It’s been awhile since I enjoyed a book THIS much. During a rare lapse between scheduled books, the audiobook “Will” by none other than blockbuster superstar, Will Smith, became available on Libby. I had heard a lot of hype over his book (most good, but some bad) and so I pressed play. In his memoir, Smith does not beat around the bush acknowledging that he’s (to put it mildly)…successful. But he also does not shy away from his struggles, including the abusive nature of his father, his insecurities, and his unrelenting drive. While he “considers [him]self fairly average in talent, where [he] believes [he] excels is in [his] unflinching, unyielding, discipline and work ethic” (chapter 17), this has also created a chasm between him and his loved ones, which he only recognized after several failed relationships and well into his adulthood. As a fan of Will-Smith-The-Movie-Star (I never watched Fresh Prince of Bel Air - I know… gasp!!!), I appreciated his candidness, illuminating cracks in his veneer that I never knew existed. I also appreciated his worldly axioms on such topics as family dynamics, marriage, loyalty, finding your voice, achieving dreams, and even how to win the game of Monopoly! As a retired English teacher, I appreciated the sophisticated language he used and his deliberate enunciation of those words. I enjoyed the flood of memories it brought back for ME watching his films as he disclosed the story-behind-the-story of several of his blockbuster hits. And as a bonus, since I listened to the audiobook, I also enjoyed the few beats he kicked around. After listening to his story, although I will remain a fan of his work, I’m not sure I’d be cut out to be his friend… not that I will ever have the opportunity to find out! But until then, there’s no “paralysis through analysis” in this review… his memoir deserves a 5-star review!
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August 9, 2022: Happy National Book Lovers’ Day! Bizzee Beez Creations LOVES books too! Check out these popular handmade book products! 📚#nationalbookloversday #bizzeebeezcreations
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Wednesday, May 12: Limericks are quirky poems that are five lines long, with lines 1,2,5 rhyming and lines 3 & 4 rhyming. They can be about anything and usually end with a twist!
Here's my "masterpiece": There once was a bee who liked to read She’d buzz through her books in lightning speed. When asked to earn her wage, She’d bury her antennae in a page… So, they squashed her within her next read. Can you create one? |
Tuesday, May 11: I just finished Amor Towles’ much acclaimed novel “A Gentleman in Moscow.” Although the events in the novel certainly didn’t propelled the plot forward (after all, how much can ‘really’ happened over decades in a hotel), the mannerisms of Count Rostov kept me turning pages! I loved the affection and bond he quickly developed with Sofia, like the thimble search and game of Zut, as well as his philosophical witticisms as he “mastered his circumstances” such as his thoughts on mirrors, page numbers in books, the passage of time, patience, gratitude, parenting, first impressions, and the proper placement of ‘buttons’! But my favorite came towards the end when Rostov declared, “what matters in life is not whether we receive a round of applause; what matters is whether we have the courage to venture forth despite the uncertainty of acclaim” (388). May we all have his grace when mastering our circumstances.
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Thursday, April 29: For those of you who do not live in Kentucky or follow the world of horse racing, this weekend is HUGE! It’s the 146th Kentucky Oaks and Derby!!! In honor of these two races, comment with your favorite horse-themed book or a book cover with lilies (to honor Oaks) or red roses (to honor Derby) on it!
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Wednesday, April 28: I’m a sucker for a book that has a historical literary connection and Patti Callahan’s novel Becoming Mrs. Lewis did NOT disappoint! Although it certainly had a religious theme that inspired much of Joy Davidman’s and C.S. Lewis’ writing, I still thoroughly enjoyed the other themes of women’s intuition, self-identity, perseverance, and devoting oneself to a calling and another person that Callahan expertly weaves into the narrative with easy flowing and descriptive sentences. On varying levels, I also connected with each of these characters, such as Jack’s appreciation and need for a “soaking machine” which was “a place that [you’re] free to be alone and sit idly and do nothing, or think away a puzzle, or write in a notebook” (283). And Joy’s recognition that “desperation fuels one to believe idiocy is insight” ( but continues down a certain path anyways. Whether you’re a fan of C.S. Lewis or not, I highly recommend picking up Becoming Mrs. Lewis and getting lost in their lives.
