The Goal of the Book Babe is to raise awareness to the importance of reading and new authors (especially females). To spark creativity and originality among it followers, to get more books into the hands of readers and finally to provide book reviews.
20 years ago today the magic begin; children and adults in the U.K. were introduced to Harry Potter and in the work of wizarding. A whole generation of children discovered the magic of reading. We all learned that Hogwarts will always be home!
👇🏾 Here is the gear that I wore to work today 🐍💚💛💚💛💚🐍! You know I had to rep my house!
There's is amazing thing about birthdays they either make you sad or they make you really happy. Until I was about 23 birthdays were always hard for me – I never like them, and I usually cried when I had a birthday and I always associated them with something bad. Each year my birthday was a reminder that I was a year older and a year lonelier. I don't say this for pity. I don't want people to feel sorry for me in anyway – but for several years of my life I was sad. It's a hard thing to admit that I suffered from depression and anxiety and loneliness; and sometimes I think a lot of it was my own fault. I wasn't strong enough to see my own beauty, to see my own intelligence, to see how beautiful my life really was. And then I discovered a book – it wasn't that I wasn't a reader before because I was. In fact I was a self-taught reader, and I read alot. It didn't matter the topic, it didn't matter what was going on I always had a book to read. But it wasn't until I was 23 when I discovered Max Lucado's He Choose the Nails that I felt a real shift in my life.
I was raised a Christian. I always believed in the tenants of the Christian faith. But still I felt like Jesus was abstract. His sacrifice wasn't for me. I never felt that I completely belong to him but all that changed with one par his sacrifice wasn't for me. I never felt that I completely belong to him but all that changed with one book.
That one book shifted the way I thought about myself; it shifted the way I thought about my life and it definitely shifted the way I believed in the power of the written word. When I was a teenager Stephen King was the man that inspired me to write. But it was maxes work that inspired me to live. It inspired me to enjoy life more fully, to give more, to love more and to read more.
I feel now at 33 that books have shaped my life; I carry the work of Max Lucado, Rob Bell, Stephen King, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, J.K. Rowling and so many others in my heart. He Choose the Nails is just one example of how one book can change someones heart. Books have made me life whole; so much so that I want to create my own so that I can perhaps touch someone the way other authors have touched me. So....my birthday wish this year is to SAY YES to writing and to SAY YES to continuing to live my life with books in it. Here's to another fabulous year of writing, reading and loving.
We all know I read a lot; in fact i average about 50 books a year. But when you look at my TBR list of 1701 books you know I simply am not reading at a fast enough pace! I've got to do better.
You can check out your TBR time results here:
http://www.readitforward.com/tbr-time/
There are certain things in my life I will never forget. Meeting my first best friend, the first time I got stitches, my highschool and college graduations. Completing my Masters Degree. And Feburary of 2012 the month a 17 year old African American man was killed in Sanford, Florida while walking home in a hoodie with skittles and a drink. I won't forget Mike Brown, Philando Castile, Freddie Grey, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, John Crawford lll, Tamir Rice, Jordan Evans....and the list goes on and on. Each case was different but each death left a lasting impression on me. For those of you that know my personally you know I studied Criminal Justice in college; and have a masters in Homeland security. I love politics and can and will debate the issues of the day with anyone at anytime. However, the deaths of so many African Americans (mainly men) at the hands of law enforcement (the man that shot Trayvon Martin was neighborhood watch) really shook me to my core and made me question some of the beliefs I had in the justice system.
Believe me when I say I have always been aware of the inequality that exists in the system. I'm aware and have seen what happens when communites of color do not trust law enforcement. I am also very much aware of why communities of color (especially the African American community) are leary of cops - I know the history and I've heard the tales. But never had I really felt scared. I laughed off the "talk" my grandparents gave me when I was old enough to drive my car by myself. I thought "yeah right...we don't live in the times you grew up in". Only I never realized that now the thing they inherently knew to be true would still be going on and in my generation would be all over the place and anyone would be able to see it.
So all of that brings me to this moment...this reading list. It is my goal to learn more about social justice as it pertains to the African American experience so that I can better serve my community and have a more intelligent conversation about how things effect us. The more I know the better ally, friend and advocate I can be. I would like to invite anyone who wants to to read along and discuss each book on the list with me. I'll be posting a blog post bi-weekly on what I'm learning as I read.
