Book Review: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

Book Title: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
Author: Issa Rae
Format: Audiobooks

Purchase the book here.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Recently, I was added to a Facebook book club group. The chosen book was The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Having always longed to be a member of a book club, I was excited to start the book right away. I decided to purchase the audiobook version of the book via Audible, and I must say that I wasn't disappointed. The humor that is found in Issa Rae's YouTube Series and HBO Series has been translated in the text of her book.

The themes of the book are family, self-esteem, coming of age, struggle for acceptance, and life lessons. I think that what I enjoyed the most about the book is that the audiobook is read by Issa Rae, so you hear her quirkiness throughout the text. I found myself chuckling out loud numerous times, which contributes to the book being very relatable.

Even though I would not categorize this book as an inspiring autobiography, I would share that it provides enlightenment about her life and how she arrived to be such a fantastic storyteller. This book is a quick read and enjoyable. I enjoyed the flow of the book and was not bored at all. So I did give it a 5 out of 5.

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Book Review: Freddie Entangled by Kiru Taye

Book Title: Freddie Entangled

Author: Kiru Taye

Format: eBook

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

After reading Freddie Entangled,  I know that I will be reading the next one in the series, which is entitled Freddie Untangled.  Having only read the first book in the Essien Trilogy, Keeping Secrets, I definitely have to read the other four books before this one. Even though I have not read books 2-5, I was able to follow the plot.  

In this book, Kike, a famous actress, who is often referred to as the Ice Queen, is married to Lekan, the pastor of a mega church.  After an incident that involved someone trying to take her son, Yomi, she decides that a bodyguard is necessary for her and her son. 

Kike contacts the security firm, where Freddie works. Eventually, Freddie is hired to be Kike's personal bodyguard. His partner, Benson, watches the children.  The immediate attraction between Kike and Freddie is intriguing, overpowering, and surprising to me. 

Interestingly enough, the development of the plot to include sub and dom references shocked me. Why I don’t know? I guess I just wasn’t expecting that in this text.  The complexity of Kike and Freddie's interactions, as well as the relationship of Kike and Lekan, draws you into the plot, but also, leaves you feeling somewhat confused.  Both these feelings make you want to continue until the end.   

Being unfamiliar with the sub and dom world, I do not understand everything that Taye was trying to portray, but the psychology student in me couldn't help but notice the psychological and emotional abuse that Lekan was doing to Kike. Lekan has been taken advantage of Like since her youth.  

In my opinion, I finished this book in record time. However, I was so disappointed when I made it to the ending.  I wanted to know what was going to happen between Freddie and Kike, as well has what Lekan “had up his sleeve.”As I wait for Freddie Untangled to debut in May, I know I will be reading the books by Kiru Taye in this series to catch up.  





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Book Review: I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi

Book Title: I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual
Author: Luvvie Ajayi
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Ajayi is widely known throughout social media as Awesomely Luvvie because of her blog, which is where I first became introduced to her.  Luvvie was blogging before blogging was a "thing" and has contributed to presenting incredible commentary on one of my favorite shows, Scandal.  So, when I heard that she had a new book, I wanted to get it ASAP.  When my ARC copy arrived, it was a very sacred moment.  I did not want to ruin the pages or crinkle the cover. What would Ajayi think of me if I did not handle her book with care? I decided to wait until I could focus on reading the book.

Riding on the passenger side during a trip to visit my in-laws, I decided to devour the book.  Reading the first page of I'm Judging You, I knew that I would not be disappointed.  Ajayi makes you laugh out loud.  My husband kept giving me major "side-eye" as I kept bursting out in laughter.  I know he thinks that I am a bookworm and weird when it comes to my books, but I confirm it all thanks to Ajayi.  

