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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
1998 | Hip-hop, Rhythm And Blues, Soul

Tell Him by Lauryn Hill

(0 Ratings)

Track

"I think I was about 12 or 13 when I first heard Miseducation. A sense of identity was such a big thing I was looking for growing up, because of being the only black girl in my year, my family being this mixed-race family in the middle of Scotland. I did really love growing up there – it gave me a lot of peace growing up in the countryside – but at the same time, part of my identity as a black woman was realised when I heard that album. ""I learnt so much about being a black woman from Lauryn Hill and through her music: who I was, why my hair was like this, how to deal with it. I’ve grown with the album, and even now, when I listen to it – I think I’m older than she was when she wrote it – I feel like there’s all those lessons to be learnt. ""The biggest lesson I learnt from Lauryn Hill as a musician is that you don’t always have to be going extra with your voice! Prior to her I’d listened to all the divas: Aretha, and Whitney, and Mariah. I thought the whole goal of being a singer was to go as high and as loud as possible! Listening to Lauryn, I really learnt about how the tone of your voice can be just as powerful as any tricks you can do with it. ""When I heard 'Tell Him', the track was so stripped. It’s just a live drum loop and her voice on topic, with maybe two backing vocals. They’re doing such beautiful harmonies – I think it was a really big lesson in simplicity and bringing out the soul of who you are through your voice without having to do anything fancy. ""The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was just so raw. I love how she mixed in spirituality with her cultural perceptions and with romance. She showed that you don’t have to take one topic – it was a really full-bodied expression from a woman. I just love that album, and that song is my favourite. ""As a singer and a musician growing up, there’ve been a lot of powerful women that have really led my journey. I also really love hip-hop, I love lyric, so anywhere I can find intelligent lyricism I love. There’s something about a woman’s voice telling an honest story that can really catch my ears. I think I’ve inherited that from my Dad, because he was so in love with the divas and these voices and passed his love down on to me. Strong, independent, and quite outspoken through their music – those are the type of women that would inspire me"

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Glass (Crank, #2)
Glass (Crank, #2)
10
8.5 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
(This review can also be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomethingyearold.blogspot.com">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).

After reading Crank by Ellen Hopkins, I knew I had to read the sequel. It just had to be done. I enjoyed this book a lot, not as much as the first book in the series, but it was still good.

Glass begins where Crank left off. Now Kristina has a baby to take care off. Kristina believes she can control the monster now that she has Hunter to take care of. Little does she know it's not as easy as that. Will Kristina finally give up the monster for good this time to become a good mother?

The title of this sequel to Crank is a great one. Glass is one of the many slang names for the drug Meth. I love the way Hopkins continues to use a slang name for Meth.

Again, I do like the cover to this book. I do prefer the first cover as I loved the black and white simplicity of it. However, the purple cover with the title written in Meth looks good too.

As with the first book in this series, the world building is perfect. It's so easy to lose yourself in Kristina's world. The scenes for each chapter are so easy to imagine.

The pacing of this book is a bit slower than the first one. However, the pacing is still very good. I didn't devour this book like I did Crank, but I still loved it. I don't know why, but Glass just read a bit slower.

Like with the first book in the series, there isn't that much dialogue between characters. However, I loved the internal dialogue Kristina has with herself. It makes Kristina come across as more real and vulnerable. There is swearing in this book so if that bothers you, you don't want to read this book.

I still think Kristina is a fabulous character, and Hopkins does a fantastic job of portraying her like a proper Meth addict that came from a great home life. Kristina is a very well written character, and I really, really loved learning more about her. I was a bit saddened that Chase wasn't really in the second book as I loved him in the first. We do get to meet Trey though who I didn't really like, not because he wasn't written very well, but because of the way he treated Kristina. Brad was definitely one of my favourite characters.

This book is also written in verse like the first one. I like this because it makes the story more interesting to me. Plus, I like it when a book has a short chapter. Long chapters in books really annoy me for some reason.

Glass is a fantastic book and continues from the first book rather smoothly. The pacing is not as fast as the first book, but it's still a great sequel. I've now started on the third and final book in the series.

I'd recommend this book to everyone aged 16+ due to the bad language and the themes.

I'd give Glass (Crank #2) by Ellen Hopkins a 4.5 out of 5.
  
Catching Fire
Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins | 2012 | Young Adult (YA)
10
8.2 (179 Ratings)
Book Rating
Just when you think that this craziness couldn't get any crazier, it does just that. First of all, it's hard to imagine that there would be a competition where children have to fight to the death. I hope that our really never comes to something like that.
Katniss and Peeta are the first TWO to ever win the Hunger Games. Now, it's time for them to tour the districts as victors. Everyone is eager to see the "girl on fire" and her love that she saved. The couple brings hope to the people of Panem. Shortly after their visit to a few district, uprisings begin. This is something that the capital is not all too happy to hear about. So they take some drastic measures to reel their people in and try to regain control. No one would believe what is going to happen next.

The thing about this and the first novel that really gets you, is that these are only children. Katniss and Peeta are both only 17 years old, and yet they have so much responsibility on their shoulders already. I know I for one, would not have survived a Hunger Games, let alone been able to save my district mate as well.

This is one book, that you will be eager to finish it and then when you finish it, you are going to want to rush out and get Mockingjay, to find out how all of this ends!!
  
