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inherbooks's reviews
84 reviews
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
5.0
• Neither love nor terror makes one blind: indifference makes one blind. •
I was surprised to learn that If Beale Street Could Talk was practically dismissed when it was first published in 1974. It received reviews that were pretty critical of the story and wasn’t widely accepted. This is a phenomenal book and I don’t know what they were on back then.
James Baldwin tell us the story of Fonny and Tish, 18 and 21 years old, also known as Harlem’s Romeo and Juliet. The premise of this novel is that of a love story almost tainted by systematic racism in the United States. It explores family drama, religion, social justice, and their fight against a system adamant on stomping out their lives. When Fonny is jailed for a crime he didn’t commit, a pregnant Tish and their families band together to try to bring their boy back and break the chains of slavery that continue to torment them. A moment’s despair was no match for their unwavering resiliency.
In true James Baldwin fashion, he exposes how corrupt America’s system is, and the long-lasting impact of incarceration on people in and out of jail. His words are powerful. His every sentence has you thinking, reading and re-reading, only to find a deeper meaning each time. I truly believe his stories withstand the test of time and stay relevant no matter which decade you read them in.
P.S. Ernestine, Tish’s sister, is a badass.
I was surprised to learn that If Beale Street Could Talk was practically dismissed when it was first published in 1974. It received reviews that were pretty critical of the story and wasn’t widely accepted. This is a phenomenal book and I don’t know what they were on back then.
James Baldwin tell us the story of Fonny and Tish, 18 and 21 years old, also known as Harlem’s Romeo and Juliet. The premise of this novel is that of a love story almost tainted by systematic racism in the United States. It explores family drama, religion, social justice, and their fight against a system adamant on stomping out their lives. When Fonny is jailed for a crime he didn’t commit, a pregnant Tish and their families band together to try to bring their boy back and break the chains of slavery that continue to torment them. A moment’s despair was no match for their unwavering resiliency.
In true James Baldwin fashion, he exposes how corrupt America’s system is, and the long-lasting impact of incarceration on people in and out of jail. His words are powerful. His every sentence has you thinking, reading and re-reading, only to find a deeper meaning each time. I truly believe his stories withstand the test of time and stay relevant no matter which decade you read them in.
P.S. Ernestine, Tish’s sister, is a badass.
Clever Girl Finance: Ditch Debt, Save Money and Build Real Wealth by Bola Sokunbi
4.0
This one’s for all my boss ladies focused on their coin, self-made through the hustle and grind in whatever world you’re in (fashion, corporate, healthcare, entertainment etc.) or still in school! Clever Girl Finance, written by Bola Sokunbi (a Certified Financial Eduation Instructor and finance expert who saved up over $100k a few years after graduating), is your guide to getting there, wherever you want to be. She gives you practical advice that acts as a jumping point for smart money-making moves that secures your future, including how to change up your mindset and the importance of affirmations. She shows you how to achieve it all without compromising on your lifestyle and instead rearranging it for your benefit.
I personally bought this book right after I graduated from university, because my debts were weighing on my mind, and nobody tells you about job offers, what to look for, what to request, how to negotiate a higher salary, how to INVEST (what’s that?), save, budget etc. At that point, I was swimming in dark waters and this book was exactly what I needed to navigate it. It’s concise, relatable (because retail therapy is real therapy, ok) and very practical tips that are easy to incorporate and become the basis for your financial planning moving forward.
I recommend this to all my girls, whether you’re in school, about to graduate, starting a new job, switching jobs, considering a new career, starting your own business or just trying to figure it all out. This is where you want to start, trust me. Bola Sokunbi also has an online personal finance platform (link in my bio) for women with financial tips, free courses, weekly videos, and a podcast you need to check out!
I personally bought this book right after I graduated from university, because my debts were weighing on my mind, and nobody tells you about job offers, what to look for, what to request, how to negotiate a higher salary, how to INVEST (what’s that?), save, budget etc. At that point, I was swimming in dark waters and this book was exactly what I needed to navigate it. It’s concise, relatable (because retail therapy is real therapy, ok) and very practical tips that are easy to incorporate and become the basis for your financial planning moving forward.
I recommend this to all my girls, whether you’re in school, about to graduate, starting a new job, switching jobs, considering a new career, starting your own business or just trying to figure it all out. This is where you want to start, trust me. Bola Sokunbi also has an online personal finance platform (link in my bio) for women with financial tips, free courses, weekly videos, and a podcast you need to check out!
