Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 12

Sunday, March 19th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, March 20th – Rest Day

Tuesday, March 21st –  90 minutes on the stationary bike

Wednesday, March 22nd – Rest Day

Thursday, March 23rd – Rest Day

Friday, March 24th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Saturday, March 25th – Rest Day

Another week of biking... Thinking I am going to have to call the sports medicine doctor I went to last year so I can get another referral to physical therapy. I was really hoping that giving it time would help, but thus far SEVEN WEEKS off hasn't healed it so I have to try something else because not running really isn't fun... I would say that I've been having quite a fibro flare (or at least that's what I assume it is because things didn't change when I went off my antidepressant [per my psychiatrists orders!] so I don't think it's a side effect from that), so maybe this is just part of it, but sitting around just isn't cutting it. Sure, biking and watching a Netflix movie while it's raining out isn't bad, but I miss my running outlet! 

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 11

Sunday, March 12th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, March 13th – Rest Day

Tuesday, March 14th –  90 minutes on the stationary bike

Wednesday, March 15th – 80 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, March 16th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, March 17th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Saturday, March 18th – Rest Day

Well, it's now been six weeks since my last run. I met with my psychiatrist yesterday about some of the joint pains that I've been having (besides this groin thing, my wrists and jaw have been pretty painful and I'm not sure if it's due to my antidepressants or a fibro flare, so wanted to get her opinion on things). I went off my meds for four days this week before meeting with her (per her suggestion when we chatted via messenger) to see if that would help, but it didn't seem to impact the joint pain, so we are thinking it is probably a fibro fog (especially with all of this rain and weather we have been having in SoCal). Anywho, I'm sure you all don't carry about the nitty gritty of my medical issues, it's just frustrating to not know if the pain I am dealing with is from an injury, from a flare of my chronic pain or from a side effect of a medication. Here's to hoping the weather clears soon and we can try to narrow things down to get everything back to baseline...

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 10

Sunday, March 5th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, March 6th – Rest Day

Tuesday, March 7th –  80 minutes on the stationary bike

Wednesday, March 8th – Rest Day

Thursday, March 9th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, March 10th – Rest Day

Saturday, March 11th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Well, another week of biking. I would like to say the groin is feeling better, but I want to make sure it is 100% before I test it on a run. This week my body felt rundown (could be because I've been working six days a week), so on mornings when I woke up and I still felt drained, I just went back to sleep. Rest is part of the training, right?! It has now been over a month since my last run, but I am trying to stay positive (trying is the key word). I guess one pro about working six days a week is that I haven't had much time to do much else, so I haven't really had time to ruminate about my lack of running. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 9

Sunday, February 26h – Rest Day

Monday, February 27th – Rest Day

Tuesday, February 28th –  Rest Day

Wednesday, March 1st – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, March 2nd – 75 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, March 3rd – Rest Day

Saturday, March 4th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

I was really hoping the groin would be better this week and I'd get back to running, but that was NOT the case. Trying to remind myself I run for fun and it's not a big deal that I'm taking (or more like 'being forced to take') a month off running... but, let's be real, running is more than just 'fun', it's an outlet, it's a release, it's a joy, it's a boost, it's helpful for my mental health (not to mention physical health, right?!). Here's to hoping next week is "the week" I can run...  PS The extra rest days in the early part of the week (and last week) were in hopes that maybe the biking was aggravating the groin so if I rested completely I'd be back sooner, but I don't think that's the case so I might as well get a sweat on during the day...

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

February Books

Can you believe that reading wasn't my jam growing up?! Clif Notes were my best friends in high school - I'd "read enough" to get by, but other than that I did not enjoy the act of reading so never did it... like ever. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required" so I didn't find it enjoyable, but whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which turned into 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021 and 41 books in 2022). Recently, especially since going back to work outside of the house full-time, the majority of my "reading" has been through audiobooks since I don't have as much time to sit and read physical books (not to mention I walk to work and walk on my lunch break so have two-ish hours a day I can listen to something). Even still, holding a physical book is the bomb diggity and I hope to get back to adding more reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I get through is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. So here are the books I finished in February:

• Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper - Since February is Black History Month, I decided that I wanted to be intentional about selecting books with black authors. I had this title in my "for later" list for a while and thought it was the perfect time to give it a download. I will be honest, I am probably not the market audience for this one. It felt as though the book was written to black women, so although I gleamed a lot of information from it, I didn't feel as though she was speaking to me (it was as though she was chatting with her girlfriends and I was eavesdropping on their conversation). I love how Brittney weaved her personal stories in with the political. It was perfect at showing intersectionality. Even though this book may not have been "meant" for me when it was being written, I believe feminism is for EVERYONE and we all have so much to learn from one another. PS I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook because it was actually read by the author and I felt as though I could hear the passion (and eloquent rage) in her voice the entire time. I would give it an 8.5 out of 10.

