Category: Adult Nonfiction Review

REVIEW: Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

REVIEW: Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The author, a Black Muslim writer, speaker, and teacher, created a free 28-day Instagram challenge about white supremacy. That turned into a free pdf workbook which was then updated and expanded into this traditionally published book. It begins with a forward by Robin DiAngela, a white anti-racist educator. Then Ms. Saad gives the history of the book and a bit of her personal story. Then she very clearly outlines the WORK the reader will be doing if they are serious about digging into their own relationship with white supremacy.

This is not supposed to be easy work. And it’s not one-and-done work. Readers will get out of the process what they put in. They’ll benefit even more if they revisit it and keep learning and growing.

The writing style for this is great. It’s conversational while also being honest and direct. The daily work tends to be five or so pages of reading with five to eight reflection questions for the reader to consider and journal about. And these questions aren’t about generic “white people.” They are personal, about you, the reader. The questions will require self-examination and significant self-awareness. This is why this can’t be a one-and-done sort of exercise. As awareness grows, there is value in revisiting these principles and questions.

Review

I was challenged by what I read in this book. I know there are things in the world, and in myself, that I am blind to. And this book inspired me to want to do the work and dig into these things. I know it will be difficult and not really “fun,” but it will be worthwhile. As soon as I finished reading through my review copy, I ordered an official copy that will be here later this week. My plan is to spend February, Black History Month, working through this 28-day exercise. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

So, I can’t say what the process of completing this book/workbook will be like in this review. I can’t really know until I dig in and do the work. I can say that I was drawn in and challenged by the opening pages of this. And I feel this is the next step in my journey of seeing myself and the world around me more honestly in terms of race and racism and white supremacy. I can tell this will require a lot of prayer – to see and reflect on my own white privilege, white fragility, etc. If I am afraid to see it, I can’t root it out and replace it with things that honor BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) the way God intended.

I encourage readers to pick this up and begin your own journey with the material. I don’t feel like I can give this five stars without having actually done the work of the book, but everything I have read so far is excellent. Be sure to pick this one up!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: Keto Simple by Martina Slajerova

BONUS REVIEW: Keto Simple by Martina Slajerova

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Fair Winds Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This is a Keto cookbook that endeavors to make the Keto diet easy to follow. Includes over 100 recipes.

Introductory material describes ketogenic eating – low carb, no sugar, no grains – and some simple guidelines for following it. Recipes are marked when they are dairy free, nut free, egg free or vegetarian.

Recipes are organized by meal. For example, there are 20 breakfast options including many egg dishes. There are also snack recipes, sides, soups, salads, dinners, things for the lunch box, and desserts. Most of the recipes include a full color photo. Several also give alternate versions of the standard recipe.

These are a little fussier than I personally tend to cook. I like to pick up cookbooks that have recipes that use what I often have in my house. A few of these include needs for equipment I don’t own (immersion blender, double boiler, piping bags, etc.) or herbs and things I don’t keep around (psyllium husks), but most were in the realm of possibilities for my simple version of cooking. I am also a picky eater, so while my husband would try most of the recipes here without hesitation, I would probably work with the 10-15 easiest and only occasionally branch out from there. I might use this from the library or try the author’s website for recipe options considering my peculiarities about cooking. But readers and cooks who are more moderately adventurous should definitely check this one out. The author has several other Keto cookbook options, so if you have worked with her material before you should check this one out as well.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha

REVIEW: You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a review copy of this book from Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

The author’s third book, after The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation, looks at resilience. Resilience is the ability to keep moving forward no matter what comes – success, failure, or more of the daily grind.

Mr. Pasricha says there are nine secrets to resilience including

  • shifting the spotlight from a focus on yourself,
  • seeing failure as a step toward your future, and
  • reframing your story.

A good bit of the advice falls into the category of reframing your circumstances which is a strategy I have always found helpful when facing trials.

