22 Days Later

Where did May go?!  I mean seriously, where in the world did the month of May go?!  I cannot believe that it has 3 weeks since my last post.  I must do better.  In the words of my boss' wife, "Be better and you'll do better."  

This last month has been a whirlwind of "Look at God!" moments, paired with, "Oh my gosh, my family is relocating in a couple of months, do we have our ducks in a row?!"  So please forgive me.  Or don't.  It's okay. 

So, in an effort to support my husband, and muster up some sense of self-discipline, I've decided to implement a D.E.A.R. time in our household.  Do you remember D.E.A.R?  It was the BEST time of the day during my formative years.  For all of those poor, unfortunate souls who didn't get to experience its awesomeness, D.E.A.R stands for: "Drop Everything and Read."  It's a time when, you guessed it, drop everything and read.  I gave the Petty family an hour each night.  

So far, my husband is winning.  

I WILL complete "The Warmth of Other Suns" by the end of June.  It's really good, and I can't wait to blog about it either on this blog or in my head!

We'll see.

Ain't That Funny?!

*cues J. Lo circa 2004.  Excuse me while I grab my shades and huge glasses*

I have a story to tell....

So, here I am sitting at my desk and reading blogs, when I should actually be helping students, when I see this headline: "Shonda Rhimes and Dee Rees Tapped to Produce New Series Based on 'The Warmth of Other Suns'".  This means nothing to you now, but by the end of this post, you'll know why I'm saying:

"Look at God!"

"The Warmth of Other Suns" is a book that came out a few years ago, and brings us tales of The Great Migration.  When it was released, Chicago Public Library held an event that I attended.  The event was fun, full of fanfare, and I knew the book would be equally as awesome, but I didn't check it out.  

I know, I know, but before you decide to take my Black card and/or my bibliophile (that's such a chic word) card, let me explain!  

I'm incredibly interested in these stories, and the topic, but I was beginning graduate school, and just knew I wouldn't have time to read for fun.  Because Grad School.  

Cut to last Saturday (my birthday, woot woot), family, mimosa-filled me and Barnes and Noble.  While looking for books, I came across "The Warmth of Other Suns" and thought, "Hey, maybe it's about time I actually pick this up and read it!"  So I bought it.

Look at God.

Okay so, God knew that this brilliant piece of literature was coming to the small screen, knew I'd be watching, and put it on my heart to purchase it on my birthday.  #signsarereal  

Happy 28th birthday to me! 

I absolutely can not wait to finish reading this book, review it (I haven't done one of those since January), and sit in front of my tv to see what amazing-ness Shonda and Dee Rees will gift me.  

Stay tuned!  This is a larger book, so I PROMISE I will give updates as I read.  Sorry to those other two books, but you've been moved to the back for a moment. 

Happy World Book Day!!!

#thanksinternet

This is very late in the day, but I wish all a very happy World Book Day!  

One of my favorite books written by a foreign author is "Little Bee" by British author, Chris Cleave.  Since the description is purposefully vague, I will follow suit.  This novel makes you experience every single emotion.  

I read it back in 2010, and  was so taken by the characters, that I suggested my mother read it.  5 years later, I still do not have that book.

This is why I don't lend things, especially to family and close friends.  

Looking at you mom and my beloved soror who still has my copy of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"

Anyway, I strongly recommend "Little Bee" to anyone who needs to escape for a while.

Ta-Daw! How You Like Me Now?!

Subtitle (inspired by my friend): "Gold star for you."

I finished "Girl on the Train" last night, and I must say that I'm pretty proud of myself.  I read most of the book (3/4 worth) Sunday and Monday.  I mean, it wasn't a difficult book, or even boring, but...excuses.

Color me excited for tomorrow's book talk!  There will be a special post sometime this week (or next) that covers the talk I'm attending tomorrow.  

I just hope everyone has my sense of humor.  

Stay tuned!

Challenge!!!

