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The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy was the Beaumont Bookworms selection for May! The May Mothers is a Moms group for those whose babies are born in May. Their kids are growing at the same time and they are all going through similar experiences so they meet up at a park each week. Around the time the babies are roughly 6-7 weeks old, so the moms decide to have a Moms Night Out at the bar. Each decision made that night made for serious consequences. Midas, Winnie’s son goes missing. As the police investigate ever lead, the other women in the group go under scrutiny. Every aspect of their life is evaluated and turned upside down. The worst part, there are no solid leads to find Midas. Secrets will be revealed and accusations made.
This may sound bizarre, but this is the perfect book to read during Mother’s day. Yes, it is a domestic thriller that involves the disappearance of a newborn. To me, it is a lot more than that. The thriller aspect actually took second place for me. I love how it discusses everything mother’s go through in everyday life. You have a single mother, a stay-at-home Dad, the mother who works from home, the working mom, the mom trying to make ends meet, etc… Speaking from experience, moms are judged harshly. ALL. THE. TIME. With my first son, I was ridiculed for giving him formula. With my second, I was ridiculed for breastfeeding my son in public WITH A COVER. So all the different themes that present itself are completely relatable. The moms are called out for being in a bar the night Midas is taken—so obviously they must not love their kids. Then don’t even get me started on the maternity leave theme. This book touches on everything. Including the relationships with their husbands. Some husbands aren’t helping enough, they want their sex life back, or they bring in their moms to “help.” Seriously. I could relate to everything in the book. Well…not the child getting kidnapped part, but everything revolving around motherhood.
Now, how is the actual thriller aspect? It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t the most suspenseful thriller but it was not predictable! I love being shocked in a thriller and if I can guess the ending, that is a problem. So props to this book for a good jaw-drop!
Then the characters. This is where things get a little meh for me. All these characters are exaggerated personalities. They just seemed so extreme to me. For instance, Nell. She is very eccentric and has an issue with privacy. At one point, she deletes the baby monitor app from a phone because they aren’t loosening up at the bar without asking. If she had done that to me, we wouldn’t be friends anymore. However, it was interesting that every person has a secret with something to lose. It is not your normal moms group, that is for sure.
Lastly, I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator is Cristin Milioti. She did an absolute fantastic job! She managed to grasp each personality and give them their own accents. It was very well done. All in all, this book gets 4 out of 5 stars from me. It is definitely one you will want to check out if you are interested in domestic thrillers.
This may sound bizarre, but this is the perfect book to read during Mother’s day. Yes, it is a domestic thriller that involves the disappearance of a newborn. To me, it is a lot more than that. The thriller aspect actually took second place for me. I love how it discusses everything mother’s go through in everyday life. You have a single mother, a stay-at-home Dad, the mother who works from home, the working mom, the mom trying to make ends meet, etc… Speaking from experience, moms are judged harshly. ALL. THE. TIME. With my first son, I was ridiculed for giving him formula. With my second, I was ridiculed for breastfeeding my son in public WITH A COVER. So all the different themes that present itself are completely relatable. The moms are called out for being in a bar the night Midas is taken—so obviously they must not love their kids. Then don’t even get me started on the maternity leave theme. This book touches on everything. Including the relationships with their husbands. Some husbands aren’t helping enough, they want their sex life back, or they bring in their moms to “help.” Seriously. I could relate to everything in the book. Well…not the child getting kidnapped part, but everything revolving around motherhood.
Now, how is the actual thriller aspect? It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t the most suspenseful thriller but it was not predictable! I love being shocked in a thriller and if I can guess the ending, that is a problem. So props to this book for a good jaw-drop!
Then the characters. This is where things get a little meh for me. All these characters are exaggerated personalities. They just seemed so extreme to me. For instance, Nell. She is very eccentric and has an issue with privacy. At one point, she deletes the baby monitor app from a phone because they aren’t loosening up at the bar without asking. If she had done that to me, we wouldn’t be friends anymore. However, it was interesting that every person has a secret with something to lose. It is not your normal moms group, that is for sure.
Lastly, I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator is Cristin Milioti. She did an absolute fantastic job! She managed to grasp each personality and give them their own accents. It was very well done. All in all, this book gets 4 out of 5 stars from me. It is definitely one you will want to check out if you are interested in domestic thrillers.
