Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Misadventures of Awkard Black Girl+ Review + Issa Rae [11.2016]



As the years have gone by I really wish I could remember how I came to know about Issa Rae. I'm not sure if it was the webseries on YT or one night I was just doing some deep creeping and it lead me to her. Whatever it was I am thankfully because I feel like I am not as lost as I once was when it came to exisiting in this world. Truly being an awkward black girl myself, this book was comfronting and hilarious. I really can not imagine how I managed to grow up being half of the person I am today without having this type of representation of myself in the media.

Awkward Black Girl is an honest telling of  Jo-issa's upbringing. This book tells us about  living in the west coast, east coast, and visiting Segal, friendships, insecurities, and learning herself through experiences and pushing herself to go through not only what was expected of her but what felt good at the moment.

I loved this book and was so glad that I could find it at my local library as a audio book. I also purchased it from Target .
Check out The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl on YT. Theres 2 seasons. :)

True Love + Book Review + Jennifer Lopez

I rented this book on tape at my local library.  I tend to navigate towards biographies due to my obsession of learning everything I can about a person. I LOVE it when the person who writes the book narrates their book on tape. I don't see why you wouldn't. This is a personal story about you to us and what other way am I suppose to connect than to hear your voice.

 I think it was after my Jennifer Lopez binge 2016 where I had to make sure I had all of her albums in my possession. I've always liked Jennifer Lopez, but didn't know a whole lot about her personal life is which probably something she wished people didn't know.

This book gave me an inside light to her marriage with Marc Anthony. Honestly she made me feel more connected to the fact that relationships are hard work and its hard to have it all and especially display grace.



Buy it here
Huffington Post

Sharp Objects+ Book Review + Gillian Flynn


I read this book sometime in 2015. I really like where the details of this book lead to images in you head. The ending of this book is crazy and I feel like it probably happens more often than not in real life which is a little scary.

Read and tell me what you think.

Book Review +Year of Yes+ Shonda Rhimes


I rented this book on tape from my local library. It has 3 disks roughly 8 hours of audio.
I loved this book from beginning to end.

 When I was a kid I did a lot of reading and AOL chatting. I feel like I have a vivid imagination that flowed over into adulthood. A lot of times I find myself imagining in great detail what someone is like before I meet them. Who am I kidding I do this with strangers who walk around in Target.

Shonda Rhimes has been one of those people I've wondered about. There were just a few things I knew about her and she really sparked my interest. I mean she's is  the creator of my Thursday nights from Sept- May. There are not many people who can get my attention  for such a long time. 

While listening to Year of Yes I  felt connected to her. It kind of reminded me of myself.

I appreciated the sharing of her ups and downs from  college,  love life, career, and why she wanted to be a single parent.

Then to top it off ! Shonda talked a whole lot about he character, Christina Yang, from Grey's Anatomy. I LOVE YANG .

Even if you don't want to hear about Shonda (which you should) just read this book to hear all the Grey's talk.

Buy this book !
It's something I feel like I am going to keep on my shelf and read every year. ( Yes I bought it after I rented my BOT)

AMN2 Rating

Amy Poehler + Yes Please+ Book Review

I rented this book on tape from my local library. It has 7 discs roughly 10 hours of audio.







I am notorious for judging a book by its cover.  I actually bought this book when it was released at Target. I didnt know much about Amy Poehler. Only that she was on SNL, and Tina Feys BFF. But I thought that would be enough. The night after I purchased it I read a couple chapters, then I put it in a drawer where it is currently sitting. 

About a month ago I was on my local library website trolling for some BOT ( Books on tape) and I came across it and decided, HEY, I'm going to finish this book. After a month and 3 weeks I finally finished it.

I did not like this book. 
And in all fairness  I just did not feel connected to her in any way shape or form . Only a few of her jokes/ punchlines made me laugh. A small few. 

4 things that I liked about this book. 
One: I liked all the different friends and family she had sit in on the readings. Those portions were entertaining.
Two: LAX lost and found Sharika finding her laptop and the graciousness/ thankfulness she shown her.
Three: the reading of her book at the Upright Citizens Briagade Theatre. 
Four: Amy's work in Haiti


AMN2 Rating
2.3/5


Shonda Rhimes

I was so inspired by Shonda's 2014's Dartmouth's Commencement speech. Shonda inserted her speech into the audio version of  her book Year of Yes, I wanted to share it with all of my creepers. I hope y'all enjoy it. Let me know what you think.


Shonda's Commencement Speech

Book Review + One Night+ Eric Jerome Dickey

I rented this book on tape from my local library. It has 10 disk roughly 12 hours of audio.
The book is about the events that occurred in one night.
Honestly I did not like this book. Which is shocking because I never NOT like a book.  I really hated the female character. I thought she was weak minded and clingy. Yes I know not everyone portrayed in a book is going to be in control and strong blah blah blah. But come on. In some of the scenes I was like why are you doing this? Wasn't there a better way?