Okay, I know it's a bit of a sensitive topic now, but does anyone remember that episode of The Cosby Show  when Cliff was tap-dancing against Rudy's teacher?  Remember how he would say, "Challenge!" in the weirdest voice ever when he was finished showing out? No? Just me? Okay.  Well, that's how I felt when I accepted an invitation to a super-secret, members-only book talk this month.  

I can't be an elitist when I want to be.  

I kid, I kid! But really, as a member of The Young Friends of the Kansas City Public Library, I get all sorts of perks! This book talk is just one of them. :)  

Where was I? Oh yeah... "Challenge!" So, this book talk added The Girl on the Train  to my list of April/May books. 

Did she say "list?"  

Girl yeah she said "list!"  

If you ask me, she can't do it.  Challenge! 

After enjoying 8 mimosas at a brunch with the girls a few weeks ago, I decided to take advantage of the weather and do what any good Kansas Citian would...head to the Plaza to spend money! Instead of going to Banana Republic, Gap or Victoria's Secret, I headed for Barnes and Noble to let a book "find me." And find me it (they) did.  I walked out of there with two books and about $60 poorer.  

My new friends are: Sister Citizen  by Melissa V. Harris-Perry and Daring My Passages   by Gail Sheehy.  With the Book talk selection, I have nearly 1100 pages to read by my husband's birthday: May 15. Can I do it? Heck yeah! Will I do it? That has yet to be determined.  

Challenge indeed.  

Masochist: (n.) 1. Someone who takes pleasure in being abused; 2. Me

Masochist: (n.) 1. Someone who takes pleasure in being abused; 2. Me

This is just sad...

I've been incredibly busy this month.  I know, that's no excuse, but really!  I had to "finish" the baby blanket (which I'm still not finished...80% done, target date of 4/4/15), write a sermon, finish Bad Feminist, discover and start reading 2 new books (more on that later), and I've just been STRESSED!   

April's shaping up to be not so busy, so I should be back to my weekly postings.  Who knows, I may even challenge myself and do multiple postings a week....

 

Stay Tuned! :)

Confessions of a Reneger

“I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allen Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie extoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. Like the bodiless heads you see sometimes in circus sideshows, it is as though I have been surrounded by mirrors of hard, distorting glass. When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination—indeed, everything and anything except me.” -Ralph Ellison, "Invisible Man"

Read More

Blow + Jeremiah

For weeks, I have been dealing with an internal battle.  My responsibility to this blog and its loyal followers, and my desire to remain true to myself have been waging war in my head and heart!  I can't eat.  I can't sleep.  I try to silence the endless screams for control, but they never seem to cease...   

Conscience: "Pfft...hyperbole much?!"

Me: "Well, I have to make it interesting."

Conscience: "Get your life."

Thanks conscience.  But really.  Ever since I began reading "Fire Shut Up in My Bones," I've been trying to decide whether or not I should finish it.  No disrespect to Charles Blow, but he didn't hold my attention.  It wasn't the length (c'mon, I've been reading books twice its size for a solid 15 years now), or the content, it was just...blah.  I was halfway through the book, and I felt like I was still waiting for something, anything to happen.  Don't get me wrong, plenty (there goes that exaggeration again), of things happened, but Blow didn't allow himself the opportunity to fully explore the important themes.  Tragedies were explained in 1-2 pages (if that), and were treated as afterthoughts going forward.  For someone who felt his tragedies shaped him, he didn't really give them their due.  Memoirs are supposed to be vulnerable, and it didn't feel like he was really ready to release.  I'm completely here for his next book when/if he does release.  You know the feeling of something being rushed, yet at the same time trudging along?  That's what I felt while reading "Fire Shut Up in My Bones."  I had a similar experience with Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie's "Americanah," which, by the way, I purchased in 2013 and still haven't finished.

I really need to stop falling for the hype.

