Leigh Kramer

What I'm Into (March 2017 Edition)

 

Catsitting

I don't want to jinx us and say spring is here but I have certainly enjoyed the warmer-for-Minnesota weather the last week or so. It makes me miss living in Nashville and San Francisco a little less, too. To be honest, as much as I know I'm in the right place, March was a hard month. I didn't think I'd still be job searching and living in temporary housing. And while my intuition is telling me to hang on, that something better is ahead, my life feels like it's on pause. It's a quiet life or maybe it's in hibernation so I'm trying to soak up the extra time to rest and relax. Because when I find work and then I go back to school, I have no doubt I'll look back on this time fondly.

 

Read and Reading

 

Girls In The Moon (McNally) was so lovely and bittersweet! It made me feel so nostalgic but I'm not sure for what. I loved how music and lyrics played such a central part of the plot. I loved the exploration of family dynamics and the roles we play. I loved Phoebe's growing sense of self and confidence as she visits her sister in NYC and seeks out answers to the questions her mother won't answer. And of course I loved her burgeoning relationship with Archer and how lyrics brought them together. There are a few loose threads at the end (will Phoebe and her best friend reconcile?) but it's true to life and because of all that ensues while she's in the city, I had hope she would at least know how to deal with situations back home. Phoebe has taken charge of her life and it made me proud.

 

Jeff Zentner can write the hell out of a book. His first novel The Serpent King was on my Favorite Fiction of 2016 list. I tried to keep my expectations in check for Goodbye Days. He exceeded them. I was truly blown away. (Full gushing review here.) 

 

I'm not entirely sure what I think about My Name Is Lucy Barton (Strout), other than I can understand why some of my friends loved it so much. Great writing and an interesting character study, even if it didn't really go anywhere.

 

When I first read the synopsis, I wasn't sure about Under Her Skin. However, I read an excerpt and I was instantly hooked. I decided to go wherever Adriana Anders wanted to take me and I'm so glad I did. The writing is gorgeous and the story unspooled at the perfect pace. There were lines that made me want to weep from the emotions they evoked. Ivan and Uma were such compelling, complex characters. We slowly learn what happened to Uma and see her find a safe place in Ivan. I loved watching their relationship unfold because of what they learned from each other. I was worried the plot would go in some predictable directions but it never did. It was fresh and I particularly appreciated how domestic violence was treated. Uma regains her confidence over the course of the novel and is a direct participant in reclaiming her life. The way Ivan handles his anger is mesmerizing and the particular lesson he needs to learn was so true to life. I could not have loved this book more! 

 

I am still swooning over The Player And The Pixie! I'm so glad Cosway and Reid teamed up for this rugby romance series because they are knocking it out of the park. I had no idea how they were going to make me root for Sean after what an arse he was in The Hooker and the Hermit but I now love him even more than Ronan, which is no small feat. Lucy saw right through his defense mechanisms and I'm so glad she did! I loved the bit of role reversal (especially given Sean's reputation!) and how Sean proved to be a quick learner.The character growth was top notch. The way Sean protected, defended, and cared for Lucy was stellar, particularly how this played out with the ending. True to form, I laughed out loud more than a few times.  

   

You can see all the books I've read at Goodreads. My fiction, nonfiction, romance, and YA recommendations, comprised of books with 4 or 5 star ratings, are on Pinterest.

Currently reading: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (Alexander), The Art Of Happiness (Dalai Lama), The Garden Of Small Beginnings (Waxman), The One Real Thing (Young), Virgin: The Untouched History (Blank)

  

TV:

Holy buckets to that huge plot twist in the last few episodes of Jane the Virgin. I did not see it coming at all and while it's sad, I think it opens up so many opportunities for the writers. I can't wait to see what happens next season!

I finally caught up on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and don't know what to make of the last few episodes. The first season was definitely stronger than the second season, although there were a few songs this second season that made me laugh so hard. We'll see where the third season goes. Is it too much to hope they'll be less Josh Chan-focused?

 

Music:

Loving: Secrets by Mary Lambert, Don't Mess With My Girl by Jon McLaughlin

Listen to the What I'm Into playlist.

 

Podcasts:

How To Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black is my new favorite. He asks such interesting questions! His interview with Tim Gunn particularly blew me away and the episode with Andy Cohen was delightful.  I plan on going through the archives and listening to them all.

