Book Review: Lord of the Flies

 

 

Here's to the strangest and most shocking book I have ever read in my life. Lord of the Flies is traditionally a middle school read but I never got around to it and wanted to finally check it out. Every suggestion I have ever had of this book has been good. No one has ever said they did not enjoy reading Lord of the Flies. I was wondering what all the hype was about at first. It took me about 80 pages to finally see the light. This book is short at only 182 pages. I was a little nervous and contemplating putting it down because it was so slow for me at first, but I figured so many people couldn't be wrong about this book and kept picking it up.

 

It may take some time get in to but it's worth it. I don't want to give too much of it away but I will tell you the gist of the story. A group of boys are trapped on an island with no adult supervision. They are left to fend for themselves for a period of time and chaos ensues. This book has a message about human nature that is very interesting to discover as you turn the pages. Somehow it reminds me to be patient with my fellow humans. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all have some evolving to do. Do I suggest Lord of the Flies by William Golding? Absolutely.

 

Until Next Time!

Kimmy B.

Book Review: Dragon's Oath: A House of Night Novella

Dragon's Oath: A House of Night Novella

Supernatural books are what made me addicted to reading as a child and I have been hooked ever since. I will always be hooked to supernatural books, movies, and television shows. When I saw Dragon's Oath at the library I knew I was going to read it. 

Okay, first impressions...I was a little bored at first. I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy the book. Things picked up during the second chapter. It's a really quick read at only 145 pages. You could read it in a day if you have that kind of time. I enjoyed it but I'd say, save this for teenagers unless you're really into supernatural themes like I am. Dragon's Oath is not for kids, it's definitely a PG-13 book. 

What I liked about the story were the gifts and roles that each vampire has in the story. It makes them more three dimensional. Sometimes vampires are portrayed as very independent (I liked that these vampires weren't like that). They often have families or clans they belong to but this story is a little different. People who are bitten in the story also don't know  whether or not they will be vampires for a few weeks, during that time they go through training and development. They belong to a school. It's fun to watch the vampires learn more about who they are as they discover their strengths and weaknesses in the story. It's a  fun read for a teenage girl. I'll review the other two books in the series next month.

-Kimmy B.

Lessons Learned From: Ship It Holla Ballas!

Ship It Holla Ballas: How a Bunch of 19-Year Old College Dropouts Used the Internet to Become Poker’s Loudest, Craziest, and Richest Crew.

 The subtitle of Ship It Holla Ballas is what drew me in to the book. I was like “what?” when I saw it. I’m a blogger who has also been fortunate enough to make a little money online over the years and I’m looking forward to the day when I can work at home completely online. I’m a firm believer in the power of the internet and its capacity to change people’s financial lives. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make it online whether you’re a gambler or a shop owner, you have to put in the work. When I first saw this book I instantly thought about online business success and knew that I would get inspiration from the success stories in this book. Little did I know that I would be affected more so by the real-life lessons that make up the stories of the professional poker players in Ship It Holla Ballas.

I’m still in my twenties and learning a lot of the lessons they learn in this book. You see it with more famous celebrities like Lindsey Lohan, when you’re young and blessed with a lot of money, often times that can spell disaster. I am dealing with the repercussions of being the manager of a lot of money in my early twenties. One of the lessons the characters in the book learn is that they are making a mess while having the time of their lives and even though it’s a high chance the good times won’t last, they’re young and they have time to clean up their messes. I’m not going to tell you how everyone turns out, I will say that most of the people are okay by the end (even it’s by a regular person’s standards).  Cleaning up the mess you make as a young twenty-something can be a scary realization. No one wants to admit that perhaps they’ve made a mistake and now have to pick up the pieces; however, this is how you learn some of the greatest lessons of your life.

The other lesson that really stayed with me after reading this book was the sentiment that you should trust your gut no matter what. If you know you’re meant to do something, stick with it even if it looks really bleak at the moment. I overcame homelessness in New York City because I firmly believed this is where I am supposed to be. I’m doing better now but I will never forget the lessons that I’m currently learning and have learned over the past six months. As many of you know the government came in and swooped down on a lot of online gambling sites which ultimately changed the lives of a lot of professional poker players. It’s interesting to see the different paths that everyone decided to take once the online gambling landscape changed. It’s also great to see the people who continued their careers as professional gamblers in spite of the changes because they knew that this was their calling. Most people don’t grow up saying I want to be a professional gambler when I get older. I of all people know what it’s like to firmly believe in or do something that is so outside of the norm or frightening to people who aren’t a part of the community you are a part of. One thing I learned a long time ago is that if you firmly believe you can achieve something, keep going until you do. Most people live their lives afraid and that’s why they don’t succeed. Go against the grain (do it in secret if you must) and see what happens.

