horrific detail the sicknesses of her twin brother and sister; in particular, how they aged to 8 years old but were only 3 feet tall because of lack of nourishment. She relates the torture that the evil grandmother inflicted upon the children because they weren't abiding to her strict rules. If that doesn't haunt you then I'm not sure what will.

A huge premise of the book is the influence of money. How much influence does money have on you? The mother of the kids did the unthinkable (at least to me) to ensure that she received her inheritance and lived a posh lifestyle. I suppose everyone has their vice or drug...but...I think that for most *reasonable* people those things take a back seat to their kids or loved ones. I would love to have a million dollars - but again, there are some things that I would not compromise to achieve it; my child, my soul, my well being, etc.

Another theme that was prevalent in the book was incest. Not a popular topic to talk about but hey...the author flawlessly planted it into her story. I could completely understand how some of the characters became incestuous considering the circumstances that they were placed in. The developing brain and body are dangerous entities when not given the opportunity to properly grow. By no means was it comfortable to read though; it was just intriguing...and sad. I guess the overall theme of this book was sadness. That is the only word I can think of to describe everything. Everything was just...sad.

It is a tale that you won't be able to read lightly - or quickly. Personally, I found that I would have to take breaks reading it because it was just too heavy for my spirit. I kept asking myself, "How could they do this to kids?" They were only kids - and I know that terrible things happen to kids everyday; some could probably argue that worse things happen to kids everyday but it hurts knowing that children face any ounce of hurt at all.

Overall, I would recommend this book to others, but be wary if you are a sensitive reader. This is not for the lighthearted. I'd be interested in hearing what others thought about this book. I am honestly surprised at how well this book has done considering some of its intense themes, like incest. Stay tuned for future reviews, as I plan on reading the entire series.

Currently Reading: Why Do You Read So Many Books at Once?

The Jungle Book: Rudyard Kipling (audio)

If Not For You: Debbie Macomber

Pretty Girls: Karin Slaughter

The Eli's Cheesecake Cookbook: Maureen Schulman

Guy Fieri Food: Cookin' It, Livin' It, Lovin' It: Guy Fieri

Okay, I get this a lot. Why (and how) do you read multiple books at once. Well...I don't know. At any given time, I am reading a print book and listening to an audio book. This is because I listen to audiobooks while I'm commuting to or from work, or even while I'm at work. Print books, I typically read during my down time. The cookbooks, I read while I'm cooking or meal planning. Yes - I do read cookbooks from page to page, recipe to recipe. Most authors of cookbooks include good anecdotes throughout the book and helpful cooking hints. So, if you haven't read a cookbook, I encourage you to do so. You won't regret it. In fact, start with Chrissy Teigen's "Cravings". This is one of my favorite cookbooks that has recently been published.

Is anyone else reading any of these 5 books? What are your thoughts? I'll share mine soon!

Jasmine

Salutations!

Hello!

I'm not sure how to start this little introduction other than that I love to read. Since I was a young girl, I have been an avid reader - and book reviewer. I have had many journals in which I would review the books that I would read; for no particular audience other than myself. Reading has been a lifelong passion of mines and with the age of the internet, one day, I asked myself - how cool would it be to share that passion with the world? So, here we are. :)

With this blog, I hope to encourage others to read (more). As a mother of a young child, I completely understand that there are not enough hours in the day. Most days, when I do get free time, I just want to sleep my life away. *But* I will suffer through my delirium and read at least one page before I go to bed. Some nights are better than others - in which I will be able to read 100+ pages - and then other nights I can hardly make it through one page. The point is that I try. In a society where technology is taking over the world, reading is becoming a lost art. We now have audiobooks, in which people can read to you! People don't want to read and there is no incentive to read anymore, especially when something can be read to you. Now, don't get me wrong - I am a huge fan of audiobooks; but, in **most** instances, they just do not compare to a printed book.

So, here's to all the bookworms out there. This blog is a celebration of reading. It will be a place of thought - a collaboration of different perspectives; because my perspective of a piece will be completely different from another. And that is perfectly okay - in fact, I love when that occurs. It helps me expand my way of thinking of the world - putting myself in someone else's head. I hope that others will join me along this journey and experience the same. In a world, where even cursive is becoming obsolete, my hope is that reading will conquer the new technology wave and persevere.

If you have a goodreads account, please follow me  - my username is Jazzybelle8939. If you don't have a goodreads account, go get one...now! I'm interested in hearing what is on everyone's reading list - it may be my next best read!

Jasmine