“Individual whites may be “against” racism, but they still benefit from a system that privileges whites as a group.”
WHITE FRAGILITY
As I write this review, there are riots happening in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd by a police officer. I am going to do my best to convey the importance of this book and why we as white people need to do better. White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo has been on my list for a while now. It is a good starting point for those who want to see positive change and that starts with ourselves. Robin DiAngelo is a white woman addressing white people. She is an antiracist educator who goes to companies, corporations, and schools to educate the staff on racism. She addresses defensive conversations and scenarios to further educate white people that racism is still deeply embedded in our society.
At this very moment, there are riots all over the country. I see posts condemning them and seeing those posts is disappointing. People of color are angry. They are NOT being heard. They are being killed by a government that should be protecting them. If we heard the cries of people of color, no more black men and women would be murdered. What is happening in our country at this moment is very obvious racism. But shouldn’t all racism be obvious? Well, unfortunately, that is not the case. Robin DiAngelo argues all white people are racist or have benefited from a racist society, even those who claim they could never be racist.
“I repeat: stopping our racist patterns must be more important than working to convince others we don’t have them.”
WHITE FRAGILITY
How many of us stayed silent when a family member or friend said something racist? How many of us argued that they come from an Irish or Italian ancestry so we know how people of color feel?
What I loved about this book is that she clearly defines racism and how it differs from stereotypes and prejudice. Many people often confuse these terms. I love that she even uses herself in examples as well. Then she discusses “white tears.” When white women cry when something tragic happens in the black community. It shifts the focus and makes the issue about them and not the black community. It is okay to heartbroken and angry, but making it about yourself is not okay.
I encourage all my white friends and family to read this. We need to do better. We need to be there for people of color. It is not their responsibility to teach what is and isn’t racist. I plan to tackle the suggested list of books that the author mentions at the end of the book. This book gets 5 out of 5 stars.
WHITE FRAGILITY
As I write this review, there are riots happening in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd by a police officer. I am going to do my best to convey the importance of this book and why we as white people need to do better. White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo has been on my list for a while now. It is a good starting point for those who want to see positive change and that starts with ourselves. Robin DiAngelo is a white woman addressing white people. She is an antiracist educator who goes to companies, corporations, and schools to educate the staff on racism. She addresses defensive conversations and scenarios to further educate white people that racism is still deeply embedded in our society.
At this very moment, there are riots all over the country. I see posts condemning them and seeing those posts is disappointing. People of color are angry. They are NOT being heard. They are being killed by a government that should be protecting them. If we heard the cries of people of color, no more black men and women would be murdered. What is happening in our country at this moment is very obvious racism. But shouldn’t all racism be obvious? Well, unfortunately, that is not the case. Robin DiAngelo argues all white people are racist or have benefited from a racist society, even those who claim they could never be racist.
“I repeat: stopping our racist patterns must be more important than working to convince others we don’t have them.”
WHITE FRAGILITY
How many of us stayed silent when a family member or friend said something racist? How many of us argued that they come from an Irish or Italian ancestry so we know how people of color feel?
What I loved about this book is that she clearly defines racism and how it differs from stereotypes and prejudice. Many people often confuse these terms. I love that she even uses herself in examples as well. Then she discusses “white tears.” When white women cry when something tragic happens in the black community. It shifts the focus and makes the issue about them and not the black community. It is okay to heartbroken and angry, but making it about yourself is not okay.
I encourage all my white friends and family to read this. We need to do better. We need to be there for people of color. It is not their responsibility to teach what is and isn’t racist. I plan to tackle the suggested list of books that the author mentions at the end of the book. This book gets 5 out of 5 stars.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is one of my favorite books of all time. In fact, my next tattoo is going to be inspired by it. So when I saw Milady by Laura L. Sullivan I just knew I had to add it to my shelf. If you are a fan of The Three Musketeers then you know the villainess Milady de Winter. This book follows two timelines. The first is Clarice as a young woman before she became Milady. Her mother raises her on a farm. She teaches her about plants and their medicinal properties and all about human anatomy. When her father makes a rare appearance, he realizes his daughter is now a woman and immediately takes her to London to use her to gain power in government. The second timeline is Milady trying to outrun the Musketeers. The timelines come together to give a complete background on how a woman from the country became an assassin.
“The truth is found in the silence before the lie.”