Listen to Overdue's The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe simply for Craig and Andrew's reaction to trying Turkish Delight for the first time.

Code Switch's Safety Pin Solidarity is a must-listen. 

 

Highlights: 

• I've been helping my friend organize her office and realized I have all sorts of organizational wisdom. I regularly come up with things like, "put it on the To Do list, not the Today list" and then I wonder if I'm actually a genius.

 

• My friend Karin's house is becoming my home away from home. I love going over there for dinner or just hanging out with her and whoever else stops by.

 

• A few of my friends let me help them figure out their Enneagram type this month and I swear I was flying high the entire next day. Even better: one of them is already seeing a difference from knowing her type. I love it!!

• When you have so many library books, you make a sculpture out of them.

 

• I met Molly and Peace Coffee and got to learn more about the wonderful world of librarianship. So much fun!

 

• Sarah had Annie and me over for dinner and it was the best kind of night that starts with drinks and meanders through all kinds of conversational territory. 

 

• I'm taking care of Gus the Cat again and he has indulged me by sleeping in my lap at every opportunity.

 

• For St. Patrick's Day, Karin, Kristi, and I watched the classic known as Far and Away. Mostly we talked and then paid attention to the pertinent scenes. You know the ones.

 

• I'm part of a gathering that meets for dinner once or twice a month. I didn't make it in February because I was out of town so it was extra good to see everyone and get to know them better. We ended up having a really interesting discussion about friendship and loneliness.

• My friend Katie invited me to a Vision Board party and I had such a blast. I was completely in the zone, focused on the two boards I made (one for finding work and one for love) but I also enjoyed getting to meet her friends. I'm also super proud of the boards!

 

• I remembered I had a box of Candy Cane Joe-Joe's I left in the trunk of my car a couple of months ago after forgetting to bring them to a party. They never tasted more delicious!

 

• My friend Chris Ann likes to get lunch from this co-op place near her and the bison chili made me a believer.

• Alysa sent me the best cross stitch ever. It made my day!

 

• I procrastinate on getting my car's oil change for as long as I can but I finally took it in and it was so fast, they said I could just stay in my car while they took care of it. Maybe I'll stop procrastinating from hereon out. 

• Claire and I met up at COCO Minneapolis and I was completely entranced by the building. I love places that hold so much history! It was also great catching up with Claire and talking about the Enneagram.

  

In the Blogosphere:

You can find the best of what I've been reading at Storify. 

 

Favorite Instagram:

Every time I visit @karinkfarrington's house, I covet this giant book page artwork and ponder what book page I'd want to hang in my home. Let's be honest though: my answer will always start and end with A Prayer For Owen Meany. #booknerd
____________

Artwork by @fsmdesignco

 

(If you want to follow me on Instagram, my user name is leighkramer.)

 

On The Blog:

I wrote about the Enneagram and the difference between needing and wanting. Will I ever stop writing about the Enneagram? Doubtful. 

On the Leigh Kramer FB page, we improved novels with a particular line, freaked out over the Brontë sisters movie (which I still need to watch!), and contemplated whether Gaston was the better choice. I also shared my thoughts after learning an old friend had died; it's made me think a lot about who from my past I should reach out to and reconnect.

(The best way to see updates in your newsfeed is by liking and commenting on my posts regularly.)

 

What I'm Into Link Up Guidelines:

1. Today’s link-up will stay open for one week. The next What I'm Into link up will be Monday May 1.  

2. Link the unique URL of your post, not your blog's home page. Readers peruse link ups months after the fact and you want to make it easy for them to find your What I'm Into post.

3. Please include the What I'm Into button or mention you're linking up with What I'm Into at Leigh Kramer.

4. Visit at least 2 other posts in the linkup!

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

 

 

What have you been into this month? 

Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post.  If you click through, any purchase you make supports this site.

Review: Forever Mine by Erin Nicholas

Forever Mine (Opposites Attract #2)- Erin Nicholas 

 

Synopsis

Maya Goodwin doesn't believe in holding back. Ever. As a cop, she never hesitated to throw herself into harm's way to save someone. Even after an injury on the job forces her to retire, she's not afraid to keep risking it all to get the life she wants. With a new career teaching martial arts to kids already underway, she's looking forward to the future - and taking a chance on the unbelievably hot Dr. Alex Nolan.