As an optimist by nature (sometimes to the annoyance of my family), I enjoy books like this. I find them affirming and encouraging. I enjoyed the personal stories the author shared here (generally one story per secret, although several of them built on one another across the whole book). Those show that he knows what he’s talking about from experience. I feel like the conversational tone of this will appeal to readers. He also cites several studies to back up his assertions, which I also appreciate in a self-help book.

My favorite chapter was Secret #4: Tell Yourself a Different Story. The reframing here is obvious, but Mr. Pasricha asks three interesting questions to help readers with that process. I especially enjoyed the pages where he digs into those questions.

I read this because the topic of building resilience is fascinating to me as a parent, a former teacher, and someone who still works with kids. I wasn’t personally looking for solutions to the struggles addressed by the book. Yet I found several take-aways here. I believe the target audience will find many as well.

I do wonder, though, if folks who are less optimistic by nature will enjoy this as much as I did. I can think of some people who could benefit from the material here, but who might eye-roll their way past some of the secrets. As with any self-help book, though, you will get out of it what you put into it. If you are searching for techniques and strategies to adjust your thinking about challenges and failures – as well as keeping successes and opportunities in perspective – you will find some here! (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

REVIEW: How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Workman Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

This is something of a how-to book for parents, grandparents, teachers and other caregivers eager to help kids connect with books. The book is broken into sections by the age of the child – baby, toddler, emerging and independent readers, middle grade, and teen. The whole book is a celebration of connecting around books, reading and investing in kids.

The authors are down to earth and speak truth about everything from how hard it is to raise a reader if you aren’t a reader to how hard it truly is to learn to read. It’s a skill that can take until a child is 7 to naturally develop. They answer questions like, “Why would I read to a baby who can’t understand the words?” or “Why are there no brown kids in my favorite childhood books?” They also address the anxiety adults face about when their kids might start reading, differences in kids’ readiness in the same family, concerns about middle grade readers reading young adult material, etc.

Each chapter is full of tons of information. The baby chapter, for example, sings the praises of board books. The size and heavy pages are great for small hands. They stand up to older baby and toddler antics like chewing or throwing better than 8×8 paperbacks or larger picture books. Then the authors give some feedback on things to be wary of with babies and books. And finally they have a good-sized list of recommendations.

Other topics include: reading out loud, the joy of libraries, when to get outside help for your reader, when teens take a reading break, reading on devices, graphic novels, the post-Harry Potter slump, etc.

Review

I cannot rave about this book enough! The structure and organization is perfect. Parents can go straight to the stage they are in and get practical advice right away. The tone is conversational. You could easily read this from start to finish and flag your favorite books and underline the principles you love. It won’t feel like reading a bossy parenting book.

The authors are honest about their own experiences raising readers – it wasn’t perfect. They don’t shy away from questions about things like cringe-worthy classics in the 21st century or the range of ages when reading clicks for kids.

There are TONS of recommendations in this, both by age and by other categories in the final chapter. This is a resource parents can use as they plan and execute actions to help their kids embrace reading and books. Older kids might use the recommendation lists to find ideas for things they want to read next. This would work for grandparents and others who love to buy books for kids and need good recommendations. This can also be helpful if you have well-meaning folks in your life who need proof that it’s okay that your 6 year old is still learning to read. This would also be a fantastic resource for teachers, principals and other educational professionals, both as a resource for their work, but also as a resource to share with teachers and families. I highly recommend this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: Millenneagram by Hannah Paasch

REVIEW: Millenneagram by Hannah Paasch

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

Millenneagram seeks to take the rich history of the Enneagram and give it some fresh terminology and set it free from some of the spiritual connotations that might alienate those who would otherwise embrace it. It hopes to help folks see themselves in a new light, pursue some healthier behaviors, and embrace the best parts of their type.

This is a drink and some appetizers at your favorite bar with that one friend who geeks out over the Enneagram and doesn’t sugar coat her observations about your life. No, the author isn’t an 8. She’s a fiery 4 who understands uniqueness, and encourages readers to embrace their own.