• In Every Mirror She's Black by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström - I noticed this title was highly rated on the Black History Tab of my Hoopla app so figured I'd try it. I really wanted to like it, but never fully got into it. It was a story of three Black women and how they were all connected to this one Swedish man. I like storylines that meld together, but, I'm not sure, this one just didn't draw me in. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated the insight the women shared of their experiences, but none of the women felt relatable to me. The Swedish man that the story "revolves" around seems to be on the autistic spectrum (because he comes from a family of wealth and privilege, they never want to admit or address it so it was never discussed or diagnosed) and although I would normally be thrilled to have characters who are neurodivergent, I couldn't root for him. Also, although it was listed under the drama genre, it was a little sexier than I was expecting (ha, that's probably why I stick to the YA genre... less sex ;)). Not to mention, it would have been helpful to have trigger/ content warnings seeing as the themes of genocide, suicide, domestic violence, etc are all main focuses of the story. Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace for this one, or maybe I'm just not the target audience... I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles - It was time to go back to the YA genre and this one popped up so I downloaded it. This was a coming of age story of a teen caught between church and culture. It felt a little corny at first, but I eventually got invested in the characters. Not many YA books are written from the perspective of a male teenager, so I enjoyed seeing things from his vantage point. I appreciated that it tackled serious topics such as misogyny, toxic church environments, sexual assault, etc. Although I'm not currently in that stage of life (wow, has it really been 20+ years now?!), everything rang genuine. I really enjoyed this one (and was trying to find extra time throughout the day to listen to more of the story). I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King - I came across this memoir in the Black History Month section of my Hoopla app and knew I wanted to download it. I feel like a lot is known of Martin Luther King Jr., but I personally don't know much about Coretta as an individual. I really enjoyed this one. It gave me a lot of insight not only to her relationship as a wife (to MLK Jr) and mother (to their four children), but also as Coretta as a changemaker and influencer (before the term was trendy). Even though she was married to MLK in the 50s/ 60s when most women's worth was dependent on her relationship with a man, Coretta still had her own things and stood her grounds on how she believed she could make waves for the civil rights movement. She was a leader in her own right and I love that her story is being told. She was and is an inspiration and I hope more people take the time to learn about her dedication, her heart, her activism. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates - I had this book on my shelf for a while, but hadn't had time to pick it up until now. The hubby, pup and I went to Mammoth for a weekend (hubby was snowboarding during the day while the pup and I hung out in the truck pop-up and then we'd adventure together in the afternoons but a heater malfunction cut our trip short) so I thought it was the perfect time to start this one. This book is broken into eight chapters, each dedicated to a different year during Obama's presidency. The author wrote a different essay each year (first published in The Atlantic), which is the bulk of the chapters, but prior to the essay he shares where he was (physically, mentally, spiritually) as more of a blog post - a little less formal. I really appreciated this one. It was not easy, seeing as the story is technically a tragedy, but Coates shares from his own experiences and how the larger political world has impacted him and his community personally. Part of white privilege is the ability to not "have to" think about many of these topics or issues, so even though digging deep into history (far and near) is not easy - it's important and necessary. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

With that, February has come to a close. My reading may have slowed down a bit (especially compared to years past), but I hope it never stops. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always willing to add them to my "must read" list! 

PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read so they're in one place. Feel free to check it out!

What's the best book you've read lately? 

Workout Recap - Week 8

Sunday, February 19th – Rest Day

Monday, February 20th – Rest Day

Tuesday, February 21st –  Rest Day

Wednesday, February 22nd – Rest Day

Thursday, February 23rd – Rest Day

Friday, February 24th – Rest Day

Saturday, February 25th – Rest Day 

A full week of rest - yup. The groin is feeling better, but I don't want to push it too early. I think next week I will get back on the bike for a few days and try a short run or two. (It feels okay while I'm walking/ living normal life, but if I put "running" pressure on it, sometimes it has a twinge of pain, which is why I am taking this as slow as I need to.) The weather has been rough this past week - rain, high winds, cold - so I guess I haven't minded staying in my warm bed a little later than normal ;) But, I have missed running, so I'm really praying that this week I will be able to start getting back into my routine.

