One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon GordonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
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12/30/2020
Review: Becoming
Becoming by Michelle ObamaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and learning more about our former First Lady from her own perspective. I found her book to be articulate, honest, thoughtful, and reflective. It was interesting to read about living in the White House from her perspective, but I think I enjoyed reading more about her early life the best. This is definitely worth the read.
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Review: She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi KantorMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I, like most everyone else, followed the breaking news about Harvey Weinstein when it broke and was horrified to learn about the extent of his misdeeds. This book chronicles the reporting done by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey that lead to that breaking news, as well as other stories about powerful men who were accused of similar crimes. It was an incredibly interesting narrative. I was struck with the level of complicity that allowed Weinstein to do what he did, which is what I think bothers me the most about this. How could so many people, who knew what he was doing was wrong, turn a blind eye and allow it to happen? And, even worse, allow it to keep happening by protecting Weinstein and taking away these women's right to tell their stories. The bravery of the women who finally came forward to expose this cannot be overlooked. Although I haven't seen much change in the way of legislation, I am hoping that as more of these stories are told, that we will see changes that protect the victims of these horrific crimes.
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Review: A Discovery of Witches
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah HarknessMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book has everything I adore - vampires, witches, mystery, romance, history, and magic. While some are billing it as an "adult Twilight," I would disagree with this assessment. Yes, there are vampires and romance, but it's nothing like the Twilight books. I love the characters, especially Diana. It's so nice to have a strong, intelligent, independent, and feisty female at the center of a well-written novel. This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it to the very last page. Do yourself a favor and read this one!
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Review: A Darker Shade of Magic
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. SchwabMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had the privilege to see V.E. Schwab speak recently at the DC Book Festival. I had never heard of her before but was so intrigued by her author talk that I bought several of her books at the festival. This is the first of her books that I have read and I have become a fan!
This book was so good. The characters are dynamic and a little rough around the edges. Lila is by far my favorite character. I appreciate her wit, her sense of adventure, and her will to survive. The worlds that Schwab created are breathtaking and alive. The story was a page turner and I didn't want to put it down. I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel!
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Review: Know My Name
Know My Name by Chanel MillerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is incredibly powerful. I listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author, Chanel Miller, which make the book's impact even greater. Chanel is an intelligent and articulate writer and she tells her story in such a beautiful and honest way. I wish that books like this could be mandatory reading for everyone. Then maybe society would understand why it is so hard for women to come forward, how pervasive sexual assault is, and how the justice system often works against victims of sexual assault.
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Review: A Gathering of Shadows
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. SchwabMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book picks up four months after the end of book one and is a page-turner! Schwab weaves together an amazing adventure story with plenty of twists and turns. And the ending!! The ending is a brutal cliffhanger! Loved this one!
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Review: A Conjuring of Light
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. SchwabMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Schwab brings this series to a satisfying close in this third installment. It picks up right after the second book (and its brutal cliffhanger!) and is a faced paced race to the finish. It is full of emotion and each character has a satisfying arc. I was happy with how the series ended and this series has made me a V.E. Schwab fan. This series is well worth your time investment.
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Review: Midnight Sun
Midnight Sun by Stephenie MeyerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
No one was more disappointed than me when Stephenie Meyer shelved Midnight Sun after it was leaked. To me, Edward has always been the more dynamic and interesting character over Bella, who always seemed a bit flat and stereotypical. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to return to "Twilight land" and relive the narrative through Edward's POV. I don't know that I liked this version better than the original, but it was different enough so that it didn't feel like I just reread the original. I thought this novel was worth the wait and if you are a fan of the original trilogy, then you will enjoy this new edition.
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Review: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason ReynoldsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
As a teacher, tackling the topic of racism is a daunting, but essential task. I am always on the lookout for resources to put in the hands of my students that will help them understand and also spark conversation. This book is a fantastic resource. It reworks the original narrative by Ibram X. Kendi into something that is engaging, accessible, and appropriate for young adults. Understanding something's history is important and this book provides some history and context for a difficult topic to discuss. I haven't read the original book but plan to check it out. If you are looking for books for young adults to help foster conversations around race, I highly recommend this one.
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Review: White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngeloMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
You must be willing to pick up this book with an open mind and a willingness to learn. If not, you will be easily offended and will not be open to what this book is about. The biggest takeaway I had from reading this book is the pervasiveness of racism and the stronghold it has in our societal institutions. While I'd like to think that I had some awareness of racism before, this book made me reflect and made me think that I was not as enlightened as I thought. Because I am part of the group that is considered the "norm," I have the privilege of not having to think about race every day and at every turn. It's hard to talk to white people about racism because it requires us to rethink and reconsider everything and to think about things that we've never had to think of. This book is certainly a start for engaging in the kind of reflection that is necessary to understanding institutional racism and the role that we all play in upholding the system. However, you need to be open to reading confrontational ideas and open to doing some soul searching, otherwise, reading this book will probably be ineffective.
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Review: How to Have Your Life Not Suck: Becoming Today Who You Want to Be Tomorrow
How to Have Your Life Not Suck: Becoming Today Who You Want to Be Tomorrow by Bianca Juarez OlthoffMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book combines two of my favorite things - Bianca Olthoff and the book of Ruth. I have had the pleasure of seeing Bianca preach a few times and she is engaging, funny, and communicates the Word of God effectively. The story of Ruth is my favorite Bible story. So when I heard of this book, I was excited to dive in. Olthoff takes the story of Ruth and illustrates how it has applications for everyday life. She uses Ruth's story to give Biblically-based, down-to-earth advice on a range of topics, from relationships to how to grow in your career. I laughed, found myself nodding along, and felt inspired to make changes in some areas where I have been feeling stuck. This is a great book and I highly recommend it for anyone who is feeling stuck or wanting to reflect on different aspects of their life.
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