I Just Want to Watch My Eyelids: A Blogmoir

♠♥

Up.
Again.
Wide awake.
Brewing jasmine tea.
Chamomile oil in the diffuser.
Lights off. TV off. Book closed.
Mind, power down.
Anxiety, be so chill.
Sleep, please come.

  

The Spy

"I don't know why life made me go through so much in so little time." ~ pg. 104

Although born Margaretha Zelle, then later Madame MacLeod through marriage, and H21 by the Germans, I will respectfully refer to her as Mata Hari, the name and independent woman she wishes to be known as.

"When we don't know where life is taking us, we are never lost." ~ pg. 68

Mata Hari left a husband and daughter behind in Holland with no money or belongings. Only a will for freedom since arriving in Paris and becoming a famous dancer shocking audiences. She has been the fascination of men and envy of women. Lover of the richest and most powerful men, however, was her demise. Her lifestyle (and pillow talk) brought her under suspicion. Despite Mata Hari's efforts to escape dependence, conflicts still pursued her.

Being an independent woman was her crime. Mata Hari was accused of espionage. Arrested in 1917 as paranoia consumed a country at war. She was accused of spying for Germany, France and Russia. The Spy is her story told through her voice in a final letter.

"A prostitute, yes. A spy, never!" ~ pg. 111

Paulo Coelho has a distinctive way of weaving a story based on facts and history into an unforgettable tale. Dare I say almost all of Paulo Coelho books are classic status. The Spy is not excluded.

Published in November 2016 and read after I published my Top Books of 2016. Otherwise it would have easily been listed among the best. Alas, let me deem it my first favorite book of 2017.

Title: The Spy
Author: Paulo Coelho
Published: November 2016
Pages: 190
Edition: Hardcover
Challenge: Popsugar—
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡

It's Up to the Women

"We should be able to realize that making up our minds as to what gives us the greatest amount of pleasure and then working for it, is one of the satisfactions of life." ~ 9%

We all have the capability to make a change, no matter our position in life. Eleanor Roosevelt was the longest-serving first lady of the U.S. (1933-1945), an American politician, women's rights activist and the outspoken member of the White House. She was a powerful woman and used her position for the good in a time where women were expected to be silent, stand by their man quietly and not speak in public. Her writing a book in 1933 was shocking to the world.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (ER) gives advice to women of all ages in every aspect of life in her first published book, It's Up to the Women. Written during the Great Depression, she asks women do their part to get through the economic and financial hardship. Topics include hunger, homelessness, working in and outside the home, unemployment, education and independence. She encourages women to play influential roles in their public and private life.

"It is important that women think beyond the mere moment through which we are passing and acquaint themselves with all phases of life and conditions in our own country." ~ 19%

ER was ahead of her time. She was an active First Lady, writing this book during the first year. She toured around the country speaking, was involved in politics and press conferences. She was one of the first women to actively speak up about equal pay for equal work. She rooted for quality education and the right to vote. ER knew the importance of her position as First Lady and stepped outside the box.

It's Up to the Women was first published in 1933. Its next expected publication date is April 11. The content and ER's words are just as relevant today as it was 80+ years ago. I have a sense of self-accountability after reading this re-published book. It is indeed up to us women. We run the world, right? Now, more than ever, we need to act like it.

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: It's Up to the Women
Author: Eleanor Roosevelt
Published: April 2017
Pages: 256
Edition: Galley
Challenge: Popsugar—A Book Set During Wartime
Rating: ♥♥♥♡

Series Sunday: Bending the Rules

(The Wright Brothers #3) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Bending the Rules, the third book in The Wright Brothers series by Christina C. Jones. Best friends Toni and Justin Wright have a blended relationship that mixes business with friendship. As long as they stick to the rules, there is no issue. But then Justin bends the rule and Toni has been mad ever since. When the stars align and Toni is chosen to help Justin with his bestseller book signing, they wonder if it is time to make amends and adjust those rules.

"Nontraditional. Unwilling to be placed in a box." ~ 3%

I only finished Bending the Rules for the sake of finishing the trilogy. By the time I reached this third book, I was kind of over it. I was no longer interested in how the last Wright brother, Justin, was paired with Toni, his best friend since childhood. This is definitely my least favorite of the series. Should you skip it? Hmmm, maybe just save it for a rainy day.

