The most challenging posts I write are the reflective ones that pop up between the sewing and book posts every so often. Sewing and book posts follow a kind of formula – I just tell you what I did or read.
Translating thoughts and feelings into something readable isn’t easy. I didn’t start this blog because it’s easy to write, though, and I’m trying to use this year to challenge myself to do things that I’m afraid to do, like write, possibly badly, to express ideas and truths I’ve discovered.
In that spirit, I am rounding up three books into one post – three books that are so unlike one another that they usually would have each have garnered their own post. I’m combining them so I can spend more time writing those other, more difficult posts that force me to work harder and hopefully challenge you, the reader, to do some mental exercise as well, at least once in a while.
Have you heard of Ida B. Wells? I hadn’t. I found Discovering History’s Heroes: Ida B. Wells, Fighter for Justice, by Diane Bailey, in the kids’ biography section of our library.
I’ve always enjoyed historical fiction, but I haven’t read much YA historical fiction. My YA reading tends towards fantasy and futuristic/dystopian literature.
Recently, my YA book club at the library had a planning session to lay out the next twelve month’s worth of reading. It was a super satisfying evening that resulted in a list of books we’d be reading for the coming year, but of course, we couldn’t read all of the books that were suggested as possibilities.
I took home one of the books that didn’t make the list, a historical fiction title, and I enjoyed it so much. So I found another YA historical fiction title and read that one, too. Well, I listened to it.
It’s that time of year again. If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll remember my previous posts on what to read for Black History Month. You can find my 2018 post here, and here’s 2019. This year, I have four picture books with fantastic illustrations, all with their own distinct flavor.
My cousin recommended Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, to me. It wasn’t an enthusiastic recommendation. It had been recommended to her, and she hadn’t really been into it, but she thought I might enjoy it.
I’m often hesitant to take on a book that is a solid two inches thick, especially on a recommendation that starts with, “I didn’t really like it, but…”
As it turns out, I did enjoy it.
