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(Note: I can go on and on about different books I'd recommend, and these are only some of my most recent reads...I'll work on creating updates of past reads and new reads later.)

Nonfiction:

Wind at My Back by Misty Copeland

This was probably the most inspiring books I've ever read. It's not only about Misty Copeland, the first principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater, but her mentor, Raven Wilkinson, the first African American woman to dance for a major ballet theater. Learning about Wilkinson came at a time when I was feeling a lot of dread and self-doubt about what direction my life was going in, and as cheesy as it sounds, it really did give me a feeling of, "If she could survive and thrive despite the barriers and hatred in her path, I can survive what I'm going through now." This is one I knew I had to buy when I completed it (I'm trying read as many books from the library first before spending money), because I'm sure it's a message I'm going to need again and again."

Uncultured: A Memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young

This one can be very hard to read at times, but I think it's worth it. Daniella Mestyanek Young grew up in the Children of God cult and eventually escaped and joined the US military. She is now a cult scholar and classifies the US military a cult as well based on her experience and her studies.

Reading this book reframed a lot of things for me. Things that our current society deems as normal but that we should really be questioning. I believe this is a very important read, but proceed carefully. The author does share her experiences being sexually assaulted (including the time she was just a child).

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

This too is a very hard one to read at times. Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned writers for a reason. Her writing style is incredibly beautiful and she pulls you both into her memories shaped by racism, abandonment, and abuse. It his her journey to self-acceptance and resilience. Much like Copeland's book, I think it is well worth a read, especially if you need to be inspired. However, much like Young's book, proceed carefully. Angelou does share her experience being sexually abused as a child.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

This is a bit of an anti-self-help book. While it very much provides lessons in pulling oneself up, Manson is not promising miracles. Instead, Manson wants readers to understand their limitations and set realistic standards and goals. It delivers a very blunt message that comes off as crass, but definitely not from a mean-spirited place--Yes, you can live a great, fulfilling life; No, it will probably not involve marrying the Hollywood heartthrob or being loved by everyone. The book is probably going to be very much challenging for younger readers with little life experience, readers with entitlement issues, and readers who haven't learned to question why their desires are their desires (for example: Why do they feel their life is meaningless without material possessions and an unrealistic romance straight out of a romcom?) However, more mature readers can appreciate the hard hitting lessons Manson provides in this book.

Fiction

The Bombshell Devil's Advocate by Nikkita Bell

This is the first book of what is to become a series, and I am so excited to see where it's going to go!

I am such a sucker for stories where the perception of who is actually "good" is challenged. The protagonist of the story, October Winters, is undeniably bad. Unquestionably. In fact, my copy of this book is signed by the author (Nikkita Bell) who told me this herself. How bad? Well, the devil grants her immortality in exchange for delivering souls to him, and she complies happily (and does not discriminate between good or bad souls). This story follows what happens when she stops delivering on her side of the deal.

I am a big fan of how Bell developed this character and fleshed her out with a sympathetic backstory but does not shy away from the fact that she is still not a good person. On top of all this? She's still interesting and charming. And on that earlier note? I feel like Bell did a good job of challenging our perceptions of who we might automatically perceive as "the good guys." The story includes "Nephilim"--half angel/half human demon hunters--who we might normally view as morally superior. However, in this story, we see that they too are flawed.

Tar Baby by Toni Morrison

I don't think it's an unpopular opinion that in order to understand Morrison, you have to read her work slowly. She doesn't write the kind of stories that are meant to be enjoyed in a single afternoon. You have to take your time.

This particular story has strong themes of colonialism, systemic racism, and cultural assimilation (to name a few). One of the things I really appreciate about this story is that each character has their own complexities, and even the ones you think you are going to hate are fleshed out. No character is completely wrong but every character is guilty of major flaws. But Morrison treats their flaws with nuance which encourages a bigger discussion of how class, culture, race, identity, and colonialism intersect and affect how we see ourselves and how we are "placed" in society.

When the Night Bells Ring by Jo Kaplan

I literally just finished this one. This horror novel includes themes of environmentalism, colonialism, and greed.

This story is half about two women traveling east to escape the total destruction of California wildfires that leave SoCal completely inhabitable and half about the wife of a disgraced snake oil salesman turned miner trying to settle into her unfamiliar surroundings of Virgil, a small mining town in the Nevada desert. The two women of the present day go into the mine in search of water and find themselves trapped and they find the journal of the woman who once lived in the deserted town. As they learn more about the town and the mine they are in, it starts to become increasingly clear they are not alone in the mine.

I don't want to say too much about what is in the mine with them, because I don't want to give too much away, but definitely give this a read if you're a fan of gothic dread in your horror! As a warning, though, the book does kind of start slow, but once they find the journal, it really picks up.