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 7

Sunday, February 12th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, February 13th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, February 14th –  90 minutes on the stationary bike

Wednesday, February 15th – Rest Day

Thursday, February 16th – Rest Day

Friday, February 17th – Rest Day

Saturday, February 18th – Rest Day 

Well, I guess you can probably guess from my workouts that the groin is not doing better. Not only is the groin angry, but around Thursday I started to come down with something (wasn't sure if it was allergies because of the winds and rains, but I think it's more of a cold/ the flu) so my body is in a hibernation mode. I was freaking out a bit, because a friend and I had an adventure on the horizon, but he has been kind enough to offer to delay it until we are both 100% (so I can rest the body and get it fully healed without the guilt hanging over my head that I might cause his adventure to be less than amazing). Here's to hoping an extra week or so of rest will get me back even stronger. #ListeningToYourBodyCanSuck

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 6

Sunday, February 5th – 12.8 mile run (~2 hours)

Monday, February 6th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, February 7th –  Rest Day

Wednesday, February 8th – 80 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, February 9th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, February 10th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Saturday, February 11th – Rest Day 

Well, poo... My right groin started feeling funny after my long run last Saturday. It took me a couple limping steps to get into a rhythm on Sunday, but once I started running it felt fine. Unfortunately the rest of the week it felt "off". Thankfully this was a "cutback" week (meaning I had fewer miles than the previous couple weeks where I was building mileage) so I didn't "miss" as many miles as I could've, but still not great because the groin is not 100% yet. I went to the chiropractor on Friday, hoping that an adjustment would help, but it's still not completely better. Listening to your body, when your body isn't at its best can suck, but I know it's what I need to do... So here's to biking, foam rolling and stretching for a bit longer.

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 5

Sunday, January 29th– 15.15 mile run (~2.5 hours)

Monday, January 30th – 90 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, January 31st –  10.10 mile run

Wednesday, February 1st – 7 mile run

Thursday, February 2nd – 8 mile run

Friday, February 3rd – Rest Day

Saturday, February 4th – 20.02 mile run 

What a full week! Over 60 miles and the body is still feeling okay ;) My long run on Saturday was definitely a grind (like I mentioned last week, I technically jumped in at Mile 14 of a 24 week 50 mile race training plan, so I guess it would make sense that my body is TIRED when on week two of my training I'm already up to 60 miles a week and a 20-miler long run), but I got it done. I walked the last two miles (because it is all uphill back to our house) and took walk breaks whenever I needed them, but I got home before 7:30am so I'll consider it a win ;) Looks like next week is a cut-back week, so I'm thrilled I've got shorter runs for the weekend (especially since we are planning to head up to Mammoth to camp).

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

January Books

Can you believe that reading wasn't my jam growing up?! Clif Notes were my best friends in high school - I'd "read enough" to get by, but other than that I did not enjoy the act of reading so never did it... like ever. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required" so I didn't find it enjoyable, but whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which turned into 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021 and 41 books in 2022). Recently, especially since going back to work outside of the house full-time, the majority of my "reading" has been through audiobooks since I don't have as much time to sit and read physical books (not to mention I walk to work and walk on my lunch break so have two-ish hours a day I can listen to something). Even still, holding a physical book is the bomb diggity and I hope to get back to adding more reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I get through is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. So here are the books I finished in January:

• Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki - I thought it was only fitting to start the year off with an audiobook about minimalism. I mean, if you know me, you know that I live (or try to live) a very simple life. I don't need (or want) a lot of things - and, in all honesty, having lots of stuff (especially when it's not neat and tidy) causes quite a bit of anxiety. With that said, although I might not be a minimalist, I do enjoy learning more about the lifestyle - picking up a few tips and tricks whenever I can. This was a quick listen (the audiobook was under 5 hours long and because I listen at 1.75x speed it went by even faster) and I really enjoyed it. The author not only talked about minimizing his possessions to what was deemed necessary for him (reminding the reader that minimalism looks different to everyone) but also touched on topics like information clutter, relationship overload, etc. One chapter contained 55 tips to help you say goodbye to your things. Although some of them I have heard time and time again (give everything a home, only keep what you use or love, etc), there were a few notions that stuck out - like giving up on the idea of "someday", material items are constantly vying for your time and attention, etc. I don't think I will buy this book for my personal library (I mean, that sort of defeats the minimalist mindset, right?!), but it might be one to listen to on an annual basis. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz - This book popped up as a recommended read for me on my Hoopla app because of some of my recent downloads. I hadn't heard of it before, but it had a high rating and it was read by Lin-Manuel Miranda so I figured it couldn't be bad. I was right ;) This is a coming of age story of two teenage boys in El Paso, TX. It dives into topics such as personal identity, family dynamics, friendship, homophobia and more. I wasn't sure what to expect with the book, but so much of it was wholesome and sweet. I'll be honest (although I don't want to give anything away), I was a little disappointed in the way the book ended. First, I was really liking the idea that it was a book with an LGBTQ character that wasn't necessarily a romantic book. Second, once there were some discoveries made, I felt like the book just ended. (Note - when I went to add the link to this post I did notice that this was book one of a series, so I guess the story ending abruptly was so the author could pick it up in a second book, but I still wanted a little more before the story stopped.) I would say the first half of the story was a little slow, but I really like all of the characters and am now excited to find the follow up book. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• It Was All a Dream by Justin Tinsley - I saw this newly released on my Hoopla app and wanted to grab it right away. Can you believe that Christopher Wallace would have been 50 years old right now?! That he has been off this earth for longer than he was on it?! Don't get me wrong, I may not have been deep in the rap world in the 90s, but it's hard to argue that Christopher Wallace didn't make a BIG impact. I appreciated that this biography wasn't just about Christopher's life, but it also included a lot of what was going on around him (both in the streets, in the government, etc) that formed him into the young man that he was. I'll be honest and say that I enjoyed the younger years portion of the book more, but maybe that's because there is a lot "out" about his later years. Even if you don't know much about The Notorious B.I.G., you probably have heard a bit about his untimely death and some of the rumors, speculations and theories of who was involved in the murder and how his life was cut short. I admire that the author is upfront and explains that this is NOT a book that will solve the mysteries surrounding a lot of what happened in the rap game in the 90s, but that it would show the world a little more about Christopher Wallace from those who knew him best. I loved all of the interviews and I've gotta say, I walked away with a slightly better understanding of who the person was behind the persona (even if the two may have been similar in a lot of ways). I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Not That Bad by Roxane Gay - Oh, wow. Let me start off by saying this is NOT an easy read/ listen. This is a compilation of essays written by women and men about rape culture and the phrase "not that bad". How often have we heard the comparisons or the justifications (whether they are what we tell ourselves or have heard others say)? "It's not that bad, at least it wasn't <insert some act/ trauma/ tragedy that seems worse>..." You definitely have to be in the proper state of mind to get through this one. It is heartbreaking and heart-wrenching, but, in my opinion, absolutely essential reading. Yes, of course these essays all have a common theme, but the breath of the stories is unfathomable, yet not shocking at all. I commend each and every writer for taking the time to share their truth, their trauma with their audience. If you know the editor, you know that the stories selected are probably all in the same vein, but I guess you can consider me a card carrying liberal feminist, so I didn't notice ;) I'll definitely be adding this one to my physical library. I would give it a 10 out of 10.