MILADY
This is definitely a fascinating take on the well-known villainess! There are so many lies and moments of misdirection that fooled the musketeers. Now, to fully enjoy this book, readers need to be familiar with The Three Musketeers. There is a lot of background information that directly ties into The Three Musketeers. One thing that I did love is that the author weaves in many historical characters just like Dumas. She introduces George Villiers before he became the first Duke of Buckingham. It shows how she helped him come into favor with King Charles I.
I preferred her development into becoming an assassin over her perspective of the events in The Three Musketeers. There is so much suspense and betrayal within the court of King Charles.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!
The one thing that I didn’t like is that she comes from a family of assassins. It felt cheap in a sense. I would have liked the book better if she developed her talents for murder on her own and not because of a family legacy. It just diminished her development.
Other than that, I loved her character. She is heartless and selfish as portrayed in The Three Musketeers but she is also a woman and became what she needed to become in order to survive. Overall, this is an exciting read and made me want to revisit one of my favorite books for the 100th time. This book gets 4 out of 5 stars.
“The truth is found in the silence before the lie.”
MILADY
This is definitely a fascinating take on the well-known villainess! There are so many lies and moments of misdirection that fooled the musketeers. Now, to fully enjoy this book, readers need to be familiar with The Three Musketeers. There is a lot of background information that directly ties into The Three Musketeers. One thing that I did love is that the author weaves in many historical characters just like Dumas. She introduces George Villiers before he became the first Duke of Buckingham. It shows how she helped him come into favor with King Charles I.
I preferred her development into becoming an assassin over her perspective of the events in The Three Musketeers. There is so much suspense and betrayal within the court of King Charles.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!
The one thing that I didn’t like is that she comes from a family of assassins. It felt cheap in a sense. I would have liked the book better if she developed her talents for murder on her own and not because of a family legacy. It just diminished her development.
Other than that, I loved her character. She is heartless and selfish as portrayed in The Three Musketeers but she is also a woman and became what she needed to become in order to survive. Overall, this is an exciting read and made me want to revisit one of my favorite books for the 100th time. This book gets 4 out of 5 stars.
Imaginary Friend by Stephan Chbosky is everywhere on bookstagram. When I saw some reviews, I knew I had to read the book. The book is 700 pages but I love nice, long, books. This book introduces Kate Reece, she takes her son Christopher and escapes an abusive relationship and head to a small town in Pennsylvania. Christopher is dyslexic and struggles in school. One day, he disappears for 6 days in the forest and when he is found, he is not the same. He has no memory of the time he disappeared but now he can read just fine. Except now, he is seen having conversations with himself. Except he believes it is the nice man who helped him in the forest. Soon, people begin to get sick and commit terrible crimes and only Christopher can stop it.
GAHHHHH! I wanted to love this book! I was hooked during the first 300 pages. I got the chills and there were moments that made me jump. I was convinced this would be an insane horror story…until it wasn’t. It stopped being a horror book. It came to a complete halt. Then it is became filled with Christian allegory–mixed with a few dystopian aspects. It was like this book didn’t even know what it wanted to be. There is one point where the story just goes in circles. I LOVE long books. But this book was too long. The pace started to CRAWL.
Then there are the characters. The book is so focused on the story that the characters were just forgotten. They don’t develop and quite honestly, they are completely forgettable. For me, the book just tried too hard. When it came to all the religious aspects, it just made the book sooooo meh. I really can’t think of another word for it. There is immaculate conception in which the girl thinks she gets pregnant by having oral sex and slut shames herself. Then apparently God had another child besides Jesus, except this child was a girl and she becomes “The Hissing Woman” and she keeps the devil in his place. It was just one massive eye-roll session for me. Maybe it will be a hit for someone else, but it just didn’t work for me.
Unfortunately, this book gets 2 out of 5 stars from me. Now, I need to find a horror book that will actually end up being a horror book and not a religious book dressed up like horror
GAHHHHH! I wanted to love this book! I was hooked during the first 300 pages. I got the chills and there were moments that made me jump. I was convinced this would be an insane horror story…until it wasn’t. It stopped being a horror book. It came to a complete halt. Then it is became filled with Christian allegory–mixed with a few dystopian aspects. It was like this book didn’t even know what it wanted to be. There is one point where the story just goes in circles. I LOVE long books. But this book was too long. The pace started to CRAWL.
