Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) created a post
Nov 6, 2021 (Updated Feb 23, 2022)
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated The Possibility of Everything in Books
May 25, 2018
Hope writes a lot of Mommy books.. which I unfortunately do not relate to - so there is push and pull of my interests here.. but I find that it just brings my curiosity out when that happens. She writes in this one, a memoir, about a journey, to take her 3-year-old daughter Maya on a “journey of faith” because she is convinced her daughters imaginary friend “Dodo” is evil. Already I’m wanting to know more.
Her and her husband take her to a shaman in Belize who practices Mayan healing arts. Her journey is rich with Belizean culture and I imagine myself back in the beautiful surroundings with nostalgia. The beautiful people, the rich history - it’s all described so colorfully.
Her book is mostly nostalgia as well, as it’s written about 10 years after the fact. “In Belize, there is a greater sense of connection to other people. It was a tremendous relief to be in a culture where people treat the spiritual dimension quite practically. This gave me the clarity I felt lacking in my life.” I love this quote, and the strength behind it. Belize just has that effect on your soul.
I wonder what I would have done in this situation. I don’t know if I would have ever taken it to this extreme, but again, not a mother. And I imagine the family structure can suffer under such circumstances as hers does with Uzi. She’s doing the best she can, but it’s hard to read the of struggles families got though when a child is “ill.”
I’m glad I read this - it was interesting, and colorful, and I found myself enthralled just waiting to find out what would happen, and if Maya would get “better."
Sombreros and Motorcycles in a Newer South: The Politics of Aesthetics in South Carolina's Tourism Industry
Book
In 1949, Alan Schafer opened South of the Border, a beer stand located on bucolic farmland in Dillon...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Ties That Tether in Books
Apr 1, 2021
Azere has always kept a promise she made, at twelve, to her dying father to only date Nigerian men. She's kept this vow even after the rest of her family emigrated to Canada, and Azere has had to struggle with preserving her Nigerian culture in a new land. Then one evening, yet another date set up by her overbearing mother goes awry. Frustrated, Azere heads to the hotel bar for a drink before heading home. There she meets Rafael Castellano; the two hit it off and share a few drinks--and later, his bed. Azere leaves the next day ashamed that she slept with this handsome white man. But when their one-night stand later evolves into something more, Azere must make a serious choice between pleasing her family or loving a man who isn't Nigerian.
"Culture is important. Preserving it, even more important. It's the reason I've always abided by one simple dating rule. Tonight, I've broken that rule."
This book was exactly what I needed when I picked it up--a simple romance that took my mind off things. It's not the most complicated or deftly written book, but it's cute and fun. Is it a bit predictable at times? Sure, but that does not take away any of the enjoyment. Azere is a lovely character, and the book does an excellent job exploring the dilemma she faces of love versus family and culture. Her mother, honestly, is a hateful character, and I felt terribly for the pressures Azere faced.
Rafael was a excellent character as well, as he came with his own baggage and struggles. It's easy to root for the pair of them. I loved that the book is an ode to romances, with lots of references to other love stories and films that predated it thrown in.
All in all, this is a delightful "culture-clash love story," and I am sure that Igharo's work will only get better with time. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 here.
When I Left Home: My Story
David Ritz and Buddy Guy
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According to Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy is the greatest...
Cool Nations: Media and the Social Imaginary of the Branded Country
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Nation branding is the most recent feature of imagined nation-making in the history of nations....
Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity: A-Z: Volume 1
Edwin M. Yamauchi and Marvin R. Wilson
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The Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical & Post-Biblical Antiquity is a unique reference work that...
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb: Eros, the Body, and the Eucharist
Emmanuel Falque and George Hughes
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Emmanuel Falque's The Wedding Feast of the Lamb represents a turning point in his thought. Here,...
Female Stars of British Cinema: The Women in Question
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Film stars are often seen as a Hollywood creation but this book explores how British cinema...
The Way of the Runner: A Journey into the Fabled World of Japanese Running
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A journey into Japan's fabled running culture from the award-winning author of Running With The...