If you flinch when you come across profanity online or in a book, this is NOT your Enneagram resource. Profanity abounds and you can find an f-bomb on almost every page. It’s okay if that’s not your vibe. There are lots of other resources you can try. The author herself recommends The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Riso/Hudson and The Complete Enneagram by Chestnut as well as others.

This IS the resource for folks who want straight talk and contemporary examples about the Enneagram. Each chapter that focuses on a type includes a story, a general description, a survival story (where these traits come from), discussion of wings and variants, advice for others as they relate to this type, and direct talk to those who claim that type as their own. The bottom line for the author is this: learn your patterns and parent yourself to the healthiest expression of that you can get to. And I love that!

One of my favorite statements she makes multiple times is “You are the point of you.” The author obviously has vast relationships with people of each type. I felt her love for every one of them throughout the book. She wants the best for them. She wants each type – each person – to live in THIS moment, loving and accepting who they are and knowing they are worth whatever work is necessary to be at their best and healthiest. And she pulls no punches when she spells out what that might look like and what it will entail to get there.

While I have enjoyed a variety of resources on the Enneagram, this one stands on its own. The tone is unlike any other resource I have read. It’s a mash up of love and empowerment with a side of in-your-face truth. And I loved all of it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: The Middle Matters by Lisa-Jo Baker

BONUS REVIEW: The Middle Matters by Lisa-Jo Baker

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and WaterBrook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

A collection of essays about noticing, embracing and loving mid-life. The subtitle for the book is “Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You.” There are several broad categories like marriage, parenting, failures, and friendship. Every category then contains three to seven essays.

My favorite section was probably the parenting section – although there are parenting-related essays in other places, too. Many of them left me surrounded by tissues. Other essays left me with a sense of longing for the kinds of relationships she describes in the friendship section. And the collection felt very honest. The author never elevates herself as the perfect example or preaches a message of “be like me.” The whole book is affirming and encouraging with the clear message throughout that you are loved no matter what.

There’s not much scripture referenced here, but the author’s faith is clearly represented. Over and over she affirms the extravagant love of God for each person. The essay format reminded me a lot of a Jen Hatmaker collection, with less humor (not a criticism). While the format is similar, the tone is different. Both have their own merits. I can see readers using this in a group discussion or even as a devotional with each essay being the thought for the day and an opportunity for the reader to reflect on her own life.

This is a resource I will return to. There were several essays I wanted to read again and talk through or journal through my thoughts. Be sure to check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Jesus Who Surprises by Dee Brestin

REVIEW: The Jesus Who Surprises by Dee Brestin

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Multnomah in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

While the New Testament of the Bible is clearly about Jesus, you can find him throughout the Old Testament, too. In this book, the author explores those references and relates them to stories from her personal life and the words of other writers and speakers.

This book is a combination of spiritual growth resource and Bible study. The study is designed to be done one chapter each week. Each chapter has group meeting instructions, journaling prompts, prayer prompts, and five days of Bible study questions. There are plenty of instructions for using the book in a group setting.

Topics include God’s love, God’s wrath and standards for holiness, idolatry, coming to God like children, and lament. Passages for study include Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham and his sons, the Psalms, Isaiah, and the Road to Emmaus.

Review

The format for this was fantastic! The chapters were engaging and the Bible Study questions were varied, yet easily done day by day. The author’s story – of her children, grandchildren, and the death of her husband – is woven through each chapter. I was captivated by these personal stories and their spiritual significance to the family.

While I did not agree with 100% of the author’s theology, I found plenty to enjoy in this book. There were several spots where I stopped to write down challenging thoughts and ideas to keep exploring later.

This study is well-structured for group use. There are resources for group leaders and suggestions for your initial meetings. That doesn’t mean an individual couldn’t work through this on her own. I think this would be good for both someone who is new to faith or beginning their consideration of Jesus, and also for seasoned believers. If you are looking for a new Bible study, consider checking this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

REVIEW: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crown Publishing/Convergent Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

The full title of this book is The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe. The title was changed after the review copy was produced, so I am not sure if that changed any of the internal content in a significant way.