In her book, Luvvie invites you to perform a reality check on yourself and those around you.  Using her "tell it like it is" humor, Luvvie brings to your attention all of the issues and challenges facing society.  For instance, the story of her "friend" and her romantic interest is hilarious, true, and maybe points the finger at me, but I am NOT telling on me. This story can be found in the chapter, "When Baehood Goes Bad." I will not give away any spoilers, but if you have a friend, who is dating someone unworthy, please share this book. Tab the chapter. Highlight the section.  Please do anything that will get her to read that chapter.  I even let my mom read the dating chapter because she did not believe me as I tried to explain the story to her. My mom has been married for 40+ years, and women were different during her dating years.  She was floored when she read the story.  Of course, I left out the part about how I had been in somewhat similar situations with dating after my divorce, but I eventually "snapped" out of it.  Whew! 

In I'm Judging You, Ajayi addresses so many topics, which include dating, racism, social media, culture, friendships, and so much more.  Thanks to her book I re-evaluated the email address that I was using.  I mean I have a Gmail account, but I do not use it as much as my Hotmail account.  Ajayi was judging me.  She gets major side-eye for that, but I get her point. Furthermore, she says want you to want to say, but you choose to hold your tongue.  She shares the truth about herself and suggests that you start examining your truth.  Being from Nigerian, she exposes the truth of American culture and how American behavior usually is enwrapped in a web of tangled foolishness.  There is even a chapter entitled, Racism is for Assholes. 

The Epilogue, Do Something that Matters, illuminates why Ajayi is sharing such profound life lessons with the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend this book.  Since Christmas is just around the corner, I will be giving this book as Christmas gift

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Currently Reading: The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Thing Around Your Neck

I started reading The Thing Around Your Neck  by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie this week, and I cannot believe how good this book is.  This text is a compilation of short stories, which demonstrates how Adichie's talent as a writer.  Honestly, I am listing her as one of my favorite writers.  Her writing forces me to be intrigued by African culture, especially Nigerian culture.  After completing only three stories, I cannot wait until I read the other ones.

Here is the book's description from Goodreads:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie burst onto the literary scene with her remarkable debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, which critics hailed as “one of the best novels to come out of Africa in years” (Baltimore Sun), with “prose as lush as the Nigerian landscape that it powerfully evokes” (The Boston Globe); The Washington Post called her “the twenty-first-century daughter of Chinua Achebe.” Her award-winning Half of a Yellow Sun became an instant classic upon its publication three years later, once again putting her tremendous gifts—graceful storytelling, knowing compassion, and fierce insight into her characters’ hearts—on display. Now, in her most intimate and seamlessly crafted work to date, Adichie turns her penetrating eye on not only Nigeria but America, in twelve dazzling stories that explore the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, Africa and the United States.

In “A Private Experience,” a medical student hides from a violent riot with a poor Muslim woman whose dignity and faith force her to confront the realities and fears she’s been pushing away. In “Tomorrow is Too Far,” a woman unlocks the devastating secret that surrounds her brother’s death. The young mother at the center of “Imitation” finds her comfortable life in Philadelphia threatened when she learns that her husband has moved his mistress into their Lagos home. And the title story depicts the choking loneliness of a Nigerian girl who moves to an America that turns out to be nothing like the country she expected; though falling in love brings her desires nearly within reach, a death in her homeland forces her to reexamine them.

Searing and profound, suffused with beauty, sorrow, and longing, these stories map, with Adichie’s signature emotional wisdom, the collision of two cultures and the deeply human struggle to reconcile them. The Thing Around Your Neck is a resounding confirmation of the prodigious literary powers of one of our most essential writers. (less)

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Book Review: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Book Title: Americanah
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Format: Paperback
Rating 5 out of 5 stars

I have been curious about Chimamanda since I heard her recite her work on Beyonce's Flawless track. During a recent trip to Barnes and Noble, I picked up Americanah to read when I saw it on display in the middle isle of the store.  I did not read the synopsis of the book.  I just dived right in to read it.  The first chapter was completed it one sitting.  I could not believe how engulfed I became with Ifemelu and her life.