What I did notice in "Bones" (of course I shortened the title, I'm American), was that my sociological imagination was constantly firing.  Perhaps that's why I didn't enjoy the book as much as others--I was analyzing it!  As my grad school professor told me (Hey Dr. DeFreece!), I couldn't see the forest for the trees.  Geez, $45,000 in loans later, and you would think I would have learned that lesson.  Anyway, different things jumped out at me, and I'd like to share them:

(As found in my Notes app)

Pg. 42: (As I'm reading this) I often forget how young Blow is.  That is, until he references pop culture that's only a generation removed.  I'm imagining him and his family in the 1940's or before--sharecroppers, who live under the rule of Jim Crow.  I guess that's what extreme poverty can do.  It can keep you in the past.  The greatest history lesson ever.

Page 93: He often felt alone, and abandoned.  He's the perfect target.

note: when I say, "He's the perfect target."  I am in no way excusing what happened to him, or any child who is almost or actually abused.  It is a tragedy.  The person who commits the act, is just as tragic.  I wonder what life experiences they had to bring them to that point...Before I allow myself to climb my soapbox, just know that I do not believe that Blow ever invited any of his abuse.  While his introversion and self-seclusion makes him easier to abuse, it is inexcusable.  

Carry on.

Page 95: "Loneliness became my truest and dearest friend."

This just breaks my heart, and ties in with the earlier note.

Page 122: ...early sexualization of kids...impoverished kids... Does a link exist here?  Note to self: start researching.

Page 129: Daddy issues?

It is fascinating that only women are accused of having "Daddy issues."  As if men can't long for the love of an absent or abusive father, and go looking for it in the wrong places.  Blow is someone who definitely has "Daddy issues."

 

That is where I stopped.  I couldn't go on.  No mas.  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, that is, you know, if you actually read along with me. :) Brownie points to the person who can explain the title of this post.     

 

Audible Dropout...

For the past few months, I have had an account with Audible.com.  Although I'm not an auditory learner, I assumed this would help me continue consuming books for leisure, and decided to give it a shot.

After $21, 6 books, only 2 likes, and countless hours of my day spent searching for the book, I have decided to pass.  I just thought they would be more entertaining.  I assumed the books, especially novels, would be acted out instead of just read.  I tried listening to books that couldn't keep my attention on paper, memoirs, novels, essays, you name it, but nothing worked!  Hillary Rodham Clinton and Tina Fey were the only two who could hold my attention, and HRC's book was over 20 hours long!  Proving either I'm a glutton for punishment, or I really enjoy books on foreign policy.  I like to think I'm somewhere in between.     

Sorry Audible, I tried.  And failed.  Hard.

Then again, my mind changes like the wind, so perhaps I will find the book, or the book will find me...until then, I will continue to let my podcasts, Pandora, and Netflix get me through my workday.   

February, it's only 3 weeks away!

It's never too soon to plan for the future right?  

I'm still not finished with January's "Fire Shut Up in My Bones," and my goal is to complete it this weekend, but I need to start thinking about what I will read next month.  

I'm one of those people who likes themes, so I'm basing my decision on February's theme.  The question is: Which theme should I choose?  Should I go with Black History Month, Love and Romance, or Feminism (I'll explain later)?

Black History Month Picks: 

  • "A Chosen Exile" by Allyson Hobbs
  • "Bad Feminist" by Roxane Gay 

Feminism.  I chose feminism because Feminism and February both begin with the letter f.  Does it work?  Yes.

  • "Bad Feminist"
  • "An Untamed State" by Roxane Gay

Oddly enough, I don't have any picks at all for the love and romance category.  This bothers me because I fancy myself a full-on romantic.  Perhaps one of my many readers (insert sarcasm here) has suggestions?  

Or should I save Feminism for March?  

Let the indecisiveness set in!!! Hey, at least I'm consistent.  

 

Happy reading!  

Begin.

So, here I am, sitting at my cubicle, crafting what could either be the best decision of my life or a waste of $120.  Only time will tell.  

My challenge between now and Thursday is to find a book that I want to read for January.  The issue with that though is that I'm the kind of person who can really get lost in a book store, physical or online, and/or library.  Instead of just picking one title, rocking with it, and moving on, I agonize over the decision, and before I know it, I've spent no less than 2 hours with nothing to show for it.  

Wish me luck!