It’s time for my monthly book review post! These are the books that I finished in November. I will be linking up this post with the Show Us Your Books Link Up, and as always, the Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve read any of these books or are interested in them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments! This month, I wanted to read non-fiction for non-fiction November, and I did read a few, as you will see! I tried to pick up some of my older TBR books too. I also read three books this month that I reviewed separately: Love & Olives, The Empathy Advantage, and The Cousins.
Title: Winter In Paradise
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Back Bay Books, 9/17/19
Source: Book Swap
Why I Read It: Buddy Read on Instagram
My Rating: 4 Stars
The first book in the Paradise series has been on my list for awhile now and I finally picked it up this month. This was a sweet book with a varied cast of characters which I enjoyed reading.
“Irene Steele shares her idyllic life in a beautiful Iowa City Victorian house with a husband who loves her to sky-writing, sentimental extremes. But as she rings in the new year one cold and snowy night, everything she thought she knew falls to pieces with a shocking phone call: her beloved husband, away on business, has been killed in a helicopter crash. Before Irene can even process the news, she must first confront the perplexing details of her husband’s death on the distant Caribbean island of St. John. After Irene and her sons arrive at this faraway paradise, they make yet another shocking discovery: her husband had been living a secret life. As Irene untangles a web of intrigue and deceit, and as she and her sons find themselves drawn into the vibrant island culture, they have to face the truth about their family, and about their own futures.”
This definitely left some open ended plot lines which make me want to continue the series!
Title: Goodnight Beautiful
Author: Aimee Molloy
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: HarperAudio, 10/13/20
Source: libro.fm
Why I Read It: Continuation of Thriller October
My Rating: 4 Stars
This kept me entertained but also had some misleads that threw me off! Listening to the audio made me wonder if I had missed something at one point!
“Newlyweds Sam Statler and Annie Potter are head over heels, and excited to say good-bye to New York City and start a life together in Sam’s sleepy hometown upstate. Or, it turns out, a life where Annie spends most of her time alone while Sam, her therapist husband, works long hours in his downstairs office, tending to the egos of his (mostly female) clientele. Little does Sam know that through a vent in his ceiling, every word of his sessions can be heard from the room upstairs. The pharmacist’s wife, contemplating a divorce. The well-known painter whose boyfriend doesn’t satisfy her in bed. Who could resist listening? Everything is fine until the French girl in the green mini Cooper shows up, and Sam decides to go to work and not come home, throwing a wrench into Sam and Annie’s happily ever after.”
I can’t tell you much because it’s a thriller, but expect twists if you pick this one up!
Title: Red, White, and Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin, 5/14/19
Source: Amazon
Why I Read It: Distraction from the election
My Rating: 4 Stars
Reading about an alternate American in which the woman president has a biracial and bisexual son was a sweet and hopeful way to spend Election Day this month. I’m one of the last people to read this well loved book!
“When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius―his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse. Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through?”
I enjoyed reading this although I admit I was distracted while doing so! If you’re looking for a book that can make you hopeful about the future politically, this may be it!
Title: Little & Lion
Author: Brandy Colbert
Genre: YA
Publisher: Little, Brown, 8/8/17
Source: Library
Why I Read It: Heard it had Jewish representation
My Rating: 4 Stars
This story features a bisexual, Black, Jewish lead character. Pretty much the definitely of intersectionality. It is mainly a story of a family effected by mental illness, but also the story of a teen coming to understand herself.
“When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she’s isn’t sure if she’ll ever want to go back. L.A. is where her friends and family are (as well as her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support. But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new…the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel’s disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself–or worse.”
There is a lot in this book and I did appreciate the references to Judaism and Jewish traditions. Suzette found she had been hiding a lot of herself at her boarding school, including her Judaism, and this book does a good job addressing the difficulties of embracing multiples identities at the same time.
