In “How to Build a Heart’, Maria Padian offers a tale of youth that is interesting and, at times, heartbreaking. Told from the first person perspective of Izzy (Isabella Crawford) this story portrays the struggles of a teenage girl trying to reconcile her need to be friends with everyone against her future life. Her mother, a fierce Puerto Rican woman, is hard working and wise and continuously encourages Izzy to be better than the circumstances that she (and their family) are in. Izzy’s best friend, Roz, is a character we have seen in many other teen stories, but with a few added twists that you don’t see coming, particularly in the last 2 chapters.

At times, “How to Build a Heart” reminded me of the movie “Pretty in Pink” so vividly that it was difficult for me to fully concentrate on Izzy as my mind would wander to Andi and Duckie, but that story is merely the bones of a more interesting and contemporary plot laid out by Padian. Here, we see a young girl that is trying to navigate school, work, friends, and family, while also following her heart when it takes her in new directions. There are moments of chaos in Izzy’s life and Padian does a good job of depicting the irrational way in which Izzy reacts to these moments of difficulty.

There are multiple ways in which Izzy grapples with her Puerto Rican identity and her realizations about her paternal grandmother (White, Southern, Racist) that are moving, but I was hoping for even more discussion on race, and specifically being multi-ethnic, than what the author offers to the reader. The characters often dance around their feelings on race in a way that feels realistic, though, reinforcing what most readers already see in their day to day interactions. The book tries to show some of that struggle through Izzy’s interactions with her family and through flashbacks, but it could have gone farther when dealing with present day interactions.

Overall, “How to Build a Heart” was a quick and satisfying read and I recommend it for anyone that is interested in YA stories about growing up today and the ways in which teens navigate their worlds in order to become whole adults.

As my first review on Net Galley, I am feeling a great deal of pressure to get this right, but Karine Jean-Pierre has made my job much less difficult with her lovely memoir. Moving Forward focuses on her childhood in Queens and the daily work that is required of the eldest child of an immigrant couple, her own journey to naturalized citizenship, and her subsequent lively political and media career.

Sharing the same birth year I felt at one with Jean-Pierre as she traced her youth and early adulthood in the 1980s and 90s. She has a wonderful way with words and although our experiences are vastly different I was quite drawn in by the narrative. Her writing style helped me feel closer to her and the people in her universe. This is exactly what a good memoir should do.

Jean-Pierre’s retelling of aspects of her time in government, on various political campaigns and, ultimately, in the White House on the staff of President Obama, offers a clear and concise window into both the inner-workings of a campaign and the funny, sad, heart-wrenching, and joyous things that can happen along the way. It is by no means a comprehensive look at any one campaign, but the details she provided gave me just enough information to hold my continued interest.

I also greatly appreciated the additional information she provided on media awareness and specific news sources, pundits, and reporters that she feels are worthy of a readers time. Jean-Pierre has written this book to be used as somewhat of a manual for future politicos, explaining how she navigated that space through a successful career, but it is still quite a wonderful read for those of us that want to be involved at a more local level or just participate through our votes.

If you are looking for an interesting political memoir, Moving Forward is most definitely the book for you.

Yes – It is November and tomorrow is my 44th birthday. I am both excited and tired. Moving to Alabama and getting settled in has been difficult. Last week was the midterm election and although it was good overall (we took back the House – woot!) in Alabama the election results were super disheartening. Voters here decided that it would be appropriate to display the 10 commandments on government property (see ya’ later seperation of church and state) and that a cluster of cells has more worth/value/rights than a fully formed human woman who is in danger of dying during childbirth (so long choice). The governer was re-elected by a wide margin and there were several, unopposed Republicans elected to the circuit courts. Super sad. So – at this point, until I can get involved in the next round of election races (for 2020) I will retreat into reading and writing. As I have had more time, since I’ve been working part time, I have had the opportunity to finish 2 more books! And here is my update…

My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem *****

Simon vs. the Homo Sapeins Agenda by Becky Albertalli ****

That brings my 2018 total to 10 and brings me to an equal number of months to books read. All signs point to me completing my number goal of 12 for 2018 and maybe exceeding it with even more books from the book riot list!

