You Go Girl series

Over the weekend I was watching CW39 ,here in Houston,  that Wonder Woman was the highest grossing superhero origin story,more women are running for political office than ever before,and #Metoo sparked a lot of conversations about sexual harrassment . What does this have to do with the Mindy Kaling book?

    I thought this book would be a great beginning to my You Go Girl series.The You Go Girl Series is basically  a chance to highlight the female authors, who demonstrate courage,talent,strength, and /or determination. These are not the in depth book reviews I try to do, just something that celebrates being a woman in a positive way. I'm not anti-male, or a feminist per se. I just want to focus on writing by female writers who I think are great☺.
That said I've always liked Mindy Kaling when she was on the Office.Imagine my surprise when I found out she wrote some of the episodes. I watched every episode of The Mindy  Kaling show before it went to Hulu ,and I am glad I finally got around to reading this book. It is laugh out loud funny. They are essays about different experiences in her life, not in that traditional autobiography format.
This will be on ongoing series,that may even include fictional female characters who are courageous, talented ,strong and/or determined. I am still figuring that part out.

The morning after....Love by Kattie M. Cumbo(poem)

  Clouds fill the sky
The breeze is cool
Work a demanding task

    I walk

My mind is relaxed
My body, remembering
The morning after love

A feeling fills my heart
Like a cup of calm black
Mist, refreshing

          I walk
A new day remembering
For a short spell
Your embrace.

Life trying to take on new
Meaning, a dirty world reaching
                      For lustre
I smell chrysanthemums from
              Tomorrow months.
And blinding rain drops smell
                     Of perfume
On the morning after...Love
                   I walk

The Life I led by Nikki Giovanni (poem)

i know my upper arms will grow
flabby it's true
of all the women in my family
i know that the purple views
like dead fish in Seine
will dot my legs one day
and my hands will wither while
my hair turns grayish white I know that
one day my teeth will move when
my lips smile
and a flutter of hair will appear
below my nose I hope
my skin doesn't change to those blotchy
colors

i want my menses to be undifficult
i'd  very much prefer staying firm and slim
to grow old like a vintage wine fermenting
in old wooden vats with style
i'd like to be exquisite  I think

i will look forward to grandchildren
and my flowers  all my knickknacks in their places
and that quiet of the bombs not falling on Cambodia
settling  over my sagging breasts

i hope my shoulder finds a head that needs nestling
and my feet find a footstool after a good soaking
with Epsom salts

i hope I die
warmed
by the life I tried
to live

Book review Dictionary of Mutual Understanding by Jackie Copelton

SYNOPSIS
Ama survived the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945.Her husband  Kenzo   has died, leaving her a widow . A widow who drinks to medicate the pain from her past. Until a strange man comes to her door one day ,claiming  to be Hideo  , her grandson who died in the bombings all those years ago. Even though this would be a refuge from the loneliness she is prisoner of caution, making it difficult for her to accept the possibility.  Could this be a refuge from the loneliness.? Could this be a Trick?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jackie Copelton taught English in Nagasaki and Sapporo. Worked as a journalist  in the UK and the Middle East. She holds a Masters in Literature  in Creative Writing.  Currently  lives in Glasgow  Scotland with her husband.
MY IMPRESSIONS
I loved the way the author described the aftermath of the bombings. It's  set at a time most of us wouldn't be privy to, but you feel the weight of loss and sadness pressing down on you as if,someone placed a wet heavy blanket on your shoulder You can al ost feel the dust. You are horrified by what they discover.
    Also the hatred Ama  has for Takei  ,her former lover ,is palatable. But for about 2/3 thirds of the book you don't know why exactly.  Is she just a jilted ex or the victim of something?  So when you do finally find out it makes sense, , like someone putting in the last piece of that 500 piece jigsaw puzzle. I felt that Ama'so character was justified.  I don't want to give away anymore plot points other than to say definitely read this book. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars

The Girl Who was Saturday Night by Heathers ONeill

The first 50 pages were a struggle... but it began to get interesting as to why Nicholas hasn't done anything to support his child outside petty thievery. Noscha,  his sister ,is tired of being a former minor celebrity. She can see the truth of who they are. She begins to make changes like going to night school, but not easy undertaking. Their Grandfather who has cared for them all their lives,may have dementia, and Nicholas  may not support any real changes...it would mean he would have to change.  Here is an excerpt from the book "There is nothing as frustrating as being consumed with rage over someone and knowing that you aren't even on their mind. You want your enemy to be engaged in a struggle until the death with you. Otherwise you are fighting yourself. I mean we are essentially only in wars against  ourselves,  but we don't like it to be painfully obvious. "  This is in reference to their mother who left them with the grandfather  and has went on to get married and have kids. There Dad pops in and out . It's  funny how bonds can former in a dysfunctional families.
    Can you transcend a rough start in life? Do you have to saba together yourself in order to maintain these bonds?  I ended up giving this book away but I wished I hadn't  because I like the characters and that it takes place in Canada. I give it 4 out of 5 stars

Adore by Prince

I just wanted to share some of the lyrics to my all time favorite artist Prince Rogers Nelson. Tonight there will be a tribute on the Grammy's  so I felt it would be nice to give a tribute to the on the blog.
Chorus: Until the end of time I ll be there for you .U own my heart and mind. I truly adore you.If God One Day Struck me blind
Your beauty I'd still see. Love is to weak to define. Just what you mean to me.

Now I'm not a music critic by any shape , form or fashion but I feel like these lyrics are timeless. You don't have to be a giddy teenager to get the depth of love he felt for the person in the song(/maybe Sheila E?) Happy.Valentines Day everyone in advance

Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day by Nikki Giovanni

        Here is one of my all time favorite poem by my all time favorite poet ! I had bought the book years ago. I have her collected poems and on Spotify you can actually hear the poet in her calm , cool , way deliver it. If you haven't heard it I  would highly recommend it. I also think a mark of a good poet is someone that can see a common aspect of our humanity such as loneliness and also help us embrace the parts were not to fond of or would talk about in polite circles. A good poet maybe even an extraordinary  scribe or wordsmith is willing to take that risk.  A good poet can relate with honesty  the human condition. I hope you enjoy the poem.