Ship It Holla Ballas is a very interesting read. The shenanigans they talk about and all of the adventures they have are very entertaining. I was surprised by the lessons I learned and the introspective nature of the stories. It’s definitely worth picking up.

Book Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

I can't believe that I hadn't already read the 7 Habits of Highly Effective  People by Stephen Covey. After being on my reading list for years, I finally got around to it and have to say it is by far the BEST personal growth and development book I have read ever. I plan on re-reading it a few times once I get a kindle and reflect on what Mr. Covey says. Here are some of my highlights from reading for just the first time:

-Mr. Covey says, "you think effectiveness with people and efficiency with people." I try my best to be efficient but have learned to be flexible and patient when dealing with other people. I don't move any faster when I am rushed and don't expect people to speed up because  I'm in a rush. 

-Sharpen the saw is another concept that's discussed in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This concept is about renewal and continuing to update your skills and knowledge. Although it's important to sharpen the saw, it's just as important to rest when needed. This can be just as important and rejuvenating.

-The Upward Spiral of Growth and Change. I loved this concept and that it was a positive spin on the downward spiral concept that we've all heard so much about. When you are connected to your purpose/goal/mission, you continue to grow and expand, this is an upward spiral. 

-The difference between values and principles. Mr. Covey says, "values govern people's behavior but principles govern the consequences of those actions." 

This book was so profound to me because it's more than just tips. It's about a lifestyle or a way of living that I think really lends itself to success. This book is about a practice. You have to continually check in and evaluate to make sure you're staying on track but if you are living consciously you should be doing this anyway. I highly highly suggest The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People .

Book Review: The Bitch Swith

The title is what caught my eye. The Bitch Switch is not the world's greatest book but the subject matter is important. I encourage women to take a look at it if they feel weak or as if they are getting passed over for opportunities. Sometimes assertivenss needs to be cultivated. I remember not standing up for myself for years and feeling miserable afterwards.

Don't fear being "rude" or being perceived as "not nice." Even if you do it politely (and you should be able to most of the time), speak up. Life is too short to be pondering about what you should have done or said. The reviews of this book are kind of hasrh but I think it's worth a look. I give it 3 out of 5 stars because I felt Omarosa could have given more in depth advice and suggestions to the letters she responds to in the book.

Kimmy

Book Review- Kindred by Octavia E. Butler



I literally just finished reading this book a few hours ago and wantet to make sure I got this review out while everything was still fresh. I have never had a book upset me while I was reading more than this one. Octavia E. Butler's Kindred is complicated the way that America is complicated. The title is certainly appropriate. The book was upsetting but also very hard to put down. I'm thinking about doing some sort of Octavia E. Butler readathon in the future because I may have very well found my favorite author.

Kindred is about so many things. It's about American history. It's about love in all its forms (good and bad). It's about family. It's about perseverance. One of the primary questions, Dana, the main chacarcter of the story often finds herself asking is whether or not she is strong enough to endure all she is asked to in the story. I will tell you that Dana is from the 1970s and travels back into time to the antebellum south during the 1800s. It's hard to even imaging the  horrors she must endure before she is able to finally return home peacefully as an African-American woman. This book is so upsetting because Buttler does such a great job of showing you the injustice and horrid treatment of people during this time. I feel that many people are becoming more and more removed from this time in our history. Kindred brought up a level of emotion about slavery and American history that I honestly haven't experienced since taking courses in college.  Octavia Buttler is primarily known for her science fiction work. This book is definitely not science fiction. It's a drama unlike any piece of fiction I've read in a long time.

Kindred is not the easiest book in the world to read because of the complexities of the plot. The story is captivating which makes the book hard to put down. I would definitely suggest it to anyone who wants an interesting read. This should be required reading for today's teens who are certainly even  more far removed from this time than the the generation before them. I hate to say that history repeats itself but it does and Kindred serves as a stark reminder of why we should always remember this time so that this part of history does not have to be repeated in any way, shape, or form. As I write these words I hear myself saying, no way, this would never happen again! I find myself saying that injustice takes many forms and we are still battling injustice today. This just reminds me of why all people should be treated equally and fairly. Kindred gets 5 out of 5 stars. It will be a while before I can read Kindred again but its going back on my re-read list. Kindred is available on Amazon.

