Young King The Making of Martin Luther King Jr. by Lerone Martin

 Book Excerpt:

"From a preeminent King scholar, the origin story of the man, minister, and civil rights hero who would lead the nation and change the world.

We know who Martin Luther King, Jr. became, but who was he at the beginning of his life? How did his youth inform his outlook and activism?

Before Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights leader, a Nobel Laureate, and a global hero, he was an emotional boy, a middling high school student devoted to fashion, dancing, and dating. Lerone A. Martin, Faculty Director of the Martin Luther King Institute at Stanford University, traces these roots to develop a fuller understanding of the influential preacher's emotional life, his youthful confusion about his future and career direction, his teenage missteps, and his inspiration to fight for justice."

Title:  Young King...The Making of Martin Luther King Jr.

Author:  Lerone Martin

Publisher:  Amistad

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Young King...The Making of Martin Luther King Jr.

My Review:

This author, Lerone Martin, did a wonderful job telling a powerful story about Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, Martin Luther King Jr. is one person I can truly say was important throughout his life. From his childhood, family discipline, education, to his early encounters with racial things that showed the power of what went on with him in his life.  

This is one of those well-written reads that, once you start reading, you will find it will be hard to put down due to all that is in the remarkable read, as you are pulled into MLK Jr.'s life. Be ready for many interesting details, and you will find out a lot about his personal life.

If you are interested in a good biography that involves American history, you have come to the right place, because this non-fiction read will give you that and so much more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amistad for the early read.

A Life Not My Own Kindle Edition by T.M. Brown

Book Description....

"In A Life Not My Own, Tina shares her personal experiences of child abuse and neglect, her struggles as a teenager and in her young adult life. 
The book started as a journal and was her attempt to address many of the secrets she had pushed to the back in her mind. As the memories continued to resurface, she was forced to address the issues that ultimately led to her sharing her past with readers around the world as a powerful force of inspiration."

Title:  A Life not My Own

Author:  T. M. Brown

Publisher:  T. M. B.

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"A Life Not My Own" by T. M. Brown

My Thoughts.... 

What a story this was of this author's life from her childhood thru adulthood where abusiveness was received from her own mother and boyfriend.  

A lots of the story wasn't a pretty one but by the end I believe the reader will be able to see how this author becomes quite a inspiration for all seeing how strong she became the  person she is today that truly give us a good read.  

I enjoyed how this read showed us just how this author got to where she is today definitely overcoming quite a bit from a rough journey.  I do believe by Ms. Brown joining the military did help her in having her own career that did help her in a lots of her decisions that were made in her life. 

I also liked the 'inspirational lines' they were there in the story... 
"I have experienced the heartache, disappointment, tragedy, and confusion that are all a part of living. But I am confident that I can deal with anything that is ahead of me. For my life is not my own. I am sure of that."

To get more of this true story you will have to pick up "A Life Not My Own" and just see for yourself how well written her story is presented.  Well done to the author!  

A Christian's Perspective Journey Through Grief By: Shelia E. Lipsey

Book Description...

"If you have lost a loved one through death or know of someone who has, then "A Christian's Perspective - Journey Through Grief" is a must read book. When you lose someone you love it is often the most painful experience you will face and have to endure. Author and Inspirational Speaker, Shelia E. Lipsey shares her personal journey through grief with her readers while at the same time expressing her battles and triumphs with God and her faith. She also touches on the devastating terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 as she relates with the thousands who lost loved ones. This book is written from her perspective and is thus the title "A Christian's Perspective". A Christian's Perspective is candid, open and written from the heart."

Title: A Christian's Perspective Journey Through Grief
Author:  Shelia E. Lipsey
Publisher:  Brentwood Christian Press
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating:  Five
Review:

"A Christian's Perspective Journey Through Grief" by Shelia E.Lipsey

My Thoughts...

I loved this short novel.  So often after the loss of my parents I have grieved even though it has been many many years.Even now I still grieve become depressed because I miss my parents so much. This novel was beautifully written and most of all letting me know that I am not alone especially hearing what all this author has been through.  The thought that I am not alone still in the healing process even though it has been so many years ago.  This read is really some read that can help others who have lost a loved one. I loved how this author covers it all from 'grief from a christian viewpoint'  bringing it all out so well to the reader. Thank you to the author for such a good read that is still  helping  me get through it all.

