Book Talk pt. 2

Welcome to Book Talk Part 2! Here are five books I've enjoyed in the last month that I'd recommend to anyone looking for insight into the human psyche, growth and personal development, or simply just an escape. If you've read anything good lately, be sure to drop your girl a line so that I can check it out, too! :)

• Inspired by Rachel Held Evans (Nonfiction) -- If you've ever felt guilty for having questions or doubts about your faith, then this book is for you. Rachel Held Evans is one of my favorite female voices in Christian literature because she knows exactly how to speak honestly and with graciousness on hard topics. Google Books summarizes Inspired like this: "If the Bible isn't a science book or an instruction manual, then what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she began a quest to better understand what the Bible is and how it is meant to be read. What she discovered changed her and it will change you too." If you're looking for permission on evolving your faith, you'll find it here!

• Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (Contemporary Fiction) - Wowowow I really love this novel so much. It was a gripping, unexpected delight courtesy of Book of the Month. I'm sure I'd never even pick this up had it not been recommended, but I'm so glad I got it! It was a joy to read, and captures so much what it means to be human in today's world. "Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix their own marriage. There’s a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world. Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next." This is a book about forgiveness, hope, and most importantly friendship. 10/10.

• America's First Daughter by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray (Historical Fiction) - So I loved Hamilton as much as the next guy, but I wasn't expecting to devour this story as quickly as I did! I'm not typically a historical fiction fan, but this one got me and wouldn't let me go. Told from Thomas Jefferson's eldest daughter's perspective, this novel does a beautiful job of showing readers what baby-America looked like, and the effort our founding father's went to to preserve not just its dignity, but also their own. Summary: "In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph—a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy. From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France. t is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father’s troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William’s wife and still be a devoted daughter. Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded."

• Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenridge (Historical Fiction) -- I know I just told you I'm not a historical fiction kind of gal, but here we are. "Coming of age as a freeborn Black girl in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, Libertie Sampson is all too aware that her purposeful mother, a practising physician, has a vision for their future together: Libertie is to go to medical school and practise alongside her. But Libertie, drawn more to music than science, feels stifled by her mother’s choices and is hungry for something else—is there really only one way to have an autonomous life? And she is constantly reminded that, unlike her mother, who can pass, Libertie has skin that is too dark. When a young man from Haiti proposes marriage and promises Libertie she will be his equal on the island, she accepts, only to discover that she is still subordinate to him and to all men. As she tries to parse what freedom actually means for a Black woman, Libertie struggles with where she might find it—for herself and for generations to come. Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States and rich with historical detail, Kaitlyn Greenidge’s new and immersive novel will resonate with readers eager to understand our present through a deep, moving and lyrical dive into our complicated past." This book was rich and lush and lyrical, and I think important for this day-and-age.

• 1000+ Little Habits of Happy, Successful Relationships by Marc & Angel Chernoff (Nonfiction/Self-Help) -- This is a really practical, frank, and kind book on how to better your relationships with yourself, partners, coworkers, and family. It's the kind of book where I would read a point or suggestion, and the lightbulb would just click on, and I'd think, "OH!! I finally get it, now!" This has been a solid resource for someone coming out of the pandemic/quarantine, and I think if we all read it, the world would be a better place. "Millions of readers turn to Marc and Angel Chernoff for fresh and relevant insights for living their best lives. In their newest guide, they share hard-won secrets for strengthening our connection to the loved ones who matter most. With their signature combination of common sense and uncommon wisdom, they bring together ideas for fostering intimacy and trust, expressing our needs, showing gratitude, and more. Topics include: 10 things happy couples do differently / 10 powerful truths every parent should read / 7 things to remember about toxic family members / 20 powerful mantras to stop the drama in your life / 9 mindful ways to remain calm when others are angry. An inspiring touchstone to read with a partner, with a friend, or solo, this simple yet powerful book offers an instant insight for anyone seeking to better understand and nurture the bonds that bring us together and make our lives whole."

That's it for this round of Book Talk! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope these recommendations make your bookshelf that much better. <3