Title: Date Me, Bryson Keller
Author: Kevin Van Whye
Genre: YA
Publisher: Listening Library, 5/19/20
Source: Library Audio App
Why I Read It: Buddy Read on Instagram
My Rating: 4 Stars
Kai is a mixed race, gay, closeted teen. (Are you sensing a theme in the books I was reading earlier this month?) Bryson is a popular boy who takes a dare to date whoever asks him every week, and Kai asks.
“Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new–the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he’s never really dated before. Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes. Kai Sheridan didn’t expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there’s more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he’s awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this ‘relationship’ will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight . . . right?”
Some of this book was hard to listen to as it dealt with the difficulties of coming out in high school and in a religious family. There is violence and bullying. In the end, it is hopeful and sweet. There are accusations of plagiarism of a Japanese Manga story, although the author says it is based on his own experiences. I felt I should include that here just as a heads up.
Title: Majesty
Author: Katharine McGee
Genre: YA
Publisher: Random House Books For Young Readers, 9/1/20
Source: Library
Why I Read It: Buddy Read on Instagram
My Rating: 4 Stars
I coincidentally read Majesty over the same time I read Red, White, and Royal Blue. So many royal stories! Gabbie and I both read and enjoyed this continuation of the American Royals series.
“Power is intoxicating. Like first love, it can leave you breathless. Princess Beatrice was born with it. Princess Samantha was born with less. Some, like Nina Gonzalez, are pulled into it. And a few will claw their way in. Ahem, we’re looking at you Daphne Deighton. As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her “party princess” persona…and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace–and Prince Jefferson–at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne’s carefully laid ‘marry Prince Jefferson’ plans. A new reign has begun….”
I was happy that this book reminded me what happened in the first book so it didn’t matter that I read it awhile ago. Then, it took everything that happened and changed it! I can’t say too much without giving it away! This was a fun one to read and discuss with my chick lit group and we got to have a Zoom meeting with the author as well! This book was written so that it could technically be the end of the series, but things were still left open ended in case there is interest in another. Yes, there is interest in another!
Title: You Had Me At Hola
Author: Alexis Daria
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Avon, 8/4/20
Source: Book Swap
Why I Read It: Buddy Read on Instagram
My Rating: 4 Stars
This was in my huge stack of books to get to and I was happy to pick it up this month. There were parts of the book that I enjoyed and other parts that I didn’t find entirely believable – such as the chemistry between the two main characters! But it was still a fun read over all.
“Leading Ladies do not end up on tabloid covers. After a messy public breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds her face splashed across the tabloids. When she returns to her hometown of New York City to film the starring role in a bilingual romantic comedy for the number one streaming service in the country, Jasmine figures her new “Leading Lady Plan” should be easy enough to follow—until a casting shake-up pairs her with telenovela hunk Ashton Suárez. Leading Ladies don’t need a man to be happy. After his last telenovela character was killed off, Ashton is worried his career is dead as well. Joining this new cast as a last-minute addition will give him the chance to show off his acting chops to American audiences and ping the radar of Hollywood casting agents. To make it work, he’ll need to generate smoking-hot on-screen chemistry with Jasmine. Easier said than done, especially when a disastrous first impression smothers the embers of whatever sexual heat they might have had. Leading Ladies do not rebound with their new costars. With their careers on the line, Jasmine and Ashton agree to rehearse in private. But rehearsal leads to kissing, and kissing leads to a behind-the-scenes romance worthy of a soap opera. While their on-screen performance improves, the media spotlight on Jasmine soon threatens to destroy her new image and expose Ashton’s most closely guarded secret.”
I liked the parts about the show that Jasmine and Ashton were filming and the telenovela theme and the Latinx cultural references were a lot of fun. I thought that Jasmine overreacted a bit when it came to Ashton’s secret reveal. Of course, there was a lot of drama with these two!
