First book of the year completed! 3 stars! ✨

“But - and this now seems perverse and scarcely believable to me - those pleasures could not compete with the possible intellectual engagement of an interesting post-mortem”

After a rough day, comfort yourself with a large pizza and a good book.

Dr Richard Shepherd, Forensic Pathologist writes about some of the cases he has experienced in his career, enlightening us on what is most likely to be the cause of death at each of the ‘7 ages‘. His writing reminded me of Prof. Stephen Westaby, both playful and intelligent. His other book is already in my cart 4/5 ✨

Few things in life are better than re-reading a beloved book. I‘m shocked at how much I did not take in the first times I‘ve read this book. I am very impressed with the ease with which it is narrated through the eyes of little Scout. A fine novel indeed.

Jeremy Finch is the OG book boyfriend 😭😭

Saturday reading 💙

I never give books 5 stars but this one 💙💙💙💙

I took my sweet time reading this book. It is written in clear and simple language and without a lot of the jargon that is thrown around unnecessary online these days. It‘s a realistic perspective on simple steps that can be taken to create a better life experience. 3.5/5 ⭐️

At this point I‘m a recovering book buyer and aspiring book reader. But oh well. Always keep friends that buy you books.

When asked to describe the book, former First Lady Michelle Obama said it was not a self help book. But it is. Not a good one either. It won‘t tell you anything you don‘t already know much like most self help books. ‘Do not let fear stop you, choose your partner well, surround yourself with good friends, how to raise good kids, go high when they go low‘ ..

A self book at best, which she insisted it is not… this is nothing like Becoming and doesn‘t feel like her. Not sure I‘ll finish it

Vusi Thembekwayo is an entrepreneur and public speaker whose humble beginnings in a township make him relatable to the average South African. He lost his father at a young age and so was raised by a single mother. The father taught him karate and his mother was always supportive. This, combined with the opportunity granted to him given by the model C secondary education he received, served as a good foundation for his success.

One of those books that make you regret spending money on a hard copy. 1/5

Do you think some people have endured so much pain that they have no other choice but to turn it into poetry? That they do not have the luxury of refusing the narrative that their pain didn‘t make them stronger? I feel so much empathy for her. It is unbelievable how much pain some have endured. It is unimaginable.

Self care Sunday

Finally got on the wave and read this one. It totally surprised me. I love the book but I hate the ending. 3.4 ✨

Reading this book was a sad experience for me because it validates what has been said before: ‘The most disrespected,unprotected human is the black woman‘.Black women will forever remain at the bottom because we aren‘t considered human. As teens we are sexualised and not protected, as grown women we are regarded as ‘strong‘ and left to do everything and more. We are socialised to ‘not bring a brotha down‘ even at our expense.

I had questions going in, questions I hoped this book would answer. After reading it, I have more questions than answers. Which is good because it means the book is thought-provoking. It is softly brutal and brilliantly constructed. But it has a sense of ‘the answer lies within‘.

This book is about the British colonialist structure and what it is like living in it as a modern black woman. The daily injustices, minor and major. While this is an important book, I wish the author would have given it a more personal and surgical cut. It left me wanting. 2/5 ⭐️

Precious cargo

Oh what book to read first 🧐🤔

My bff just sent me this, I‘m done 😂😂😂😂😂

Gifty was raised to be a good Christian girl. To believe that God will always protect her. However, when her brother dies and mother succumbs to depression, she finds that religious piety isn‘t enough to console her. Thus she turns to science in search of the answers and meaning. She interweaves both to create an extensive acceptance of the world. Beautifully told and simply written, this is a novel about unlearning the shame of your existence

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This is an important book for anyone trying to find themselves and get out of toxic cycles. I‘m just disappointed that I wasn‘t able to find a copy in my country and had to read an ebook which is just hard for me. But I persisted in finished it. Feels like a hug. Highly reassuring. It not only highlights issues but gives reasonable ways to overcome them. Practical.

Highly recommend 😬

I really enjoyed reading this book because the things tackled are the answers I‘ve been looking for. I also wanted to read it at the start of the year so that I can do better in my academic career this year. It hasn‘t been easy balancing school and work (and life). Helpful lessons that are practical. A must read for anyone who wants to make some improvements in their lifestyle. 4/5

Checks out cart

‘The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.‘ - James Baldwin

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This is the third book by Toni Morrison that I‘ve read. Her writing is good, granted, but I find her stories over-layered, inaccessible, and all over the place. This particular book is very segmented and that made it hard for me to focus. The topic of this book is interesting so I had very high expectations on how she would navigate it and what answers she had to offer but unfortunately she didn‘t do that for me.

Stayed up late to finish this despite the fact that I have work tomorrow (and a presentation). It reads like a hip-hop song. Beautiful and shameless, definitely worth losing sleep over.

Friends who buy you books are for keeps! 🧡

September isn‘t a great month for me. Both my cousin and best friend were born in and died in September (2017, 2020), a few days after their birthdays.

R100! What a steal! Is this book good?

I get so excited when the book I‘m reading mentions another book I‘ve read!! 🤩🤩

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It reads easy, felt like a conversation that answers specific questions that I had. There were many laughs and ‘aha‘ moments. The personal stories from ‘grit paragons‘ made it more practical and enjoyable. I get why most people say it‘s not for everyone though - it would be best for people in their formative years or 20s or people pursuing a goal. Many great lessons learned. 3.5/5

Properly sub titled ‘essential wisdom for getting through the storm‘, this book provides insight on how to calm the chaos within you. I didn‘t like the writing style but I still got a meaningful message: it all starts within, always go back to your centre. It will be a challenge doing that but I am determined to practice. I think I have found my new Paulo Coelho. 3/5

I‘m very pleased with the author for mentioning that not everyone has the luxury to quit their current job in pursuit of their passion. A lot of motivational speakers neglect this important point and call people lazy or complacent, without realising how much those people have to lose.

Does anybody else buy books when they‘re sad or am I a psychopath?

Should I study or should I read? A novel by me 🤦‍♀️😅

The Obstacle is the Way. Valuable lesson I really needed today since is everything is so hard and I don‘t feel like being an adult human.

Have you ever realised that you have only one chance to read a book for the first time so you want to do it right? In bed, warm, mind cleared, phone off, so that you can fully absorb the words. Scour the pages and be one with the text. This book is beautifully painful (and I think I have been overusing this description of late). It is my equivalent of Hazel‘s ‘An Imperial Affliction‘ in The Fault In Our Stars.

Today I woke up to good news, that my book will arrive! So getting out of bed in this cold winter was a bit more bearable. I cannot wait to get back home and read this. P.S, the delivery guy was rude 😒

The third book by Upile Chisala. This one is all about self love. She has come full circle. She has accepted the pain and worked through it. Chose to not remain in hell. There are still some dark days, as is the manner of life, but she always chooses to walk towards the light. It‘s important for people to not romanticise pain. 3.5/5

I am going against every last thread of my being to not buy this book because I want to save money but .......😩😩😩😩😩