I Heart Obama By Erin Aubrey Kaplan

Book Description....

"A personal and cultural exploration of Barack Obama as black president, black icon, and black folk hero....

In his nearly two terms as president, Barack Obama has solidified his status as something black people haven’t had for fifty years: a folk hero. The 1960s delivered Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, forever twinned as larger-than-life outsiders and truth tellers who took on racism and died in the process. Obama is different: Not an outsider but president, head of the most powerful state in the world; a centrist Democrat, not the face of a movement. Yet he is every bit a folk hero, doing battle with the beast of a system created to keep people like him on the margins. He is unique among presidents and entirely unique among black people, who never expected to have a president so soon.
In I Heart Obama, journalist Erin Aubry Kaplan offers an unapologetic appreciation of our highest-ranking “First” and what he means to black Americans. In the process, she explores the critiques of those in the black community who charge that he has not done enough, been present enough, been black enough to motivate real change in America. Racial antipathy cloaked as political antipathy has been the major conflict in Obama’s presidency. His impossible task as an individual and as a president is nothing less than this: to reform the entire racist culture of the country he leads. Black people know he can’t do it, but will support his effort anyway, as they have supported the efforts of many others. Obama’s is a noble and singular story we will tell for generations. I Heart Obama looks at the story so far."

Title:  I Heart Obama
Author:  Erin Aubrey Kaplan
Publisher:  Foreedge
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"I Heart Obama"  by Erin Aubrey Kaplan

My Thoughts....

Wow, this was some good read.  How this author was able to put this altogether of President Barack
Obama [a folk hero], head of the most powerful state in the world; a 'centrist Democrat' was wonderful delivered to the reader.  I loved how this author "offers an unapologetic appreciation of our highest-ranking "First” and what he means to black Americans. "In the process, the author explores the critiques of those in the black community who charge that he has not done enough, been present enough, been black enough to motivate real change in America. Racial antipathy cloaked as political antipathy has been the major conflict in Obama’s presidency." "By the end we get a well written "story about collective yearning and hope, against a backdrop of disillusionment and despair.  In picking up this novel you will get a read that will make you think and even share through discussions long after the read.  I thought this novel was very well written by this author being 'eloquent, honest and compelling'. ...thank you for a very interesting read about our President Barack Obama.


I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Her Presence: A Husband's Dirty Secrets By: Nancy Weaver

Book Description...

Dedicated to mothers, daughters and sons whose lives have been shattered by the man you most loved and trusted. Like the Potter with the clay, your life can be made whole again.

"The true story: The surreal, gripping saga of a young, desperate, rich African American mother and her children, and her courageous teenage daughter in the south in the 1950s is inspired by real life events.

Maebelle Hawkins, a young, pretty divorcee, moves to Derriene Crossing with her heart set on finding the perfect husband. When Rufus Poygoode, a well-to-do-, good-looking farmer enraptures her heart with a proposal of marriage, she feels her life has come full circle.

But it is a marriage awash in deception. A few weeks after their union, her fantasy word crashes and burns. She shivers when Rufus Poygoode places the cold black metal gun against her nose and calls her Olga Berry, the name of his surrogate mother, for whom he carries a vendetta. No amount of defense convinces him she is not the estranged daughter of his surrogate mother. Crushed by cruel and unusual hatred, Maebelle Hawkins resigns herself to a mere state of simply existing. Then their daughter Tara Poygoode grows up.

Tara Poygoode is pleased that she has her mother and father's good looks. But she hates him for the humiliation, cruelty, and power he wields over her large family. When she learns her father won't allow her to attend college, that he is intent on tying her life to the land forever, she vows to take control over her destiny, and rescue her family."