Maya - daring and spontaneous - is the exact opposite of what Alex always thought he wanted. But when a nine-year-old daughter he never knew existed shows up on his doorstep, Maya is the one who helps them hold it together. With love on the line, will the guy who's always played it safe be willing to take the biggest risk of all?

 

Buy The Book Here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

Completely Yours (Opposites Attract #1)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

My Review - 4 Stars

I'm always on the lookout for books featuring smart heroines. The Opposites Attract series is about a trio of Lady Nerds, each with their own geeky interest. Each book stands on its own so you can read them in any order you want.  Forever Mine is Maya's story.

Maya is all about cosplay, martial arts, and super heroes. I could care less about these things- much like Alex- but Maya's enthusiasm is contagious. She's spunky and passionate about her interests, as well as the people she loves. She initiates most of her relationship with Alex- she's someone who goes after what she wants- and this sets up an interesting, not always good, dynamic in their relationship.

Alex is an enigma. He's brilliant in his field as a hematologist but refuses to tell his colleagues or anyone else he has hemophilia himself. His mom overshared this information when he was a child and so he's swung in the opposite direction. (Is this possible?Wouldn't he have worn a medical bracelet or something along those lines in case of emergency?) When he finds out a) he has a 9 year old daughter from a one-night stand and b) she has hemophilia, he goes above and beyond to make up for not being there for her sooner. Alex is a truly good guy. He is loyal and funny and tries to do what's right. 

He thinks he shouldn't start a relationship because of his daughter but he has a hard time resisting Maya, especially when she's teaching him martial arts which he can then modify for his daughter and she's schooling him on his daughter's favorite superheroes. It's a really great set up for the story and I loved seeing Maya shine as an instructor and Alex's dedication to his daughter. They have wonderful chemistry together and I loved how their very different interests are brought them together in the first place. It was so fun watching their relationship grow!

Maya's friendship with Sophie and Kiera still plays a big role, as it did in the first book. These girls have been through a lot together and there's great growth that happens because of their friendship. I'm so happy whenever female friendship plays a big role in a novel because it's true to my life and most people I know. 

Hemophilia is such an interesting illness to spotlight. Definitely a great choice. Because I used to be a pediatric oncology/hematology social worker, I had a few quibbles with the medical aspects of his storyline. Having the same diagnosis as the population you treat is a major boon and I couldn't understand why he wouldn't disclose it to his patients. I also wish the interdisciplinary pediatric team had been highlighted. At least by the end he understands the areas where he needs to grow as a doctor.

One geek plus one doctor equals a sweet, enjoyable story of opposites who attract. I'm looking forward to Sophie's story next!

 

Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.

Review: The Unyielding by Shelly Laurenston

The Unyielding (Call Of Crows #3)- Shelly Laurenston

 

Synopsis

Stieg Engstrom, Angriest Viking Ever, has got big problems. The human Viking Clans of earth are in danger of being obliterated—along with the rest of the world—and the only one who may be able to save them is a super pain-in-the-ass Crow. Most people annoy Stieg, but this is the one woman he really can’t stand…

Erin Amsel loves being a Crow! Why wouldn’t she when the other Viking Clans are so hilariously arrogant and humorless? She’s not about to let all that come to an end! She just didn’t expect to be shoulder to shoulder in battle with Stieg. Then again, he’s so easy to torment—and also kind of cute.

With the future of the world riding on them, Stieg knows he’ll have to put aside his desperate need to kiss the smirk right off Erin’s face. Wait. What? He didn’t mean that—did he? No! They have one goal: To conquer the idiots. Because nothing bugs Stieg more than when idiots win. If only he can keep himself from suddenly acting like one…

 

Buy The Book Here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

My Review - 

Before I start gushing over the next installment in this amazing series, I have to thank Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books who gushed about it a few different times on her podcast. I believe it was her interview with the author that finally tipped me over the edge into reading the first book. I wasn't sure about a series about immortal Vikings who have retractable wings but let me tell you, Call Of Crows is definitely for me because hello hot Vikings. 

This series keeps getting better and better! I positively inhaled this one and enjoyed every single moment.

