In light of current events and social injustices gripling our nation, I want to highlight a few books (1, 2, 3, 4) that help to shed some light on the experiences of women of all colors in our society, as well as books that have been of comfort to me. My hope in sharing this list of book recommendations is that you too, will broaden your perspective and include more diverse books into your reading list. Thank you so much for the opportunity to share. You can purchase these books through the links below, too.
1. All the Women in My Family Sing edited by Deborah Santana–
a beautiful and moving collection of short stories illuminating the experiences of women of color in today’s society. The stories are as diverse as the writers themselves, ranging from from the pressures of being the vice-president of a Fortune 500 Company, to escaping the killing fields of Cambodia, to the struggles inside immigration, identity, romance, and self-worth.
2. Furnishing Forward by Sheila Bridges–
a decorating guide packed full of anecdotes, and humor. Bridges focuses on helping home owners and apartment renters alike, learn to take their space to the next level. Furnishing Forward is a great resource for anyone looking for unique, affordable, and long-lasting decor and furniture suggestions.
3. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban–
a memoir by Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Yousafzai highlights her life story and the assassination attempt that almost took her life at the young age of fifteen. Unfortunately, Malala was targeted because of her activism and dedication to fight for for female education in her country of Pakistan, and because the assassination was not successful, she is commended today for her bravery, and she is seen as a heroine worldwide.
4. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez–
a fiction story that is based on fifteen year old, Maribel who has special needs after suffering from an accident, and her dedicated parents. Because they were unable to get Maribel the care she needed in Mexico, they made the tough They make the tough decision to leave the comfort of their home country in Mexico, relocating to Delaware. The family makes the move to the small, northeastern state to get Maribel the care she needs. Since this story comes from a dual-narrator perspective, readers are able to deeply feel the emotions this book describes so vividly. Maribel and her family share the many challenges they face including struggles throughout their process of immigration, heartbreak, and tragedy. But, they also focus heavily on highlighting the importance of family, resilience, joy and hope.
I hope that you found this list of book recommendations to be inspiring, and educational. You can shop any of these titles below from Amazon. If you decided to read any of these, let me know what your thoughts are on them. I recommend a cozy night in, a glass of wine, a good face mask, and one of these books. Stay healthy, and have a wonderful weekend!
Cheers!
