Category: Reading

Summer Reading List

6/9/2017

In addition to spending quality time with my family, I'm making plans to put a serious dent in my TBR (to be read) pile this summer. My goal is to read two books per month. Here's what's on my list:

Summer 2017 Reading List

Jump by Steve Harvey- This inspirational book provides tips and gems from Steve Harvey on living the life of your dreams. Looking forward to getting a refresher and some reminders. This book started from a viral video where he encouraged people to jump and take a chance on themselves!
We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist- A semi-autobiographical story from the author and how he reached out to his former girlfriends to try and learn what happened to end their relationship and why he's so unlucky in love. I read a passage in the store and was laughing out loud, so I decided to purchase it!
Who Asked You by Terry McMillan- This book focuses the complicated relationship the main character, Betty Jean and her relationship with her ne'er do well children. I'm a big fan of Terry McMillan and looking forward to reading yet another one of her family dramas. This one was a $2.00 find at a thrift store.
The Last Letter for Your Lover by Jojo Moyes- I was really intrigued by reading the back cover of this book- a woman named Jennifer wakes up from a car accident unable to remember anything. She finds a letter from someone named "B" who she was going to leave her family for but she can't remember who he is and she stays with her family. Fast forward to 2003 a journalist finds the letter and she sets out to solve the relationship between Jennifer and the mysterious "B".
Someday this Will Be Funny by Lynne Tillman- This book is a collection of short stories from various narrators. . .from Amazon: "Tillman’s preferred subject: the unsettled mind. Collectively, these stories own a conscience shaped by oaths made and broken." I got this one as a recommendation
Every Little Step by Bobby Brown (not shown)- I got this one on Kindle for a steal at $1.99 Performer, former member of New Edition and husband of Whitney Houston- R&B's bad boy chronicles his life in this short memoir about his days with New Edition, his solo fame and his life with Whitney.

What's on your reading list? (If you're looking for a good summer read, check out my currently published books.)

Take a Listen

3/28/2016

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Take a listen as I read Chapter 12 from my book, Nothing I Can Say. This chapter is told from Sydney Grant's point of view. Purchase Now!

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Book Review: The Gifts of Imperfection

3/11/2016

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One of the books I read during my self-care month was The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. The book was published in 2010 and has been on my reading list but I just got around to reading it last month.

I hate I waited so long! But I guess we get the messages we need at the time we need them. This book was filled with so many gems and a-ha moments! The basic premise of this book can be summed up in the tag line, Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are.

Thank you and good night.

Brown (a shame researcher) explores how we spend so much time pretending our lives are perfect and seeking approval that we miss out on fully living in the moment. One of the in depth messages that I took away from the book was that we don’t automatically think we’re worthy of love and acceptance, so we work hard to receive this from outside sources and all the while we’re rejecting ourselves.

A very good book that even weeks later still resonates with me. One of my favorite quotes from the book: “Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”
I mean when you stop and think about that, I mean really think about it- it’s pretty profound. Because we live in a world of goals and to-do lists and achievements and grinding and hustling and it’s all about reaching that next level to get more, more, more. . .and when we fall short -we feel like failures.

But when you acknowledge just how amazing life is even in the midst of failure. . .you can see, hear, walk, talk. . .you’re in a position to even be able to TRY and pursue your passions. But too often instead of embracing what we have, we’re focused on what we want. And most of the time we want it for the wrong reasons. We want it because of how others will perceive us and we’ve convinced ourselves that somehow that is tied to our self-worth.

The number of followers, likes, friends, connections. . . .etc. It’s really bullshit at the end of the day. As Brown says in the book, “. . .it’s about the need to manage perception. We want to be able to control what other people think about us so that we can feel good enough.” Ouch. But thank you for that truth bomb!

As I've gotten older, I've learned what matters is real life connections and the impact you have on someone and the world around you. And how you still have that effect even long after you’re gone. I’m all about embracing my imperfections these days. They are a part of me, the real me. And I’m pretty damn awesome!

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First Book

3/2/2016

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Happy Read Across America Day and National Reading Month! This month I am excited to be raising money (and awareness) to help a charity that I love, First Book. From their website:

First Book provides access to new books for children in need.
To date, First Book has distributed more than 135 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada. First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education by making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis.
- See more at: https://www.firstbook.org/first-book-story#sthash.wbP9UiOS.dpuf

I am an avid reader and I discovered my love of books as a young child. Reading is such an amazing gift and books can not only educate but they can also entertain and provide an escape. It helps children put the world around them in perspective and encourages their dreams.

It’s also been proven that children who have books at home and whose parents read to them usually learn to read at an early age. I truly believe literacy is a key to freedom. Help me raise money for First Book by purchasing one of my books or a t-shirt. A portion of the proceeds from all sales will go to First Book. You can purchase my books HERE and HERE.

Thank you and read on!