So I finally finished Skinny Bitch.  From the start, the tone killed the book for me.  The authors are literally bitches and from the first page the reader is pummeled with insults.  Aside from that, the book preaches healthy eating, specifically becoming a vegetarian and eventually vegan. I must admit, constantly referring to meat as “dead, rotting decomposing flesh” did turn me off a little.  But my love of meat triumphed in that battle.  They did get me when it came to milk – maybe it was by actually making me realize I am drinking another animal’s breast milk.  Gross.

What concerns me more than eating dead, rotting decomposing flesh is the lack of safety regulations regarding the health of the animals in general and sanitation after they are slaughtered.  Very much along the lines of Food, Inc. I think this tactic might work for people who are already on the fence about eating meat and people who need a tough-love push eat better.  All in all, I think you can get the same message from Food, Inc. without your self-esteem taking a beat down.

It was helpful to read their other book, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch: Kick-Ass Recipes for Hungry Girls Who Want to Stop Cooking Crap (and Start Looking Hot!), to get a better idea of what to actually eat.  Some of it actually looks really good.  You can read more about the Skinny Bitch franchise on their website.

peace,
e.

While I was completing my college applications, my mother, being the overachiever that she is, added a mandatory reading assignment to my course load. That was when I was introduced to Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. Disgruntled, of course, I read the book because disobedience was not even an option.. (Skimming wasn’t an option either because my supermom usually required reports on these extra assignments.) I was immediately intrigued by Dr. Ben Carson’s story started with a mother very similar to my own. By the end of the book, I was so genuinely inspired that it became the topic and motivation for a number of my college application essays.

Although it has been a while since I’ve read the book, I vividly remember the inspiration I felt and highly recommend it. Though I think the book would be a rich and rewarding experience, thanks to the magic of cinematography, The Ben Carson Story has been made into a movie that will air on TNT on Saturday, February 7, 2009 and 8:00 PM EST. With a cast including Oscar-winning Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kimberly Elise, this reenactment of this powerful story has certainly piqued my interest and think you will enjoy it as well.

Here are a few brief synopses to fill you in on the story:

Carson’s mother was the center of his early life. Through her strength, determination, and intelligence, and despite little education and a struggle with mental illness, she was able to instill a strong work ethic within her son and taught him to set high expectations for himself. At each level of his academic career, Carson started as an average or below-average performer. But after much hard work, he always eventually moved up through the ranks to emerge at the top.

Read more of the BrainConnection.com Review

Carson’s autobiography is the inspiring story of an inner-city kid with poor grades and little motivation, who, at age thirty-three became director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Dr. Carson serves as a role model for young people in need of encouragement to attempt the seemingly impossible and succeed.

(Read more of review from the Prince George’s Community College)

I would love to hear what you all think if you get a chance to catch the movie.

Wowed by a quality cast: my all time favorite celebrity, Alicia Keys, Grammy Award winning Queen Latifah, Academy Award winning Jennifer Hudson and the childhood wonder Dakota Fanning, I was initially very excited by the trailers for The Secret Life of Bees. After all the anticipation, I couldn’t help but leave the theater slightly disappointed. I enjoyed the movie but was left wanting more. At several points in the movie my questions were left unanswered. But the story piqued my interest, and I had to explore it further in the book that the movie was based on.

Sue Monk Kidd constructs a story set in South Carolina in 1964 during the Civil Rights Movement at the height of racial tension. The contrast between blacks and whites is as pronounced as the text against the pages. Several other themes run throughout the text as well: father daughter relationships, motherly love, romantic love, forbidden love, women and religion.

Kidd develops and distinguishes each of the character’s complex stories: Lily Owens, whose story is more complicated than any average 14-year-old should have to deal with; and each of the Boatright sisters with their unique traits: August Boatright with the familiar wisdom of a mother, the tough charade of June Boatright and the burdened innocence of May Boatright.

Lily and her nanny Rosaleen run away from their troubles in their hometown and what they find in the pink house of the beekeeping Boatright sisters is where the story unfolds. The strength of this novel is the beautiful language that sets the scenes of this Southern home. The text is saturated with the sights, smells and sounds of Southern country that put you right in the story. The details strengthen the story, even the truth with which she paints the depths of pain that the characters suffer. Kidd combines the familiar and unfamiliar: portraying southern details that others can appreciate but introduces unique details that build a fantastical aspect of this story. Kidd presents the intricacies of bees in a way that could put one with apiphobia at ease.

Now that I have satisfied that yearn to read the novel, I’ve realized that the movie introduced us to this beautiful story but it is in the book that we are allowed to fully explore the depths of its beauty. Thankfully, the movie relayed the story without distorting it with creative liberations.

While reading the text, one question persisted: what made Sue Monk Kidd write this story that goes so deeply into the lives of these African American women? The book offers an interview with Kidd that gives insight to her motivation for the novel. The summer of 1964 stood out for her and changed her life. Even at her young age at the time she was aware of the racial injustices and this novel is her personal protest. Her memories of bees in her own home stemmed the theme that ran throughout the text. Even though she is content with Lily’s story as is, Kidd is toying with the idea of a much requested sequel.

To get this discussion started, here are a few discussion questions from the book along with a few of my own:

How do you think the movie compared to the novel?

The Boatright sisters, particularly August, and the Daughters of Mary remind me of women many of us have grown up with in church or in our families? Did they remind you of anyone specific in your life?

How do you feel about what happened to May?

How do you imagine Zach and Lily’s relationship if they had explored a romantic relationship?

How do you imagine Lily’s story continuing a few years down the line?

-Lady D

Presenting the Book Club book for October:

For those who have seen Russell Simmons in action, you cannot deny that he just is who he is at all times. Catching glimpses of him on Run’s House and seeing him firsthand at a book signing at Emory University, what I most appreciate is that Russell Simmons simply says what he thinks, with no apologies. From his casual demeanor one would not detect that he is a multimillion dollar mogul, as the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of Phat Farm, backbone of the hip hop pioneers Run DMC, among numerous other accomplishments, but his wisdom reveals a powerful and successful individual. What is even more admirable, Simmons is a selfless philanthropist, initiating tremendous efforts like Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. Simmons is undoubtedly a hardworking man who is not often seen in the forefront of the celebrity limelight but is commonly acknowledged and always respected for his work that has propelled hip hop to what it is today.

Russell Simmons shares his wisdom from his years in the industry in his book Do you!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success, which opens with a foreword by Donald Trump expressing his utmost respect for Mr. Simmons. With no false promises to provide a quick and easy 12-step plan to guaranteed success and no attempt to impress readers with forced scholarly jargon, Simmons simply shares his knowledge in 12 laws:

• See your Vision and Stick With It
• Always Do You
• Get Your Mind Right
• Stop Frontin’ and Start Today
• Never Less Than Your Best
• Surround Yourself With the Right People
• There Are No Failures, Only Quitters
• Science of Success: Plant the Good Seeds
• You Can Never Get Before You Give
• Successful People Stay Open to Change
• Be Powerful, Be Heard
• Spit Truth to Power

He reiterates simple concepts that we have learned but neglected and draws attention to those that lay the foundation for a mentality for success. With a voice that has already gained tremendous respect in the hip hop community, Russell Simmons speaks directly to an audience who may not have otherwise been granted this information as plainly and clearly as Simmons presents it. He shares stories from his career, making references that our generation can certainly relate to. He shares his lessons learned with humility but shares his wisdom with bold messages. Be forewarned that there may be many times when you are inclined to put the book down and run out to pursue your dreams immediately.

Russell Simmons draws from various sources of inspiration, some of which may be foreign, but please do not let that deter you from the overall messages. Simply continuing reading and take from it what you will. You may not agree with it all but at the end you will be equipped with a mentality set for success. His passion is contagious, and his message is inspirational. Not only does he build the foundation of a success driven mindset but he also ignites the passion within you until it is ready to burst out of you to pursue your dream whatever it may be. This is certainly a book you can read time and time again to discover new lessons or rekindle sparks once felt.

Do You yall!