Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World by Rachel Ignotofsky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am standing in a wider threshold of knowledge due to this lovely book. Miss Ignotofsky has accomplished greatness in her own right just by celebrating the legends. Each rendering proved true to each woman's beauty but still conveyed Rachel's interpretation. A question arose for me: I wonder if Erykah Badu has been influenced by Chakaia Booker? I am disheartened that Sokari Douglas Camp has been ignored by her tribesmen but receives acknowledgment by Britain. My heart feels receptive to reading more books by Rachel Ignotofsky.


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Billie Holiday: The Musician and the Myth by John Szwed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book renewed my intrigue in Lady Day. I loved learning about the descriptions of her personality: "sometimes rough, profane, caustic, and vengeful...witty, kind,and perceptive (107)." Szwed doesn't deny that she had a drug addiction but he doesn't penalize her for her shortcomings. It relieved me. He focused on her legend and her musicianship, for which lovers of Lady Day ought to be grateful.


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The Hard Tomorrow by Eleanor Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this book but it's too short. 167 pages for any book I enjoy is too short. It seems this one wasn't fleshed out enough. What happened with Gabby? What happened with the organization? Did their house ever get built? What did they name their child?

Too many questions that could have been answered.


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Conversate Is Not a Word: Getting Away from Ghetto by Jam Donaldson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Written in a conversational style, Jam Donaldson targets the privileged and disadvantaged members of the black community. She doesn't claim that the black community disregard the inner city. Quite the opposite. We must remember that brilliance has emerged from the plebeian segment of society. Yet, we must discipline ourselves in every facet of our lives to heal our curses. The white man will not save us, we can only save ourselves if we plant love for ourselves and our brethren.

This book had been on my wishlist for at least five years. In the winter of 2019, I bought a copy from thriftbooks.com. I expected it to be longer. She finished the book at a respectable length. The desired audience wouldn't complete it if it exceeded 200 pages.


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Heeding Warren Buffett

In 2019, I read repeatedly about Warren Buffett urging people to read 200 books a year. I am enamored of the written word. Here's  recent history of my bibliophilia:

2017: 98 books
2018: 103 books
2019: 81 books

These feats were accomplished via hardcovers and softcovers. Ebooks and audiobooks hold no charm.

I have set the bar for 2020 at 200 books. So far, I have read 7 books.

Wish me success on this endeavor!

Sincerely, Harriet by Sarah Winifred Searle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I related to Harriet because of her loneliness and invisible disability. Harriet's an only child who yearns for friends and eagerly writes letters to Hannah, who doesn't respond. Hannah's friend Ashley sends Harriet a letter imploring her to stop writing letters. Blessings for Harriet come with the presence of her loving and attentive parents plus a sweet-tempered neighbor

I don't intend to give the entire story away. But I will say, I wanted it to be longer and hope endures for Harriet.


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Midlife Mavericks: Women Reinventing Their Lives in Mexico by Karen Blue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This slender book had been languishing on my shelves for more than five years. I am glad I got around to it. Nothing too probing. It's enchanting and could influence many women to move to Mexico or anywhere else in the world.

If you are a woman who feels insipid and distressed about American life, read this book and learn about women who initiated their joy by moving to Mexico.


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3 quotes to heed from Midlife Mavericks by Karen Blue

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. 
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

If you have to support yourself, you had bloody well better find some way that is going to be interesting. And you don't do that by sitting around wondering about yourself. ~Katharine Hepburn

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.~Henry Brooks Adams  


I gleaned these quotes from Midlife Mavericks by Karen Blue. I bought this book more than five years ago and now I am reading it! Book 5 of the 200 books I intend to read this year. The 200 books in a year challenge inspired by Warren Buffett.