Book bans are taking over America. Even Margaret Atwood wrote about her books being banned in schools, remaining confident that young readers would find a way to a copy of The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s never been easier to access books in the history of humanity. But why are books being banned? What do we hope…
If you’re a millennial like me, you grew up on happy endings peddled by Disney: Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow White… all stories whose climaxes hinged on the heroics of a Prince Charming who isn’t present for most of the story. I now realize there’s a reason their names aren’t even in the titles. The repercussions of growing up with these narratives became apparent as I aged into heterosexual womanhood: Prince Charmings do not exist.
Yet somehow, romance novels continue to tell us otherwise. I think that does both women and men a great disservice. Here’s why.
There are plenty of reasons why film adaptations flop: bad casting, poor direction, unrecognizable plots. I think a lot of the failure comes from the inability to convey everything that a book can. Books are immersive and personal. They deliver an impact in a way that films cannot.
Read this book if you have weathered some storms. I think people particularly coming out of their twenties and been through some shit; those of us now at an age with a certain level of detachment and self-compassion. Some people may call that lack of ambition. I think it is becoming comfortable with who you are and are becoming. I honestly don’t know if I would have appreciated this book as much as I do now if I had read it five or more years ago.
Here are my Three Takeaways on Jedidiah Jenkins’ Like Streams To The Ocean
Read this book if you’re single, dating, seeking partnership, “not looking for a relationship”, or just really tired of dating in general. Every single and non-single person would benefit from this. I think well-meaning friends who are coupled and have single friends should read this, too. The more that coupled people understand that singlehood is not some chronic illness, the better off our social gatherings will be.
Here are my Three Takeaways on Shani Silver’s A Single Revolution.
Read this book if you’re looking for a contemporary, relatable, but critical lens into the everyday experience of being a woman. I highly recommend this to men.*
Here are my Three Takeaways on Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist.
Read this book if you’re looking for a heartwarming, well-paced, humorous novel with lively characters. This book would translate so well into a film. Here are my Three Takeaways on TJ Klune’s The House on the Cerulean Sea!
Read this book if you’re feeling lost in your life or are struggling to navigate difficult decisions. I read this book shortly after my long-term relationship with an amazing partner ended. This book did not assuage the heartache I felt. It did help me get clear on why endings are not always a bad thing. What…