And without further adieu here is a list:
Last month the third installment in Sarah J. Maas A Court of Thorns and Roses series was released. I didn't jump right into the book because I had a lot going on and frankly I wanted to take my time with the novel. This book starts off with Feyre back at the spring court awaiting a time to ruin Tamiln's life make him pay for the betrayal of her and her family to Hybren.
Throughout her time at the Spring Court she is attempting to keep Tamlin and Lucien at arms length. She plays this well; its an Oscar winning performance, at least where Tamlin is concerned. Lucien, however, is expecting something. He is suspicious of her from the moment they leave the Cauldron and King of Hybren to come back to the court. It's not until Dagdan and Brannagh (the niece and nephew of the King) that Feyre is able to spring her trap and escape; but not before the pays back Ianthe for her role in the betrayal and for her constant in wanted sexual advances on Lucien and several other males around her. Feyre and Lucien escape to the court of Night together. Lucien only leaves with her because he wants to see his mate; Elain, who happens to be Feyre's sister. As they escape the run into characters from the winter and autumn courts that will play a much bigger role in the storyline as we go on. Once they are back in Velaris Lucien quickly comes to understand that all he thought and knew about Rhysand and his court is untrue. Rhysand is more caring and loving and honorable then Lucien has been made to believe and the leads him into becoming a reluctant ally of the Night Court. During the book we see a love hate relationship start between Nesta and Cassian. We also see Azriel and Mor's relationship become more strained; and most of that is Mor's doing. She is sitting on a secret that she needs to share with Az. We also find out the Amren has a love interest who lives in another court; we also find that she will betray Feyre and her friends in order to save not only the court but their world.
Amren's betrayal was frustrating for me; I found myself cussing her when I read it. I truly did not see that coming and she had put Feyre in danger. However, Maas cleans it up and the end and we find that Amren is still a friend of the group and is still within the courts ranks at the end of the novel. If the betrayal was not bad enough Maas could not resist harming Rhysand; but this one moment was also a chance for Tamlin to redeem himself. This did not change my views of Tamlin. I still don't like him; but it does mean that we will see him in the future. We will also see Queen Vassa in the upcoming novels, however, I have a feeling that her tale is going to be full of drama and danger. I think this queen is going to be a piece of work; something tells me she's putting on a front to those around her so that she can be freed from the man that holds her captive. There is so much that went on in this book and its way to much to discuss without spoilers.
Best Scenes:
Death of a really bad character at the hands of Nesta and Elain.
Amren lives.
We have a LQBT character
Worse scene:
Cannot tell you due to chance of spoiling it - sorry!
I gave this book 5/5 stars on goodreads.
Quotes that I loved:
Okay, so....the choice of this book started with good intentions; it was supposed to be a Book club read. However, while me and one other person choose to read it others sat it out. This book was perhaps one of the most perplexing books I've ever been compelled to read. The prose was beautiful and the characters (to a point) were relatable. But none of them other than The Linton's, Lockwood (narrator) and Ms. Dean. (House keeper) are likable. All of the main characters are absolutely horrifying. The Story revolves around Catherine and Heathcliff; two young people who are very fond of one another. Heathcliff is moody and mean and his upbringing definitely has a lot to do with his hard demeanor. Catherine is a spoiled brat. She must have her way and she will abuse and use anyone to get what she wants. She treats those that she loves harshly and looks down upon them. She loves Heathcliff but will deny it in favor of someone richer. It's this acknowledgment of her feelings that drives Heathcliff away for three years and leads to her marrying Linton.
The Linton's seem to be good natured, sensible people. The glimpses we have of their upbringing verse that of Catherine and Heathcliff are stark to say the least. The Linton children seem to be loved and carefree and nurtured. While Catherine is tolerated and Heathcliff is down right hated. Isabella Linton is sweet and naive and easily taken in by Heathcliff's good looks and brooding ways. She fancies that she loves him. While Catherine is mean spirited and spiteful; she's also manipulative. Edgar Linton is gentle and sweet and a well bred gentlemen; while Heathcliff is a brute and vindictive. When Heathcliff finally returns home he is wealthy (no one knows how he came about the money) and he is out for revenge. He starts with Catherine's (Hindley Earnshaw) uncle; he begins to take advantage of the mans financial misfortune and is soon the owner of Catherine's family homestead. He makes sure that Hindley's son, Hareton, has no inheritance. Heathcliff than goes after the Linton's. He plays on the feelings of Isabella Linton. She ends up running away with him and marries him.