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
5.0
Wow. This book took my breath away and left me with a longing for my ancestors.
The novel, Homegoing written by Yaa Gyasi, is a story that follows Maame, an Asante slave in a Fante house, and the seven generations that follow her two daughters that never met each other through circumstances outside of her control. The journey begins in Ghana in the late 18th century, a time when the slave trade was a booming business opportunity for the British as they recruited “powerful” Africans to take part and sell their own people. The author wastes no time to highlight West Africa’s role in supporting the slave trade, and the years it takes to regain the independence lost, though the human lives are no more. In each chapter, time moves forward, and you read the stories that intricately thread together a fabric sewn with pain, loss, anguish, torture but also love, family, respect and unshakeable values and culture. No story is one and the same, though the blood that runs through them and ancestry are one.
What is a homegoing? It is an old African-American Christian tradition that celebrates the live of a person returning to their lord. The title of this novel is unique in that a homegoing is also the belief that only through death, would a slave be able to make the trip back to Africa, home.
The story is told with detail that only a story told from the heart can contain. Every line, every word, intertwined with a poetic beauty, I had to stop and read again to take it all in. I didn’t want to miss a bit. I could go on about this book all day, honestly, and there aren’t enough words to describe it. I would share a small part of it, but this novel deserves to be consumed in it’s entirety. But if you really want to know my favourite bit that struck a chord, I just might!
If you decide to read this one, take your time with it to take it all in.
The novel, Homegoing written by Yaa Gyasi, is a story that follows Maame, an Asante slave in a Fante house, and the seven generations that follow her two daughters that never met each other through circumstances outside of her control. The journey begins in Ghana in the late 18th century, a time when the slave trade was a booming business opportunity for the British as they recruited “powerful” Africans to take part and sell their own people. The author wastes no time to highlight West Africa’s role in supporting the slave trade, and the years it takes to regain the independence lost, though the human lives are no more. In each chapter, time moves forward, and you read the stories that intricately thread together a fabric sewn with pain, loss, anguish, torture but also love, family, respect and unshakeable values and culture. No story is one and the same, though the blood that runs through them and ancestry are one.
What is a homegoing? It is an old African-American Christian tradition that celebrates the live of a person returning to their lord. The title of this novel is unique in that a homegoing is also the belief that only through death, would a slave be able to make the trip back to Africa, home.
The story is told with detail that only a story told from the heart can contain. Every line, every word, intertwined with a poetic beauty, I had to stop and read again to take it all in. I didn’t want to miss a bit. I could go on about this book all day, honestly, and there aren’t enough words to describe it. I would share a small part of it, but this novel deserves to be consumed in it’s entirety. But if you really want to know my favourite bit that struck a chord, I just might!
If you decide to read this one, take your time with it to take it all in.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
5.0
If you’re thinking of reading this and can't be bothered to read the rest of this review, do it. You can thank me later. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that touched my soul the way this one has. And coming from someone whos a crybaby when it comes to books, movies, tv shows, that’s saying something.
Anxious People is about a bank robbery that turns into a hostage situation gone all the way wrong. Atleast that’s all I thought it was – until I kept reading and I got to know each and every character that gets caught up in this seemingly unfortunate circumstance. It’s a story of life, of adults facing their individual pressures and anxieties, trying to figure out what they don’t know they don’t know yet. This book isn’t just a listing of problems and complaints, it’s introspective, thought-provoking & intense, all with a tint of humour – almost as if it’s a coping mechanism to get through this wild ride called life (I know because I’ve tried it, laughing is the only solution sometimes). The author peels back layers bit by bit, just enough to make it make a bit more sense, and make you (me) feel that much better about adulthood.
I spent most of the time laughing or grinning at a sarcastic comment, sometimes to the point of tears (happy or sad, mostly happy). Each character is relatable in that there’s something (personality trait, life experience etc.) in you, or someone you know, that you can recognize in every character, from every walk of life. I think that’s what makes this book such a good read. It doesn’t feel like an overdramatic writing, it feels like someone telling you how unreal life can really be & humanizes the trials & errors of adulthood.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It’s gotten the recognition it has deservedly so. Fredrik Backman is an amazing author, & I’m saying this after just reading one book of his. I’m looking forward to reading his other novel A Man Called Ove. This novel is witty, sarcastic, and insightful and this is me holding back so I don’t tell you too much.
