More Reviews...A long time comin'

Yesterday, I Cried by Iyanla Vanzant

I have been watching Starting Over for both seasons now. Iyanla is one of the life coaches and, therefore, I started getting interested in what she's all about. In this book, Iyanla tells us about her life, from age 2 on up. Her honesty reminded me somewhat of Maya Angelou's. She pulls no punches in exposing, not only the negative things that she has gone through, but also the negative things she has put other people through; that she has hurt others, been selfish, etc.
It's a really positive book, in which the author shows the reader that (no matter what) you can always learn from your mistakes...In fact, they are some of your most important life lessons....and that you can grow, regardless.

The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou

The fourth installment of Angelou's memoirs is "The Heart of a Woman." I loved this installment, because it chronicles the beginning of Angelou's writing career, when she moves to New York and gets involved with the Harlem Writers Guild, becomes a political activist, and starts working for the SCLC. This book was just as great as the other installments and is definitely worth reading, even if it's just for the celebrity "sightings" in the book, ranging from Billie Holiday to James Earl Jones, to Malcolm X.

Violets are Blue by James Patterson

I love James Patterson books. They are usually an easy, exciting read. "Violets are Blue" did not let me down. In this one, we once again meet up with Detective Alex Cross (think "Kiss the Girls") and some strange murders. All the bodies found seem to be covered in bite marks, reminiscent of those of a large cat. In any case, we get thrown into a world of vampire murders and mystery. If you want a quick, fun, exciting read, I'd say this book can do the trick. If you're looking for something with a bit of character development and depth, it's a no-no.

Better than Beauty: A Guide to Charm

This littke guide was first published in 1938 and is itself rather charming. In the book you can find large amounts of tips, tricks, and hints to boost your charm quotient straight through the roof. It features the original drawings and was delightfully funny to go through, especially now that I'm taking a class called Psychology of Gender and Sexuality. This guide explains a lot about our gender-role expectations. If you ever come across this guide, just leaf through it for a laugh!

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi

I have never read a novel that so cleverly intertwined literary criticism, political thought, and memoirs simultaneously. Through Azar Nafisi's (and her student's) eyes, we come to get a new experience of living under an oppressive regime. We learn about the fear that people were living under. At the same time, though, we also see the transformative power of art and literature and that, even when we think it is all a lost cause, it isn't.
I could very much so identify with the author, who uses these books and these authors as an escape out of her own world. This novel is a must-read!!!