As I read the text, I immediately felt a connection to Ifemelu.  At times, her life mirrored past experiences from my life.  I enjoyed growing with Ifemelu, as she transitioned from a teenager to a woman, as well as traveling with her to the United States and back to her home country.

Thinking about how Ifemelu struggled to transition from being African to an American intrigued me. Being an African-American born in the United States, I have never considered how difficult it is for any immigrant to adapt to the behaviors and standards of a new country.  Adichie forces the reader to realize how immigrants transition to being an American.   Consequently, Adichie highlights the role that identity plays in the humanity.  Ifemelu's character is significant throughout the text and impacts her relationships with others, as well as her transition from Nigeria to the United States and back to Nigeria.  Additionally, the reality of losing your identity or never having a real identity is illustrated in the text, and I understand how either instance can negatively impact someone's life, especially in the example of Aunty Uju and how she raised her son.

So many themes and life lessons are present throughout the text.  I appreciated the lessons that I learned about race and how Africans perceive it in comparison to African-Americans. I have never actually considered the "Non-Black" perception, but Adichie changed my understanding.  The differences are immense.  Adichie's talent in portraying racism in the United States, England, and Nigeria is sprinkled throughout the text.  Following the lives of Ifemelu and Obinze leaves you considering the hierarchy of race between Africans and African Americans.  Reading the blog posts of Ifemelu, I appreciated the way Adichie drilled important realities that most people do not want to acknowledge. Even the shallowness of the educated Nigerians, who had returned after a hiatus to the United States painted a portrait that is all too familiar.  Sexism is another theme that is portrayed in the text.  From Ifemelu's pursuit of employment to Kimberly's husband,  Adichie highlights the perception of gender roles and how these perceptions impact relationships, especially the relationship between Aunty Uju and The General, as well as between Ifemelu's parents.

Even though the premise of the book is an enduring love story, it is a must-read for everyone.  I do not believe that Americanah caters to a particular type of person because everyone can learn something and identify with various aspects of the text.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  As I read, I could not help but to begin to think of ways to incorporate this text in my World Literature or Composition II college courses.  I can envision teaching an entire semester, using only this book.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie quickly evolved to be one of my favorite writers.  In 2010, I added Purple Hibiscus to my TBR pile based on the recommendation of a fellow book lover. I cannot wait to devour that text like I did "Americanah." Also, I am interested in reading Half of a Yellow Sun, which is about the Nigeria-Biafra war.   Honestly, I would love to meet Adichie and listen to her speak.  She commanded my attention in "Flawless" and Americanah.  I want to hear what else she has to say.




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Book Review: Master Your Sleep by Dr. Tracey Marks

Order your copy of Master Your Sleep.

If you experience sleeping problems, I would suggest that you read Master Your Sleep by Dr. Tracey Marks.  Not only does Master Your Sleep explains sleep and its importance in your life, but you discover proven strategies to improve your sleep.

Master Your Sleep provides suggestions on how to ensure that children are getting enough sleep. Interestingly enough, one important fact, which I did not know about sleep and sleeping patterns, was that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is directly linked to inadequate sleep in children. Since reading this book, I make a more conscious effort to calculate the number of hours of sleep that my children are getting. Master Your Sleep highlights how important it is to have a sleep routine.  An established sleep routine increases the likelihood of improving your ability to sleep.

Master Your Sleep is filled with valuable information.   When visiting Dr. Marks website, various printables are available  to improve your sleeping habits.  If you are having problems sleeping, I would highly recommend this book.

Have you considered your sleeping patterns? How many hours of sleep do you get a night? For me, I have started using my bullet journal to monitor the amount of sleep that I am getting each night.  I have also discovered apps on the iOS platform to monitor my sleep, as well.

When you finish reading Master Your Sleep, I would love to hear from you and how it helped improve your life.

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