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The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy by Karen Walrond My rating: 5 of 5 stars 2020 and 2021 have been tough years by all accounts. There's so much going on in the world and it's easy to feel frozen to inaction by all of it. It's easy to feel overwhelmed or dejected or even numb to all of it. And yet. Karen Walrond's book is a light that shines your way to joy and possibility. Walrond is a coach, lawyer, photographer, and activist. She's also a wonderful storyteller. Regardless of where you are in your journey to activism, there's something in this book for you. There are inspiring stories, motivational examples, clear action and next steps and a full workbook for you to design your own personal journey. There are varied examples of people taking action and practicing activism in a wide range of ways. Yet what they have in common is that they understand what deeply motivates them to do ...

O Beautiful: A Novel by Jung Yun My rating: 4 of 5 stars 3.5 stars rounded for having a lot of food for thought This is the story Elinor Hanson, an Asian-American, former model to returns near her hometown of Bakken, North Dakota to write about the oil boom in her town. The book starts with a scene of Elinor on the airplane and her seat mate bothering her with questions and intrusions and builds from there to something quite disturbing and it pretty much doesn't let up. She finds that her hometown is almost unrecognizable and is overrun by men. There are so many issues tackled by this story that it's almost too numerous to list, especially considering it's a reasonably small book. Racism, sexism, misogyny, elitism, classism and so much more. Elinor's discomfort is so palpable and well represented that one cannot help but feel unease and tension the entire book. Even though it was tough to read this book and feel that discomfort the wh...

Gone By Morning by Michele Weinstat Miller My rating: 3 of 5 stars This was a mystery with some interesting twists and turns. I somehow could not get into the audio itself and think I would have enjoyed it more if i were reading it. Nonetheless, I liked it. View all my reviews

The Wonder Test by Michelle Richmond My rating: 0 of 5 stars This was a fun read, especially because it takes place right where i live. I wasn't crazy about the plot and yes it was over the top but it was still fun and enjoyable. View all my reviews

Matrix by Lauren Groff My rating: 4 of 5 stars Fantastically well-written and researched story of a woman who is forced to become the prioress of an impoverished abbey. This fierce woman and the way she turns that abbey around is a force to reckon with. Well done. View all my reviews

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney My rating: 3 of 5 stars I had so many conflicting feelings about this book. It took me a long time to get into it and to warm up to the characters. I loved that they were all flawed and real but that also meant that they got on my nerves and I can't say that I ended up liking them even by the end of the book. But they grew on me. And they were real so I found myself invested in their story. I also usually hate books where the characters have intellectual conversations where it's clear that the author is using them as a ploy to lecture the reader. It drives me mad and there was much of it in this book. So much of it. In the end though, when I finished it, it felt like a good meal and I appreciated that I read it. And I did think about it long after. View all my reviews

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was really looking forward to reading this and it did not disappoint. I much prefer slow-burn and character-driven mystery novels and this was exactly that. there are still some surprises around corners but nothing that would be impossible to guess. i loved the characters and setting and really found myself immersed in the story. fantastic read. View all my reviews