Then there are the characters. The book is so focused on the story that the characters were just forgotten. They don’t develop and quite honestly, they are completely forgettable. For me, the book just tried too hard. When it came to all the religious aspects, it just made the book sooooo meh. I really can’t think of another word for it. There is immaculate conception in which the girl thinks she gets pregnant by having oral sex and slut shames herself. Then apparently God had another child besides Jesus, except this child was a girl and she becomes “The Hissing Woman” and she keeps the devil in his place. It was just one massive eye-roll session for me. Maybe it will be a hit for someone else, but it just didn’t work for me.
Unfortunately, this book gets 2 out of 5 stars from me. Now, I need to find a horror book that will actually end up being a horror book and not a religious book dressed up like horror
Thank you NetGalley, Catherine Adel West, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!
Saving Ruby King is a poignant debut novel by Catherine Adel West. It is difficult to decide where to begin with this story, I could never do it justice in a brief synopsis. So let’s start with Alice King. Alice King is married to Lebanon King and they have a daughter named Ruby. Lebanon is abusive to both mother and daughter. Alice does her best to keep it under wraps, meanwhile, her daughter’s anger grows. Ruby is also best friends with Layla Potter, the daughter of Pastor Jackson Potter. Pastor Jackson and Lebanon’s past are deeply intertwined in ways no one can expect. When a murder occurs, Ruby is in danger and Layla will stop at nothing to help her. Secrets are discovered that have affected these families for generations.
“Forever and to the end. That’s what they say instead of I love you.”
SAVING RUBY KING
This book is a MUST read! It is emotional and feels deeply personal for the author. Yes, there is mystery but it is about friendship, faith, and family. I was hooked from the very beginning. There are multiple points of view crossing over timelines but that didn’t bother me. I felt that it flowed beautifully and shifted timelines in just the right moment. One of the points of view is the church. Not a person or persons, but a building. I felt that this aspect is so unique and quite powerful. The building is a witness, specifically to some of the events that will change the lives of generations.
The family relationships are extremely complex in this story. There is love. There is hate. There is misunderstanding. I want to dive into these complexities, but that would reveal so many spoilers. My favorite aspect is the friendships. Loyalty and doing anything for a friend shines in this story. Ruby is troubled, but Layla will not leave her side. Their friendship made me cry more than once. But the loyalty in friendships span generations as well…but again, spoilers. So I shall refrain.
The author goes into the racial divide in Chicago. The hardships that the Black community face are very real and she describes it so vividly. You just really need to read this book for yourself. I loved every aspect of this book. It is thought-provoking and deeply emotional. I will now eagerly await her next book. 5 perfect stars for Saving Ruby King.
Saving Ruby King is a poignant debut novel by Catherine Adel West. It is difficult to decide where to begin with this story, I could never do it justice in a brief synopsis. So let’s start with Alice King. Alice King is married to Lebanon King and they have a daughter named Ruby. Lebanon is abusive to both mother and daughter. Alice does her best to keep it under wraps, meanwhile, her daughter’s anger grows. Ruby is also best friends with Layla Potter, the daughter of Pastor Jackson Potter. Pastor Jackson and Lebanon’s past are deeply intertwined in ways no one can expect. When a murder occurs, Ruby is in danger and Layla will stop at nothing to help her. Secrets are discovered that have affected these families for generations.
“Forever and to the end. That’s what they say instead of I love you.”
SAVING RUBY KING
This book is a MUST read! It is emotional and feels deeply personal for the author. Yes, there is mystery but it is about friendship, faith, and family. I was hooked from the very beginning. There are multiple points of view crossing over timelines but that didn’t bother me. I felt that it flowed beautifully and shifted timelines in just the right moment. One of the points of view is the church. Not a person or persons, but a building. I felt that this aspect is so unique and quite powerful. The building is a witness, specifically to some of the events that will change the lives of generations.
The family relationships are extremely complex in this story. There is love. There is hate. There is misunderstanding. I want to dive into these complexities, but that would reveal so many spoilers. My favorite aspect is the friendships. Loyalty and doing anything for a friend shines in this story. Ruby is troubled, but Layla will not leave her side. Their friendship made me cry more than once. But the loyalty in friendships span generations as well…but again, spoilers. So I shall refrain.