You'd think she'd stay away from him. She is warned not only by Catherine but by Ms. Dean. Not to mention on the night she runs off with Heathcliff she catches him in the act of hanging her dog. Yeah you read that right. The psycho was attempting to kill the dog of the woman who loves him. Isabella marries him and then runs away from her while pregnant. Heathcliff's revenge on Linton is far from complete. Things only get worse for them all because Catherine becomes ill and when she dies Heathcliff is determined to blame Edgar Linton for the loss of his beloved.
It's through the child Isabella bores that Heathcliff will have his ultimate revenge. At every turn Heathcliff makes sure everyone attached to him suffers; and even more so when it seems Catherine's spirit is haunting him.
Wuthering Heights is a story about so many things - its about pain, love, loss, revenge and most of all its about how our past deeds shall always come back to haunt us. This book was hard to like; but definitely is a classic I can say I appreciate. I gave this book 4/5 stars on good reads. The Book Babe Reads a Classic....My review of Wuthering Heights
Okay, so....the choice of this book started with good intentions; it was supposed to be a Book club read. However, while me and one other person choose to read it others sat it out. This book was perhaps one of the most perplexing books I've ever been compelled to read. The prose was beautiful and the characters (to a point) were relatable. But none of them other than The Linton's, Lockwood (narrator) and Ms. Dean. (House keeper) are likable. All of the main characters are absolutely horrifying. The Story revolves around Catherine and Heathcliff; two young people who are very fond of one another. Heathcliff is moody and mean and his upbringing definitely has a lot to do with his hard demeanor. Catherine is a spoiled brat. She must have her way and she will abuse and use anyone to get what she wants. She treats those that she loves harshly and looks down upon them. She loves Heathcliff but will deny it in favor of someone richer. It's this acknowledgment of her feelings that drives Heathcliff away for three years and leads to her marrying Linton.
The Linton's seem to be good natured, sensible people. The glimpses we have of their upbringing verse that of Catherine and Heathcliff are stark to say the least. The Linton children seem to be loved and carefree and nurtured. While Catherine is tolerated and Heathcliff is down right hated. Isabella Linton is sweet and naive and easily taken in by Heathcliff's good looks and brooding ways. She fancies that she loves him. While Catherine is mean spirited and spiteful; she's also manipulative. Edgar Linton is gentle and sweet and a well bred gentlemen; while Heathcliff is a brute and vindictive. When Heathcliff finally returns home he is wealthy (no one knows how he came about the money) and he is out for revenge. He starts with Catherine's (Hindley Earnshaw) uncle; he begins to take advantage of the mans financial misfortune and is soon the owner of Catherine's family homestead. He makes sure that Hindley's son, Hareton, has no inheritance. Heathcliff than goes after the Linton's. He plays on the feelings of Isabella Linton. She ends up running away with him and marries him.
You'd think she'd stay away from him. She is warned not only by Catherine but by Ms. Dean. Not to mention on the night she runs off with Heathcliff she catches him in the act of hanging her dog. Yeah you read that right. The psycho was attempting to kill the dog of the woman who loves him. Isabella marries him and then runs away from her while pregnant. Heathcliff's revenge on Linton is far from complete. Things only get worse for them all because Catherine becomes ill and when she dies Heathcliff is determined to blame Edgar Linton for the loss of his beloved.
It's through the child Isabella bores that Heathcliff will have his ultimate revenge. At every turn Heathcliff makes sure everyone attached to him suffers; and even more so when it seems Catherine's spirit is haunting him.
Wuthering Heights is a story about so many things - its about pain, love, loss, revenge and most of all its about how our past deeds shall always come back to haunt us. This book was hard to like; but definitely is a classic I can say I appreciate. I gave this book 4/5 stars on good reads.
Post Script:
I would caution any Book lovers that this book contains several scenes in which books are thrown about or thrown into fire places. This really pissed me off and actually made Heathcliff seem even more unkind to me.
Here are a few quotes I liked:
