Hello my lovely book bees!
I know this is being posted in July, but I read this book and wrote this review in early June. I've owned this book for a while, but hadn't gotten to it. After the riots and protests surrounding George Floyd started, I decided (like many of you probably did) to start educating myself further. I had some knowledge and some education on the topic, but no where near enough. Before I begin the review of the actual book, I want to do a preface. I've lived most of my life in the South (with the exception of two and half years where I lived in China). My dad is white and my mom is Puerto Rican and a person of color. My skin is white and so I self identify as a white-passing Latina woman of Puerto Rican descent. I've never experienced racism personally in the USA - I have in China, but no one should have to experience racism and live in fear in their own home country - and thus I can never fully understand the experience and life of a person of color. I stand with and support the Black Lives Matter Movement and believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. I believe it is my ethical obligation as a Christian and as a person of white skin, to do so. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the CampNOW Nonviolence365 Leadership Academy the summer that I graduated from high school at the King Center. I had the amazing privilege of meeting and talking to Dr. Bernice King (the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.). It was there that my eyes were widened and that I began to understand and become aware of the black experience in America and the injustices that persist to this day. But my education in this topic is not complete, I'm not sure it ever will be. So I bought books. And they've been sitting on my shelf, but now I'm pulling them out. It's overdue, and I'm sorry that it took George Floyd's death and a global pandemic, but change is change and I'm fighting to change myself and then, by extension, others. So You Want to Talk About Race is a great starter book for beginning the conversation/fight against racism both in yourself and in society at large. It's an introduction to the issues. It's easy to read, easy to understand, and has sprinkles of humor that I cherished because the subject material is heavy. It's heavy and uncomfortable, but every bit necessary. I have so many tabs sticking out of this book. And there are so many pages that I took my highlighter and just highlighted the whole page (or whole pages). I took about a week or two to read it because I was trying to take it in chunks so I could digest it easier. I would recommend taking that approach: reading maybe a chapter a day so you can digest it and meditate on it and self-reflect. If you are even the slightest bit curious about race in America, or race in general as it pertains to the struggles and experiences of Black people and people of color, as well as the injustices and issues that are still prevalent and being fought today, this is your book. It's the best introductory book for this topic and I'm glad it's the first one I decided to read. (I'll probably be reading How To Be An Antiracist next) Please read it. Even if you don't think you need to, even if you think you aren't a racist or racism doesn't affect you at all, you seriously just need to go read it. No excuses, go read it. Some quotes (there are a lot but I've whittled it down to 5):
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Hello my lovely book bees!!!!
Side note: I've been so productive writing these overdue book reviews and scheduling them! I feel on top of the world! I know I'm not the most consistent blogger, but I'm going to get better (eventually) I promise! I think the problem was that I was convinced that in order to be a good book reviewer and write good reviews, that they had to be long and detailed, and that made me not want to do it because it would be too time consuming. So I found myself procrastinating. And instead of enjoying this, I was dreading it. Once I came to the realization that it's MY blog and I can make the reviews however long I want to do them and I don't have to stick to a specific format...it lifted a huge burden off of my shoulders and I found myself more excited to write. So I had writer's block...kind of....but self imposed????.....????? Onwards!!!! I found this book at my local Books a Million (during quarantine) and decided to purchase it because it was on sale and I've seen it circulating in the book community (though I suppose I'm a bit late on the trend). I almost never buy books brand new. I normally wait to buy a used book (because it's cheaper), or wait for a book to be put in clearance. God bless that clearance section of YA novels at the beginning of the Books a Million. Every time I make a purchase from that store, it's from the clearance section. You gotta do what you gotta do to read y'all, even if that means spending your hard earned money on discount books and not feeling guilty about it because it's the only way you're able to actually buy books. I chose this book because I wanted a book where people have elemental powers. I don't know why, but that was the vibe I wanted, so I picked it up to read. Out of my guilty (guilty because I bought too many clearance books lol my poor bank account) book haul, I chose to read this one first because I was feeling an elemental vibe and that's what I was in the mood for. And guys, Frostblood did not disappoint. Think fire verses ice, xenophobia, genocide, a forbidden romance, monks, gladiators, and a long history of corrupt and crazy kings, cursed thrones, and mythology turned truth. Key words and phrases that don't make much sense to you now, but actually summarizes the book pretty well. THE PLOT WAS AMAZING. I was hooked. I love the Romeo and Juliet style romance, which is slowly built (I think it could also be a semi stereotypical hate to love cliche). I just adore how they help each other grow and develop as characters/people and test each other. It's kind of like iron sharpening iron (sometimes painfully) but the end product is beautiful. Frostblood has elements of historical fiction - kind of - what I mean by that is that there are kingdoms with kings, royalty, nobles, and courts. And a gladiator kind of deal, also a monastery. You guys know me. I love anything that is even slightly medieval, and this has a slight medieval vibe. Guys, seriously, go pick up this YA novel. It's absolutely great. There's a second book, and it's officially in my Goodreads want to read list. Side note: If you want to be an absolute saint and offer to buy me a book (or specifically the next book to this trilogy), I will love you forever. Or if you want me to read a certain book that you really love, you can buy it for me or send it to me and I will give you a shout out on my socials and on the book review for the book you gave me. Also if you want to send me mail at all in general that would warm my heart. Just saying. Anyways, my work email is [email protected] also feel free to message me below or on any other social media account related to this blog. Side note: My goal for 2020 is to have 100 subscribers, and as I'm writing this I have 25. Which is 1/4 of my goal. If you are reading this and you haven't subscribed, or you're not sure if you have but would like to, please go to the contact page and put in your info under the subscribe section. I would appreciate it so much! And if you wouldn't mind sharing this book review (or any other book review that you like) to your friends and social media and encourage them to subscribe as well that would be great!!!! If I make my goal of 100 subscribers by the end of this year, I will be releasing my first merch (Rachel's Book Reviews stickers). Extra Links: Hello my lovely book bees!
