Big MagicWhere do I start with this book? I absolutely loved the message that Elizabeth Gilbert brought through it. I had originally tried reading this book earlier last year, but I could not get through the first couple of chapters. This year though, it spoke to me in a way that I never saw coming.
Gilbert begins by sharing what the term "Big Magic" meant, and that it is basically what happens when creativity comes to fruition. Lately I have felt stuck in a funk, so some of the main ideas that have made an impact on me are the following: -Creativity is something that should not be used as a means of profit. Yes, you can make a career out of your creations, but you should not try to force it to the point where you take advantage of it. If you happen to gain money through it, then it is happenstance, but to automatically claim that you are doing it for money and EXPECT it to make you money can lead to disappointment. -You need to treat your creativity with respect because it does not come with the intent to stay with you forever. Ideas will come and go, but if you do not do anything with it, creativity will leave until you show that you can make something of it. This idea is important to remember because there are times when you have an idea and if you do not use it, it will move on to someone else. I cannot help but look at Big Magic moving through others and through so many places in my life, and I hope to reconnect with it again. Where to Buy: Barnes and Noble Amazon
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Sofia Valdez, Future PrezSophia Valdez, Future Prez is a wonderful edition to the Questioneers Collection Series because it shows a minority, female in a leadership role.
Andrea Beaty's Questioneers Collection Series is filled with diverse characters that achieve larger than life careers. These books are important for everyone to see since they are reminders that everyone has the capacity to use their creativity and their will to become something greater than themselves. I am very happy to see that there is more representation of females as president, and it is amazing to see this representation shown in picture books as well; I wish this was something I got to see when I was younger, but I am glad that it is available for others to see. Where to Buy: Barnes and Noble Amazon BookedBooked by Kwame Alexander is about a high school student named Nick Hall who is trying to overcome family issues, bullies, and his crush all while trying to be an amazing soccer player. It wasn't long after we began reading that I started to feel for the main character and his plight to just get through his life.
This is a book I didn't expect to fully connect with, but I ended up loving nonetheless. The reason I started reading this book was because I am a middle school librarian and we do a daily 15-minute read with our students- this is the book we chose for our seventh graders. Kwame Alexander shared some strong characters and helped us see not only the problems that Nick is going through, but helped us connect to his adult characters' issues as well such as divorce, new opportunities, and career changes. I felt I saw myself in some of his characters, and it was something unexpected for me. I look forward to reading his other novels. Where to Buy: Barnes and Noble Amazon Unlearned: 101 Simple Truths For a Better LifeHumble the Poet's book Unlearn: 101 Simple Truths For a Better Life is a collection of thoughts to help motivate and enlighten the readers. I did enjoy the fact that he, from the beginning, reminds us that his writings may sound repetitive in some points, but the repetition is important for the message to sink in. We need to remind ourselves that our thoughts are what we become.
I feel that Humble's writing made me feel as if I was seen. There were times when he would say, "I appreciate you reading this, I care about you, You are important," and I felt his gratitude; it made me want to be grateful for what I have. This book is a great reminder of simple truths that can help get us through tough times and dealings with tough people. Never give up, just like Humble says. Where to Buy: Barnes and Noble Amazon ShoutLaurie Halse Anderson's Shout is a beautiful reminder of why speaking up is important to all. Shout is a memoir of Anderson's life pre-Speak and the time during and after the novel's publication.
Anderson's words opened up a new understanding on how some things have not changed since her experience with sexual assault, and how we have a duty to the past, present, and future to make these changes. It was amazing to see how Anderson used her experience to shape her life and continues to use it to advocate for others. This book is a must-read because it speaks volumes for our generations. Read: December 26, 2019-January 6, 2020 Where to Buy: Barnes and Noble Amazon |