The author goes into the racial divide in Chicago. The hardships that the Black community face are very real and she describes it so vividly. You just really need to read this book for yourself. I loved every aspect of this book. It is thought-provoking and deeply emotional. I will now eagerly await her next book. 5 perfect stars for Saving Ruby King.
Eight down and 5 to go! The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell is the 8th book in the Saxon Stories series. England hasn’t been the same since Alfred’s death. Edward rules Wessex now, but King Aethelred of Mercia is now dying. Athelflaed does not want Mercia to be absorbed into Wessex. But who could rule? Even though Uhtred is not healing well from his injury, he is determined to see Athelflaed on the throne, but a woman ruling is unheard of. Uhtred can’t manage much as long as he has his injury so now he is in search of the sword that gave him the injury. Once again, everything hangs in the balance.
This book is an emotional ride. My emotions were all over the place! If you read book 7 (I highly suggest that you do) then you know that it ends on a massive cliffhanger! Bernard Cornwell must have been in a playful mood because he toys with us for a bit. YOU WILL WANT ANSWERS.
Despite the suspense, this is one of my favorites out of the series so far. We have Uhtred being a badass at supporting women. And don’t forget about Athelflaed. She is FIERCE! The historical detail that revolves around her character is perfection.
Here is the thing, we all know Uhtred is flawed. Yes, he is an amazing warrior, but he has a temper. He supports women, but also a terrible father. And when I say terrible, I mean, he is the worst to his sons. He respects his daughter more than his sons though.
This edition is narrated by Matt Bates and I approve. I love Johnathon Keeble but Matt Bates does a stellar job. He really gets Uhtred. This audiobook gets 5 out of 5 stars!
This book is an emotional ride. My emotions were all over the place! If you read book 7 (I highly suggest that you do) then you know that it ends on a massive cliffhanger! Bernard Cornwell must have been in a playful mood because he toys with us for a bit. YOU WILL WANT ANSWERS.
Despite the suspense, this is one of my favorites out of the series so far. We have Uhtred being a badass at supporting women. And don’t forget about Athelflaed. She is FIERCE! The historical detail that revolves around her character is perfection.
Here is the thing, we all know Uhtred is flawed. Yes, he is an amazing warrior, but he has a temper. He supports women, but also a terrible father. And when I say terrible, I mean, he is the worst to his sons. He respects his daughter more than his sons though.
This edition is narrated by Matt Bates and I approve. I love Johnathon Keeble but Matt Bates does a stellar job. He really gets Uhtred. This audiobook gets 5 out of 5 stars!
It took me a few days to get through The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander because it was difficult to take in. I grew up very sheltered and even when exposed to the world, I did not realize how bad it is. Michelle Alexander argues that after the dismantling of the Jim Crow laws we created another system to ensure the racial divide. By targeting Black men and communities of color, The War on Drugs punishes rather than rehabilitates, ensuring racial control. While the Jim Crow laws are gone but if you are convicted on a felony, you are subjected to many of those laws-making it difficult to turn life around and thrive. Once in the system, it is very difficult to get out.
“The fact that some African Americans have experienced great success in recent years does not mean that something akin to a racial caste system no longer exists.”
THE NEW JIM CROW PAGE 21
I am having a very difficult time writing this review because I have way too many quotes I want to share. I plan to buy this book so I can reread it and highlight important passages—which I may end up highlighting the whole book. This book is a must-read. Why isn’t this book required reading? Not only does Michelle Alexander make the argument she backs it up with facts, events, and data. Even if you disagree with her argument, you have to at least admit there is a very big problem. Our criminal justice system is corrupt and is fueled by greed and racial control. This book is divided into 6 main sections that discuss the Jim Crow laws, how they came to an end, the development of the War on Drugs, and the development of mass incarceration.
“Drug offenses alone account for 2/3 of the rise in federal inmate population and more than 1/2 of state prisoners between 1985 and 2000.”
THE NEW JIM CROW
“1/2 million people are in prison for a drug-related offense today compared to 41,900—1,100% increase.”
THE NEW JIM CROW
There are many things that encourage this rise, the privatization of prisons, police benefiting from drug busts, and complete rights violations like stop and frisk. Not only does the author make a great argument, it sheds light on a corrupt system that will not be healed overnight. And until the system is fixed, there is no equality. I really encourage everyone to read this book. 5 out of 5 stars.