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Monday, April 19: I just finished Sarah Adlakha’s debut novel, “She Wouldn’t Change a Thing”, a story about a career motivated mother who endures an unexpected second chance at life. When faced with the decision to keep her life as it was with devastating consequences for others or make life altering changes that would devastate herself and her family, she struggles contemplating if “it’s important to do the right thing, even if you have to suffer the consequences” (chapter 2). This story is about more than second chances though; it’s about family, morality, destiny, and finding your true identity in the world. And as I personally wondered what choice I would make if miraculously placed in a similar situation, Adlakha’s writing kept me turning pages to discover Maria’s decision. Although the final chapter ends rather abruptly, the epilogue ties it all together, including a few twists that would tug on any mother’s heartstrings. Definitely recommend this book.
I received a digital ARC of Sarah Adlakha’s debut novel “She Wouldn’t Change a Thing” through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of the book. |
Saturday, April 17 -Today is International Haiku Poetry Day! Although traditionally about nature, to celebrate, create an original haiku based on the book you’re currently reading! The format is easy: first line consists of 5 syllables, the second line consists of 7 syllables, and the final line consists of 5 syllables. I’m currently reading “Becoming Mrs. Lewis” so here’s my haiku:
Started with letters Discussing theology And turned into love |
Monday, April 12 - Just finished reading Diane Setterfield’s “Once Upon a River” for a reading challenge that required a book published in my birthday month. I chose this one because of the setting, the river Thames, since I’ve spent hours walking along it exploring during my trips to London. Weaving the impossibility into a potential possibility, this is a story of how a town responds to a little girl who miraculously comes back to life after being found dead in the river. Her mysterious appearance comes with headache, hope, and reinvention. As the answers unfold , “There is something about [these] words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner.” And that they do!
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Tuesday, April 6: With PBS’s first episode of their Hemingway documentary airing last night, I’m reminded of my tour of his Florida Keys home. Loved seeing the descendants of his famous 6-toed cats, the latrine fountain, his typewriter, and of course his “last penny”! Anyone else watching this series? What’s you favorite Hemingway novel and/or short story?
Want to watch the series? Copy this link: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/hemingway/#video |
Happy International Children’s Book Day! When I was little, these books by Stephen Cosgrove where my absolute favorite! They each end with a valuable moral lesson...like “although we see what we must see, we must also learn to listen.” Still great advice today! Does anyone else remember them? What were your favorite children books?
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It’s the end of the month! What did you read (either started and finished or currently reading) during March? As you can see, I have a very eclectic reading taste and I’m always reading at least two books at the same time... usually a print version and an audiobook. This month I had two print versions going at the same time because I needed a break every few days from Ulysses!
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Finished another Book Hive Book Club read! Although the storyline of Megan Angelo’s dystopian novel “Followers” did not blow me away, the potential for discussion topics is mind-blowing! In a society in which people more often become famous for what they post on a social media platform instead of through education, training, talent, and hard work, “Followers” highlights the social and mental impact that could happen in a society like our because of our social media obsession! This could be the next 1984 or Fahrenheit 451 warning of us of what’s to come:
“There are eight million people here, and all of them want something as bad as I want what I want, as bad as you want what you want. We’re not all going to get it. It’s just not possible, that all these people could have their dreams come true in the same time, same place. It’s not enough to be talented. It’s not enough to work hard. You need to be disciplined, and you need to be ruthless. You have to do anything, everything, and you need to forget about doing the RIGHT thing” (page 47). |
I just finished listening to Ijeoma Oluo’s “So You Want to Talk about Race.” Although she starts by clarifying that this discussion will be both “gruesome and uncomfortable” (and I must say she did not disappoint), she concludes with a powerful message for ALL: “To do better we must be able to hold our darkness to the light, we must be willing to shatter our own veneer of ‘goodness’.” And although difficult to hear at times, her points on checking privilege, intersectionality, and micro-aggressions were enlightening and I look forward to discussing them all in my next book club meeting. Who else has read and discussed this at their book club?