Title: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Author: Maya Angelou
Genre: Autobiography
Publisher: Random House Audio, 11/29/05
Source: Library Audio App
Why I Read It: Just felt like listening to it
My Rating: 4 Stars
I really thought I read this book in high school, but I couldn’t find my copy, nor could I remember any of it while I was listening! Maya Angelou narrates her own book, which I always appreciate with audio books.
“Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local ‘powhitetrash.’ At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (‘I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare’) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.”
This is only the beginning of Angelou’s memoirs, and this volume takes us from age 3-16. She tells her life as stories and the successes she had in her life are admirable when you see what she went through as a young child.
Title: Written In The Stars
Author: Alexandria Bellefleur
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Avon, 11/10/20
Source: TLC Book Tours
Why I Read It: Sent to me in exchange for an Instagram post
My Rating: 4 Stars
What a fun, sweet, and romantic fake dating leads to love story this was. Darcy is tired of being set up on blind dates by her brother so she tells him that she and Elle hit it off. When Elle hears that they hit it off, she wonders what she missed! But she agrees to pretend they are dating and guess what? Opposites really do attract.
“After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love—and the inevitable heartbreak—is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success. Darcy doesn’t expect her lie to bite her in the ass. Elle Jones, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soul mate. But she knows it is most assuredly not Darcy… a no-nonsense stick-in-the-mud, who is way too analytical, punctual, and skeptical for someone as free-spirited as Elle. When Darcy’s brother—and Elle’s new business partner—expresses how happy he is that they hit it off, Elle is baffled. Was Darcy on the same date? Because… awkward. Darcy begs Elle to play along and she agrees to pretend they’re dating. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her own overbearing family during the holidays and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a faux relationship. But maybe opposites can attract when true love is written in the stars?”
One thing I loved about this book was that although both women have issues with their families, none of those issues had to do with sexuality. That Darcy and Elle are both women was not a problem for either family. I appreciated that, and I enjoyed their relationship in this book!
Title: Little Wishes
Author: Michelle Adams
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: William Morrow, 11/17/20
Source: TLC Book Tours
Why I Read It: Sent to me in exchange for an Instagram post
My Rating: 4 Stars
When the one that got away comes back every year and leaves a flower and a note, the question becomes why is he still the one that got away? Little Wishes by Michelle Adams tells the story of Elizabeth and Tom. 50 years ago, they were briefly in love but were torn apart by circumstance and miscommunication. Now, when his yearly flower and wish do not appear on her doorstep, Elizabeth decides it’s time to find out why.
“On her favorite day of the year, Elizabeth Davenport awakens in her cottage on the wild and windy Cornish coast, opens her front door, and discovers a precious gift: the small blue crocus and a note that begins I Wish . . . The notes are never signed, but she knows they’ve been left by her first and truest love, Tom Hale. Each of these precious missives convey a simple wish for something they had missed, and the life they might have shared, if circumstances hadn’t forced them apart all those years ago. She has kept them all. But on this day, what should have been the fiftieth anniversary of their falling in love, the gift fails to arrive. Could something have happened to Tom? Elizabeth has always been plagued by thoughts of “what if?” Propelled by worry and decades of pent up longing, Elizabeth packs a little suitcase, leaves Porthsennenon, and journeys to London . . . to find the love of her life once again. Finding him, Elizabeth is faced with the desperate knowledge that any time they might have now is running out. Never before had she thought that she might truly lose time—forever. And now, knowing that life is too short, Elizabeth vows to fulfill as many of Tom’s wishes as she can. Yet she fears that her efforts may expose the shameful secret that, until now, has kept them apart. Can she continue to hide the truth, or will she have the courage to reveal herself completely and finally make their dreams come true—before it’s too late?”
Sadly, in their old age, the reunion is destined to be much shorter than the years they have spent apart. I think one of the messages of this book is not to let so much time go by without the one you love because it may end up being too late. You don’t read a lot of love stories about older people, so I appreciated this unique perspective. The writing immersed me in the story and it was a sweet and yet sad read.
