The author lays out a compelling argument against immigration prisons by laying out the history of immigration reform, the present and the future he hopes to see. While doing so, he doesn‘t dumb down or sugar coat the complexities of immigration reform. No administration is spared from his criticism. I am not well versed in immigration reform but I want to become educated and this book is a perfect starting point.

The author did a beautiful job of describing the trials that the main character, Cussy, had to live through all bc of the color of her skin. The prejudices were horrible and the actions that were justified in the name of religion were heartbreaking. Cussy quickly became a favorite. Her strength, compassion, and passion for sharing her love of books and education resonated with me throughout the book.

3.5 stars. Jane tells her story by keeping a journal after she escapes. She goes back and forth between her time as a captive and after she escapes. It‘s heartbreaking to read her thought process as she tries to make sense of her experience. She deals with shame, regret, guilt, anger and loneliness. You go on her journey of recovery and you are rooting for her the whole time.

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC of #janeanonymous

The title is fitting. They story flows very well between the typical funny teenager issues and the less than funny, heartbreaking reality, having to accept her dad‘s heartbreaking diagnosis. The main character is obsessed with comedy and tries her hand at improv. While she steps into the unknown she also learns that life isn‘t simple as it appears and not everything can be solved with a joke. It‘s a darling YA book.

3.5 stars. It was a fascinating book about loss of identity and rediscovering oneself after putting the pieces back together again. She weaves in the history of sperm donors and raises some valid ethical questions. She describes her processing in great detail, at times it seemed to be redundant though, and brings you along as you find yourself questioning what would you do, how would you handle it, and how would you move forward?

3.5 stars. A 30 something black woman comes back to the place where her daddy died, 30 years earlier, searching for answers. Memory is a tricky thing bc you remember what you want to remember but that is all she has to work with, the memories of those who were there when her daddy died. She dives into the racist past and present of the Mississippi Delta, and reveals that we have a ways to go before we can claim victory over racial inequality.

This is a sweet story of a man and a woman finding each other in the most unexpected way and time. They work together (and at times look like they‘ll fail each other) to overcome childhood trauma, commitment issues, familial disputes, fears of what the future holds, and finding inner strength when everything around them seems to falls apart. It‘s a lovely story of two people finding love when they thought those days were over for them.

4.5 stars. This was such a unique plot. You follow the life of a 12 year old boy who is the sole plane survivor, as he comes to terms with his new reality. The author did an amazing job getting the reader into the boy‘s head and empathizing with him. It‘s a heartbreaking, inspiring, lovely, and hopeful story.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced reader‘s copy of #dearedward

My August 2019 books read, part 2. The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls was a favorite. I listened to the audiobook and the talent of the narrators didn‘t hurt. Dear Edward is 4.5 stars. It comes out in 2020. Definitely plan to read it.

My August 2019 books read, part 1. My favorites were all of the Sarah Andersen books. The Gown was a lovely story about friendship and perseverance. My husband did the audiobook of The River and really enjoyed it, maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had listened too.

This is an interesting story about how dangerous it can get when the leaders become too powerful by using shame and fear, esp in a religious setting. There were parts where the main character seemed too passive, too peripheral to the story. I would have loved to have witness more of an internal battle that I‘m sure he would have experienced but it‘s a minor critique. Overall, I felt the story was captivating and strong.

#3 doesn‘t disappoint. Still feel understood and not so alone after reading this one.

I felt understood, I understood, and I felt less alone after reading this book. Someone gets me. ❤️

So much truth in this book, it hurts. Although the hurt is accompanied by much laughter. She nailed it.

I fell in love with the 2 female characters that are the center of this story. My heart continually went out to these characters and their trials. It‘s a beautiful story of love, friendship, and perseverance. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 bc I couldn‘t get behind the modern day storyline. It was boring compared to the other storyline. With that said, it‘s a beautiful story.

It was cute. It was a cross between A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant.