I will say that I enjoyed the end of the book . Eric Jerome Dickey really is great at creating mysteries that unravel in the end of the book.
Good Reads
Amazon


AMN 1/5


Check out some of the other Eric Jerome Dickey books I've read. 

Walking with Enemies + Dying for Revenge+ Resurrecting Midnight
A Wanted Woman
Decadence

Book Review+ Decadence+ Eric Jerome Dickey

Decadence is a continuation of a character name Nia Simone Bijou. I rented this book on tape from my local library. It has 14 disks. I have been a fan of Eric Jerome Dickey since high school. His books actually made me start back reading when I was in high school. Which I think is a big thing. I know a lot of people have an issue about " romance novel, smut, or what I like to call it Erotic.  But I think its better to read about it than do it. Or just finding something you're interested it.

Highlights-
+ I like continuing characters in book. It really makes them seem real. Plus you know you hate it when you read a good book and you are just wondering what happened to that entire scenario.
+ I love characters starting strong females.
+ The connection with Nia and her mother is pretty awesome.
+ The back story in the book really catches you up so it doesn't seem like you missed out by not reading the other books. ( which I haven't yet)
+Sex scenes are very descriptive
+I like the relationships that Nia has with the main 3 male characters.
+ The book ends on a good note.

I hope I get to read more about Nia Simone Bijou

Check out Eric Jerome Dickey's other novels.


Low down In the Loo

We all have our things that we do. For instance, I can not drive with shoes on . The only way I can tell whether or not I like a cd I have to take a trip and listen to it over and over. I like to stop the gas pump on .00, .01, .05, or .15 if not I have to go to the next even dollar. We all have strange ticks about ourselves that maybe the avg. person  doesn't know.

When I "go" to the bathroom I like to read. Books, magazines ,air freshener bottles, nail polish, soap labels, basically anything that has words. Minus my phone I hate to text or be on the phone in the Loo. I never answer a phone call in the Loo and if you call back twice I will send you a text telling you I can't speak right now .

So I thought I would share with you some of my favorite articles or readings. I have titled this series: Low down in the Loo. 


Anyone need a new carrots souffle recipe ? 
Women's Health 2015

50 Shades of Grey+Book Review+ E. L. James

If you know me, you that  i am someone who does not like to hop on bandwagons. I've been reading erotica (smut, romance novels) since I was in high school. So when I learned what 50 Shades of Grey was about  natural it sparked my interest. But before I decided to purchase it I realized that everyone was reading it. When I say everyone I really mean 50-80 year old women are reading it out in public and discussing it like its todays paper. I found that odd and did not want to be reading something my grandmother would find arousing.

Fast forward to 2014 there's a rumor the book will be made into a movie. The masses are upset because of the people who are starring in the movie aren't as aesthetically pleasing to the eye as they would like them to be. The movie was released on Valentines Day 2015. I find that absolutely repulsive. Because sex does not equal love and there are millions of women around the world who think it is . A couple weeks later my friend Mindy convinced me to go to the movies with her. to see it And after  sitting in the theater for 2 hours the only thing that excited me was the soundtrack. ( y'all heard that music!)

A couple months ago i downloaded the Overdrive app and started adding books to my wish list. I decided to add the 50SOG series to the app.  just to see what its really about. A month ago i received an email that alerted me that the book was ready to be downloaded. So I did. 

If I had to describe this book in 1 word it would be preposterous.  The  main female character, Anna Steele, is not a real life person. At the age of 21, there are very very very few virgins without religious reasoning. And even then things like kissing & masturbation are often done instead of intercourse. I do not believe a virgin of any age would partake in any of the activities that Anna did willingly especially in such a quick fashion. 

From my personal experience I did not feel personal pleasure for some years so for Anna to understand what was happening to her and how to get there so quickly is unrealistic. All in all I feel as if the book is about an abused controlling wealthy man that prayed on a poor young virgin & turned her life upside down. He enticed her by his powerful demeanor & the dangling of her heart that he puppeted  ( not a real word but its fitting- to be used at ones willing ) at his leisure. 

The audio version narrator read Christian & Anna's parts. Which made me unable to really connect with the characters independently. Once you get passed that you realized that the book was poorly written. The same adjectives to describe numerous things. I remember delicious being used on every page. But at the same time the characters are very smart and use words that the average person would not use in conversation.  Explain that ?

Will I read the next books? Probably, because I want to know how the trilogy ends. Maybe it gets better? Maybe we will get a real understanding as to why Christian is the way he is and maybe Anna will grow some balls and tell Christian to go screw off.

1.5/5

Movie Review +++ Addicted++ Zane



I was introduced to Zane when I was in high school. Her books changed my life. Okay my sexual life. Addicted was the first book I read by Zane.
I loved it so I read the rest of them in the span of a year. I didn't have the biggest allowance so I went to the Parish Library and checked them out one by one. Until I was caught up.
A couple years later I took a break from reading because I was living the books content. One of her novels became a TV series on Cinamax. I think I caught a couple episodes but not the entire season.
 