Call Of Crows builds on itself with each book so you'll want to start with The Unleashing and The Undoing. The Crows are the human warrior clan of the goddess Skuld composed of women who were either enslaved (or nowadays descendants of slaves) or marginalized and mistreated in their first life and then given a second chance in which they kick ass and take no prisoners. This gives Laurenston room to tackle subjects like race and privilege in such a compelling and unique way. You know that makes me geek out!

When The Unyielding begins, the Viking clans are trying to prevent the end of the world from happening. Literally. The one who holds the key to saving them is the most unlikely of candidates: Erin Amsel.

"People loved to threaten Erin Amsel, he just didn't know why. Because threatening her was a sure way of getting her to focus on you. Making you part of her life's work, which was tormenting people beyond all reason." p. 19

Erin likes getting a rise out of other people. In fact, she lives for it. Add in her short temper and even shorter attention span and it's no wonder people either love or hate Erin...and most people hate her. On the other hand, she's the person you want by your side in a battle. I had no idea how Laurenston would build a book around her, much less who would fall in love with her, but I never underestimate this author.

"She'd never met anyone so young who seemed so bitter. Something about him just radiated 'old man ordering kids off his lawn.'" p. 27

Stieg isn't like his Raven brothers, mostly because he spent most of his teen years on the streets before the clan found him. He's scrappy and he's got a lot of anger trapped inside. Cue: brooding. Cue: me swooning. He's the kind of Viking who relishes the battle. In that way, he and Erin are perfect for one another.

Stieg and Erin have always had an adversarial relationship, mostly because of the stunts Erin pulls. Because of the events around them, Stieg starts keeping an eye on Erin so she doesn't kill herself or get killed by any of the numerous people who want her dead. This isn't your traditional enemies-to-lovers romance though. In fact, the romance is really secondary (or maybe even tertiary) to the plot. I loved their banter and how working together forced them to see each other in a new light. But even then, there aren't sappy declarations of love because that wouldn't be true to either character.

Laurenston is phenomenal at world building. You get the bulk of the Viking mythology in the first book but each book adds another layer and it's truly fascinating stuff. In this novel, we learn more about the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (their characters cracked me up! Who would suspect they'd be surfers?!) and we accompany Erin and Stieg into the Underworld on their quest.

Laurenston's writing is clever and I laughed out loud a lot. Erin can be ridiculous, for one. But I also love all the interactions between the Crows, Ravens, and other clans. That's probably my third favorite thing about her writing: the friendships. As well as her marvelous depiction of Lady Rage through the Crows. I could gush about this for days!

I never knew where the plot was going to go. I mean, I hoped Erin and Stieg wouldn't die on their quest and that the clans would be able to prevent the apocalypse but I had no idea how or if it would happen. There were some truly evil beings running amok and Erin, as badass as she is, had a lot of obstacles to get through on the off chance she could get the sword that would save them all. No guarantees. And I know this plot might sound nuts but it is seriously so good. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Then the ending. I literally laughed out loud for a solid minute because the cliffhanger was so unexpected and bold. That's why I love these books so much! I can't wait to see where Laurenston takes us next. (Fingers crossed for Chloe and Josef's story!) If you give this series a chance, you won't be sorry.

 

Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.

The Enneagram and the Difference Between Needing and Being

While I was on The Practical Minimalists podcast to talk about the Enneagram last month, I noticed how often I said a type needed to "learn to be." Sometimes it was followed by a particular quality or lesson but often it was the literal state of being. While each type has its own driving need, it also has a pathway for growth which entails us shedding our fears.

When we decide not to listen to our fear anymore, we can begin recognizing we don't need to hide behind a mask in order for people to love and accept us as we are.

We can be ourselves. Fully.

I usually describe the Enneagram this way:

The Enneagram is made up of nine types which are oriented around root struggles. Each type has a corresponding great gift, the yin to their struggle’s yang. The goal of the Enneagram is that as we grow, we will embody more of our type's positive qualities and less of the negative qualities. We will be able to be our best, healthiest selves.

(Not sure what I'm talking about? Read this overview.)

As we embody more of our type's strengths, we're also learning to accept ourselves. And each type does this differently.