When I started reading this book I anticipated a fast paced, intense, heart stopping adventure, what I got was quite opposite on all counts. The author spent a distractingly large amount of space describing the natural surroundings, the equipment the men used, canoe tactics, and the fishing they did. It removed me from the story. This doesn‘t make it a bad book just not what I was expecting and the slow burn plot line became a bit tedious for me.

Part 2 of my July 2019 book list. It was a pretty solid month as far as quality reads. School/work starts up in 2 weeks so my books read will decline quite a bit. It was great while it lasted.

I read 8 books in July. This is part 1 of my July 2019 book list. The Water Dancer by Ta-Neshisi Coates was my favorite novel that I read this month. The other 5 star rating went to I Think You Are Wrong but I‘ll Listen. This book is a must read if you are looking for ways to be part of the solution to our country‘s divisiveness. I was also introduced to their podcast, Pantsuit Nation, through this book. I highly recommend it.

This book grabbed me from the start. My plan was to read the first chapter and then go to bed. Nope. I read half the book and then finished it the next day. There were twists and turns and the characters were fun, some of them in a devilish way. Even though the book was a fast, fun read, it also forces you to think about how damaging secrets can be. By the end of the book I had made a vow to never tell another secret again. Great book.

This book grabbed my attention from the get go and kept me riveted throughout the book. Vivian is the main character and follows her life from after high school to her older years. She lives a colorful life and the author isn‘t shy to share all the details (read sexual content present). It‘s a story about redemption, self forgiveness and becoming comfortable in your own skin. It‘s a wild ride as you relive Vivian‘s tales with her.

I am a pretty fast reader when it comes to fiction but this book required that I take my time. I didn‘t want to skim a single sentence. Coates brilliantly shares commentary on the horror of slavery while keeping you engaged in the storyline, never bringing you out of the story. For a topic that is so heartbreaking, so horrific, so evil, he does a beautiful job of bringing the humanity into it as well. #thewaterdancer #netgalley #arc

Just started the audiobook today. I don‘t remember the last time a book hooked me straight out of the gate like this book has. I have a good feeling about this book.

And it‘s not changing for the next 48 hours. 🤦‍♀️ #heatwave #notafanofhumidity #westcoastgirllivingontheeastcoast #itssofreakinhot

This is a whodunnit plot with #metoo/women issues commentary mixed in. This was a frustrating book for me bc her commentary re women in the workforce (well, women in general) hit a raw nerve for me throughout bc she nailed it pretty accurately but the plot wasn‘t innovative enough for me. There were character stereotypes that felt demeaning and the plot was pretty bland but the commentary was spot on and very relevant.

This is the second book of poems I have read by Rupi Kaur. I switch back and forth from loving her writing to feeling lukewarm. She is raw and no holds barred about relationships, abuse, self-loathing, love, and finally, self-acceptance. It was peppered with some writings that didn't do much for me but overall, I loved this book.

At this moment I am exploring The Last Bookstore in LA. I‘m in heaven.

This book is a must read in this political environment we live in. It does have Christian themes throughout but it wasn‘t dominate, in case you aren‘t interested in a religious book. I love the way these two authors approach civility and reasoning. If you want to be part of the solution to our divisive environment this is a great start.

Current mood: ☺️😍

❤️🇺🇸 Happy 4th 🇺🇸❤️

3.5 stars. Sylvie‘s character was my favorite out of all the characters and I ended up aching for her and the predicaments she found herself in. I enjoyed the parts of the book Sylvie was in. The other characters I struggled to connect with though. The revelation of the family‘s secrets, near the end, seemed out of place too. I spent more time liking the book than not so I gave it 3.5 stars.

3.5 stars. I keep trying to find that romance book that doesn‘t have cringe worthy moments. To this book‘s credit, it had less than other books that I have read. The characters are darling. The supporting characters were great. The plot line was strong until it wasn‘t (why does the girl character always have to be the klutz and the man saves her?!) and then it was strong again. Overall it‘s a cute story.