Title: Lock Every Door
Author: Riley Sager
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Penguin Audio, 7/2/19
Source: Library Audio App
Why I Read It: My oldest NetGalley ebook – decided to listen to it to review
My Rating: 4 Stars
This book had me riveted and I really liked most of it! The atmosphere and suspense was well done.
“No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen’s new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan’s most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind. As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story…until the next day, when Ingrid disappears. Searching for the truth about Ingrid’s disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew’s sordid past and into the secrets kept within its walls. What she discovers pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building’s hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.”
While reading thrillers, I have learned to always suspect the least suspicious person and I was almost right in this one! But I did not guess what was happening at all. There was one redirect that threw me off and I didn’t love that part. Overall, it was a fun listen.
Title: The Orchard
Author: David Hopen
Genre: Contemporary / Literary Fiction
Publisher: Ecco, 11/17/20
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Requested it from the publisher
My Rating: 4 Stars
I am definitely not the type of reader who says I can only relate to books who feature characters who are like me, but when I found out about this #ownvoices Jewish book that takes place in a Modern Orthodox community, I had to request it right away, as I consider myself Modern Orthodox as well.
“Ari Eden’s life has always been governed by strict rules. In ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn, his days are dedicated to intense study and religious rituals, and adolescence feels profoundly lonely. So when his family announces that they are moving to a glitzy Miami suburb, Ari seizes his unexpected chance for reinvention. Enrolling in an opulent Jewish academy, Ari is stunned by his peers’ dizzying wealth, ambition, and shameless pursuit of life’s pleasures. When the academy’s golden boy, Noah, takes Ari under his wing, Ari finds himself entangled in the school’s most exclusive and wayward group. These friends are magnetic and defiant—especially Evan, the brooding genius of the bunch, still living in the shadow of his mother’s death. Influenced by their charismatic rabbi, the group begins testing their religion in unconventional ways. Soon Ari and his friends are pushing moral boundaries and careening toward a perilous future—one in which the traditions of their faith are repurposed to mysterious, tragic ends.”
The Orchard is a literary and philosophical book with deep discussions of Jewish thought. Ari is a high school senior from a very religious school in Brooklyn when his family moves to Florida and he is thrust into a world of the profane. While I understood most of the Hebrew and religious references, I didn’t easily follow a lot of the things the boys learned about and discussed in their classes. Ari faces a religious crisis, caught between tradition and modernity, of whether to adapt to fit in or remain true to his upbringing. Even if readers do not understand where he is coming from, they will learn from his crisis of faith. This book gave me a lot to think about and I think it would make for an excellent discussion piece. I have some friends in mind to hand it to in order to discuss it with them!
Title: Barely Functional Adult
Author: Meichi Ng
Genre: Self-Help / Memoir / Comics
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 11/24/20
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
In Barely Functional Adult, Meichi Ng writes and illustrates various situations in which she deals with various adult situations – feeling like an imposter, going to therapy, letting go of exes, and finding purpose in the world.
“Wielding her trademark balance of artful humor, levity, and heartbreaking introspection, Meichi Ng’s indisputably relatable collection of short stories holds a mirror to our past, present, and future selves. Featuring a swaddled Barely Functional Adult as its protagonist who says all the things we think but dare not say, this book is equal parts humorous and heartbreaking as it spans a spectrum of topics from imposter syndrome, therapy, friendships, first loves, letting go of exes, to just trying to find your purpose in the world. Prepare to excitedly shove this book in your friend’s face with little decorum as you shout, ‘THIS IS SO US!’ In this beautiful, four-color collection compiled completely of never-before-seen content, Meichi perfectly captures the best and worst of us in every short story, allowing us to weep with pleasure at our own fallibility. Hilarious, relatable, and heart-wrenchingly honest, Barely Functional Adult will have you laughing and crying in the same breath, while taking solace in the fact that we’re anything but alone in this world.”