Our root struggles happen because of our insecurities and fears. Some types run toward people, while others want to hide. Some types focus on "work" (not necessarily their job) while others center around their image. Some want to keep the peace while others strike first and ask questions later. We may not all care what other people think about us but on a subconscious level, we're all curating the person we want others to see. 

It's exhausting. Our driving need to be needed, to be perfect, to avoid, and so on takes a lot of energy, whether or not we're aware of the pattern. 

Consider how you respond to the words "need" and "be." "Need" suggests some kind of hunger and the lengths we'll go to alleviate it. In contrast, my body almost relaxes at the thought of "be" or "being." It's serene and peaceful. It's a breath of fresh air.

You can also think of "being" as "resting." When we are truly ourselves, we are at rest with ourselves. We accept ourselves and that often means (other healthy) people accept us, too.

So how do we learn how to be? Let's take a look at each type.

 

Type One: The Need to Be Perfect

Ones have a driving need to live their life the Right Way. Their idea of the Right Way, that is. This results in overly high expectations for themselves and for others. Ones are their own worst critic and constantly review their actions and thoughts for how they stack up against their ideals.

Healthy Ones recognize and accept imperfections and mistakes are a part of life. Erring doesn't mean they're bad or defective. They accept themselves, imperfections and all. They trust their loved ones will do the same.

 

Type Two: The Need To Be Needed

Twos are driven to be close to others but can slip into doing things for others in order to be needed. They see themselves as loving, well-intentioned people and believe they know what's best for everyone around them. But beneath that is the fear they're unworthy of being loved.

Healthy Twos recognize they don't need to help everyone else in order to be loved. They can help others for others' sake and put up boundaries where appropriate. They can prioritize their own needs. They can trust they are enough.

 

Type Three: The Need To Succeed

In their quest to succeed, Threes identify with a particular self-image they believe is more acceptable than their authentic selves; they can grow out of touch with who they are and what they really want. They become more concerned with doing or being whatever they believe will make them feel worthwhile, which can lead to a cycle of workaholism and competitiveness. No achievement is ever quite enough.

Healthy Threes realize the most important thing is to be their true selves. They don't have to earn love and acceptance through their achievements. They can rest in who they are.

 

Type Four: The Need To Be Special 

Fours want to avoid ordinariness. They fear they have no identity or personal significance and expend a lot of energy curating the image they present to the world, one which shows everyone just how different and unique they are. They constantly compare themselves to others, seeing where they fall short.

Healthy Fours know there's nothing wrong with being ordinary. In fact, they find freedom in no longer defining themselves by how different they are. They can rest in the knowledge there's nothing wrong with them. They already have everything they need to be loved and accepted.

 

Type Five: The Need To Perceive 

Fives guard their time, energy, and intellectual property like none other. They want to know and understand everything, in part to be self-sufficient but also to avoid looking foolish. This can lead to isolation and a lack of self-care.

Healthy Fives understand they already have what they need. They recognize how their single-minded focus in amassing knowledge or expertise can wind up keeping their loved ones at bay. They are able to see the world in a new way, one that's filled with possibility and those who care about them.

 

Type Six: The Need To Be Secure

Sixes are anxious and unsure of how to make decisions, avoid danger, and move forward in life. They need to have certitude and reassurance- from their loved ones and from authority figures. They don't trust their own abilities.

Healthy Sixes are able to accept not knowing the outcome of things. Instead of always scanning the horizon for danger, they become fully present and grounded in the moment. They trust they'll be able to handle the ups and downs of life.

 

Type Seven: The Need To Avoid Pain

Sevens try to fill up their emptiness with exciting experiences; they can become excessive in every area of life. They have difficulty distinguishing between their wants and needs. They'd rather focus on the next fun thing than deal with painful emotions or circumstances.

Healthy Sevens learn how to become present to their pain in order to move through it. They realize life is a gift and they have more than their fair share of blessings.  They know they don't have to be the life of the party to be loved.

 

Type Eight: The Need To Be Against

Eights are drawn toward intensity and control. They hate feeling weak or dependent and avoid it at all costs. They like to test boundaries and often believe rules were made to be broken.

Healthy Eights know how to be vulnerable with those who love them. They trust people- at least, their loved ones- are not out to get them. They are able to feel deeply benevolent toward themselves, others, and the world.

 

Type Nine: The Need To Avoid

Nines avoid anything that will upset inner tranquility. They tend to be complacent, simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting. They resist putting out energy to being fully here.