Title: Bending the Rules

Author: Christina C. Jones

Published: November 2016

Pages: 173

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥

 

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"You blame the internet for the whole thing."

~ But Then I Came Back by Estelle Laure 

Lent Goals

Let me start off by saying I am still wiping the sugar crumbs off from a warm paczki. Thank God for Fat Tuesday. Now it is Thursday and we are two (2) days into Lent.

No, I am not Catholic. But I am a Christian member of the Worldwide Church of Snuggie and give tithes to Bedside Baptist. Lent is a sacred time to clear my mind and rid myself of any toxins or negativity. During Lent, I remove things from my life that prevent me from concentrating on my spiritual journey. It is a matter of discipline and a true test of faith.

In previous years, I chose to give up Pepsi or frivolous shopping. This year will be a challenge with a goal. Again, a true test of faith! I am giving up unnecessary spending. This includes fast food, desserts, shoes, clothing, jewelry, books, magazines, accessories, anything I want but do not need. Every time I have an urge to buy something that is a non-necessity, I will transfer the amount it would've cost to my savings account. For example, I was one click away from downloading an eBook today. Instead, I transferred that $6.99 to my savings account. I paid myself, not Amazon. Yesterday, I so wanted to buy a new charm bangle. I said a quick prayer for strength and transferred that money into savings instead. Through this Lent, my goal is to save at least $400 in 40 days. Pray for me!

For those also participating in Lent, please share what you are giving up and goals.

  

Say Nothing

"That was all it took to rip our lives apart. Two minutes and thirty-two seconds." ~ 7%

Judge Sampson has a prestigious job, two healthy kids, a loving wife and a happy routine. For example, every Wednesday afternoon, Judge Sampson leaves the courthouse early to pick up his six-year-old twins for swimming. On one particular Wednesday, his wife, Alison, texts him that she will get the kids from school instead because of a forgotten doctor's appointment. Sure, this is out of the routine but the judge doesn't question it. Not until Alison comes home at 5:52 p.m. without the twins and insisting she never sent the text. So where are Sam and Emma?

What happens next changes the Sampson family's lives: a kidnapper calls. Sam and Emma are being held until the judge rules exactly how he is told in a high-profile case. He's been compromised! Besides following the instructions of the kidnapper, Judge Sampson and his wife are instructed to say nothing or they will never get the twins back. So begins the game of blackmail, suspicions, politics and corruption.

"It was like the fourth-floor hallway had become the lobby of a casino, and a high-stakes game of chance was about to begin. And none of them knew the tables were rigged." ~ 79%

Sometimes it is hard for me to think of the right adjectives to describe a book. Especially when the book is really bad or really, really good. From page one to page 448, Say Nothing had one word going through my mind while reading: unputdownable. Seriously. This book captured me like one of its characters and didn't let go until it was through with me. Say Nothing was the type of novel that I held in my hand while walking, eating and right before sleeping. This is no ordinary kidnapping story.

"At first, maybe, it seems like there's no good explanation for it. Then you start to wonder if there's some deeper reason why one particular arrangement of words has gotten to be so sticky." ~ 70%

This is my first novel read by Brad Parks and I am impressed (so much so that I downloaded his first published novel that received multiple awards). I thought the story would drag out since the book was nearly 500 pages long but Say Nothing was very well-paced. And unlike other long novels, none of the characters annoyed me. No unnecessary wording. No mindless dialogue. No distracting side plots. All interesting and relevant.

Like any good mystery, I tried to figure out whodunnit. I questioned which character was guilty or innocent, which character was truthful or a liar. Some of the actions of the main characters got a side-eye from me. Would I have really said nothing if I were the Honorable Judge Sampson or his wife? Would I have kept secrets hiding my involvement? Would I have done more than comply with instructions while hoping for the safe return of my children? I would certainly have reacted differently to some of the events but that's what kept me interested. Far as who did what, when and why, I was partially right but still surprised at the ending. And when I say "ending," I mean until the very last pages. What a suspenseful ride!

Happy Early Pub Day, Brad Parks! Say Nothing will be available next Tuesday, March 7.

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Say Nothing
Author: Brad Parks
Published: March 2017
Pages: 448
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