One evening I was in the movie theater. Sharon Leal popped across my screen as well as Boris Kodjoe  . At the end of the preview did I realize that Addicted had been brought to life before my very eyes. I was beyond excited. I went to see it the week it came out with my friend Mindy. I didn't brush up on the book to compare how accurate the book and the movie were before watching. Keep in mind I read this book 10 years ago.
 
Read about the book here and if you are wanting to compare and contrast the book read the review from Carmen. She broken down the book and the movie in an amazing way. Don't read the spoilers unless you are wanting to be spoiled.
 
Due to lack of back story, lack of sex , and lack of all of the sex partners I give this movie a 3/5
But I do understand that when you have a book like this you cant have a 3 hour movie to fit everyone and everything in it. But due to the amazing cast in the movie I have to give it a higher rating. For Zane's first movie it was good. I am looking forward to seeing more. Sex Chronicles? Shame on it all? Hot box?
 
 



Book Review ++ A Wanted Woman++ Eric Jerome Dickey

I came across the book on Amazon. I was looking for a book on tape. As you can see via the review tab on my blog I haven't read a book in some time. With work and trying to study for the GRE I haven't had any time.  Eric Jerome Dickey is one of my favorite writers I started reading his work in the 10th grade. You can check out my last review on some of his work Here .
Audible has a 30 day audio book trial. You can try 1 book for 30 days . After that you can continue your membership for $20 a month for unlimited books or cancel. I canceled my membership after reading/ listening to A Wanted Woman.
 
It took me about 4 days to listen to this book. Many nights I went to sleep with this book playing in my ears. it was very relaxing and it was no problem to restart where left off. The narrators were very clear and easy to understand. And they didn't take away from your imagination of how you would picture someone's speech or demeanor. At least not from me.
 
This book started off a little slow. Basically a little girl who was taken away from her school by a man she did not know who claimed to be her father. Her mother was murdered by the wife of their preacher that her mother had been sleeping with for some time now.
The girl really had no clue who her father was and the school officials allowed him to take her out of school and take her across country. Her fathers name was Reaper. He was a contract killer. He would take her to school everyday do his business pick her up in the afternoons do homework then teach her how to workout and defend herself. This happened everyday unless he had to go out of town to handle business.
 
Finally the little girl grew older and decided she wanted to work for the family business and her father got her in. Then he disappeared.
 
I don't want to give away all of what happened in the book but lets just say everything does not always go as planned. It is so easy to change who you are to mask your real identity. This book taught me that. Also it makes me fearful to travel out of the United States to some of the places that American may call peaceful and relaxing.  Because we have no idea how their culture works and although the people who might serve us are nice and accommodating they might not always feel that way and also you have no idea who is watching you.
 
There are so good fights in this book. Eric Jerome Dickey is very detailed when it comes to explaining a situation , he makes it seem like you are front row center watching everything that occurs. There are 2 parts of the book that I really did not enjoy . If you are a seasoned Eric Jerome Dickey reader one of the most repeated/ most noted is the characters sexuality or sexual encounters.  This book has a serious lack of sex. There might have been 2 scenes. I am not use to this and according to Good Reads neither is anyone else .
The second that I did not like about this book is there is a very explicit rape scene. I do not know how someone prepares themselves for writing and reading a rape scene. I feel like there might have been some preparing for this scene that would rub others the wrong one. By no means am I saying that he raped someone . Goodness no but maybe watching hardcore porn or it could be as simple as knowing someone who has been through a similar situation.  I thinking if I would have been actually reading this book I would have put it down or skipped it.
 
Overall  I enjoy writers who are consistent in material. And I believe Eric Jerome Dickey was rehashing the trilogy that wrote that so many fans fell in love with a couple years ago.  Although I loved those books this one I didn't quite fall into the same place.
 
The twenty-first novel from New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey, a steamy thriller set in tropical Barbados

She is a woman of a thousand faces, an assassin who could be anyone, anywhere.

The Trinidad contract was supposed to be simple: to make a living man become a dead man. When the job goes bad under the watchful eye of a bank security camera, there is nowhere for agent MX-401, known as Reaper, to hide from the fearsome local warlords, the Laventille Killers.

Her employers, the Barbarians, send her to Barbados, the next island over, barely two hundred miles away, with the LK’s in hot pursuit of the woman who took many of their own. With the scant protection of a dank safe house, no passport, and no access to funds, an island paradise becomes her prison.

While she trawls for low-profile assignments to keep her skills sharp and a few dollars in her pocket, Reaper discovers that family ties run deep, on both sides of the fight. Will the woman everyone wants, who has lived countless lives in the service of others, finally discover who she really is?

In A Wanted Woman, New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey delivers an adrenaline-pumping rush of a read.
Amazon.com
AMN Rating C