Let's dive right in shall we? I've never really been one for romance. In fact, most of the time I steer clear of books that have the word romance on the cover or are in the romance genre. Don't get me wrong, if I'm reading a book that happens to have romance in it (like Divergent), I don't mind, in fact I swoon! But it seems that books marketed 'romance' are raunchy and inappropriate. They are unwholesome and you seem to see a lot of half naked guys on the covers. But that's why I like Shadow Mountain Publishing's Proper Romance genre (I have yet to find a book from this publisher that disappoints - seriously, will I ever stop singing their praises....probably not). The Proper Romance genre means that all of the romance books will be wholesome, not raunchy, and theirs nothing inherently scandalous or inappropriate in them. I find that refreshing, don't you? In a world that hypersexualizes females, it's great to read something from a category that gives romance a real meaning. That gives women and men their dignity back. I appreciate that 100% and I know that whenever I pick up a book from the Proper Romance category at Shadow Mountain Publishing, I know that I'm getting a good book with a wholesome and inspiring romance. Now, about the book itself. I got serious Pride and Prejudice vibes - the 2005 movie (with Keira Knightley) not the book - and I love that. I have a low key obsession with books like Little Women, and the movie version of Pride and Prejudice. Something about those time periods calls to me. I love the aesthetic of it all. And so I absolutely love that this book is placed in one of those old time settings. Even more, I love that the two protagonists can't stand each other at first and then fall in love, all while trying to help their siblings vie for a rich man. Honestly, what's not to love? They have a sort of competition, both fueled by unmitigated needs, yet end up becoming vulnerable to each other in their struggles and in an unforeseen set of events, end up confessing their love and being together despite the odds. I couldn't get enough. If you like historical fiction, romance, or both, this book is definitely for you. It's 100% safe for Christians, and thus definitely safe for any person of the general populace. Even strict parents should have trouble finding much wrong with this book, but feel free to read it for yourself first. You'll enjoy it as much as your teenage daughter will. And it's a light read, didn't take me too long at all. So if you have some time (which you should since it's summer and we're in the middle of a pandemic), or you're bored, this book is bound to light up your days! Go for it!!! Extra Links: The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun by Paul Hattaway7/2/2020 Hello my lovely book bees! (If you've been around before and you wonder why I call my readers lovely book bees, it's because I love bees and thought it'd be cute)
The first time I read The Heavenly Man, I was living in China. I don't remember how I got a copy, except maybe through another foreigner. But I was so enraptured and inspired by the true story of this Brother in Christ who was persecuted in China. He is essentially equated to/as the Paul of China. His contributions to the modern Christian Chinese movement is huge. He kicked off a revival of a new generation, and under his leadership the church in China grew exponentially. Brother Yun's relationship with God as well as the trials and tribulations that he goes through are remarkable really. I can't even comprehend the pain and torture his body and his spirit were put through. I remembered loving this book so much, and I had given my copy to a friend at school for her to read, and she never gave it back, so I had to buy a new copy. Well, first, actually, I got my Abuela (my Puerto Rican grandmother) a copy in Spanish for her birthday because I knew she would enjoy it just as much. After hearing her thoughts on it and how it inspired her faith as well, I knew I had to buy my own copy to reread. So I did, and I reread this amazing book (I got myself the kindle edition), and I loved it even more then I did when I originally read it. Paul Hattaway so completely captures Brother Yun's character and experience in such a way that you are almost right beside him walking the journey with him (without the pain of course). When you first read it, you might be tempted to think that there's no way that a man could've endured all that he did. It's just not possible! And you're right, a mere man would not have made it through all of what Brother Yun did, but he didn't do it as a mere man or by himself, God was with him every step of the way. God provided for Brother Yun even in his darkest circumstances, and preformed miracles that we have trouble imagining and believing. Brother Yun's whole story just reminds me of how great my God is. If you have an open mind and you want a inspirational jumpstart to your faith, this book is definitely for you! If I had a list of top ten inspirational Christian books (which is a great idea for a newsletter), this book would definitely get the first slot. Anyone interested in strengthening their faith, missions, China, or martyrs should read this book. I don't recommend it for anyone under 13 because some of the torture is graphic. But parents, if you read it, you'll love it, and you'll want your children to read it because it's just that amazing. Extra Links: |
About the AuthorHi, I'm Rachel, and I'm here to share reviews of books with you so you can know what to read next! Archives
October 2021
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