And while we are at it – let’s look at my stats for that challenge as well…

Not great, but I’m trying. We’ll see if I can get a few more checked off this list as I complete my reading in these last 2 months of 2018.

Happy Autumn and enjoy your reading!

Peace,Chantale

Many things have happened over the past month. We picked up our whole lives and moved from Buffalo, NY to Huntsville, AL. Yes, Alabama. In the heat of August, during the most oppressive season when even northerners hate to be outside for long periods of time, we decided to move  to the deep south. Well, it isn’t exactly the deep south, but it is definitely the south. In the whirlwind of having to move our lives in 3 weeks (School starts earlier in Alabama) I haven’t had a chance to pick up a book. Partially because I am busy and partially because I am thrown by the whole move, but mainly because I am tired.

Even so, I still wanted to post an update of my TBR.

So – here it is…

Difficult Women by Roxanne Gay ****

The Awesome by Eva Darrows ****

Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper ****

With those 3 books added, I am 2 books beyond the half way point for my 12 book challenge this year. That isn’t horrible considering I’m only 1 month behind. Now that I am working part time (that is a story for another blog) I will have more time to read as we settle in to our new apartment in Huntsville. I’m hoping that I can actually blow that 12 book challenge away and maybe work on more of the book riot challenge books as well. We shall see.

Now let me know how you are doing on your 2018 book challenge lists – comment below!

Peace,Chantale

We are almost half way through 2018 and it feels like about time to give an update on my reading challenge. Unfortunately, I am a bit behind, but I am hoping that the warmer weather will prompt me to sit on my patio, with a cocktail and a good book, many evenings to come. Until then – here are the reads that I have completed thus far in 2018.

The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom Nichols ***

We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union ****

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur ****

Bad Feminist: Essays by Roxanne Gay ****

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell ****

As you can see – I have not read any 5 star books, but I also have not read anything less than 3 stars, so I think that is a good start. I am also doing pretty well at completing all the books I start and I am trying my best to read one book at a time (this I have not been so good at).

As for the Book Riot Challenge – the books above fulfill 3 of the categories

A book of social science: Nichols

A celebrity memoir: Union

An essay anthology: Gay

So far this year I am ahead of previous years, but I still feel like my pace is too slow. Hopefully the summer will inspire me to do more reading!

How are you fairing with your 2018 book challenges and tbr lists? Let me know in the comments!

Peace,Chantale

So I realize that we are already more than half-way through the second month of 2018, but I am finally ready to update you on my TBR (to be read) list. A couple weeks back, I installed some new shelves in my office to dedicate to my TBR pile.

As you can see – I have varied interests when it comes to reading, but one of my favourite genres is social science. The shelves do not include books that I am borrowing from the library or any books that I currently have in digital format (obviously.) 

Below are my reading lists, which will show the full range of books that I am going to attempt to read in 2018. So far I have only completed one book, but I have 5 more books that should be wrapping up in the next 2 months to get me back on track. Some of those are carry overs from 2017, but I’m going to count them in my challenges for 2018.

The first list is for the Book Riot Read Harder Challange, which you can check out here! I still have a few gaps in my selections, but I’m hoping to fill them in as the year progresses.

As you can see above – I have yet to fill in all the blanks.

The next TBR list is the Social Science books I plan to read. I have set a goal of 12 Social Science books this year and I will not be counting the two that I’ve included above in this additional list.

1. The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge by Peter Berger
2. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason by Michel Foucault
3. Slim’s Table: Race, Respectability, and Masculinity by Mitchell Duneier
4. Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America by Melissa Harris-Perry
5. We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrl to CoverGirl, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement by Andi Zeisler
6. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
7. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
8. Playing on the Edge: Sadomasochism, Risk, and Intimacy by Staci Newmahr
9. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity by Judith Butler
10. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life by Erving Goffman
11. Dreamworlds of Alabama by Allen Shelton
12. Walter Benjamin’s Grave by Michael Taussig

So – that sets me up to read about 30 or so books. I have set my GoodReads challenge at 12 books, but I’m hoping to well exceed that this year. Now – it’s time to read! Let me know what you are reading this year, in the comments!

Peace, Chantale