Kim

A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel-Book Review

A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life 

I've been binging on pop fiction for a minute and it's actually been a while since I've read any nonfiction books. In between Fifty Shades of Grey I actually managed to read two non fiction books and was actually pleasantly surprised by Bethenny Frankel's A Place of Yes. Some books just come into my life at the perfect time and this is one of those books. I spent all of last year becoming more conscious of each lesson she shares in this book. I love her stories and she has definitely given me perspective on my life. I am just now getting comfortable with "where I am" at 27 years old and if there is anything I have learned from this book it's that I'm not behind schedule and actually have a lot more life to accomplish everything I want to. For the first 27 years of my life I was figuring it out and now I am at the beginning stages of living my dreams and finally living my life on my terms. This is actually the first time I am experiencing this in my life and I'm very excited. Here's what I loved about this book: 

-She talks about not taking no for an answer. She literally talks about this but metaphorically I think the same rule applies. Don't settle for anything that isn't right. Many of the stories she used to highlight this point reminded me of the importance of following and listening to your gut. 

-She's candid. So many people gloss over the embarrassing or less than perfect moments in their life. She dives head first into what she's experienced and what she's learned. It's amazing how someone's life can seem like a movie. Her live really does sound like a movie complete with all the ups and downs that many of us experience at some point.

-I don't know if I have have a favorite chapter but chapter 2, finding your truth is very important. I spend a lot of time considering what I want so that the next few years are lived consciously and in perfect alignment with this vision. Because I live my truth I no longer have to wake up in the morning asking why things aren't how I think they should be. Knowing you truth is about being accountable to yourself. If something isn't how you want it to be, you know why that is and how to fix it when you are aware of your truth.

I suggest this book if you need direction in your life and want to read version 1 of an incredible story that's still in the making. 

Book Review- It's Complicated (But It Doesn't Have to Be)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's complicated (But Doesn't Have to Be).  This year I committed to read at least  a few dating books and do some spiritual work around dating. I'm not sure if I'll actually be dating this year but we'll see what happens. Anyway, I saw this book at the library and it was on my list so I picked it up. I was happy that I did. Dating is one area of my life that needs to be improved and it was refreshing to read a book that basically told me to treat dating as I would any other goal in my life. I unconsciously put all this expectation and baggage around dating that has blocked me from dating successfully over the years. If I get to dating at all this year it would probably be towards the second half of the year. The lessons I took from It's Complicated are:

 

-  Treat Dating Like any Other Goal. Be Proactive. This makes sense but it never occurred to me. I hadn't really considered online dating sites until reading this book. I am a more introverted person and online communities that meet in person have proven to be very good for someone with my type of personality. I've gone on meetups to meet new people and hangout. Why not do the same thing for dating? I am definitely going to give his advice a try. If online dating does not work for you then try being proactive in other ways that suite you better but get out there. You'll never know until you try.

 

- Love Yourself before You Love Someone Else. This is actually the rule that I am currently focusing on. I may need the entire year to truly feel more at peace with this aspect. Part of this means completing my makeover and getting more grounded in my career. Providing myself with stability is the ultimate form of self love and it's very important for me to have these things in place. I believe that you attract the person you are. I want someone who is fun but grounded and focused. I am focusing on embodying these things myself before I start dating again.

 

-No Mean Muggin' (Body Language). I have been accused of "looking mean" and also of always smiling. Someone once told me that I walked with my head down and looked  defeated when they knew me to be better than this. My body language is a combination of life and consciousness over the years. I suffered with extremely low self-esteem as a child and am almost certain that even though I am a more confident adult, my body language may sometimes be reminiscent of my childhood perspective. Paul C. Brunson also suggests studying body language in his book which I think is something else I would like to read a book or two on this year now. This is great advice. I try to smile and let people know that I am friendly but I haven't done much else in the body language department. 

 

-There is no Difference Between Your Brain in Love and Your Brain on Drugs. I really don't have to say much about this. If you've been in love or been in a relationship then you understand this. I will say the one time I  got grounded was due to some stupidity with an ex-boyfriend. People who are on drugs sometimes do stupid stuff. People who are in love sometimes do even stupider stuff.

 

-Sex Is Not Super Glue. Sex is super, but glue it is not. Another hard lesson I've had to learn. Sometimes the fireworks only happen in the bedroom and nowhere else. Don't confuse sex with having a relationship. These are two separate things.

 

Would I suggest, It's Complicated But Doesn't Have to Be by Robert C. Brunson? Yes (if you are serious about becoming proactive with dating). I'm not going to say it will provide you with new information but it might give you a different perspective on the information you already have. Sometimes we need to be reminded of what to do and how to do it. This book has a lot of good reminders. Check out It's Complicated on Amazon.

 

Kimmy