“The fact that some African Americans have experienced great success in recent years does not mean that something akin to a racial caste system no longer exists.”
THE NEW JIM CROW PAGE 21
I am having a very difficult time writing this review because I have way too many quotes I want to share. I plan to buy this book so I can reread it and highlight important passages—which I may end up highlighting the whole book. This book is a must-read. Why isn’t this book required reading? Not only does Michelle Alexander make the argument she backs it up with facts, events, and data. Even if you disagree with her argument, you have to at least admit there is a very big problem. Our criminal justice system is corrupt and is fueled by greed and racial control. This book is divided into 6 main sections that discuss the Jim Crow laws, how they came to an end, the development of the War on Drugs, and the development of mass incarceration.
“Drug offenses alone account for 2/3 of the rise in federal inmate population and more than 1/2 of state prisoners between 1985 and 2000.”
THE NEW JIM CROW
“1/2 million people are in prison for a drug-related offense today compared to 41,900—1,100% increase.”
THE NEW JIM CROW
There are many things that encourage this rise, the privatization of prisons, police benefiting from drug busts, and complete rights violations like stop and frisk. Not only does the author make a great argument, it sheds light on a corrupt system that will not be healed overnight. And until the system is fixed, there is no equality. I really encourage everyone to read this book. 5 out of 5 stars.
“Imperfection is beautiful. To anyone who has ever felt broken beyond repair, this is for you. If you’ve ever been excluded, or told you were not enough, know that you are enough, and beautifully complete.”
JONATHON VAN NESS
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathon Van Ness is everything I thought it would be. If you don’t know who JVN is, then you need to find out! JVN is on the Netflix series, Queer Eye. Jonathon, Bobby, Karamo, Antoni, and Tan are invited into people's lives to help them find their best self! It is by far the most positive show on Netflix. It is just PURE LOVE and we need so much of that, especially in these times. Jonathon’s memoir is the first Queer Eye memoir I have listened to but I fully intend to read them all.
Jonathon comes from Quincy, Illinois. He lived with his parents and brothers and was openly gay. He was bullied constantly. However, he was always accepted by his mom and stepdad. He goes into details about his gymnastics and figure skating obsession and adds a few funny stories here and there. However, this book is about a journey. He was sexually abused by another boy at church when he was just a kid. With that and the bullying, he became self-destructive.
“Just because we mess up doesn’t mean all the lessons we learned are undone. Healing can be imperfect.”
JONATHON VAN NESS
His journey is not a straight line. He rises and falls. He discusses sexual encounters, drug issues, and HIV positive diagnoses. There are powerful lessons and self-discovery.
OMG. JVN, be my best friend. PLEASE. Not only is this book a real eye-opening view into the LGBTQ community, but it also goes into self-discovery. I am not a part of the LGBTQ community but I support them and would consider myself an ally. I want to learn, so I can help elevate their voices and be able to empathize with them. My heart absolutely broke when he discussed the bullying and how he was not accepted in his family and community. I may not understand what it is like to be in the LGBTQ community but I am a survivor of sexual assault. And I did go down the self-destructive route too. I did not do drugs but I did party and would hang around people who did not have my best interests at heart. I can relate to not being believed and how my parents did not know how to handle this news. They were very similar in which they kept it “hush, hush.” There were several moments when he spoke his truth and I had to stop and take it in because it was something that really made sense to me.
I love that JVN narrates his own book. He is TRULY OUTRAGEOUS. There were also moments where you can hear the emotional tension in his voice. I could feel that his tears were on the surface but he was trying to hold back. I wish I could just give him all the hugs. This book made me laugh and cry. Definitely watch Queer Eye and read this book! 5 FABULOUS stars!!
JONATHON VAN NESS
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathon Van Ness is everything I thought it would be. If you don’t know who JVN is, then you need to find out! JVN is on the Netflix series, Queer Eye. Jonathon, Bobby, Karamo, Antoni, and Tan are invited into people's lives to help them find their best self! It is by far the most positive show on Netflix. It is just PURE LOVE and we need so much of that, especially in these times. Jonathon’s memoir is the first Queer Eye memoir I have listened to but I fully intend to read them all.
Jonathon comes from Quincy, Illinois. He lived with his parents and brothers and was openly gay. He was bullied constantly. However, he was always accepted by his mom and stepdad. He goes into details about his gymnastics and figure skating obsession and adds a few funny stories here and there. However, this book is about a journey. He was sexually abused by another boy at church when he was just a kid. With that and the bullying, he became self-destructive.