Healthy Nines are empowered to participate dynamically in their lives. They trust people will still care about them when they assert their opinions. They play a powerful role in creating a healing, harmonious environment for themselves and others. 

 

 

If you take away anything from reading this, let it be this: You. Are. Enough.

You are worthy of love and acceptance simply because you're you.

Working through your type's pitfalls will help you grow into accepting these truths. It's not easy. There's a reason we developed these patterns to protect ourselves, after all. When we let go of our needs, our driving motivations, we open ourselves up to a new way of approaching life and, in return, we can experience a healthier relationship with ourselves and with others. 

 

Related:

Favorite Books On The Enneagram

Review: They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery

They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement- Wesley Lowery

 

Synopsis

A deeply reported book that brings alive the quest for justice in the deaths of Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and Freddie Gray, offering both unparalleled insight into the reality of police violence in America and an intimate, moving portrait of those working to end it.

Conducting hundreds of interviews during the course of over one year reporting on the ground, Washington Post writer Wesley Lowery traveled from Ferguson, Missouri, to Cleveland, Ohio; Charleston, South Carolina; and Baltimore, Maryland; and then back to Ferguson to uncover life inside the most heavily policed, if otherwise neglected, corners of America today.

In an effort to grasp the magnitude of the repose to Michael Brown's death and understand the scale of the problem police violence represents, Lowery speaks to Brown's family and the families of other victims other victims' families as well as local activists. By posing the question, "What does the loss of any one life mean to the rest of the nation?" Lowery examines the cumulative effect of decades of racially biased policing in segregated neighborhoods with failing schools, crumbling infrastructure and too few jobs.

Studded with moments of joy, and tragedy, They Can't Kill Us All offers a historically informed look at the standoff between the police and those they are sworn to protect, showing that civil unrest is just one tool of resistance in the broader struggle for justice. As Lowery brings vividly to life, the protests against police killings are also about the black community's long history on the receiving end of perceived and actual acts of injustice and discrimination. They Can't Kill Us All grapples with a persistent if also largely unexamined aspect of the otherwise transformative presidency of Barack Obama: the failure to deliver tangible security and opportunity to those Americans most in need of both.

They Can't Kill Us All is a galvanizing book that offers more than just behind-the-scenes coverage of the story of citizen resistance to police brutality. It will also explain where the movement came from, where it is headed and where it still has to go.

 

Buy The Book Here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

My Review - 5 Stars

Like many, I first remember encountering Washington Post journalist Wesley Lowery in the days after Michael Brown was killed by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO. I was glued to Twitter, hungry for information to counter the helplessness and anger I felt. He was one of the first journalists on the ground and his observations and insights were immeasurable. And that was before he and fellow journalist Ryan Reilly were arrested by the Ferguson police in an act of intimidation. 

When I found out Lowery had written a book, I knew I wanted to read it but I wasn't sure what the experience would be like. After all, this is not a light topic. This book blew me away. I could not put it down. It's incredibly engaging and riveting. We learn more about Lowery's background, as well as how his journalism career began. We see the string of events that sent him to Ferguson and how coverage there- combined with Twitter- changed everything. We see how his coverage of Mike Brown then led to covering the many other senseless killings since by those sworn to protect us. Lowery intersperses this by spotlighting the activists he met along the way, many of whom I was familiar with but did not know much about beyond their tweets. He also looks at the history that formed this narrative of police violence (for a more in-depth look, I recommend The New Jim Crow.) 

All this is compelling enough but I particularly appreciated Lowery's perspective as a journalist. Why he covered things the way he did. The mistakes he made. (He addresses a specific tweet in which his bias showed. I hadn't really thought about the way journalists use Twitter before.) How covering the deaths of People of Color affected him as a POC, especially when so few officers are held accountable even in the face of video proof.  

This is an important book. It's one of the books I wish everyone would read. Especially those who don't understand the events in Ferguson, the Black Lives Matter movement, or how it's possible to advocate for justice within the police system while valuing the work the police do. For those who do understand all of those things, this will serve as a reminder of the events of the past few years and why it's important to continue fighting for justice for Trayvon, Mike, Eric, Sandra, and too many more names who have been added to the list.

 

Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.