Skip to main content

Welcome Back- Book Review

This year for myself, I added to my vision board reading 1 book a month by black authors. It has been off to a GREAT start so far.  I want to share my reviews of these books so that others can reap the benefits of my readings and I can simply share my opinions.

January- "Blackbirds" by Eric Jerome Dickey


So, I purchased this book 2 years ago for a friend who was in the hospital. She gave it back, it sat on my shelf for a year. 

Eric Jerome Dickey and I have a long standing relationship. I fell in love with his writings in 2005. Books I had no business reading as a teenager, but he talked about things I had no knowledge of such as sex, love and weird family dynamics. I can honestly say he taught me a lot. From "Milk in My Coffee" to "Cheaters" and even "Between Lovers" I could imagine or even see myself in his characters. I spent plenty of summer days curled up on the couch at Cedar Valley College reading his work. So reading this book was like exercising a memory muscle for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it on my Honeymoon Cruise. 

He used characters from his previous writings but they are all grown up now! This book was about sisterhood, love,  forgiveness and independence. I love how he developed each character and I saw parts of my life in each. The child of the African diaspora whose identity was both African and American but neither at the same time. I have that friend, I call her my Naija Princess. The strong willed woman afraid to love because she had been violated by people she trusted. The family and justice system failed to protect her when she asked. We all know someone in that category. The divorcee, encouraging everyone else while her life is in shambles- oh yeah we know her too. The friend with the toxic ex she can't get over because everything was perfect, except he cheats..... been there done that. The overbearing mother who actually is a hypocrite but nothing you do is right by her or Jesus. The other mother whose only concern is when you are getting married and starting a family- get off my street Eric! OR wait, the divorced parents who basically force you to choose who you will love and live with- seen this all too often. 

Eric took me on a journey of self discovery, joy, pain, celebration, fun, love and lust. He traveled into the family dynamic of each of the characters and we get a glimpse into why they made and make some of the decisions they do. I love when I feel fully invested in the fictional lives of each of the characters it takes me to their world and sometimes I need that escape. 

This book gets 5 stars from me. Recommended read especially for young women of color. This book was right on time. Live, Love & Laugh

Be sure to follow me on IG @enchanted_rhoyalty

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In search of magic

She told me something was missing. Not a spark or a twinkle Not a light or a star Not a fire or an ember My magic was missing. The very thing that allowed me to create the me I wanted to be, had long gone missing He took it, I said, and I want it back! I want it all back. Slowly she felt it returning- but she had to figure how to use it again. Never again would she let someone steal her magic. Never again would she freely give of her magic. Never again would she take for granted the magic that was given to her as her prized possession. And when she said it- she felt it- the magic she once knew had returned and oh how it had grew. It was undeniable, unimaginable- she realized that the magic was her, she had never left- she had only forgotten due to his curse. She realized what she had forgotten; she had placed her magic safely on a shelf far, far away from what she called her heart. Hidden from all others, even herself- because she was too weak to control it ...

Current Playlist

So I have exceptional taste in music or so I believe.... it ranges from gospel to rap to classical. Check out some of the songs. Meghan Trainor: Like I'm Gonna Lose you ft. John Legend Jonathan McReynolds: No Gray Ciara: Paint It Black Nils Frahm: Me Monica: Before You Walk Out My life J. Moss: Good & Bad Kehlani: Niggas Lawrence Flowers: More Hans Zimmer: Time Tori Kelly: Art of Letting You Go Rihanna: Stay Beyonce: 7/11 Jessie J: Burnin' Up Trey Songz: I Know Meek Mill: Dreams and Nightmares Kirk Franklin: Don't Take Your Joy Away Ying Yang Twins: Get Low Adrian Marcel: 2AM Donnie McClurkin: Just For Me Jhene Aiko: Comfort Inn Kevin Gates: #IDGT Kid Ink: Show Me Boyz II Men: Doin Just Fine Joelle: Wish I Never India Arie: River Rise Casting Crowns: Who Am I Angel: Anita Baker Ryuichi Sakamoto: Bibo no Aozora Destiny's Child: Bad Habit Fantasia: Aint Gon Beg Karina Pasian: Last To Know Boosie: Like A Man Brandon Hines: Yes You Are ...

Sucking at life but #Queening

Unfortunately I am the person who can never make a decision right off. I have so many ideas and thoughts running through my head and there is never just one option. Why are there always so many options? There are options for everything and it kind of freaks me out. I am that person standing at the crossroad with basically 3 other directions to go besides the one you came from. Yeah that is where I am in life right now. I want to go everywhere and do everything besides what I have already done. At least going back is not an option and neither is staying where I am... I have to decide on something at sometime. Even the greatest of leaders suffer from indecision. I am afraid that my indecisiveness might lead into inaction which is unacceptable on any front. That is why I impulse decide usually- due to indecisiveness... just make a decision already! Done. So what is it that I cannot make a decision on? Well right now... this living situation of mine. It's time to move from my apa...