Here are some of the things in the book that spoke to me:
Hold “onto 3 good memories for every person who has played a significant part in [your] life.
“One of the most liberating decisions one can make in life is to quit a job they hate.”
“It’s surprisingly pleasant to pore over books when you genuinely care about the subject matter and choose to read out of your own volition.”
“Everyone is broken in their own ways” and need to learn “how to feel ok about it.”
“Sometimes we need other people, even if we don’t like other people.”
This one would also make a great gift idea!
Title: Make Me Rain
Author: Nikki Giovanni
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: William Morrow, 10/20/20
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
I read this poetry book in about an hour and it served as a window into Black pride and history. With poems about aging, childhood memories, etc, I enjoyed getting to know the writer.
“For more than fifty years, Nikki Giovanni’s poetry has dazzled and inspired readers. As sharp and outspoken as ever, she returns with this profound book of poetry in which she continues to call attention to injustice and racism, celebrate Black culture and Black lives, and and give readers an unfiltered look into her own experiences. In Make Me Rain, she celebrates her loved ones and unapologetically declares her pride in her Black heritage, while exploring the enduring impact of the twin sins of racism and white nationalism. Giovanni reaffirms her place as a uniquely vibrant and relevant American voice with poems such as ‘I Come from Athletes’ and ‘Rainy Days’—calling out segregation and Donald Trump; as well as ‘Unloved (for Aunt Cleota)’ and ‘When I Could No Longer’—her personal elegy for the relatives who saved her from an abusive home life.”
I appreciated this collection a lot!
Title: What Kind of Woman
Author: Kate Baer
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 11/10/20
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I read this poetry book in about an hour as well. With poems about adult life, marriage, and kids, I found many of the poems very moving and meaningful.
“‘When life throws you a bag of sorrow, hold out your hands/Little by little, mountains are climbed.’ So ends Kate Baer’s remarkable poem ‘Things My Girlfriends Teach Me.’ In ‘Nothing Tastes as Good as Skinny Feels’ she challenges her reader to consider their grandmother’s cake, the taste of the sea, the cool swill of freedom. In her poem ‘Deliverance’ about her son’s birth she writes ‘What is the word for when the light leaves the body?/What is the word for when it/at last, returns?’ Through poems that are as unforgettably beautiful as they are accessible, Kate proves herself to truly be an exemplary voice in modern poetry. Her words make women feel seen in their own bodies, in their own marriages, and in their own lives. Her poems are those you share with your mother, your daughter, your sister, and your friends.”
Some of my favorite poems in the book were: “My Friend Bethany Rages at the News,” “Like a Wife,” “Crescendo,” “Observations Through the Glass at the Human Zoo,” “For the Advice Cards at Baby Showers,” “Back To School Shopping,” “The Martian,” and “What Mothers Say.”
Title: The Poetry of Strangers
Author: Brian Sonia-Wallace
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 6/30/20
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3 Stars
I thought that reading about a poet traveling the country would pair well with reading two books of poetry. Unfortunately, this one was a little slow moving for me.
“Before he became an award-winning writer and poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace set up a typewriter on the street with a sign that said ‘Poetry Store’ and discovered something surprising: all over America, people want poems. An amateur busker at first, Brian asked countless strangers, ‘What do you need a poem about?’ To his surprise, passersby opened up to share their deepest yearnings, loves, and heartbreaks. Hundreds of them. Then thousands. Around the nation, Brian’s poetry crusade drew countless converts from all walks of life. In The Poetry of Strangers, Brian tells the story of his cross-country journey in a series of heartfelt and insightful essays. From Minnesota to Tennessee, California to North Dakota, Brian discovered that people aren’t so afraid of poetry when it’s telling their stories. In ‘dying’ towns flourish vibrant artistic spirits and fascinating American characters who often pass under the radar, from the Mall of America’s mall walkers to retirees on Amtrak to self-proclaimed witches in Salem. In a time of unprecedented loneliness and isolation, Brian’s journey shows how art can be a vital bridge to community in surprising places. Conventional wisdom says Americans don’t want to talk to each other, but according to this poet-for-hire, everyone is just dying to be heard.”
