Reading, Writing, and Me

Our Stories, Our Voices  edited by Amy Reed (August 14) Overall: 5 I find anthologies really interesting to read. I love reading books that combine so many ideas and prospectives smashed together into a single story. This book has the cohesion an anthology needs to work. Though the book speaks about race, religion, sexual assault, and other topics that deeply affect our society, they are tied together by the common thread of injustice and overcoming it through empowerment as women in American society. I've never read an essay collection before, and I enjoyed it way more than I'd actually anticipated. I was drawn to the book by the amazing authors attached to the project, but from the first essay, I got excited about hearing all the different perspectives from these authors on pointing out the faults with the world. Because if we stop talking about the shortcomings of society, then we lose. No change will ever come from the silence, and Amy Reed has produced an outcry that ma...

Fresh Ink  edited by Lamar Giles (August 14) Overall: 3  This review is formatted a bit differently because this is an anthology of mainly short stories which makes it a bit tricky to break down. Because of this, I have to grade it as a whole. There are certainly elements of this book that I enjoyed more than others. I love that it was built on the idea of raising marginalized voices and telling stories that feel new. I also enjoyed how they mixed well established authors who will drive the anthology's sales along with emerging writers who are getting their first break here. What I didn't like about this anthology, though, is a problem that arises with a lot of the anthologies I read. It seems like these authors who write amazing novel length books have a hard time slipping into a short form and fall back  on some writing vices that they grind out of their books through tons of revision. Because of this, these stories are less seamless to slip into. Perhaps, if this an...

Words On Bathroom Walls  by Julia Walton (2017) Overview Adam is starting Catholic school, not because he's a practicing Catholic. He couldn't go back to his old school after he experienced an episode caused by his schizophrenia in front of the school. Now, on a new trial drug, Adam is taking on a new school and is hopeful that it will be the cure he needs to maintain his normal life. As part of the monitoring of the experimental drug, he must see a therapist who he refuses to communicate verbally with. Instead, he chooses to send in journal entries. These are his entries, recounting his experiences and symptoms. Overall: 4.5 Characters: 5 I loved Adam. We agree about practically everything from the stupidity of the religious school uniform to our thoughts on old people. I did a lot of laughing and shouting "yes!" (albeit, in my head). His parents are also awesome characters. His mother is super dedicated and understanding of Adam's condition. His stepfather...