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zawadi

zawadi

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Nikki Giovanni

If now isn't a good time for the truth I don't see when we'll get to it.

Yolanda Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 7, 1943, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1960, she entered Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she worked with the school's...more »
  • Detroit, MI
  • member since Tuesday, March 27 2007

Profile: Reviews

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Displaying 1-10 of 46 reviews
  • Standing Against the Wind (Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Author (Awards))
    • Rated 5 stars

    “I read a lot of YA, but typically on the higher end of the grade level. The issues are usually complex and often darker so I was a little surprised when I discovered this title was actually geared towards younger readers. Still, realistic fiction but the treatment is softer and hopeful. Plucked from a loving, nurturing home in Georgia and transplanted to a crowded though loving household in Chicago, Patrice is a bright student but a social outcast. With a chance to earn scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, she focuses on her chance to leave a place she doesn’t fit in. Luckily, Monty befriends Patrice. Monty is tough on the outside and sensitive on the inside. Along the way, he taps into something good in himself.

    Over the course of tutoring Monty’s younger brother, Michael and learning to enjoy her growing friendship with Monty, our protagonist gets a much need boost of self-esteem. There must be drama though, and there is enough to keep readers interested. Wasn’t what I had expected, but pleasantly surprised. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Jones’ work.”

    zawadi wrote this review Wednesday, July 23 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
    • Rated 5 stars

    “I really enjoyed my first Stephen King book. The main character, Trisha appealed to me for a few reasons. She is smart, resilient and exceptionally mature for her age and King renders her believable: she makes critical mistakes and she at times unravels. Not all nine-year-olds could have survived, but King convinced me Trisha could.

    I’m not a baseball fan but I truly could relate to why it mattered to Trisha, and I was glad she was the fan she was because the principles of the game, and the combination of her fantasy interactions with Gordon as well as the traits he embodied for her: patience, stillness and clarity of mind, carried her through, and I desperately wanted her to make it through.

    I really liked how King developed and used the beast. I was never quite sure if it was real or supernatural or both. And their eventual confrontation is the perfect climax. It is surreal. I literally felt as if I were watching it in slow motion, in a dream-like sequence.

    The fact that this book isn't like King’s typical work is likely what appeals to me. I've never read him because while I have enjoyed a few of the movies, I’ve never enjoyed them enough to want to experience them in book form. This book had just enough suspense for me, stellar writing and good pacing. For me this is pitch perfect. I'm considering reading more by Stephen King.”

    zawadi wrote this review Saturday, July 19 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book
    • Rated 4 stars

    “I’m a huge fan of self-help books. Like many, I was caught up in the self-help era of the 90s. Reading _The Four Agreements_ is revisiting ideas and beliefs that helped me through a difficult period of my life. The ideas espoused in this text are familiar, but knowing something isn’t the same as applying principles to our lives. I believe in refresher courses.

    Ruiz breaks down a path to better living to four agreements: (1) Be impeccable with your word. This is about integrity. Be consciously aware of the power of the spoken word. (2) Don’t take anything personal. I laughed at this one. I immediately thought about Susan Jeffers who wrote, _What You Think of Me Is None of My business_. Simply, this means what people say about you isn’t about you but them. Don’t buy into the hype or criticism. (3) Don’t Make Assumptions. Ruiz argues we’d rather make assumptions than ask questions. Ask the questions. (4) Always do your best. Your best changes. Do what you can in the moment and avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

    Ruiz doesn’t say any of this is easy. It’s a process. It’s repetition. My feeling: why not try it? There is plenty to gain. It takes a lot to change and having someone remind me in simplistic terms is encouraging.”

    zawadi wrote this review Thursday, July 10 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )
  • Who Moved My Cheese?
    • Rated 4 stars

    “I realized this is a highly successful and popular self-help book, but for whatever reason, I’m just getting around to it. While the message is pretty simple and criticized by some for not presenting anything new, I think what the critics are overlooking is once of the basic tenets of the book: stop overanalyzing and employ the basics. I enjoyed the parable and the clear, uncomplicated characters of the story. I think most readers can find a character or combination of them they can easily identify with, and the signposts that Haw posts along the way do strike a chord with me. I appreciate the reminders particularly the one about fear: move in spite of the fear. Acknowledge it and then move in spite of it. Like many readers of the 90s, I immersed myself in the self-help age with complete abandon. I know these messages, and found them repackaged here a welcome reminder. I’m ready to employ them again. I’m glad I read _Who Moved My Cheese?_ It reminds me of what I have overcome and what I can do to continue growing and changing.”

    zawadi wrote this review Tuesday, July 8 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Tales From Shakespeare
    • Rated 5 stars