I think I would have liked more stories about the people he met on his journeys. The book had potential, but just was a little too slow for me.
Title: Parkland
Author: Dave Cullen
Genre: Current Events
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2/12/19
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
I expected this book to be a rehashing of the events of 2/14/18 in Parkland, FL, but it rather focused on the aftermath and the activism of the survivors of the horrible school shooting that took place. This was a very inspiring book about young activists.
“Nineteen years ago, Dave Cullen was among the first to arrive at Columbine High, even before most of the SWAT teams went in. While writing his acclaimed account of the tragedy, he suffered two bouts of secondary PTSD. He covered all the later tragedies from a distance, working with a cadre of experts cultivated from academia and the FBI, but swore he would never return to the scene of a ghastly crime. But in March 2018, Cullen went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School because something radically different was happening. In nearly twenty years witnessing the mass shootings epidemic escalate, he was stunned and awed by the courage, anger, and conviction of the high school’s students. Refusing to allow adults and the media to shape their story, these remarkable adolescents took control, using their grief as a catalyst for change, transforming tragedy into a movement of astonishing hope that has galvanized a nation. Cullen unfolds the story of Parkland through the voices of key participants whose diverse personalities and outlooks comprise every facet of the movement. Instead of taking us into the minds of the killer, he takes us into the hearts of the Douglas students as they cope with the common concerns of high school students everywhere—awaiting college acceptance letters, studying for mid-term exams, competing against their athletic rivals, putting together the yearbook, staging the musical Spring Awakening, enjoying prom and graduation—while moving forward from a horrific event that has altered them forever.”
Reading this book gave me chills in a lot of places. I was very touched by the way the survivors worked with teens from Chicago who also were working towards getting guns off the streets in their community. Stopping school shootings is something I care about deeply and I am so touched by the work of these students.
Title: Culture Warlords
Author: Talia Lavin
Genre: Current Events
Publisher: Hachette Books, 10/13/19
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3 Stars
I was very interested in the topic of this book and wanted to read about Talia Lavin’s immersing herself into white supremacist culture as a Jewish woman. Unfortunately, the book was not focused well and very academically written in a way that was hard to understand.
“Talia Lavin is every skinhead’s worst nightmare: a loud and unapologetic Jewish woman, acerbic, smart, and profoundly antiracist, with the investigative chops to expose the tactics and ideologies of online hatemongers. Culture Warlords is the story of how Lavin, a frequent target of extremist trolls (including those at Fox News), dove into a byzantine online culture of hate and learned the intricacies of how white supremacy proliferates online. Within these pages, she reveals the extremists hiding in plain sight online: Incels. White nationalists. White supremacists. National Socialists. Proud Boys. Christian extremists. In order to showcase them in their natural habitat, Talia assumes a range of identities, going undercover as a blonde Nazi babe, a forlorn incel, and a violent Aryan femme fatale. Along the way, she discovers a whites-only dating site geared toward racists looking for love, a disturbing extremist YouTube channel run by a fourteen-year-old girl with over 800,000 followers, the everyday heroes of the antifascist movement, and much more. By combining compelling stories chock-full of catfishing and gate-crashing with her own in-depth, gut-wrenching research, she also turns the lens of anti-Semitism, racism, and white power back on itself in an attempt to dismantle and decimate the online hate movement from within.”
I really would have liked more on Lavin’s personal experiences and less on the evaluation and long words that made no sense. This book had potential and I appreciate that it bring antisemitism into the discussion but could have been much better written.