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Happy National Puppy Day! What are some of your favorite dog-themed books?
Celebrate your love of puppies and reading with a dog-themed Book Accessory Zippered Pouch... just click on the button! |
Yesterday’s World Poetry Day started me reminiscing about my trip to Maine when, along with the other beautiful scenic sights, I also toured Henry W. Longfellow’s home. Visiting and touring places of literary significance is one of my favorite pastimes... it always makes me feel closer and more connected to that author. Where do you recommend I visit next?
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Just finished The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. If I’d read this one first in the series I would have enjoyed the storyline and characters more, but knowing the outcome makes it difficult to relate to the protagonist... actually I dislike him even more now!
Comparing this prequel to the other books in the series, this one lacks the thrill, danger, excitement, compassion, and sympathy that the others elicit. As a dystopian novel, it’s full of warnings to readers. And in a society that tends to look outward instead of inward for solutions, this is one of my favorites: “You can blame it on the circumstances, the environment, but you made the choices you made, no one else. It’s a lot to take in all at once, but it’s essential that you make an effort to answer that question. Who are human beings? Because who we are determines the type of governing we need. Later on, I hope you can reflect and be honest with yourself about that you learned tonight” - Dr. Volumnia Gaul |
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! As I’m watching the results of The Book Hive's March Madness come in, I’m also celebrating this holiday by continuing my reading of Ulysses by James Joyce, Ireland’s most prolific writer. Although his text requires work to understand, it’s nice to stumble upon a little treasure! I’m glad he approves of me!
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Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, so reading Dublin's "finest" is the perfect way to celebrate the Irish holiday! Just wish it wasn't quite so hard!
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Day #7 National READ AN E-BOOK Week! Wow! We’ve had some GREAT comments to the posts this week! Here’s some final “food for thought” statistics regarding readers of Ebooks:
*63% are female *60% are younger than 45 years old *66% have a college degree *40% make more than $75k/year *44% plan to read a mystery within the next month *38% spent less than $5 on their last book *73% said “reading was an important part of their life” What do you think? If you’re not an E-Book reader, after reading all the comments on the posts this week, would you give it a try? |
Day #5 National READ AN E-BOOK Week! According to a survey analyzing Amazon Ebooks purchases, Ebooks relating to "religion and spirituality" were the number one seller! Traditionally, people carried their religious text with them to encourage conversation with those around them that noticed what they were reading. Does this statistic effect that conversation? Is there a level of comfort associated with having a religious or spiritual ebook downloaded on your reader?
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Day #5 National READ AN E-BOOK Week! According to a recent poll, 25% of Ebook titles are romance, women's fiction, and teen novels. Does your latest Ebook read fall into this category? Does the "steaminess" of a novel play into this trend? The price? Convenience? What are your thoughts on this trend?
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Day #4: National READ AN E-BOOK Week! According to a recent poll, "Only six out of the top 100 eBooks on Amazon are non-fiction. The other 94 books are fiction titles. This compares with 36 non-fiction books out of 100 best sellers in print books." Are you in the minority of E-Book readers that typically read non-fiction Ebooks? Thoughts on why this number is so low?
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Day #3 of National READ AN E-BOOK Week! From all your posts yesterday about the numerous benefits of reading an EBook, it’s easy to see why so many readers take advantage of that option! If someone was looking into reading an EBook for the first time, which E-Reader would you recommend & why? There are soooo many options out there!
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Are you a member of a book club meeting via video chats to discuss your book instead of meeting in person? Although video chatting has allowed many people to stay connected during this pandemic, there is a quirky side to it as well... the family interruptions, the annoying background distractions, the poor internet connections. In order to bring a little humor to your next video chat book discussion, try this Book Discussion - Video Conference Edition - BINGO! Each download comes with 16 unique bingo cards, each with book related and video related squares. Whether you play for a group-decided prize or just bragging rights, this game is sure to add another element of entertainment to your book club!
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