    “In this collection, Ms. Packer selectively chooses twelve plays she believes provides the greatest diversity to introduce young readers to Shakespeare. These standards include “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Tempest,” “Macbeth” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” So many things work here. Let’s start with the size of the book and the number of entries. The volume itself is oversized which allows for great, graphic illustrations and larger print which is always good on the eyes, especially on older eyes that might be reading these plays to a younger audience. The number of plays is just right: not too many to become overwhelmed and enough to explore a good number of themes in Shakespeare’s repertoire. Next is the language itself, Ms. Packer uses a good mix of modern interpretation with choice direct quotes. For younger readers, the introduction about Shakespeare is especially useful. While this book is geared toward the 9-12 age range, this isn’t a bad choice to use as a supplement for older students. I’d argue you might just get older kids to read Shakespeare if you use this instead of Cliff notes.”

    zawadi wrote this review Tuesday, July 8 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Modern Tales for Our Life & Times
    • Rated 3 stars

    “While the modern twist on the classic fairy tales is mildly interesting, I didn't find the collection funny. Overall, I was bored. I kept thinking, "How many more tales do I have to go? I think what bugs me most is how quickly being politically correct became the butt of jokes and satire. I realize this is satire and why the author made the stories pretty absurd. Still a part of me wishes we'd spend a little more time and effort actually being sensitive to one another and less time making fun of the ideal scenarios.”

    zawadi wrote this review Tuesday, July 8 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
    • Rated 2 stars

    “I was told this modern twist on classic fairy tales is hoot. Well, call me a wet rag, but I wasn't even mildly amused. It doesn't help that I wasn't particularly fond of fairy tales as a child either. There are re-tellings of Chicken Little, Jack In the Beanstalk and some I frankly don't even know the original. I did enjoy the illustrations. They are fantastical and beautiful. I was curious to see how the author would re-tell the stories, but the nonsense factor was only silly and not funny to me. If you like fairy tales, you might you enjoy this. Remember, I was a strange child.”

    zawadi wrote this review Tuesday, July 8 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
    • Rated 5 stars

    “This is my second Crutcher title. I read it because it was recommended and because my first reading of Crutcher was better than I expected, better because I’m not big on sport novels. What’s great about Crutcher’s work is he uses sports in such a way the sports reader and non-athlete alike are caught up in the sports because we are caught up in the characters. In _Staying Fat for Sarah Bynes_, Eric, “Moby” tries to stay fat during his freshman year swimming because he can’t stand the idea of losing his best friend, Sarah whose last name is synonymous with her disfigurement. She in turns threatens to beat the lard off him for being so lame-brained. These social misfits are connected and grow because of each other strengths. When Sarah goes into a catatonic state and is hospitalized, Eric is desperate to save her. The story is full of testosterone battles, a bully turned comrade, maniacal educator, the liberal teacher, brainy, hot mom and bible thumping teen as much at-risk and not-quite-fitting-in as our main characters. Crutcher gives us hope and resolution but he doesn’t make it Disney. Sarah’s mom who abandoned her doesn’t save her, and Moby is hospitalized thanks to his friend’s crazy father. They do they manage to stay buoyant in the turbulent waters. To learn how they navigate through their personal and shared troubles, you’ll have to read the book.”

    zawadi wrote this review Saturday, June 14 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size
    • Rated 3 stars

    “I read this book for a group discussion. When I signed on I was excited about learning how to use the seven tools the author outlines and the discussion that would ensue within our group. What actually happened is that I was initially annoyed with Cameron's writing style and attitude. I felt the author wasn't living in the same world as most of the members of our group. In short a difference of socio-economics: The writer's characters all lived lifestyles where money or access to resources seemed not an issue nor were there any stories of dieters learning how to balance family time and family meals with their efforts to use the tools. Other members expressed similar dissatisfaction with the book, but we all agreed that the tools are worth using. Despite my personal annoyance with the author's anecdotes and voice, I think the tools are sound, and towards the end I was glad I finished the book. I will be using the tools to help me achieve my health and creative writing goals.”

    zawadi wrote this review Thursday, June 12 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Out of Bounds (New Windmills)
    • Rated 5 stars

    “The collection contains seven stories arranged chronologically beginning in the 1940s to the abolition of apartheid, the election of Mandela up to 2000. Each story is told from the point of view of a young person. This is apartheid up close and personal. In “The Dare,” Veronica has to complete a dare of crossing a notoriously evil neighbor’s yard in order to be allowed to play with neighboring children. She witnesses a child beaten for being accused of stealing an orange while she is the welcomed ‘intruder’ sent to steal evidence of her crossing the boundaries. In “The Noose,” a young colored boy learns what it means to registered and classified. When he father is ordered to report for registration and is classified ‘black’ instead of ‘colored’ the identity his family has lived as, their livelihood is threatened. “The Playground” is akin to Little Rock story in the U.S. Rosa is among the first black children to attend a previously all white school. Each story is an intimate view of how young people reacted to the events that directly affected their lives. This wasn’t someone else somewhere else. This was them living during a volatile, oppressive period that shaped their lives.”

    zawadi wrote this review Wednesday, June 11 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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Displaying 1-10 of 46 reviews


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