Title: The New Jim Crow
Author: Michelle Alexander
Genre: Current Events
Publisher: Recorded Books, 4/3/12
Source: Library Audio App
Why I Read It: Antiracism Journey
My Rating: 3 Stars
This is a long book that is very relevant today even though it was published 10 years ago. The new introduction took over an hour to listen to! While I felt that this book did a good job of helping me to look at my own biases when it comes to the “war on drugs,” I found it too long and I had a hard time concentrating on the audio.
“Seldom does a book have the impact of Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow. Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in judicial decisions and has been adopted in campus-wide and community-wide reads; it helped inspire the creation of the Marshall Project and the new $100 million Art for Justice Fund; it has been the winner of numerous prizes, including the prestigious NAACP Image Award; and it has spent nearly 250 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Most important of all, it has spawned a whole generation of criminal justice reform activists and organizations motivated by Michelle Alexander’s unforgettable argument that ‘we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.’ As the Birmingham Newsproclaimed, it is ‘undoubtedly the most important book published in this century about the U.S.’ Now, ten years after it was first published, The New Press is proud to issue a tenth-anniversary edition with a new preface by Michelle Alexander that discusses the impact the book has had and the state of the criminal justice reform movement today.”
This book discusses the racial caste system in the US, the way drug penalties have affected Black communities, the problem with harsh drug sentencing, and the way that drug arrests lead to the prison system having control over people’s lives long after they leave prison. I agree with the argument that the system of mass incarceration needs an overhaul and this is something I would like to continue learning more about.
Title: The Black Friend
Author: Fredrick Joseph
Genre: YA, Current Events
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 12/1/20
Source: Publisher Giveaway
Why I Read It: Antiracism Journey
My Rating: 4 Stars
Written for a younger audience, this book does a great job explaining things that white people shouldn’t do and say. With stories from his youth, the author points out racism he has experienced and makes mention of ways to stand up against racism.
“‘We don’t see color.’ ‘I didn’t know Black people liked Star Wars!’ ‘What hood are you from?’ For Frederick Joseph, life as a transfer student in a largely white high school was full of wince-worthy moments that he often simply let go. As he grew older, however, he saw these as missed opportunities not only to stand up for himself, but to spread awareness to those white people who didn’t see the negative impact they were having. Speaking directly to the reader, The Black Friend calls up race-related anecdotes from the author’s past, weaving in his thoughts on why they were hurtful and how he might handle things differently now. Each chapter features the voice of at least one artist or activist, including Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give; April Reign, creator of #OscarsSoWhite; Jemele Hill, sports journalist and podcast host; and eleven others. Touching on everything from cultural appropriation to power dynamics, ‘reverse racism’ to white privilege, microaggressions to the tragic results of overt racism, this book serves as conversation starter, tool kit, and invaluable window into the life of a former ‘token Black kid’ who now presents himself as the friend many readers need. It includes an encyclopedia of racism, providing details on relevant historical events, terminology, and more.”
One issue I had with this book was a personal one – while he makes mention of other marginalized groups, Jewish people aren’t mentioned at all. Other than that minor complaint, I found this book well worth reading and including in your antiracism reading.
Title: Sex Points
Author: Bat Sheva Marcus
Genre: Self Help
Publisher: Hachette Go, 3/9/21
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
I had heard Bat Sheva Marcus on a podcast and was interested in her book, which is a very interesting look at sexual issues in 4 parts. The book is a guide on how to gain points in these areas in order to improve your sex life.
“‘Queen of Vibrators’ Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus believes a healthy, robust, fulfilling sex life is a right for all women. And after twenty years as a sex therapist, Dr. Bat Sheva knows that there’s more to sex than lingerie and beach vacations. Sex Points is the first book that helps you identify and analyze for yourself what factors are affecting your sex life. Using Dr. Bat Sheva’s revolutionary Sex Points Assessment, you can pinpoint what’s keeping you from the great sex you deserve by looking at where you’re scoring low in four key areas: pain, arousal, libido, and orgasm. And then she’ll help you get points back in each of those areas! Your sex life is complex, unique to you, and affected by psychological, medical, and emotional variables. If you think that a diminished sex drive is natural, pain is expected, and no orgasms is no problem—prepare to have your world rocked.”