Anxious People is about a bank robbery that turns into a hostage situation gone all the way wrong. Atleast that’s all I thought it was – until I kept reading and I got to know each and every character that gets caught up in this seemingly unfortunate circumstance. It’s a story of life, of adults facing their individual pressures and anxieties, trying to figure out what they don’t know they don’t know yet. This book isn’t just a listing of problems and complaints, it’s introspective, thought-provoking & intense, all with a tint of humour – almost as if it’s a coping mechanism to get through this wild ride called life (I know because I’ve tried it, laughing is the only solution sometimes). The author peels back layers bit by bit, just enough to make it make a bit more sense, and make you (me) feel that much better about adulthood.
I spent most of the time laughing or grinning at a sarcastic comment, sometimes to the point of tears (happy or sad, mostly happy). Each character is relatable in that there’s something (personality trait, life experience etc.) in you, or someone you know, that you can recognize in every character, from every walk of life. I think that’s what makes this book such a good read. It doesn’t feel like an overdramatic writing, it feels like someone telling you how unreal life can really be & humanizes the trials & errors of adulthood.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It’s gotten the recognition it has deservedly so. Fredrik Backman is an amazing author, & I’m saying this after just reading one book of his. I’m looking forward to reading his other novel A Man Called Ove. This novel is witty, sarcastic, and insightful and this is me holding back so I don’t tell you too much.
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
5.0
"And all this is happening in the richest and freest country in the world, and in the middle of the 20th century. The subtle and deadly change of heart that might occur and you would be involved with the realization that a civilization is not destroyed by wicked people; it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless." - James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time
I'm disappointed I haven't read James Baldwin's work until now. A man who's inspired so many past and present authors, he is the foundation of the written art behind many people's pens.
This book was written in 1963, and is a brutal reminder that the conversation about racism, in America, remains the same. This book is a call to a power within, to move with the righteous and bring about a change James dreamt of seeing one day.
I'm disappointed I haven't read James Baldwin's work until now. A man who's inspired so many past and present authors, he is the foundation of the written art behind many people's pens.
This book was written in 1963, and is a brutal reminder that the conversation about racism, in America, remains the same. This book is a call to a power within, to move with the righteous and bring about a change James dreamt of seeing one day.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
5.0
WHERE DO I BEGIN? This read had me sitting at the edge of my seat right until the very last word. And flipping the page when I knew there was no more. The author does an amazing job of telling you a story within a story.
The Silent Patient tells us about a woman, Alicia Berenson, who has been living in a psychiatric facility for the last 6 years after murdering her husband. She hasn’t spoken a word since the crime took place and refuses to to this day. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist with a particular curiosity with her story and starts working at the facility Alicia is at– ultimately making her his patient. The story unfolds as Theo tries to figure out what happened all the while getting snippets from Alicia’s diary for her point of view. That’s it. I can’t tell you more than that. You have to find out for yourself cuz its WORTH IT.
I’m a big fan of stories like this, ones that delve into the character’s mind, unravels every detail in the past, present and sometimes future. I really enjoy plot twists and unexpected endings, that have my mind blown at the end – because to be honest, I never see it coming. @alexmichaelides writes in a gripping way, gives you the right puzzle piece at the right time, just enough to make the picture clearer but not quite enough that it still keeps you guessing. There isn’t a person I didn’t point a finger at, and I was still taken aback by the ending.
I must note, aside from it being a psychological thriller, it also does an amazing job at highlighting what healthcare looks like in the mental health realm. In the shadow of World Mental Health Day, it’s important to recognize we have a lot of work left to do and this book paints a very vivid of the system’s shortcomings.
All in all, it’s a worthy read if you’re a fan of thrillers, plot twists, murder mysteries, and the like. Let me know your thoughts! I’ve read a wide range of reviews – I’d love to hear yours if you have read it or when you do.
The Silent Patient tells us about a woman, Alicia Berenson, who has been living in a psychiatric facility for the last 6 years after murdering her husband. She hasn’t spoken a word since the crime took place and refuses to to this day. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist with a particular curiosity with her story and starts working at the facility Alicia is at– ultimately making her his patient. The story unfolds as Theo tries to figure out what happened all the while getting snippets from Alicia’s diary for her point of view. That’s it. I can’t tell you more than that. You have to find out for yourself cuz its WORTH IT.
