Tag: nonfiction

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

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.

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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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Book Review: Dear Girls by Ali Wong

Saturday Nite Reader16 Comments

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3.5 disco balls

Published: October 15, 2019 by Random House
Category: Non-fiction, Memoir, Humor

I returned to work last week- after a 3 month maternity leave – and this was the perfect book to escape in during my morning commute on the NJ Path train…which I did not miss!

On day 1 back to the grind I was pushed through the Path doors by 3 people and elbowed twice…there is obviously no such thing as personal space: it’s a push or be pushed world so a little humor is needed to keep one sane. Plus I was holding back all the tears, one wrong move…cue the waterworks.Read More »

To Be Read: Dutch Girl by Robert Matzen

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 »

Audiobook Review: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Saturday Nite Reader21 Comments

“capital punishment means them without the capital get the punishment.”
― Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Published: October 21, 2014 by Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Category: Nonfiction, Memoir, Social Justice, Law
Warwick Prize for Writing Nominee for Longlist (2015), Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Non-Fiction (2015), NAIBA Book of the Year for Nonfiction (2015), Andrew Carnegie Medal for Nonfiction (2015), Kirkus Prize Nominee for Nonfiction (Finalist) (2014), Alabama Author Award for Nonfiction (2016)

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This book will certainly be one of my Top 5 reads from 2019 there is NO doubt about it.

Download this audiobook now, you can thank me later. Read More »

Attention, Attention!: Barnes & Noble #BookHaul Blowout

Saturday Nite Reader12 Comments

Starting today until Monday, March 4th, B&N is holding their #bookhaul BLOWOUT with over 400 titles marked at 50% – yes, you heard that right – 50% off!

Being a B&N member I was able to access the sale last night and picked up these 5 books – 4 hardcovers and 1 paperback – for $57.50 🤗

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Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating Dear Mrs. Bird Once Upon a River Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World Ohio

Other books included in the sale that I recommend checking out (that I’ve read or are on my TBR too):

An Anonymous Girl The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women The Great Alone Sold on a Monday: A Novel The Room on Rue Amelie
My Favorite Half-Night Stand The Leavers Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America Freefall: A Novel Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders

Some of these are going to move quickly! To make sure I got the books I wanted, I ordered them online to pick up at my local bookstore (I didn’t want to wait for shipping, I needed them now: I needed instant gratification!)

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this is my successful shopping dance…happy reading!


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Please note: this post contains 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!

Audiobook Review: Becoming by Michelle Obama

Saturday Nite Reader16 Comments

5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Published: November 13, 2018 by Crown
Category: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

2018 was the year I discovered my love of nonfiction. I thought it wasn’t for me, but after reading Educated by Tara Westover, Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, and Becoming by Michelle Obama, I realized how wrong I was.

Over a few weeks I laughed with Michelle, cried with her, and enjoyed simply listening to her. She is graceful, relatable…human. It wasn’t a political narrative, but the story of a young girl becoming a woman and learning more about herself as she grew.Read More »

Book Review: Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

Saturday Nite Reader12 Comments

5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Published: May 21, 2018 by Knopf Publishing Group
Category: Nonfiction
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2018)

If you were looking for a book to close out 2018 this here’s the one. No joke: It was an addicting, consuming read.

Wall Street Journal Investigative Reporter John Carreyrou was instrumental in blowing up Theranos’ spot. In Bad Blood, Carreyrou meticulously described the entire Theranos evolution leading to his expose and it was simply crazy…every last drop of it (and not small drops, hehe see what I did there?! too much?)Read More »

Audiobook Review: The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

Saturday Nite Reader15 Comments

3.5

3.5 disco balls

Published: December 7, 2017 by Simon & Schuster Audio
Category: Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor

Comedian Tiffany Haddish made me laugh so many times even when describing painful memories. Her gift of humor shines through her narration of her own memoir.

Its a quick audiobook, one that will help quickly pass the time during longer road trips or doing chores around the house. Read More »

Book Review: The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

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.

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3_DiscoBalls

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 »

Audiobook Review: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Saturday Nite Reader25 Comments

Yes, an audiobook you can sink your ears into – since teeth obviously do not make sense.

5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Published: November 15, 2016 by Audible Studios
Audiobook runs 8 hours 50 minutes, narrated by Trevor Noah himself (love that accent!)
Category: Memoir, Autobiography, Nonfiction,  Coming of Age

#8 Most Read on Amazon Charts
Highest-rated new book of 2016 by Audible customers
Winner: Audible’s Best of 2016 – Celebrity Memoirs

I prefer reading books versus listening, but do enjoy an audiobook while driving or doing chores. But, for an audiobook to keep my attention the narrator has to be on point. To me, this book is better as an audiobook since the author is the one reading his story. Trevor Noah knows how he wants his story to come across, and delivers his message with a tone and authenticity that makes it hard to push pause…plus, hello that accent – swoon!Read More »