I definitely found this book interesting and can imagine that it will be helpful to many women and couples!
Title: The Truths We Hold
Author: Kamala Harris
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Penguin Audio, 1/8/19
Source: Library Audio App
Why I Read It: Wanted to know more about our new VP
My Rating: 5 Stars
I find Kamala Harris very inspiring and I enjoyed listening to her read her book, which is the story of her life as well as a testament to the issues she feels strongly about. She talks about her journey from prosecutor to senator, and while this book was written prior to her run for president, it is still relevant as now she will be our first woman vice president.
“Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s commitment to speaking truth is informed by her upbringing. The daughter of immigrants, she was raised in an Oakland, California community that cared deeply about social justice; her parents–an esteemed economist from Jamaica and an admired cancer researcher from India–met as activists in the civil rights movement when they were graduate students at Berkeley. Growing up, Harris herself never hid her passion for justice, and when she became a prosecutor out of law school, a deputy district attorney, she quickly established herself as one of the most innovative change agents in American law enforcement. She progressed rapidly to become the elected District Attorney for San Francisco, and then the chief law enforcement officer of the state of California as a whole. Known for bringing a voice to the voiceless, she took on the big banks during the foreclosure crisis, winning a historic settlement for California’s working families. Her hallmarks were applying a holistic, data-driven approach to many of California’s thorniest issues, always eschewing stale ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric as presenting a series of false choices. Neither ‘tough’ nor ‘soft’ but smart on crime became her mantra. Being smart means learning the truths that can make us better as a community, and supporting those truths with all our might. That has been the pole star that guided Harris to a transformational career as the top law enforcement official in California, and it is guiding her now as a transformational United States Senator, grappling with an array of complex issues that affect her state, our country, and the world, from health care and the new economy to immigration, national security, the opioid crisis, and accelerating inequality.”
Issues discussed include big banks and the foreclosure crisis, immigration, healthcare, mass incarceration, minimum wage, women’s rights, national security, and climate change. I found this book interesting and well worth the listen!
Title: The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks
Author: Julie Valerie
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Lake Union, 11/24/20
Source: Author
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review, loved book 1
My Rating: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed Holly Banks, Full of Angst when I read it last year, so I was excited to pick up book 2 in the series! Holly is such a funny, relatable character. I was happy to return to the Village of Primm!
“Holly Banks is on a desperate mission to have it all, but nothing in life goes according to plan. She’s quickly learning that keeping up with the Joneses is a full-time job, especially when the women of Primm, her new neighborhood, seem to have it together all the time. With her husband’s job in flux, her daughter’s difficulty with learning to read, and her mother’s new zest for dating, Holly’s life is already anything but picture perfect. Then her dog digs up an old artifact in the village center, and the mishap draws the attention of local media. Because of course it would. Holly finds herself at the center of a mystery between two rival towns that, if solved, could change the Village of Primm forever. Attention is the last thing she needs as she’s launching a new business, the village-wide ‘Parade of Homes’ is approaching—though she’s hardly unpacked—and she needs to submit her entry for an upcoming film festival. Can Holly still create her perfect (looking) life? Or is fate about to go off script and give her a story she never could have imagined?”
Things are always overwhelming for Holly, but when true crises strike, she realizes what is really important. I didn’t fully follow the drama with the town and the artifact, but I appreciated Holly coming to learn the importance of the moments that make up a life.
In conclusion, in November I read 26 books, 23 of which are reviewed in this post. This month I read 19 print books, 1 e-book, and 6 audio books. I managed to read 12 non-fiction books, including the poetry. My favorite books this month were The Cousins, What Kind of Woman, and The Truths We Hold.
Have you read any of these books or do you want to? What have you been reading lately?
