On Purpose
, The best thing I've done for myself lately was get a library card.
I know I've mentioned it a few times here but it's been so clutch. Not only have I been able to save that $80+ I was spending monthly on books that I would half read, I've been able to somewhat restore my love of reading in a different way. I kind of had got to a place where I was forcing myself to either read a whole book, or get through most of it if I paid for it which started making reading feel like a chore at times or an obligation.
Now, in the month of May alone, I was able to finish four different books and start a fifth. The four books I read throughout the month were:
Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir by Common
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
No One Tells You This by Glynnis Macnicol
Money Diaries by Refinery 29
Next, I am starting By the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey Stein. I've wanted to read this book for awhile, but didn't want to pay the $25 price ticket. Will let you know how it is, but given the description and this interview, I'm confident it's just going to make me silently weep in the pits of my soul that Barack and Michelle are gone. That was also very poetic because I'm hella deep *flips hair.*
Another very great thing that I've done recently that taps into books is listen to Marley Dias on Coach's "Dream it Real Podcast."
Marley is the girl I wish was around when I was growing up. Thankfully, I had parents who made sure a lot of my reading or entertainment was things that I could see myself in, but not everyone was as lucky. Marley started a campaign, 1000 Black Girls when she was 12 so that girls like her could see themselves represented in the literature that they read. On the podcast, she discussed purpose and I smiled my way through the whole episode.
OTHER READS I READ THIS WEEK:
In addition to the books I mentioned, here are a few other reads that I found very interesting this week:
WHAT I LISTENED TO:
During the week, it seems that I was listening to more podcasts than I did music however, I did get a chance to listen to the new album from Raveena, Lucid. I like the album. In general, Raveena's music makes me feel like I want to go get ice cream with a long weave that just keeps blowing in the wind, with a paisley print dress on that is flowy. Her music also makes me want to randomly jump rope with kids when the fire hydrant goes off. Very specific and detailed but her music evokes this real carefree, I'm happy to be in love and alive type of thing. You should listen to it and let me know what you think--it's not a far off description.
Also, I've been listening to a few of my older playlists from last Summer that Spotify keeps and man, my Summer Rewind playlist that is curated from obviously what I listened to last summer is a vibe. Listen to it below, as well as my current playlist that I've been updating daily.
PODCASTS:
In addition to Coach's podcast, I've been doing a lot of listening again this week. First, I started listening to Gangster Capitalism and boy is it juicy. It's about the college admission scandal, which I knew was going to be turned into some sort of media--I still am hopeful for a "Bling Ring" type movie but this is pretty good. So far their are only three episodes but I'm hooked. The series opens with a guy recounting how he had a college scam that started with a fake ID but keep listening, it gets better.
Aside from Little Brother who I mentioned last week, one of my favorite groups is The Roots. My dad and I love The Roots and have seen them live multiple times--why I mentioned by Dad I don't know, but I miss him and he's tight. Nonetheless, I finally caught up to Jemele Hill's podcast, Jemele Hill is Unbothered and listened to her interview with Black Thought from the group. It was such a great interview, and I love how chill he is, and how she honestly is fan-girling in a very professional way.
Slate's podcasts are always my favorites which is why I could not stop talking about Slow Burn season 2 for much of the beginning of this newsletter. They are back with a new podcast on Linda Taylor, the "Welfare Queen." I've always been interested in her story, but never really understood the root. This limited series talks about the Linda and now I want to read a book on her life.