My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Katie or Cath or Cat has not come to terms with herself.  She lives a fantasy life in her mind even to the point of not using her real name or telling people where she is from.

When she is fired from her job, she returns home to help her father turn their farm into a camping business.  After not telling him she was fired, her ex-boss shows up at the farm with her family and Katie disguises herself so she doesn’t recognize her. 

A cute story about a young girl, who may be a tad insecure, but has the potential to be a superstar!

The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim by Robert Beck

He tore woman down emotionally and physically.  He brutalized and beat women.  They were his property, strictly to make money for him. 

This is a collection of writings and memories from the life of Robert Beck, aka Iceberg Slim.  He writes short chapters on people that he met in his life.  Actresses, pimps, people walking up to home from the street, Black Panthers, professors, etc…

I must say that this man has truly made a 360-degree turn with his life.  He admits in the beginning that even though he stopped pimping, moving into a different lifestyle still had its challenges but he was willing to keep striving.

Note to take away from this book:

These writing were written in the 70’s and Mr. Beck realized (back then) that black men use other black men as objects to vent their rage and hatred that they feel for the white man.  Why does it feel like this has not changed?  

The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin

Helen and Declan.  Brother and sister. They get along okay.  Helen and mother don’t.  When their father dies when they were young, the relationship between Helen and her mother deteriorated.

Now that her brother is dying, the relationship is redeemed.  When their father died, Helen felt that her mother didn’t try to be loving and consoling to the children.  Helen felt she was too distant.  She held onto these feelings all through her adult life.  It takes a tragic moment to bring the family together under the same roof.