Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to SurviveMaid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie  Land

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am deeply relieved that Stephanie Land moved herself and her daughter from destitution. It proves that perseverance does not cease to exist as a virtue. Stephanie's candor refreshed me. It also led me to recoil when she left her Section 8 apartment to move in with Travis. I think she may have developed a false sense of power. On page 106, she requests that he "take out the trash." This is a home she made no financial contribution towards. Growing up, I always heard that whoever had the money had the power. Stephanie either didn't receive that lesson or became dismissive of it. Nonetheless, her situation degraded into misery.

It is a blessing to know that her life has brightened.




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Frida Kahlo: 'I Paint My Reality'Frida Kahlo: 'I Paint My Reality' by Christina Burrus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Concise and ultrashort. I learned that Diego reignited his affair with Cristina during Frida's voyage to Paris in 1939. The fact that Frida rejoined him in marriage lies beyond my comprehension. How deep a need.

I still love her art and her attractiveness. Her personality and appearance meld to create a fascinating woman. But I wouldn't have wanted her life.




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Monday, June 8, 2020

$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America by Kathryn J. Edin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book deepens empathy, motivation, and clarity. No one would want to begrudge their pleasurable circumstances when reading about the plight of the interviewees. Many of us complain about spending $2 for an inane item but we rarely consider the fact that many Americans exist on 200 cents in a day. Often, it's crucial that they go to bed hungry and live in undignified conditions. Mildew, faulty plumbing, filthy water, and a laundry list of ills haunt these individuals. There are no easy answers to this dilemma. There are solutions; just the problem-solvers don't concern themselves with this issue. Food banks and other veins of charity attempt to cover people's needs.

The wound needs to heal, not be covered with a bandage
.



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The 7 Habits of Rich, Powerful and Famous Bible WomenThe 7 Habits of Rich, Powerful and Famous Bible Women by Rhonda, Burns Lofton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I benefitted immensely from this book. The Widow of Sarepta... I had been aware of Elijah's connection to her. It amazes me that she obeyed a man she did not know and the Lord provided for her and her household. Jochebed defied Pharaoh's orders and preserved her infant son, the baby Moses. Defiance of nonsense proves crucial for people who live under divine order. If you heed foolishness, your life will be uprooted in any direction, without any influence from the Creator's sound presence.

Obedience and diligence wield potently.




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