Part 2 of Read In June 2019. Miracle Creek and Disappearing Earth are must reads. #june2019 #somanygreatbookstoolittletime

I read 10 books in June. The joy of summer break. This is part 1 of my Read in June 2019. A Woman Is No Man and The Color Of Compromise are must reads. #june2019 #summerbreakisthebestkindofbreak

Such an important book

This is a really important book. I think it would make a great companion book to The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. He is thorough in his assessments and in his historical summaries. This book is not hyperbole, it is factual. I highly recommend it, unless you haven‘t read much re race in our country and then I would recommend a few books before this one, starting with The New Jim Crow.

It has to be a good book when the subject of the story praises it and it really is. It is more character driven than plot driven, it‘s right up my alley. It follows different fictional spectators‘ lives of Marina Abramović‘s performance art piece at the MOMA back in 2010. It covers the power of art on humans, love, regret, friendship, relationships, and also bringing in aspects of Abramović‘s personal life mixed in. I really enjoyed it.

3.5 stars. It was a fun, fast read. Some twists I figured out, some I didn‘t. It kept me interested the whole time.

The author is an accomplished screenwriter but his writing style didn‘t translate as well as I would have like from screen to book. He is very honest regarding his struggles as a closeted gay boy being raised in the Mormon church. He‘s respectful but honest in his criticism. If you are interested in reading a short history of how marriage equality was won in this country while being inspired to be better and do better this is your book.

I think it is an important book and for a debut author, she did a phenomenal job expressing the pain and tragedy that women experience when caught in a patriarchal, old world, fanatical religious culture. The stories of 3 generations of women are woven into one in a seamless, beautiful story. So much regret, shame, pride, fear wrapped up in one story.

Pretty much every weekend. #fantasylife #givemeallthebooks #introvert

Where do I even start with this book? The author tackled so many issues and she did it beautifully. She tackles race, immigration, disabilities, parenting, women issues, caregiving, vulnerability, shame. She gets you to think what you would do in their shoes. She takes issues that seem so black and white and exposes the grey that exists. It‘s a beautifully tragic story and she presents it brilliantly.

There were some great parts and there were some okay parts. This is a great read for someone thinking about seeing a therapist or becoming a therapist. It didn‘t grab me like some other self help books but there was some great advice mixed in.

This is a hard book for me to review. I really loved the flow of the book and she did a great job bringing her characters to life. I admire the author for trying to tackle such important social issues, but I feel she tackled too many in one story. Jennifer Weiner is a wonderful storyteller but in the urgency to tackle so many issues at once this story felt contrived.

I so wanted to love this book. The two main characters cracked me up. I love the idea of angels and demons falling in love with the ways of humans that they don't want Armageddon to happen. The writing was fantastically entertaining, no surprise there though. The problem for me was there were too many characters. They didn't all come together in the end in a seamless way. It is an entertaining book but it felt a bit off for my taste.

The story beginning when 2 young sisters are kidnapped. From there the book is like a collection of short stories, where each chapter covers one month following the kidnapping. The characters of each chapter may or may not have been affected personally by the tragedy but the tragedy is brilliantly woven into each storyline. I was transported to this far away peninsula, where it turns out the human struggle is the same everywhere.

This is my Read In May 2019 wrap up. My favorite, by a mile, was Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. #may2019 #wishicouldreadalldayeveryday

This is a 3.5 star rating. I spent the majority of the book trying to figure out how this book became so popular and it must be that the world is full of fellow book lovers. This is a great realization. If you love books, libraries, history and a bit of “whodunnit” mixed in, you‘ll love this book.

Solid 3 stars. Interesting concept for a story, documentary format for a former rock band. If it‘s on your ‘to read list‘ I would say keep it on it but don‘t rush to read it.

Darling book. Eleanor has become one of my favorite characters. The story took a turn I wasn‘t expecting. It would have been a wonderful book even without the unexpected turn but it added a depth to the book that was deeply heartfelt and beautiful.