Year 4, week 6: Hamilton: The Revolution

This week's book:
Hamilton: The Revolution
By Jeremy McCarter and Lin-Manuel Miranda

This week's book really channels my inner high school theater kid. I was a thespian in high school and did plays when I wasn't at dance practice, which was a lot. I have a secret love for Broadway and showtunes, but it doesn't take over my whole life. 

I originally ordered this book accidentally on eBay before Hamilton came onto Disney+. I thought I was looking at it and I apparently pushed “buy now” instead of bid or whatever. But I am very glad I actually bought the book. I had always wanted to see the show, even tried to convince my family to go to the show the last time we were in NYC, but I could never really justify spending a mortgage payment per ticket. Once I fall in love with a play I kind of become obsessed with it. We have been listening to the soundtrack pretty much since I found it on Amazon Music, and the kids love it. 

The book is done amazingly. It's pretty much a coffee table book sized book with all the Hamilton facts you can pack into a book. The whole play, or rather, all the song lyrics and such are in the book, with many footnotes per song written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It's chock full of theater/history/rap nerdy facts. Between every song or so is part of the story of how the play came about from conception until it's opening night. We get a history of all the principal actors and the major players of the technical side of the play as well. The book is also full of gorgeous photos of the original cast and sets. 

The book was originally way too expensive, even on eBay it was more than I really would have wanted, but if you enjoy the play so very much it's completely worth it. I can't recommend this book enough for anyone, especially people who love the play. 

Year 4, week 5: The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes

This week's book:
The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes
By Elissa R. Sloan

This week's book was my Book of the Month book at some point (I can't remember which month). It was sold as similar to Daisy Jones and the Six, which I loved, and would highly recommend. 

This week's book is the story of Cassidy Holmes told in two time frames: as a young woman in a girl singing group in the late 1990's, and after her death in the present day. We learn about the rise and fall of the band and how Cassidy slowly becomes more and more out of control of her life. 

I'm going to be honest here, I was very disappointed by the book. I always say I need one character I can connect with or relate to, and I just couldn't do that in this book. This is the debut of the author and it kind of shows. When someone is coming out with their first book, they have either been working on it forever and it's amazing (think Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird or John Grisham's A Time to Kill or Andy Weir's The Martian) or they need to keep working on their craft (think Jodi Picolt with Song of the Humpback Whale). 

I don't want to push anyone away from a book, but this wasn't my cup of tea.

Year 4, week 4: How to Be an Antiracist

This week's book:
How to be an Antiracist
By Ibram X. Kendi

This week’s book is a book my husband and I read together for a book group through our church. Every Monday night, I would go to the picnic area at our church (to social distance), and discuss the book a few chapters at a time. Our group was going into such great detail that we ended up slowing down and reading and discussing one chapter a week, and started meeting at one of the book discussion member's blueberry patch. The book was very well written, and I completely understand why it has become such a bestseller. The book group has been meeting for a few years I believe, but this was the first book time i had the time to actually attend the meetings. 

I was glad that this book spoke about new issues that a few of the other books I have read recently facing racism did not. The book deals with legislation and the laws or ways that black people are at a disadvantage compared to white people. The chapters I found the most interesting were the chapters discussing sex and gender. Most of the books I have read recently have only discussed heterosexual black men and hardly ever touched on women or the LGBTQ+ community. 

I have started following the author on social media because his way with words really spoke to my heart. I finally received my copy of his baby board book as well, and we have been reading it to our kids. When I feel lost and don't know much I can do personally to "fix" the world, my sweet husband reminds me that it's our job to make sure we raise understanding, loving young people. I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to educate themselves about racism and racial issues. 

Note from the Hubby: I thoroughly enjoyed this book as well. Most of the books I've tried to read about this topic were either far too dry and read like a thesis, or were out-of-date and failed to capture the events of the past decade. The author did a good job tying his personal anecdotes to his discussion, and he touched on racial topics regarding sexuality, gender, and class that most books and discussions tend to gloss over. I'm sure my words aren't doing this book justice, but I definitely recommend this book. 

Year 4, week 3: Their Eyes Were Watching God

This week's book:
Their Eyes Were Watching God
By Zora Neale Hurston

This week's book is a a classic that I wish I would have read before; I finally just now got around to reading it. I bought my copy a few years ago and I pulled it out of the big box of unread books that sits in our bedroom. 

This year I have really tried to read more books by not only more women, but also non-white authors. This book was written by an African American woman. I started reading the book and then somehow the book sat on my nightstand for a few months and finally I decided that I would listen to the novel as an audio book, and boy am I glad I did. The story is of a woman and the life she lives with the men she loves. 

The story is told so beautifully and the author paints the picture of a story that you can really see inside your mind. I would definitely recommend this novel.