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{Audiobook Review} The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick, Narrated by Lisa Flanagan
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for providing me with a free copy of this book for review. As an undergraduate, I had a wonderful English professor who introduced me to vintage chick lit. Though the term “chick lit” can be used derisively, I use it to refer to literature written by, for, and about women. In this course, I read The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, so a book about a women’s book club centered around Friedan’s work naturally grabbed my interest. I’m happy that I was selected as a reviewer, as this novel is everything I hoped it’d be. BOOK DETAILS Title: The Book Club for Troublesome…
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February 2025 Wrap-Up
Hey, y’all, hey! How are things going? I know I’m late with last month’s wrap-up but I’ve had a hard time sitting down long enough to get this post written. It feels like by the time I get home, get the dogs fed, and make dinner, it’s time for bed. Do you feel that way too? I need more hours in the day. Even though I know I probably wouldn’t use them to relax or do something fun. deep sigh What would you do if you had extra hours? WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED My Bingo Card hasn’t changed at all since last month, still I accomplished a lot. Mostly work stuff,…
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{Book Review} Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review. This book cover is absolutely stunning. The vibrant flower crown and the model’s lovely brown complexion beautifully capture the essence of the story within, which centers around Black women and the integral role of flowers and herbs. The model’s serene expression is so tranquil, it’s as if I can almost hear her gentle exhale. The cover provides a nice introduction to the stories of Queen Luella, Mother Rita, and Nikki. BOOK DETAILS Title: Happy Land Author: Dolen Perkins-Valdez Publisher: Berkley Publication Date: 8 April 2025 Genre: Historical Fiction, Popular Fiction Format: Paperback Pages:…
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January 2025 Wrap-Up
Did 2025 have the worst beginning ever or what? And it seems to be spiraling towards the ground at a dizzying pace. Part of me wants to totally check out, but the other part of me knows I need to pay attention. I also refuse to be held hostage by the crazy that pops off every single day. I plan to focus on the things that are important to me: my faith, my family and community, and free and open access to information in all of its forms. I will protect my peace and I’d advise you to do the same. We cannot allow ourselves to become overwhelmed or complacent,…
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Reading for My Mental Health
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. “Reading is political.” Or, at least, it has always been so for Black people. Enslaved people were forbidden to learn to read because the enslavers knew and understood the power of the written word. As Frederick Douglass said: “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” Reading teaches you empathy, expands your vocabulary, helps you develop…
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{Book Review} The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. So it seems the past few months have had a World War II theme to them, I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because of the hellscape that America is turning into right now, with a wanna be dictator running for president, the Middle East going up in flames {again}, and women losing all of their bodily autonomy {and…
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{Book Review} King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. Many years ago, I taught American History I and II. Most of my students were freshmen, who were taking the courses to fulfill a requirement. Because I knew they weren’t particularly interested in history, I tried to make the class interesting for them, while ensuring that they walked away from the class with a basic knowledge of the…
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Audiobook Review: 60 Songs That Explain the 90s by Rob Harvilla
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. Thank you to NetGalley for the audio version of this book for review. I spent most of the ’90s raising babies and driving them to and from appointments, that means I spent a lot of time car dancing. It was the wave of nostalgia that caused me to request this title. I miss my babies being little. I…
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Audiobook Review: The List by Kiersten Modglin
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. Thank you to NetGalley for the audio version of this book for review. Are you a fan of suspense novels? I’ve read a few, but it has been a long time since I’ve picked one up. This one was a heartbreaker. BOOK DETAILS Title: The List Author: Kiersten Modglin Narrators: Jennifer Jill Araya, David Bendena, and Michael Crouch…
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Audiobook Review: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. I picked this book up on a whim, after reading about it in a Reese’s Book Club newsletter. I was about to go on a two-hour road trip and wasn’t really in the mood to listen to music or a podcast. I did a cursory read of the description and thought why not? I mean, Reese is recommending…
