First Impressions are everything: Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reno Eddo-Lodge

This book is on fire. Now I see why its gotten such great reviews. In Why I’m no Longer talking to White People about Race is a powerful look at Race in the United Kingdom. It covers history of not only violence but how black and brown people came to be in the UK. The books touches on colonalism and the lies often told to those being colonalized to get them on the side of their oppressers. The best example of this is Lodge’s toughing on the history and treatment Indian soliders that came to fight for the British in the hopes on the promise that the British would vacate their country. These men can to Britian to fight in World War 1 only to be ill treated and segerated and then lied to. The Treatment of West Indies was no better.

The book also touches on slavery; what really caught me off guard in the examination of this subject is that I never thought of slavery as a British Institution. I’ve always thought of it as a distinctly American enterprise. However, Slavery was big business in Britian and there where several slave ports throughout the country. Lodge points out that slavery was treated as a bit of an after thought. Brits could profit from it without ever having to directly witness its bruality.

Right now I am reading my way through the second chapter; which exams the criminal justice system in Britain. I can say that the system in the UK is not all that different from the one in America. And God knows thats depressing as hell on so many levels.

I have a feeling that this is going to be a book I am just not going to be able to stop recommending.

First Impressions Are Everything: My thoughts on The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Five Chapters in)

I usually do not believe the hype of most new books but I did on this one. The Hate U Give is definitely not what I thought it would be. I expected it to be a safe, gentle book dealing with police brutality and the realities of African American life in a major city. I did not expect the first five chapters to be as raw and earth shifting as they were.
In this book we are introduced to Starr, a young African American teen living a typical American life in a bad neighborhood. Her parents have done all they can to protect her from the realities of the neighborhood that they live in. This includes sending her to a predominantly white private school that's almost an hour away from her home. Starr is not as sheltered as some may think; she has seen several things that no kid should. Things that would change most of us for the rest of our lives. Starr’s life shifts again when she goes to a party with her half sister and on the way home is witness to a police involved shooting. I am expecting this book to be a bit of a raw if not rude awakening for many that read it. Especially in the times that we live in. Just in 2017, 712 people have died at the hands of police. According to the Washington Post (link below) mental illness played a role in 1 in 5 of these deaths.
The Hate U Give presents us with a very important dilemma: Do POC (people of color) really have different experiences in America? Or is this all just hype? And when do we are a society say enough is enough; and will we be willing to put ourselves on the line to make sure real equality happens? Can some in our society ever truly acknowledge that race is a bigger issue then what we ever imagined it to be?
As a Person of color I definitely believe that Angie Thomas is tackling a subject that will make many uncomfortable but it a story that needs to be told nonetheless. I am looking forward to finishing this book.

For info on what inspired The Hate U Give Check out this video of Angie Thomas discussing the book:

Deadly Force Information:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/number-of-fatal-shootings-by-police-is-nearly-identical-to-last-year/2017/07/01/98726cc6-5b5f-11e7-9fc6-c7ef4bc58d13_story.html?utm_term=.1fa82493b089

First Impressions.....Night Pleasures (Dark Hunter # 2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Here is the blurb from the back for the book (Goodreads.com):

The Dark-Hunters are ancient warriors who have sworn to protect mankind and the fate of the world is in their hands. . .

 He is solitude. He is darkness. He is the ruler of the night. Yet Kyrian of Thrace has just woken up handcuffed to his worst nightmare: An accountant. Worse, she's being hunted by one of the most lethal vampires out there. And if Amanda Devereaux goes down, then he does too. But it's not just their lives that are hanging in the balance.  Kyrian and Amanda are all that stands between humanity and oblivion. Let's hope they win. 

First Impression after reading three chapters:

Okay, so I am a fan of J.R. Ward's Blackdagger Brotherhood series, and over the time I have been reading those someone always mentions this series. So at the end of 2015, I read the Manga's based on the series. You know just to get a feel on whether or not I may enjoy these books. Well the story was interesting enough that I went out and purchased the first three books in the series (used) from Acorn Books. I think that it is important to note that I am also speeding up my reading experience by using an audio book. A technique I found really helpful when I was reading the All Souls Trilogy. 

Well, with Kenyon also filing a lawsuit against Cassandra Clare for ripping off her characters and ideas I decided it was time to start them; because I truly wanted to be able to dissect the claims that the stories are similar. 

So now that we have the reasons why I am reading this text out of the way...let's get down to business. After three chapters, I have mixed feelings about the book. Kyrian is everything I expect in a paranormal romance; however, I feel like he is a little to "pretty" and is missing the edge and grit that I seem to love about Ward's Blackdagger Brothers. Of course, I am pretty much still in the beginning of the story so he may grow on me. Also, the actor that reads the audio's take on Kyrian kind of throws me. Since it's a woman the male voice is almost soft, not at all "manly". That could also be what's throwing me off. Right now the book is following the manga very closely. Which is a good thing if you want skip reading the novel. (Not that I would advocate for that.)

While the novel is funny, and characters very interesting. The mentions of sex can be a bit much. It's almost as bad as Ana Steele (character by E.L. James) and that "inner goddess" of hers. Hopefully it will not be the same way through every book; because if so I will find myself not reading the series. Not because the romance is to much but because it's not sexy and honestly is extremely poorly written to the point that it's tacky. I know that's a bit mean. But I feel that it's best to be honest. As of right now I am giving the books a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Hopefully that rating will change by the end of my reading experience! 

