#thepensivebookworm

One of the things I cherish most about my childhood is the weekly habit my mom and I had of going to Target, usually on Saturday mornings. We'd each get a fountain Coke and a pretzel, and even if all we bought was her weekly People Magazine, it was always a wonderful hour we spent together...and it's become something I try to do with my daughter as often as possible. As she gets older, it happens more often. When we were there Tuesday night this week, I saw this book. I read the first page and considered buying it, but ultimately put it back on the shelf, deciding not to spend the money - I wasn't sure it was the right expenditure of funds. But I haven't been able to stop thinking about that first page for the last two days. So I decided to dash up there tonight after making some hard decisions yesterday and today. I'm at a crossroads in my career. As close as I am to having the moon in my backyard (as my amazing friend @fruitsjt always encouraged me to do), I'm realizing there may be pieces I have to downsize. And part of why I'm downsizing is because, for the first time, I know my worth. (Thanks, @desertroze69 for reminding me!) I want this trend to continue. I want all the love that Jason and Nick have poured into me, their years of effort encouraging me to achieve my dreams, to mean something. And to do that, I need a little help stopping the burnout cycle I so often find myself in. Partially due to trauma, yes, but our culture is undoubtedly a contributing factor. So, stay tuned - I expect I'll tear through this one quickly! ... #ThePensiveBookworm #DontAskLiv #bookblogger #bookstagram #bookbloggersofinstagram #stress #burnout #keeptalkingmentalhealth #traumarecovery #work https://www.instagram.com/p/CTV2wn7rxB4/?utm_medium=tumblr

Have you ever read a book, a total work of #fiction, and thought, "Whoa, this is SO my story!" or "This #character is me!"? Last summer, I was re-reading Gone with the Wind—my all-time favorite book. And as I read, I realized that, in a lot of ways, I am the Scarlett O’Hara in my story. Not solely because I’m the heroine of my story, but because for much of 2020, I found myself caught between an Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler all of my own. ... Read more on #ThePensiveBookworm! New post up now on #wordpress. ... #ThePensiveBookworm #GoneWithTheWind #ScarlettOHara #RhettButler #AshleyWilkes #romance #bookchat #bookblogger #bookblog #histfic #historicalfiction #bloggersofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookquote https://www.instagram.com/p/CQgQshjrjsu/?utm_medium=tumblr

Remember my post about reading GONE WITH THE WIND in times of stress? I bought ANNIE, BETWEEN THE STATES in maybe fourth or fifth grade at the @scholasticbookfairs at St. Mary's Catholic School. This book was my adolescent GONE WITH THE WIND, so to speak, and as an adult, I noticed that one of the reviews of L.M. Elliot's book compares it to Margaret Mitchell's. I suppose I've always found solace in stories of survival with strong heroines. ❤ It's been a rough few weeks here, and as much as I want to read something, I just don't want to have to think too hard about what I'm reading. I need a literary escape, and today, this one caught my attention; I keep this book on my "favorites" shelf on my nightstand. Opening the cover today feels like sliding in to a favorite sweater - familiar, safe, comfortable. I stand by GONE WITH THE WIND as my favorite book...but before I discovered it, I turned to ANNIE, BETWEEN THE STATES. This will be an afternoon well spent. ... #ThePensiveBookworm #bookblogger #book #bookchat #AnnieBetweentheStates #LMElliot #GoneWithTheWind #MargaretMitchell #bookbloggersofinstagram #fiction #MiddleGrade #MG #YoungAdult #YA #history #historicalfiction #americanwarbetweenthestates https://www.instagram.com/p/COTQkfUr078/?igshid=3kiucfxa9gbx

I think today is the day I make some time in my schedule to read this one. ... #ThePensiveBookworm #oprahmeghanharry #thefirm #nonfiction #nonfictionbooks #windsor #royal #royalty #duke #duchess #sussexroyal #blacklivesmatter #keeptalkingmentalhealth https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKMY6BnvUD/?igshid=1frghnafj8jl0

Years ago, my dream was to become a high school English teacher. I wanted to work with at-risk youth to help them see the power of literacy, the wondrous adventures books can take you on, and to understand that your mind can enable even a caged bird to sing. That didn't happen. Instead, I became a writer and editor, one who helps to tell stories of surviving the unimaginable. Memoirs of abuse. Political essays to encourage legislators to act. Fantastical stories that open the reader's mind to worlds beyond our own. And, hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I'll have a chance to make a piece of my original dream come true. One of my teacher friends has an elementary student who has decided she wants to be a writer when she grows up. I can't wait to tell her that, by filling her notebook with a story of her own, she already is one. While I wait for confirmation that I'll be able to speak with her about being a writer, I decided to read a couple of books from the series she's currently reading - "I Survived" by Lauren Tarshis. And then I picked up another book that same teacher friend recommended. The power of literacy is in its ability to connect us with people, places, and eras we may never have otherwise known. And the beauty of literacy? We can provide that opportunity for others, too. I can't wait to see where these books take me, and I'm so excited to see where her pen takes her. ❤ ... #ThePensiveBookworm #ISurvived #elementary #reading #bookblogger #bookchat #bookbloggersofinstagram #literature #literacy #literacymatters #edwardtulane https://www.instagram.com/p/CMImFrHH0mm/?igshid=1mq0gsfzb3at7