Title: In Her Presence: A Husband's Dirty Secrets
Author: Nancy Weaver
Publisher: Time and Chance Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"In Her Presence: A Husband's Dirty Secrets" by Nancy Weaver

Now....this was is supposed to be a true story...based on someone that this author knew...leaving me to say oh my God...really?! As I read through this novel I could only shake my head not even imagining knowing that this did really happen?! This was a very disturbing read for me but I made it through still left with many thoughts left after this story that this author has presented to the reader being so full of 'lies, deceit, betrayal, family secrets and incest.' I will say this read tops all of the reads that I have done over the years and to think that this really did happened. I know I am still trying to deal with that one! This is one heartbreaking novel of several generations of abuse.

What I found hard to believe was that a mother would permit this to happen to her own children and where was everyone ....when it was out that all knew what was going on in the dysfunctional abusive family that had gone on for many generations?! Why didn't someone help? I will say this author really keeps your attention because there will be so much going on where you will feel the intensed emotional pain through this read.

The two main characters...Maebelle Hawkins and Rufus Poygoode...well, I think they were made for each other in some sort of sick way...[but those poor kid did not have too endure this abuse] and that will be all I have to say about that. You will just have to pick up this novel to get this story for yourself. It will definitely not be a easy read...at least it wasn't for me.

Will this family be able to come out of all this hardships? ...Well, again you will have to pick up the novel to see what happens next to Maebelle, Rufus and the children? It will be one interesting ending that the readers will not want to miss. Since this author is planning on a part two of this story I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens next.

Thank you to the author for sending me your novel. Indeed, I will say was a emotional read that left me in awe of it all and I will be waiting on the next part of this read.

A Reflection: What a Difference a Day Makes, ...What About 100 Years? By: Karen Sloan-Brown

Title:  A Reflection: What a Difference a Day Makes,  What About 100 Years?
Author:  Karen Sloan-Brown
Publisher:  Brown Reflections
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"A Reflection:  What a Difference a Day Makes,  What About 100 Years?" by Karen Sloan-Brown

Book Description...

"A contemporary history book that expands before and beyond the Civil Rights Movement in a decade by decade examination of the journey of Black Americans from Jim Crow in 1909 to Barack Obama in 2009. The book is designed to be informative as well as entertaining, covering a broadly based range of subject matter. Every reader will find a decade in which they can identify or relate to as they follow the changes that have taken place in the aspects of black life in the United States, black leadership, business and personal finances, black thinking and aspirations, culture, values, attitudes, how have they affected the quality of life and personal growth for African Americans today. The book notes the trials and the triumphs, along with the missteps, how black people have evolved economically, socially, educationally, politically, and artistically? Who were the leaders, who was a hero, what was the role of the church, how were we living, where were we living, what books were we reading, and who were the athletes and the entertainers. It is a full menu that characterizes each decade for the reader to experience that journey of 100 years."

What I liked about this novel...

This author does a wonderful well written job with this historical non fictional  novel.  I was simply captured with all of this history that went into this 'Reflection'  of the wonderful read.  I was simply amazed being able to find all this in creditable information of 'Black' people over the last  one hundred years in this one novel. It was very interesting seeing how this author has brought it all out to the reader showing and still asking the question has one  'evolved economically, socially, educationally, politically, and yes even artistically."  I do find it still a question to whether we "have come full circle or is it likely that we have detoured on some tangent from one obtuse angle?"  These are some very important questions that this author has brought out for the readers to ponder on.  Now, I don't want to tell you too much other than say I love this informational novel and I just want you to pick it up and read it for yourself and see how well this author presents this well written work of art to the readers. 

This author starts with the year 1909 and her research goes up to the year 2009 and I must say she gives the reader some real important  information of what was going on during that time in history. 
I found this read very easy to follow and understand.  Being  a history major and yes a Black American  I really enjoyed what I read, even learned from the read as well as to  reflect from  this  read.  This author's table of content for each of these years are very captivating so well presented.  I love the format of  this author's  'Table of Contents.'   At the end of each year (1909-2009) I liked the read of the  'Reflection on a Decade' that was simply off the chart and very well presented giving  one some good information to know about  in each of  these sections. 

What I especially liked about the novel...

If you are a history buff  especially of 'Black History' this read will definitely be for you and with saying that I would definitely recommend to you "A Reflection:  What a Difference a Day Makes, What About 100 Years?  It left me saying Wow... what a intrguing and interesting  historical read.