Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi Read Along

June 6, 2020 Saturday Nite Reader10 Comments

“When men oppress their fellow-men, the oppressor ever finds, in the character of the oppressed, a full justification for his oppression.” Douglass, amazingly, summed up the history of racist ideas in a single sentence.” ― Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America

Published: March 10th 2017 by Novel Audio
Length: 19 hours and 8 minutes, narrated by Christopher Dontrell Piper
Category: Nonfiction, History, Race, African American History
National Book Award for Nonfiction (2016), National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for General Nonfiction (2016), Hurston/Wright Legacy Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2017)

I want to live in a world where no man’s life is valued more or less than another’s. And it saddens and enrages me to say that I don’t believe the world is so; this HAS to change. Black Lives Matter.

A71E3940-CF34-4944-AB29-DE42231F38AD — artwork by Evelina Barz, click on image to be directed to source

I am joining @melanatedreader‘s Juneteenth buddy read for Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America to listen, to learn, unpack my privilege, to hold myself accountable in supporting change.
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To Be Read: Dutch Girl by Robert Matzen

May 7, 2019May 6, 2019 Saturday Nite Reader12 Comments

“When my mother wanted to teach me a lesson about life,’ said Luca Dotti, ‘she never used stories about her career. She always told stories about the war. The war was very, very important to her. It made her who she was.”
― Robert Matzen, Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II

Published: April 15, 2019 by GoodKnight Books
Category: Nonfiction, WWII, History

I love all things Audrey Hepburn so when Smith Publicity offered to send me an advanced reader’s copy of Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II I couldn’t respond YES fast enough! Read More »

Book Review: The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

October 27, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader34 Comments

Before I get into the review of the actual book I would be remiss if I did not state how fascinating these women’s stories were. I can’t believe I had never heard of their suffering before picking this book up for book club. How did I not learn about this in history class?! More on this after we discuss book details.

3 disco balls

Published: March 6, 2018 by Sourcebooks
Category: Non-fiction, History, Science

I do appreciate Kate Moore for bringing this story to my attention. I do wish the book was written and edited better. I am not afraid of big books (this one clocked in 406), but this one did not need to be that long. It was often repetitive and didn’t have a consistent flow. But, I learned so much. I was often angry and repulsed by what I learned and wondered how some of the executives, doctors and lawyers, etc. slept at night? My goodness. All the angry feels.Read More »

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee #HSReadingRedo

September 15, 2018September 16, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader24 Comments

5 disco balls

First published: July 11, 1960 by J. B. Lippincott Co.
Category: Classics, Historical Fiction, Coming of age
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1961), Audie Award for Classic (2007), National Book Award Finalist for Fiction (1961), Alabama Author Award for Fiction (1961)

To Kill a Mockingbird was Book 4 on my September Reading Challenge High School Reading Redo list; I’ve reached the 50% mark!

How does one even review a book of this notoriety? In my honest opinion, you can’t: or I certainly can’t. All I can say is that I waited way too long to read this book. I think I took the easy way out in high school and watched the movie or read the Cliff Notes, but never dove right into this gem. Well, I can finally mark this Great American Read off my list! Phew.

Goodreads synopsis: 4.27 average rating
A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father—a crusading local lawyer—risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime. Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior – to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos.

Instead of reviewing, I thought I would share some TKAM fun facts and the like. Read More »

Saturday Spotlight: The Little Book of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont

June 2, 2018June 2, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader19 Comments

Introducing Saturday Nite Reader’s weekly meme: Saturday Spotlight! Each Saturday I will spotlight a book I have read or am currently reading; and, of course what I think is special about it. I invite you to participate as well! Just link back to my weekly post and don’t forget to add your spotlight link in the comment section for all to see. Happy Sharing! XO, Nikki

First Up:
The Little Book of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont and beautifully illustrated by Manjit Thapp

Published: March 6, 2018 by Random House
Category: Nonfiction, History, Feminism, Biography
A Stylist Must-read Book of 2018

The collection highlights 100 women throughout history, and around the world, who have been inspirations, trailblazers, and fighters for women.

Goodreads Synopsis:
In this luminous volume, New York Times bestselling writer Julia Pierpont and artist Manjit Thapp match short, vibrant, and surprising biographies with stunning full-color portraits of secular female “saints” champions of strength and progress. These women broke ground, broke ceilings, and broke molds. Open to any page and find daily inspiration and lasting delight.

Some of the 100 women showcased include authors Anne Frank, Maya Angelou, The Bronte Sisters, Eleanor Roosevelt, Louisa May Alcott, Emily Dickinson and Jane Austen.

I have committed to reading one profile each day and on the last day I will write a post on my own feminist saint (the 100th chapter in the book is just that).

If you have this book and/or would like to participate in my 100 day challenge that would be lovely. Start anytime, there is no set day. Happy Reading!

Purchase Links
Amazon: Kindle Hardcover
Barnes & Noble: Nook Hardcover

Meet the Author & Illustrator:

You may also find me here:

Please note: this post contains Amazon and B&N affiliate links. If you purchase this book through the links above I will earn a small fee; at no additional cost to you. This will help me purchase more books to read and recommend to you all!

Goodreads Monday: Abraham Lincoln

March 12, 2018March 15, 2018 Saturday Nite Reader9 Comments

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren’s Page Turners. To take part, you simply choose a random book from your TBR and show it off. Don’t forget to check out Lauren’s Goodreads Monday blog post to share your Monday selections.

I am currently in Washington, D.C. to attend the 2018 SHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference (for work) and feeling a bit historical. I thought it would be fun to share books – including a children’s book – about my favorite president: Abraham Lincoln.

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At the same conference a few years back, our keynote speaker was historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. She wrote a book called Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln that I obviously purchased (but, that is still sitting on my TBR…I will get to it this year!).

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Published: October 25, 2005 by Simon Schuster
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Category: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Politics
Winner of the Lincoln Prize, 2016

Goodreads Synopsis:
Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Lincoln’s political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president.Read More »