Jane Austen, Mysterious men and Bookselling: The Bookbabe Reviews First Impressions by Charlie Lovett

                                         

       

Howdy Bookies, I am back with yet another review of something Jane Austen related. A few weeks ago I read First Impressions by Charlie Lovett; a book that questions the true authorship of Pride and Prejudice. What bought me to this book was the fact that I had read and  LOVED Lovett's The Bookmans Tale last year. This book was definitely not a disappointment.  Basically the books main character Sophie Collingswood is an Austen fan, and general book lover. She gets caught up in the mystery of the murder of her beloved uncle and a mystery involving her beloved Austen; with a bit of romance and danger added in. What I really loved about this book, like Lovett's other novel, is that the characters are 100% relatable. Sophie is everything you love in a  bibliophile; she is intelligent, well read, overly protective of  books, and quick on her feet. Sophie comes from a seemingly well to do family that had a long history of publishing in its blood. However, her father is not a fan of books, or even reading. He finds the family library to be unnecessary, basically it is a waste of space and since most of the books are first editions of collectables they can be sold off to the highest bidder. The only person standing is his way is Sophie's beloved Uncle. Who won't allow his brother to sell even one book in the family library. Sophie's uncle is the reason she loved books; he is the reason she is found of old books and behind her as she studies Library sciences at Oxford. So when he suddenly is found dead in his flat Sophie just can not seem to accept the cause of this demise. She is determined to prove that someone murdered him; in fact, the quest almost costs her her life. 

What I really loved about the book was that it bounced back from Sophie's time period to the regency period, in which, Austen lived. Lovett writes in Austen's voice so beautifully that it made me feel like I was re-reading one of my favorite novels. He made Austen come alive in a way that I have never seen other authors do. Another thing that was extremely impressive was the balance of innocent romance and suspense. There was just enough romance to make you swoon and enough suspense to keep you up at night wanting to finish the book in one sitting. I am happy to say that I took my time reading this book so that I could throughly enjoy it. It was the well developed characters and the artful balance of romance and suspense that lead me to give First Impressions 5/5 stars on Goodreads. 

I definitely see this book becoming one I give away to fellow Austen fans.

Favorite Quotes:

"A bibliophile raised in a family that does not know the word...that's me"

(it was this moment that let me know Sophie was set to be my literary BFF of the moment)

"A good book is like a good friend. It will stay with you for the rest of your life. When you first get to know it, it will give you excitement and adventure and years later it will provide you with comfort and familiarity. And best of all, you can share it with your children or your grandchildren or anyone you love enough to let into its secrets"

"Let me ask you this, Miss Austen. Are you able to prevent yourself from writing?"

"Indeed not. I find that my stories will not cease to crowd all other thoughts from my mind until I have committed them to paper"

"...Then, Miss Austen, let there be no doubt about it - you are a novelist"

"It is only when we attach happiness to those things which are worldly and unimportant that our lives become corrupted"

For more information of this book go to www.goodreads.com

Please be sure to follow me at www.facebook.com/thebookbabeofde and www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com

Currently Reading: Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

I am currently reading the seventh book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by the wonderful J.R. Ward. Here is the synopsis: 

Rehvenge is used to living in the shadows and dealing with the roughest night walkers around—including the Black Dagger Brotherhood. As his secret identity as a sympath is threatened, he turns to the only light in his ever darkening world—a female vampire untouched by corruption, who’s the only thing standing between him and eternal damnation.

First impression: (I am 15 chapters in) 

I am pretty impressed with Rev's story so far. We are finally seeing Lash's betrayal unfold. Of course, there is one big thing that is plaguing me and I am wondering how John Matthew's seeing Lash alive is going to play out. I think he is keeping that particular secret. There have been a few surprises in this book so far. Finally Wrath; the king of the vampires, is back in on the action. And Phury is making a comeback as well. I still have a lot of story to make it through but I am

Excited for this book. My plan is to have it completely read by New Years Eve.  

My Current Book adventure....Until I Saw You Smile by J.J. Murray

            What I am reading now: 

              Until I saw your smile

                 By: J.J. Murray 

Synopsis: 

At Smith's Sweet Treats and Coffee, you'll find Brooklyn's best house blend and the freshest homemade pastries. It's more than a business to owner Angela Smith. It's her home and her refuge--one she stands to lose thanks to her gouging landlord. Then a new regular offers to cover her rent increase if Angela lets him meet his clients there. If Matthew McConnell weren't such a persuasive lawyer--and so sweet, funny, and sexy--she wouldn't dream of letting him in. 

Since he left a high-paying, soul-sucking legal firm to go solo, Matthew has been striking out, professionally and personally. The best part of his love life is regaling Angela with date-from-hell stories over steaming, fragrant coffee. Behind her captivating smile is a smart, sensual woman he'd love to get close to. And when a secret from her past is suddenly exposed, he gets a chance to prove he's the man she needs, in every way that matters...

My First Impression: I am five pages in and I am hooked. Murray tells the story of a would be internet lawyer and his disastrous dating life. His girlfriend has dumped him; running off with another man. Taking his food and microwave. He goes on a date with an ex co-worker only to discover that all she wants is sex and it doesn't matter who with. And the Matt goes to a protest/block party/house party only to end up helping his "date" avoid criminal charges. The first five chapters alone made me want to actually stay up and devour another fifty or so pages. I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those really quick reads. J.J. Murray has been on of my favorite authors for at least the past 12 years are so. I just can't get enough of his multicultural old school romances. If your not reading him you should be!