Fight for the things that you care about

...but do it in a way that will lead others to join you

Hi everyone,

Thank you for sticking around for my second newsletter (!!). Going forward, you can expect to find this newsletter landing in your inbox every other Monday.

I’ve mentioned being in a slump this month and unfortunately my reading did not take a drastic turn for the better. I’m finishing September having read seven books. Although this is well below my usual average, I’m not upset by it. I’m only mindful in my numbers because it usually points to something else going on in my life (being extremely busy, anxious, etc.).

What I read in the latter half of September:

Black Sunday by Tomi Rotimi Abraham: This novel begins in Lagos in 1996, with twins Bibike and Ariyike. Their family is thrown into turmoil when their mother loses her political job, and the family is drawn into the New Church, led by a young charismatic pastor. We follow the twins and their two younger brothers Andrew and Peter, into young adulthood as they each attempt to find their paths in the wake of the family collapse. 4 Stars

Dominicana by Angie Cruz: Dominicana is about fifteen year old Ana Cancion. To help her family, she agrees to marry Juan Ruiz and immigrates to New York City with him in 1965. We follow Ana as she struggles to find herself, put herself first, protect both her family and her life, and ultimately choose between her duty to family and what her heart wants. I loved this story so much- the writing was beautiful and the story was based on the author’s mother’s own life. 4 Stars

Here I Stay by Adriana Herrara: THIS BOOOOOOK!!!!!! If you only read one romance this month, nay this year, this is my vote! It follows Julia del Mar Ortiz who moves to Dallas from NYC to be with her boyfriend- who promptly dumps her and heads back to the city. She gets stuck with the lease and a car but finds a great job running the charitable foundation of a large fashion brand. She’s also a social worker which added bonus points to me. Enter Rocco Quinn, fellow New Yorker and consultant hired to evaluate whether the fund and its programs should remain a part of the company. Of course they have chemistry, of course there is some drama. This one is a slow burn but when they finally light the fire….!!!!! This book has so much- various types of families, dealing with childhood trauma, therapy, finding yourself after a big life change, diverse characters (race, class, gender, sexuality, etc.). I’ve loved everyone of Adriana Hererra’s books, but this one was my favorite. 5 Stars

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman: In Bringing Up Bébé, Druckerman, an American journalist living in Paris investigates the secrets of French parenting. In her time living abroad, she observed that French children tend to be better behaved and more well-rounded children, and sets out to find out what it is about the way the French parent that makes this so. As someone with a lot of French influence in my life (the country I was born in was colonized by the French), I am familiar with a lot of the parenting techniques and I enjoyed the way she compared what she learned, and her conversations with doctors and social scientists. I did find her voice/personal narrative to often be grating and sometimes immature. 3 stars

Things I’ve been enjoying:

Last week’s episode of Code Switch, Battle of the Books. Code Switch has been my favorite podcast since the beginning and this episode is (as usual) really great. And it’s a light one- many of their episodes tend to touch on heavier topics. Battle of the Books asks which books are you reading in the 2020 hellscape: escapists fiction or are you leaning in with books that push you further into our current reality?

Never hurts to double-check: Are you registered to vote?

You know I love a book list and this one is no different: The Ultimate Fall 2020
Books Preview

Remembering RBG

Loved this raw and honest piece from fellow bookstagrammer and my friend, Kelly from Cupcakes and Cashmere: Reflecting on Change and Connection During the COVID-19 Era

Today I’m listening to the newest episode of Keep It, in which they interview Brit Bennet: “Rock ‘N Vote” (with Brit Bennett)

The National Book Foundation announced its long lists for the National Book Awards. I was most excited for the Fiction and Non-Fiction lists.

Enjoy the rest of your week!