When life gives me stress, I get myself books. Over the past few months, I've been watching HAMILTON a lot...almost as much as I watched TITANIC as a teen (see my Gone with the Wind post from 2/6/21). As DOE matters have unfolded, as my career has reached new heights, I've been able to look at myself in the mirror with some pride, and I've found that I relate to the Alexander Hamilton depicted in the musical. 🎶 "How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore And a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot In the Caribbean by providence impoverished In squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar? The ten-dollar founding father without a father Got a lot farther by working a lot harder By being a lot smarter By being a self-starter By fourteen, they placed him in charge of a trading charter And every day while slaves were being slaughtered and carted away Across the waves, he struggled and kept his guard up Inside, he was longing for something to be a part of The brother was ready to beg, steal, borrow, or barter Then a hurricane came, and devastation reigned Our man saw his future drip, dripping down the drain Put a pencil to his temple, connected it to his brain And he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain Well, the word got around, they said, this kid is insane, man Took up a collection just to send him to the mainland Get your education, don't forget from whence you came And the world is gonna know your name What's your name, man?" 🎶 As a kid, I wished for a movement like the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. I wanted a cause to believe in so much I was able/willing to march on Washington, write letters, and effect change. A year ago, the shot heard 'round the world was fired in the form of a phone call. That moment started a movement. Just you wait. We're rising up already. ... #ThePensiveBookworm #DOE #policyreform #policychange #sexualharassment #sexualassault #justice #feminism #feminist #history #historiansofinstagram #alexanderhamilton #hamiltonmusical #myshot #elizahamilton #elizabethschuyler #elizabethschuylerhamilton #foundingfather #novel #biography #revolution #education #metoo #metoomovement #civilrightsmovement https://www.instagram.com/p/CLj9r1Qn5lh/?igshid=l5shtchgvvof

Over the past four-plus years, many have compared Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, which I agree is an insult to Hitler, who at least had an organized plan. Really, thinking about Hitler now reminds me of what Ollivander said to Harry when describing Lord Voldemort: “Terrible, but great.” Hitler accomplished horrific feats that should absolutely never be forgotten. Equally important is the manner is which Hitler built his empire; Hitler began with a state in chaos not unlike the way Trump has fostered the current climate in the United States. Many government officials have said it’s essential that Trump be impeached (again) for his actions that led to the attempted coup on January 6, stating a precedent must be set to protect our country. I agree and am looking solemnly forward to watching the proceedings this afternoon. If there are no consequences for Trump’s actions, that gives legal grounds for any future dictator-wannabe to do the same; for the sake of our nation, we cannot let that happen. I’m reading The Diary of Anne Frank next because I want to know a little more about the type of reality my kids could grow up in if we don’t save America. I want to see, through one adolescent, eyewitness account, what life was like under strict, nationalistic, cruel rule. Because it's no longer unfathomable that such a reality could become ours in the twenty-first century. In fact, it never was unfathomable. Because it’s already happening, it’s been happening—and we have to learn from not-so-distant history to prevent its repetition. Read more on my #bookblog, #ThePensiveBookworm. Link in bio. 👆🏼 #martinlutherking #martinlutherkingjr #justice #nojusticenopeace #blacklivesmatter #ThePensiveBookworm #impeachment #dcriots #capitolriots2021 #georgefloyd #breonnataylor #treyvonmartin #tamirrice #civilrights #policebrutality #martinniemöller #annefrank #thediaryofannefrank #thefaultinourstars #14thamendment #25thamendment #democracy https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6SZ-9noKM/?igshid=torpssdrtm27

When I started the Amazon/Goodreads 100 Must-Read Books in a Lifetime list in January of this year, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Skimming the titles, I recognized several, either because I’d already read them or they were the commonly-used books in films about high school or college—you know, the “coincidental” book the protagonist is reading in their literature class that just so happens to teach them something about the primary conflict in their story? Of the 16 books I read from that list this year, I don't believe all of them are "must read" material. Find out more on my #bookblog #ThePensiveBookworm http://thepensivebookworm.home.blog/2020/12/30/lifetime-reading-list-review-part-1-2020/ #bookblogger #bookchat #bookbloggersofinstagram #harrypotter #harrypotterandthesorcerersstone #harrypotterandtheprisonerofazkaban #jkrowling #thegreatgatsby #fscottfitzgerald #jaygatsby #fahrenheit451 #raybradbury #charlottesweb #ebwhite #tokillamockingbird #harperlee #thehungergames #catchingfire #mockingjay #katnisseverdeen #peetamellark #galehawthorne #suzannecollins #thehandmaidstale #margaretatwood #offred #thehelp #kathrynstockett https://www.instagram.com/p/CJcOQpWnEjw/?igshid=18wia6jbz94y5