“Just because we mess up doesn’t mean all the lessons we learned are undone. Healing can be imperfect.”
JONATHON VAN NESS
His journey is not a straight line. He rises and falls. He discusses sexual encounters, drug issues, and HIV positive diagnoses. There are powerful lessons and self-discovery.
OMG. JVN, be my best friend. PLEASE. Not only is this book a real eye-opening view into the LGBTQ community, but it also goes into self-discovery. I am not a part of the LGBTQ community but I support them and would consider myself an ally. I want to learn, so I can help elevate their voices and be able to empathize with them. My heart absolutely broke when he discussed the bullying and how he was not accepted in his family and community. I may not understand what it is like to be in the LGBTQ community but I am a survivor of sexual assault. And I did go down the self-destructive route too. I did not do drugs but I did party and would hang around people who did not have my best interests at heart. I can relate to not being believed and how my parents did not know how to handle this news. They were very similar in which they kept it “hush, hush.” There were several moments when he spoke his truth and I had to stop and take it in because it was something that really made sense to me.
I love that JVN narrates his own book. He is TRULY OUTRAGEOUS. There were also moments where you can hear the emotional tension in his voice. I could feel that his tears were on the surface but he was trying to hold back. I wish I could just give him all the hugs. This book made me laugh and cry. Definitely watch Queer Eye and read this book! 5 FABULOUS stars!!
When all the bookstores were sold out of The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates, I was overjoyed when Libby had an available copy of the audiobook, narrated by Joe Morton. The Water Dancer introduces Hiram, he was born into slavery. His mother was sold and separated from him. He is raised in Lockless, which is a tobacco plantation in Virginia. His father is the white plantation owner and he is assigned to watch over his white half brother. Hiram has a gift. He has a photographic memory but cannot remember his mother. One day while going over a bridge, their carriage crashed. His half brother drowns but Hiram is saved by the power of conduction. After this power reveals itself, he decides it is time to flee and comes across the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad uses the same power of conduction to see people to safety. Hiram is determined to save his loved ones who he left behind.
This is my first book by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I have Between the World and Me on my TBR. This book is just stunning. I read Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad where his story made the Underground Railroad a literal engine in tunnels beneath the earth. This book reimagines The Underground Railroad with magical realism.
“There was no peace in slavery, for everyday under the rule of another is a day of war…”
THE WATER DANCER
The highlight of this book is the prose. It is hypnotizing. The emotional depth in the writing hits your soul. Even though we do not have slavery anymore, this book is still incredibly relevant. We still have a long way to go for true equality. The current state of the world displays that. Normally when I listen to an audiobook, I am preoccupied with something. I am cleaning the house or on a run. But this book just called me to listen. I could not focus on anything else. There are a few parts that are slow, but nothing that negatively affects the flow of the story. The characters are real and complex. I love that we even meet a few historical characters as well.
The narrator, Joe Morton is phenomenal!! There are some moments when he sings and I got the chills. His voice holds so much emotion and you can hear the passion and determination of the characters in his voice. I plan to buy this book so I can read it again. Stunning. Absolutely Stunning! 5 out of 5 stars!
This is my first book by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I have Between the World and Me on my TBR. This book is just stunning. I read Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad where his story made the Underground Railroad a literal engine in tunnels beneath the earth. This book reimagines The Underground Railroad with magical realism.
“There was no peace in slavery, for everyday under the rule of another is a day of war…”
THE WATER DANCER
The highlight of this book is the prose. It is hypnotizing. The emotional depth in the writing hits your soul. Even though we do not have slavery anymore, this book is still incredibly relevant. We still have a long way to go for true equality. The current state of the world displays that. Normally when I listen to an audiobook, I am preoccupied with something. I am cleaning the house or on a run. But this book just called me to listen. I could not focus on anything else. There are a few parts that are slow, but nothing that negatively affects the flow of the story. The characters are real and complex. I love that we even meet a few historical characters as well.
The narrator, Joe Morton is phenomenal!! There are some moments when he sings and I got the chills. His voice holds so much emotion and you can hear the passion and determination of the characters in his voice. I plan to buy this book so I can read it again. Stunning. Absolutely Stunning! 5 out of 5 stars!