I’m a big fan of stories like this, ones that delve into the character’s mind, unravels every detail in the past, present and sometimes future. I really enjoy plot twists and unexpected endings, that have my mind blown at the end – because to be honest, I never see it coming. @alexmichaelides writes in a gripping way, gives you the right puzzle piece at the right time, just enough to make the picture clearer but not quite enough that it still keeps you guessing. There isn’t a person I didn’t point a finger at, and I was still taken aback by the ending.
I must note, aside from it being a psychological thriller, it also does an amazing job at highlighting what healthcare looks like in the mental health realm. In the shadow of World Mental Health Day, it’s important to recognize we have a lot of work left to do and this book paints a very vivid of the system’s shortcomings.
All in all, it’s a worthy read if you’re a fan of thrillers, plot twists, murder mysteries, and the like. Let me know your thoughts! I’ve read a wide range of reviews – I’d love to hear yours if you have read it or when you do.
The Measure of My Powers: A Memoir of Food, Misery, and Paris by Jackie Kai Ellis
4.0
“Imagine, choose, aim for that direction, work hard to get there, be tenaceous, but also let it go and be grateful for what you’re given along the way. Because one of the most precious lessons life has given me is that it can imagine for me much greater things than I can imagine for myself. Sometimes life can be funny: it throws us curveballs or changes directions on us and unless we are flexible enough to look up and watch for the hidden beauty, we might miss it.”
“The Measure of my Powers” is a memoir written by Jackie Kai Ellis, the owner of Beaucoup Bakery in Vancouver, BC. She writes with rawness and authenticity about her journey through a failing marriage (that ultimately ends) and depression and how her love for food becomes a life jacket for her as she opens up a bakery. She accents each section with a recipe (+droolworthy picture) I have yet to try but I should be very soon! Although, she is a celebrity chef…I’ve got a long way togo but she writes excitedly over the intricacies of cooking like a kid in a playground, it’s contagious!
The author transfers her vulnerability to paper in a way that most would find challenging. She paints vivid pictures of her experience, her growth, and her newfound strength doing what she loves. The read might initially feel scattered, but I feel it adds to the realness. Our experiences and associated lessons don’t surface immediately. It’s only in the right situation, the lessons become apparent and the writing sequence is reflective of that.
This memoir serves as a stark reminder that embarking on a journey to find and do what we love doesn’t mean it will be a smooth one, but that even with all the challenges and obstacles, we’ll have the will to keep going. But first, we must be kind to ourselves, and give ourselves time to find what ignites our soul and empowers us.
I absolutely love this book – from the honesty, vulnerability to the recipes, design. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to read about an empowering self-reflective journey.
P.S. do not read when hungry! Her descriptions of food will have your mouth watering. Proceed with hunge...erm, caution!
“The Measure of my Powers” is a memoir written by Jackie Kai Ellis, the owner of Beaucoup Bakery in Vancouver, BC. She writes with rawness and authenticity about her journey through a failing marriage (that ultimately ends) and depression and how her love for food becomes a life jacket for her as she opens up a bakery. She accents each section with a recipe (+droolworthy picture) I have yet to try but I should be very soon! Although, she is a celebrity chef…I’ve got a long way togo but she writes excitedly over the intricacies of cooking like a kid in a playground, it’s contagious!
The author transfers her vulnerability to paper in a way that most would find challenging. She paints vivid pictures of her experience, her growth, and her newfound strength doing what she loves. The read might initially feel scattered, but I feel it adds to the realness. Our experiences and associated lessons don’t surface immediately. It’s only in the right situation, the lessons become apparent and the writing sequence is reflective of that.
This memoir serves as a stark reminder that embarking on a journey to find and do what we love doesn’t mean it will be a smooth one, but that even with all the challenges and obstacles, we’ll have the will to keep going. But first, we must be kind to ourselves, and give ourselves time to find what ignites our soul and empowers us.
I absolutely love this book – from the honesty, vulnerability to the recipes, design. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to read about an empowering self-reflective journey.
P.S. do not read when hungry! Her descriptions of food will have your mouth watering. Proceed with hunge...erm, caution!
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4.0
“Boys and girls are undeniably different biologically but socialization exaggerates the differences, and then starts a self-fulfilling process.”