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Leila (5 KP) rated Elevation in Books

Feb 3, 2019 (Updated Feb 3, 2019)  
Elevation
Elevation
Stephen King | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
7.2 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Storyline (1 more)
Characters
Short! (0 more)
Short but Worth the Read!
Being an avid King fan, I could not wait to read his latest novel, Elevation, and was a bit dismayed by the brevity. Upon starting the first chapter, however, I quickly realized that King had once again duped me into thinking he was only capable of writing long, winding novels (I've been duped before by his short story books and by Joyland) and I was pleasantly entertained from the first word to the last.
  Elevation is set in a small town, like most of King's stories, one which gives off the air of being both a town to love and one to avoid on a family trip; it has the small town charm we all look for but comes with the small town bigotry as well. Our main character is a long-time resident with an already established problem of which there seems to be no cure and a rocky relationship with his neighbors, one that has a profound effect on his future. King manages to pull his reader in from first page and attach you to his characters, and not just the protagonist but the supporting cast as well, in a way that will leave you desperately wishing there were just a few more pages.
  All in all, Elevation is another Stephen King that should not be passed up, filled with a strong central message about how we view the world and the people in it.
  
Missing Pieces (The White Creek #1)
Missing Pieces (The White Creek #1)
Tori Fox | 2018 | Contemporary, Erotica, Romance
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
good start for a first time author
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I'm a bit in two minds about this book, and I can't figure out why but I'll try.

It's a Nice book. I know I hate using that word but it's the best I can come up with! It has drama, passion, love, hate, lots of different emotions with just enough of each to not be overpowering.

I will say this, only Harper has a say. In the first person AND present tense. And it took me til way past halfway to figure out it was present tense, so well done to Fox for making me NOT see something that might have made me dump it!

I did need to hear from Easton though. I think he would have had a lot to say, especially about what he's dealing with, with his sisters and his nutty ex.

And I found out after I'd read this, that this is a first time author! So very well done to Fox for this book, even if it wasn't quite my cuppa tea.

I enjoyed it, it didn't quite push any buttons for me, BUT! I would like to read the next one, just to see how Fox' skill is growing. And Easton's sister really could be an interesting character!

3 GOOD solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Song of Blood and Stone
Song of Blood and Stone
L Penelope | 2018 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
When I received an email from NetGalley with the description of Song of Blood & Stone I knew I had to read it. Honestly, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but it sounded fascinating. Obviously since I got this book from NetGalley, I received it for free in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by L. Penelope. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but from the very first page I was hooked. The author created characters that were likable and it was fun getting to go on their adventure with them. What I do love about this book is how it portrayed the country. It frustrated me in the best kind of way. I loved that the main character was a woman of color & I loved that this book mirrored the racism that is found in today's world.

The plot kept my attention & it was unique. This wasn't like most of the fantasy romance books. My one complaint is that it was fairly predictable. For the most part I was able to predict the twists and turns. You can also tell that this book was one of her first books published (originally self published in 2015).

With that said, I really enjoyed this book. It had wonderful adventure, a dashing male lead, and a fearless heroine. All in all, it was fun and I will have to look into more of author's books.
  
Under the Mistle-tome (Christmas Falls #5)
Under the Mistle-tome (Christmas Falls #5)
Sammi Cee | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
UNDER THE MISTLE-TOME is the fifth book in the Christmas Falls series. In it, we meet Trey, owner of Seasons Readings, and Trevor, who moved away and has now returned with his daughter. This is First Love/Second Chance at its finest!

First thing I need to say though is Holly-Berry. She is a delight and steals every scene she's in. I loved how her wisdom came across, and how she easily accepted Mr T! I won't tell you how I snorted when I read that! I loved the A-Team when I was younger, so that was just perfect.

As for Trey and Trevor, well, they had a rock-solid friendship to fall back on, so it was no stretch of the imagination that things would go in the direction they did. What I loved was how it was written, with both of them wanting to connect as friends first, and not wanting to mess Miss Holly about.

One came I thought was great was that of Arlo and Emerson. It was so good to see it from a different perspective.

All in all, a great addition to the series, and a story I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 1, 2023
  
Angelfall (Penryn &amp; the End of Days #1)
Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1)
Susan Ee | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.8 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
Storyline (3 more)
Characters
Alot of action
Dark take on Angels
No back story/poor world building (0 more)
It truly astounds me that the author had to self publish this book...considering some of the rubbish that actually gets picked up by publishing companies.

I love love loved Ee's take on Angels. I'm not really a fan of paranormal books with angels usually, as generally they involve squeaky clean, day-saving, nicey nice angels....*yawn*! Same old every time. So Ee's end of the world bringing, dark, gritty angels were a breath of fresh air.

Ee has created some incredible characters in this book, Penryn is an absolute bad ass. I love that she's trained in martial arts and not afraid to put up a fight. She's ready to protect her family at all costs, whether that means fighting humans gone mad, or crazy, sword wielding, angels with super strength.

 The dynamic between Penryn and Raffe is perfect. I love how Penryn saves Raffes ass so many times throughout the book, and he returns the favour. There's no love at first sight between the two. Rather their partnership starts as one of survival, and a building of trust that brings about a whole load of tension between the two. Their story gets you right in the feels.

Also Penryn's crazy Mother is freaking Amazing!!!! I can't wait to see where Ee goes with this character.

The only thing I felt let this book down was the world building/ back story, I didn't really get a proper feel for what kind of state the the world was in, and there wasn't really an explanation as to how the angels brought on the apocalypse.

Also, I will say parts of the book can be very Dark/ graphic. This book is listed as a YA but may be better for older YAs and even NAs.

Overall, this is an awesome post-apocalyptic story, and I definitely recommend it.