• Little Bee by Chris Cleave - I don't remember if I snagged this from one of the little free libraries I pop by on occasion or if someone sent this book to me, but it has been on my bookshelf for a while and I finally got around to reading it. California had been getting a lot of rain, so I started this book one weekend that we were "stuck" inside and then was able to finish it while the hubby was out of town for work. I would say that there were things I liked and things that I didn't. I liked that the story was told from two different perspectives (two narrators). I liked that the story kept me guessing and intrigued the entire time. I disliked the white savior narrative. (If you are unfamiliar with what this means, it is the idea that a white character needs to come along to help save/ fix/ rescue people of color from their plight.) Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that the author touched on very serious topics like immigration and refugees, atrocities occurring all over the planet, etc, but the fact that Sarah has to come along to save Little Bee, especially towards the end of the story, didn't sit great with me (but that might be how this white, cis male author views the world). Note: I would also recommend a trigger warning be added - especially for topics like genocide, rape and suicide. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• Loveless by Alice Oseman - This title popped up in the "suggested" section on my Hoopla app (assuming it has to do with my previous downloaded books) and figured I'd give it a try. I've gotta say, I really enjoyed this one. Yep, it's a YA read, so probably not for everyone, but I really appreciated that the author dove into the "A" in LGBTQIA+. So often if there is an LGBT character, it is often the L or the G, so I was stoked to have a character that was asexual and aromantic. Not only was it a good story, I felt like I learned more about an identity that isn't generally focused on and one that I knew very little about. There were points that felt slow (remember, this is written for 14 year olds and older), but it was cute enough. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• What Happened to You by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D Perry - I had this on my "for later" list for a while, but a friend shared she was reading it on her IG stories so I decided it was time for a download. Wow. There were so many great nuggets in here. First, I love the reframing of "what happened to you?" instead of the "what's wrong with you?" that we're so used to hearing/ seeing in our culture. There's so much that goes into making us who we are and this simple switch can make the world of difference - in everything from your compassion and empathy for folks you meet to treatment of people in the medical (physical and mental health) realms. Next, I really like that this book is a combination of Oprah and Dr. Perry. Please do not hear me saying that Oprah "dumbs it down", but Dr. Perry has a lot of medical and statistical information he's sharing while Oprah tends to help this become more relatable in story form (Dr. Perry also shares stories from his experiences, so he isn't all nitty gritty detail, but I feel like it was a good blend). Also, I really appreciate that the majority of this comes back to the brain. There were a lot of 'ah ha' moments throughout this book as to why people react how they do in certain situations due to what has happened to them in the past. The audiobook was a bit like a conversation between two experts in their fields that we were listening in on, which I really enjoyed, but you could also grab the physical book and take notes throughout the entire thing too. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Pork Belly Tacos with a Side of Anxiety by Yvonne Castaneda - I hadn't heard of this book before, but the title caught my attention (and I also tend to be a sucker for biographies because it's hard to argue with someone's personal experiences, right?!). I really appreciated the author for sharing her raw and real story with her readers. She went through a lot of ups and downs in her younger years and was pretty brutally honest about it all. I've gotta say, I think the biggest thing that stood out to me was how some somewhat inconsequential statements (or what some may think as inconsequential) can have HUGE, lifelong impacts on people. This is just another reminder that you never know the type of inner battles someone is fighting, so it's important to always approach others with gentleness, kindness and grace. Many of the stories Yvonne shared hit close to home. I didn't realize this was technically a book for young adults, but I would recommend it for young adults or anyone who comes into contact with young folks (whether it's your children, kids you might work with, your friend's kiddos, etc) because it's a good reminder of how our words have power. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - As y'all know, I enjoy myself some YA books, so every once in a while I will scroll through the "teen" section of my Hoopla app. This book was constantly towards the top so I had added it "for later" and decided it was time to give it a go. I am normally not a huge sci-fi fan, but this book kept me intrigued the entire time. I like that it switched between different character's perspectives (and notating which it was with the title of the chapter so you weren't left guessing). Although this book is "fantasy," it is based on racism, injustices in the world and a struggle for change. The author does an amazing job of getting readers wrapped up in the story and characters, but the undertones of the story very much parallel what is going on in our political and social landscape. This was a long book (almost 18 hours of audiobook), but I didn't notice because I constantly wanted to know what would happen next. I never felt that there was a part that was dragging on or that could have been cut short. It's such a magical book (that revolves around magic ;)). I feel like it's part Black Panther, part Hunger Games, and part West African culture/ religion. Now, don't get it twisted, this is very much a story all on its own and I don't think it's trying to "be" anything, but it was just meant to give you an idea of the epic adventure the characters of this story go on (while trying to fight the violence and oppression of the world around them). PS I downloaded the next book in the series seconds after finishing this one and can't wait to see where the story goes - I'll gobble it up too I'm sure! I would give it a 10 out of 10. 

• Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi - Of course I had to listen to Part II as soon as I finished the first book. I'll say that, like most series, I liked the first book more, but this one still kept me interested the entire time. Unlike the first book, I'd say there were a couple different spots where I could/ did anticipate what was coming (I'm not sure if that means it was more predictable or that the story was a little slower so I had more time to ponder what might be coming). Don't get me wrong, I still couldn't stop listening to this one, but it just didn't have as much of a grasp on me as the first book did. I'm sort of glad I was listening to the audiobook (and not looking at how much time was left) as opposed to holding a physical book and seeing how few pages were left towards the end, because the end was a little abrupt (of course, the author was leaving us on a cliffhanger for the third and final book of the trilogy, but had I seen the few pages left I probably also would've guessed how it was going to end [and how quickly]). Now we just have to wait for the third book to arrive (the InterWebs speculates it should be sometime this year...). I would give it an 8.5 out of 10. 

With that, January has come to a close. My reading may have slowed down a bit (especially compared to years past), but I hope it never stops. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always willing to add them to my "must read" list! 

PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read so they're in one place. Feel free to check it out!

What's the best book you've read lately?