More Myself by Alicia Keys

  • Twitter summary: Alicia Keys’ memoir.
  • The good: I’m crushing hard on Alicia. I’ve only ever been a casual listener and I do randomly sing “Girl on Fire” because it’s an amazing song. I loved listening to her audiobook — it was beautifully narrated by Keys’ melodic voice, piano notes and guest appearances; definitely easy on the ears (haha). She is a spirit we all can learn from.
  • The bad: Can I say that I wish it was longer?
  • Recommendation: Yes.
  • Overall rating: 5/5 Grammys

In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier

  • Twitter summary: Métis sisters, April and Cheryl, have two different perspectives on their Indigenous heritage.
  • The good: I was captured immediately by Mosionier’s portrayal of the differences between the two sisters. Although there are definitely some big trigger warnings in this fiction book, they were necessary to both the character and plot development. I’ll highlight that this is a work of fiction yet it was ultimately a raw, honest perspective on how Indigenous Peoples were and, even now, are viewed. This book is only the tip of the iceberg for my own learning. I felt Cheryl’s pain and determination to be a voice as well as April’s need to run away. At the end, I felt a great sense of hope; no matter what happens — there is hope.
  • The bad: The timeline jumps from here to there and so, I had to remind myself where I was in the story. It wasn’t unbearable but I was confused.
  • Recommendation: Yes
  • Overall rating: 4/5 speeches

Two Trees Make A Forest by Jessica J. Lee

  • Twitter summary: The history of Lee’s family in Taiwan intertwined with the stories about trees?
  • The good: Lee’s voice was unexpectedly soothing; I found myself distracted and unfortunately unable to coherently follow the story (oops). I did enjoy her writing style though — descriptive yet simple.
    The bad: To be completely honest, I must have only grasped about 10% of the book because I missed the main purpose. Was it about the trees or about her grandfather’s backstory? Maybe it was about finding distant relatives? I apologize, I don’t know.
  • Recommendation: No.
  • Overall rating: 2/5 forests

The Bomber Mafia by Malcom Gladwell

  • Twitter summary: An audiobook about the Bomber Mafia of WWII.
  • The good: I started listening to this audiobook without knowing anything but that it is about WWII. This book was written to be an audiobook and I definitely understand why — it was as though I was listening to a podcast, not a book. Gladwell and his production company (Pushkin) did a marvellous job bringing the story to life. I am constantly amazed by our past and this story is no exception.
  • The bad: I need to educate myself more about WWII; there was so much destruction given the introduction of the atomic bombs… I did not have the prior knowledge to fully appreciate the complexities of the story. Yes, any listener can easily follow along and be immersed but I felt it was only surface level. Not to fault the audiobook since it’s entirely on me yet, unfortunately, some of the details went in one ear and out the other.
  • Recommendation: Yes
  • Overall rating: 4/5 bomber planes

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong

  • Twitter summary: Essays written from the perspective of an Asian (Korean) American woman.
  • The good: Hong’s essays have eloquently summarized the unconscious thoughts and feelings I have not even begun to truly identify and assess. This collection of essays is finally forcing me to take the time to begin processing my own minor feelings; it’s a book that I didn’t know I needed until I finished reading it. You can tell that Hong is a poet — she definitely has a way with words. I appreciate the balance between historical retelling and personal anecdotes. I am filled with hope for the present moment and future.
  • The bad: Is it terrible of me to say that I disliked the length of the essays? I would have liked shorter pieces but more of them… yeah yeah, I know it’s about quality over quantity — the essays are top quality. For purely selfish reasons, I think they would have been more easily digestible in a shorter format.
  • Recommendation: Definitely.
  • Overall rating: 4/5 minor feelings (yes, I am getting lazier and lazier with my rating scale)

Fix Your Period by Nicole Jardim

  • Twitter summary: A six-week program for female health.
  • The good: I appreciated how simple and straightforward Jardim articulated her approach and the science of the female body. She has definitely made it easy for readers to successfully follow her six-week protocol. Note that there is an extensive supplemental guide for this book (big thumbs up for the practical guidance for each week). Definitely a book that I would refer back to whenever I needed some quick motivation to get back on track.
  • The bad: Even though I did not put Jardim’s six-week program into practice, there wasn’t anything I haven’t heard before. I love learning about how my body works! So, I can’t provide a complete review on the effectiveness of her protocol but I am a big supporter for female health regardless.
  • Recommendation: Yes.
  • Overall rating: 4/5 healthy hormones

The Answer Is… by Alex Trebek

  • Twitter summary: Alex Trebek’s memoir narrated by Trebek and Ken Jennings.
  • The good: Before listening to his memoir, I knew Trebek was Canadian, the host of jeopardy and an active philanthropist. Now, I wish I actually knew him. I appreciate Trebek’s candour and wisdom — definitely recommend listening to the audiobook. I loved the short conversations between Trebek and Jennings when the narrator roles switches from one to the other. The chapters were short yet noteworthy; words were not minced.
  • The bad: Although I understand why Trebek himself did not narrate the entire book, a part of me still wishes he did. Jennings did a great job bringing life to Trebek’s memoir. However, it was not the same experience.
  • Recommendation: Yes!
  • Overall rating: 4/5 quiz game questions and answers

Bossypants by Tina Fey

  • Twitter summary: Tina Fey’s memoir.
  • The good: Meh, I’m indifferent. Nothing specifically stood out for me. Actually — one part did — I enjoyed the chapter on the Windy City. Fey’s advice is to follow these three rules (they were originally about improve but can be applied to basically everything): yes and, make statements, there are no mistakes.
  • The bad: Is it lazy of me to repeat above and say I’m indifferent about this book? I didn’t particularly find the anecdotes in this book funny or memorable. Maybe I just don’t find many things funny?
  • Recommendation: Sure?
  • Overall rating: 3/5

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

  • Twitter summary: Girl and Boy 1 are friends. They become friends with Boy 2. Girl and Boy 2 start dating. Fast forward to their late 20s.
  • The good: I’ll admit that there were certain chapters that made me tear up — those pesky tears came out of nowhere and bam, I felt Lydia’s broken heart, hopelessness and despair. This is ultimately why I’m giving this book a 3/5 rating. Silver does have a way with portraying complex, deep emotional feelings in simple words.
  • The bad: The plot was drawn out way longer than it needed to be. It could have easily been condensed to maximize reader feelings, not to mention time as well. I was also disappointed that it was too predictable.
  • Recommendation: Sure, if you feel like reading a long book.
  • Overall rating: 3/5 trips to Croatia (I do really want to go to Croatia though!)

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

  • Twitter summary: Maverick’s backstory; basically the prequel to The Hate U Give.
  • The good: I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook; Dion Graham’s performance as the narrator was incredible. I felt all the feelings. Highly recommend listening to the audiobook. Thomas is a genuine storyteller — I loved Maverick’s story, it provides a story in an already amazing story that I didn’t know I needed.
  • The bad: I definitely enjoyed this book yet I find myself rating it a 4/5 because I don’t think it stands alone as it’s own book. I understand the purpose of a series or even a prequel for a book. I think it would be difficult to fully grasp the overall complexities of the world Thomas has built without first reading The Hate U Give.
  • Recommendation: Yes, read this book after you read The Hate U Give.
  • Overall rating: 4/5 rose bushes