Non-fiction, Fiction, Book Summaries
"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." - Charles W. Eliot
In the month of July I read two exceptional books by two Black Female Authors.
In this article I will share my thoughts and opinions of the two books. I will rate the books on a scale from 1-5, share the synopsis' of the books and who I think should read the books. The books that will be discussed include;
Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen (Fiction)
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab (Non-Fiction)
1. Black Girls Must Die Exhausted
“Love comes in many forms—self-love, love between friends, familial love and romantic love, amongst them. In fact, this book itself is my love letter—to you, to black women, to women and to all those who understand the beauty that comes through struggle and the benefit of doing their own work to heal, to understand, to grow, and most importantly, to love more fully.”
― Jayne Allen, Black Girls Must Die Exhausted
I give this book a 5 star rating. It is beautifully written, full of emotion, and it depicts real life situations. I really loved the characters , they are strong black women who support each other in every sense of the word. I wish I could meet all of them!! I am a lover of friendship and community and this book came through for me and I ate it all up.
Black Girls Must Die Exhausted is the first book of a trilogy which is so exciting, I can't wait to read the sequels which are; Black Girls Must Be Magic & Black Girls Must Have It All.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is
A modern woman who is dealing with everyday life, navigating friendship, relationships, and career debacles.
Anyone who is a looking to read a story about courage, self love & self-acceptance.
Genres: Fiction, African American Literature, Contemporary Adult Literary Fiction, Race, Adult Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Number of pages: 353
Synopsis
Tabitha Walker is a black woman with a plan to “have it all.” At 33 years old, the checklist for the life of her dreams is well underway. Education? Check. Good job? Check. Down payment for a nice house? Check. Dating marriage material? Check, check, and check. With a coveted position as a local news reporter, a "paper-perfect" boyfriend, and even a standing Saturday morning appointment with a reliable hairstylist, everything seems to be falling into place.
Then Tabby receives an unexpected diagnosis that brings her picture-perfect life crashing down, jeopardizing the keystone she took for granted: having children. With her dreams at risk of falling through the cracks of her checklist, suddenly she is faced with an impossible choice between her career, her dream home, and a family of her own.
With the help of her best friends, the irreverent and headstrong Laila and Alexis, the mom jeans-wearing former "Sexy Lexi," and the generational wisdom of her grandmother and the nonagenarian firebrand Ms. Gretchen, Tabby explores the reaches of modern medicine and tests the limits of her relationships, hoping to salvage the future she always dreamed of. But the fight is all consuming, demanding a steep price that forces an honest reckoning for nearly everyone in her life. As Tabby soon learns, her grandmother's age-old adage just might still be true: Black girls must die exhausted.
2. Set Boundaries, Find Peace
“Relationships take work, but they do not have to be hard and challenging. Even in healthy relationships, people have to practice healthy communication and establish expectations. Before you throw in the towel, try communicating your needs and being open about what matters to you in a healthy relationship.”
— Nedra Tawwab
Another 5 star rating from me. It is empowering, impactful, and powerful. I truly believe that this is a book that every young person should pick up, it is very useful for navigating family dynamics, romantic relationships, friendship, work and social media.
In the book the author and therapist Nedra Tawaab defines boundaries as needs and expectations that help you feel safe and comfortable in relationships. She highlights that a boundary is a cue to others about how to treat you. Setting expectations in relationships helps us to stay both emotionally and mentally well. Learning say yes and when to say no is an essential part of feeling comfortable when interacting with others.
Genres: General Fiction
Number of pages: 266
Read this book if
1. You are finding it hard to set boundaries in relationships
2. You are looking to better the relationship you have with yourself and others
3. You find it hard to communicate your needs, wants and desires in relationships
4. You are looking to build and maintain healthy, reciprocal and fulfilling relationships
Synopsis
Healthy Boundaries. We all know we should have them--in order to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family. But what do "healthy boundaries" really mean -- and how can we successfully express our needs, say "no," and be assertive without offending others?
The book is rooted in the latest research & tackles topics such as communication, power-struggles, burnout, depression, anxiety, creating healthy relationships, self-care practices, vulnerability, co-dependency, people-pleasing, oversharing and strategies for stating and maintaining boundaries.