AfterBefore Bones and Books I’ve always thought of books as the foundation of everything—knowledge, escape, curiosity. So many have gone into solidifying who I am today. It wasn’t until reading Freya Sharp’s collection of poetry that I began to think of the books that have shaped my bones. piece by piecei crumble to the floor – Freya Sharp Books like A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle gave me a heroine that I could see myself in. Harry Potter let me bring the joy of reading to my children. The ending of The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth—well, I’m still upset about that. And Deborah Harkness brought the realization that there can be well-written fantasy for adults, not just the under twenty-somethings. In Between These Bones Freya Sharp offers a captivating collection of poetry that dives deep into the essence of self-discovery and personal transformation. The book’s concise, cutting-to-the-bone prose guides you through the thoughts of a young girl growing into a woman, battling to reclaim her power and identity. Sharp’s words takes you into her innermost struggles and offers a view into the journey of finding oneself. Between These Bones explores what shapes us, what we believe, and how we ultimately use that understanding to navigate our lives. you still linger in my mouth like the aftertaste of burnt toast – Freya Sharp From Madeleine L’Engle all the way through to Deborah Harkness, and countless other authors, each of these books left an imprint on me, shaping my identity and influencing my worldview. Freya Sharp’s Between These Bones made me stop and realize just how profoundly literature intertwines with our lives, once again, instilling in me a gratitude for all the authors who are brave enough to share their stories. Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
Author: melissa.m.allen
Hi, There!
Nice to meet you. My name is Melissa.
I’m that rare mix of writer, thinker, and creator – combined into a marketing and communications professional. I have 25+ years of experience bringing the big-picture vision and the small details to life in the nonprofit and for-profit worlds.
Owls: In My Backyard and Books
Forget February – October is the month of love. I love autumn – specifically October. In all the places that I have lived, October is a month of blue skies, crisp air, and an electric energy that holds a hint of the change to come. It’s exciting. Did you know, it’s also the month of love? That is, for owls. In my case, Great Horned Owls. For the past 5 or so years, I’ve been fortunate to have a handful of Great Horned Owls as neighbors. Beginning in October, the mated pair begins their “duets” or mating rituals. It is thrilling to hear them vocalize in the early evening twilight or in the dark dawn before the light has broken. This dance has produced at least 3 sets of owlets. In What An Owl Knows, Jennifer Ackerman provides you with a book journey to understand owls – their hunting skills, communications, and survival adaptations. She takes you into the heart of current research in the field, forest, and cities to try to understand these magnificent creatures. They are secretive masters of disguise, amazing predators, and more connected to environmental changes than most people have realized. Ackerman provides an engaging account of what an owl (might) know through around-the-globe travel experiences. Her flowing prose doesn’t shy away from the science – but delivers it in a personable, easy-to-understand way. If you are interested in learning about our backyard neighbors, I highly recommend reading What An Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman. I can’t wait to see what this year’s October duets will bring come February. 🦉
Book Review: Purpose by Gina Bianchini
Purpose: Design a Community and Change Your Life—A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Purpose and Making It Matter by Gina BianchiniOnlineBookClub.org | Kindle from Amazon⭐⭐⭐ 3 out of 5 stars You might call me a sucker for a good self-help book. I was excited to read Gina Bianchini’s book Purpose. Everything unspoken was said in that first word – I was going to be able to find my Purpose (with a capital P). Of course, I know that one book won’t solve it all and it really is a journey. Yet, maybe this one would get me down the path a bit farther. I also have to admit, I didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the title, Design a Community and Change Your Life—A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Purpose and Making It Matter. It might have helped manage my expectations if I did. (I’m always griping about how no one reads anymore …) In Purpose, Bianchini starts out by offering a 30-day pathway that to help the reader find their purpose(s) and turn it into actionable steps to pursue. I loved how she highlighted that there isn’t only ONE purpose in your life. She points out that the goal is to create a broader vision and work at clarifying the big ideas into actionable steps. Then in the second part of the book, she dives into what her new social community-building platform, Mighty Networks, offers and how it can help you bring your purpose to life in the digital sphere. There it was, the stuff I wasn’t expecting so close to the front of the book. I was initially intrigued by the prospect of an engaging, supportive online community that lifts people up in a way that Bianchini claims Mighty Networks provides. In fact, I’m attempting to discover if I can find that on my own. However, too much of the book was devoted to basically a commercial for Mighty Networks. I did find the questions for the future story and the Purpose 30 practice to be thought-provoking and insightful. To be honest, I personally had trouble consistently following Bianchini’s plan. I am using her questions to help me look at what my purpose could be, and not only for the short-term, but visioning long-term. In short, if you are interested in a different view on how to look at what to do with your life, Purpose by Gina Bianchini does just that. It can complement the many other similar books by other authors on finding your purpose.