Father Richard Rohr asks readers to broaden their ideas of “Christ” beyond the physical person of Jesus. As he states in one of the early chapters, “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. Rohr’s central assertion seems to be that we recognize Christ in the Bible – and in the world – as both part of the person of Jesus but also as someone/something that pre-dates Jesus and is larger than the person of Jesus. This recognition then changes how we see not only issues of faith but also one another and all examples of creation.

The writing in this is dense and more intricate than my usual genre fiction reading. This is closer to a college text than mass-appeal genre writing. Sometimes Rohr goes over my head, or posits something that clangs against my belief systems or understanding of scripture. I didn’t agree with all of his conclusions. But there are plenty of nuggets of truth and thought-provoking ideas to chew on.

This is a deep and intricate philosophical look at theology, scripture, history, semantics/language and comparative religion. This is the sort of book that I think works best if you have a physical copy you can write in. For me this is best read in small chunks. And I’d get more out of it by writing about what I read, looking up the scriptures he uses in their context, and spending time thinking over his assertions.  This has a more scholarly feel than other books I usually read for spiritual growth. There is a place for both sorts of material depending on the needs of the reader.

If you are looking for a resource that might challenge you to think outside your faith assumptions and current beliefs, or if you are a Rohr fan, I recommend you check this book out. You might not agree with all of Father Rohr’s conclusions, but this book will definitely get you thinking!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Parkland Speaks edited by Sarah Lerner

REVIEW: Parkland Speaks edited by Sarah Lerner

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher, Penguin Random House/Crown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

On February 14, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School became a tragic addition to the gun violence statistics in America. At the end of the school day on that Valentine’s Day, a teen gunman pulled a fire alarm to expose students and staff to his shooting rampage, and 17 people died.

In response, some of the students have chosen to speak out, march and prod politicians to action. There are two other books from the survivors, We Say #Never Again: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists and #Never Again: A New Generation Draws the Line. Now there is a third, Parkland Speaks: Survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Share Their Stories.

Parkland Speaks is a collection of poems, essays, pictures and drawings from the survivors at MSD High School about their experiences on Valentine’s Day last year and the days that followed.

Proceeds from the sales of this book will go to Shine MSD Inc. to support victims’ families and encourage community recovery through the arts.

Review

This is a moving, powerful and sad record of the Parkland Massacre and the aftermath.  It’s hard to read what students and staff went through that day. But it’s also vitally important that we read and know and remember. It’s the only way things have a chance to change.

Like with any collection, each reader will connect with different entries. I really engaged with the entries from students and teachers who were in the building where the shooting happened. I was heart broken at the stories of high school relationships cut short when a person who was joking around at the start of the day didn’t make it out of the building. These are names to those of us on the outside, but they were people – friends, family, mentors, colleagues – to the survivors.

Gun violence and gun rights are issues fraught with strong emotions and strong opinions. But our children are dying – and it’s time to engage in the conversation so things can change for the future. This book is a great starting point for those conversations.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: A Mild Wide by Brandon Hatmaker

REVIEW: A Mild Wide by Brandon Hatmaker

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

The core of this book is the idea of taking your faith deeper. Too often we feel “a mile wide but an inch deep.” Hatmaker challenges readers to not only let the gospel save them (one time), but let it transform them (all the time). Topics in the book include Biblical identity, community (both in the church and outside it), the Kingdom, social justice, and mission.

I found this both challenging and encouraging. I underlined something on almost every page. I really grabbed onto the idea of the gospel as transformational. It’s not one and done. And if the goal is to be more like Jesus, I know I have a long way to go. But at the same time, Hatmaker spends a good amount of time reiterating that God loves us – right now – no matter how transformed or not transformed we are.

While one clear message is that doing more – adding more Bible studies or showing up at church activities more days of the week – doesn’t make us more lovable to God, there are suggestions for ways to engage in Jesus’ name that will help in our personal transformation and help us be a light to others. I loved the questions and the practical steps suggested throughout the book. This is one to revisit and keep close at hand. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