When I was a kid, I read for the sheer joy of…#winning. Sure, at some point I really enjoyed reading – the adventure and escape of it all…but somewhere around the fourth grade that all changed when ya girl realized you could win the AR jackpot if you read enough books! AR was the “Accelerated Reader” program. I’m guessing that AR probably still exists; back in my day, you would read a book, said book would be worth a certain number of points, and after successfully passing a quiz about the book you’d rack up points. Yes, you’re reading the words of the reigning 4th grade champion of a Southern elementary school…well, maybe not the reigning champion. Hahahaha.
My disdain for reading began shortly after those days when I entered the dreaded AP (Advanced Placement) courses that required – you guessed it – a lot of reading that wasn’t fun. Fast forward a cool 12 years (remember I’m still 29, cuz) and a good friend of mine low-key-high-key challenged me to get back into reading. It all started with a birthday list…
Him: What would you like for your birthday?
Me: I’ll send you my list. Thanks so much!
Him: What about the books?
Me: There are no books on my list -_-
Him: What type of books do you like?
*Me in my head* What part of there are no books on my list don’t you understand??
Me in real life: Biographies, autobiographies, memoirs…that sort of thing.
One week later…2 autobiographies arrived in my mailbox. *Cue shocked music*
It didn’t hurt that most things were still shut down or open in a limited capacity so I decided to start reading the lil’ books he sent over. Then, something unexpected happened…I couldn’t stop reading! Ha! If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see pictures of some of the books I’ve been reading lately. I tend to be more of an overachiever naturally so I typically read at least 2-3 books at a time.
1)The Bible of course.
– In the New Testament but I be all over the place in my Bible reading. The other day I decided to read through parts of Genesis again. Juicy stuff! I really am enjoying listening to the Word at night and letting it play while I’m asleep. Anybody else do that? You should try it!
2) An Indian among Los Indígenas: A Native Travel Memoir by Ursula Pike
– Like most people, I am part Native American (it’s true! My grandma has stories and if you see her, you’d KNOW). Cherokee. It’s a piece of my heritage that I haven’t really explored but have always been fascinated by…but that’s a story for another day. I was intrigued by this story because it’s written by a Native woman who served in the Peace Corps among the native Bolivians. She explores all the emotions surrounding this from feeling like an outsider among people who she thought she’d identify with easily to wondering what it means to be part of a governmental agency from a country that has mistreated her people for generations. I’m only on like page 42 so I have a ways to go.
3) Throw the First Punch: Defeating the Enemy Hell-Bent on Your Destruction by Beth Guckenberger
– Baybeeeee…this book right here. The small group Bible study I’m in is reading this. It’s a book about spiritual warfare and living a victorious Christian life. This book is SO GOOD and JUSTTTT what I needed at this moment in my life! Instead of always reacting and having to fight the enemy, why not be proactively prepared so that you can walk in #victory? Check it out! It’s life changing!
4) Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen Book by Jose A Vargas
– I picked this book up from the library (where I get 99% of my books) during Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (yes, I owe them their book back…as soon as either they stop auto-renewing it or I finish it *shrugs*). Initially, I was confused as to why this Latino’s book was being featured…then I realized that there is no accent over the “e” in “Jose” and that this guy is from the Philippines! I’d missed the memo on the Spanish influence on the Philippines when I was trying to learn Tagalog (another story for another day). This book is very interesting. This guy went from not knowing that he was undocumented to becoming one of the most famous (supposedly) undocumented people in the United States!
What are you reading?