Can this be a required reading in school curriculums on every planet? (Mars, I'm lookin at you) "We Should All Be Feminists” is a version of a TedTalk that Chimamanda Nigozie Adichie gave 8 years ago, and I truly believe everyone needs to give this a read. Why? Because she discusses the practically taboo topic of feminism in a logical and informative way without pointing the finger at the opposite gender, and instead puts the onus on BOTH genders to do better. She walks you through her experiences that I can almost certainly say every female can relate to, and reshapes the tainted narrative that surrounds the one-dimensional mainstream feminism. This book will definitely ruffle some feathers and if you’re averse to the notion of media’s presentation of feminism, you’ll read this tensely. When you finish, read it again. Then, let’s talk.
Can this be a required reading in school curriculums on every planet? (Mars, I'm lookin at you) "We Should All Be Feminists” is a version of a TedTalk that Chimamanda Nigozie Adichie gave 8 years ago, and I truly believe everyone needs to give this a read. Why? Because she discusses the practically taboo topic of feminism in a logical and informative way without pointing the finger at the opposite gender, and instead puts the onus on BOTH genders to do better. She walks you through her experiences that I can almost certainly say every female can relate to, and reshapes the tainted narrative that surrounds the one-dimensional mainstream feminism. This book will definitely ruffle some feathers and if you’re averse to the notion of media’s presentation of feminism, you’ll read this tensely. When you finish, read it again. Then, let’s talk.
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
4.0
“Modern scientific capability has profoundly altered the course of human life. People live longer and better than at any other time in history. But scientific advances have turned the processes of aging and dying into medical experiences, matters to be managed by healthcare professionals. And we in the medical world have proved alarmingly unprepared for it.”
This is my first non-fiction read of the month, and if you enjoyed reading “When Breath Becomes Air”, you’ll definitely enjoy this. “Being Mortal” is written by a surgeon, Atul Gawande, wherein he takes apart the system’s limitations in the past and present and provides alternate frameworks to manage the process of dying. He delivers this book in a way that is informative and offers a perspective from the inside looking in as a surgeon and the outside as his father battles cancer in his old age. Even for someone who isn’t in healthcare, this is a necessary read – mainly because these are conversations we don’t have, but need to. We’re encouraged to plan for adulthood, save up for that house, this car, the kids, education etc. but how often do we talk about what comes after? How do we plan for old age?
The most interesting historical information for me were the use of poorhouses. These were the only option for elderly that didn’t have children to take care of them or money to keep living off of. The thing is, poorhouses were for not just the elderly, but immigrants, alcoholics, those with mental illnesses and residents were put to work, similar to the way inmates in jail work. They’d be given jobs to do in the worst, unhygienic conditions, and more often than not died shortly after arriving. While these might not exist in the States now, there are third-world countries that still have them. It’s crazy to read about something that feels so barbaric existed not that long ago.
Atul’s writing simplifies concepts that might otherwise be complicated, and the sequence of information builds on the knowledge and answers every why, how, when, where you might have.
This is my first non-fiction read of the month, and if you enjoyed reading “When Breath Becomes Air”, you’ll definitely enjoy this. “Being Mortal” is written by a surgeon, Atul Gawande, wherein he takes apart the system’s limitations in the past and present and provides alternate frameworks to manage the process of dying. He delivers this book in a way that is informative and offers a perspective from the inside looking in as a surgeon and the outside as his father battles cancer in his old age. Even for someone who isn’t in healthcare, this is a necessary read – mainly because these are conversations we don’t have, but need to. We’re encouraged to plan for adulthood, save up for that house, this car, the kids, education etc. but how often do we talk about what comes after? How do we plan for old age?
The most interesting historical information for me were the use of poorhouses. These were the only option for elderly that didn’t have children to take care of them or money to keep living off of. The thing is, poorhouses were for not just the elderly, but immigrants, alcoholics, those with mental illnesses and residents were put to work, similar to the way inmates in jail work. They’d be given jobs to do in the worst, unhygienic conditions, and more often than not died shortly after arriving. While these might not exist in the States now, there are third-world countries that still have them. It’s crazy to read about something that feels so barbaric existed not that long ago.
Atul’s writing simplifies concepts that might otherwise be complicated, and the sequence of information builds on the knowledge and answers every why, how, when, where you might have.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
When I first started really getting into reading, this was a book that struck a chord with me, real hard. (many tissue boxes were sacrificed, thank you Khaled Hosseini