So I usually decide what to read by checking the #NYTimes best sellers list, asking a friend or, of course, from the recommendations that you all send me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. This read came straight from the NY Times best sellers list currently at #5, two weeks on the list overall. The primary reason for starting this blog was in an effort to create a place where a community of friends can grow together unapologetically living out our passions so this book seemed fitting. Personal growth is the central focus of The Second Mountain by David Brooks. Brooks is a New York Times Op-Ed columnist touting the purpose of the book as teaching others how to live a more fulfilling life. Brooks starts out by orienting the reader to an analogous twin mountain scenario. Mountain one represents the mainstream American Dream: rapid streamlined career, financial and relational success. Those that are at the point in life in which they are climbing this hypothetical mountain constantly ask themselves questions like: Am I who I say I am? How do I measure up to the status quo? This mountain is selfish, self-serving. Those that are on or climbing the second mountain realize that the “desires of the ego will never satisfy the deepness in themselves.” Therefore they tend to rebel against main stream society because they want to be a person serving others. The peak of this mountain, Brooks argues, is the epitome of a fulfilling life. Between these mountains is a valley. Here is where people end up when they begin to realize their dreams aren’t coming to fruition. At this point on the journey they can decide to become bitter or decide to begin an ascend up the second mountain. Brooks makes a point that not everyone begins on the first mountain. One can begin anywhere in the schematic but it is their choice as to where they end up. The author very often quotes from other authors or intellectuals in this books which, in my opinion, makes it hard to get an idea of what Brooks actually thinks in his own words. Though, he does share personal stories and accounts that will help the reader identify with his train of thought, more of which would have made an even better book. There is certainly a need for the Self-Help genre and this topic hence the success of this book. So I would recommend this book for anyone researching how to find happiness in benefit of experiencing the journey of another. Anyone looking for an entertaining, though provoking discussion sparking deep thinking and brand new ideas should look elsewhere. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? Visit Our Bookstore xoxoxoxoxox -Happy reading my friends, RTOR

In honor of the very last day of #NationalAutismMonth (April), I would like to highlight this wonderful novel by Mark Haddon. I originally read this incredibly intelligent and creative masterpiece over nine years ago as a member of a newly formed book club in Houston, TX. At the time a young school teacher suggested this read for our next discussion. Without hesitation and knowing little about the premise, we all went out to our local bookstore and bought a copy. My how I was very pleased to meet the main character of this book, Christopher John Francis Boone! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a story about a young boy who witnesses his neighbors dog being murdered. He decides to use his detective skills coupled with the social skills he has learned in school to investigate the murder and find the killer. Christopher is smart, funny, likable -oh and autistic! The story is told in the first person (Christopher actually "writes" the book) so the reader gets to experience all of Christopher's wonder. He draws us pictures of faces so we know how he feels. He draws us maps to show us the direction he was looking when the dog was murdered. He even shows us a chart of how to determine a prime number, while explaining that he has chosen to number his book chapters with only prime numbers because he likes them. This is one of the most creative books I have read to date. I usually re-read it every few years just because Christopher has made such an impression on me that I want to visit him every now and again. Mark Haddon does a wonderful job writing a well researched character and plot. In a previous career, Haddon worked with autistic individuals. Haddon gifted the world with a delightful reminder of the special talents, contributions and enlightened effects of autistic individuals. That they are different but not less than. That we are all people. That we all love and want to be loved. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, fun, heartfelt read. See below for three of my favorite quotes from this collection (in no particular order). I am looking forward to hearing what you all think about this book. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? Visit Our Bookstore xoxoxoxoxox -Happy reading my friends, RTOR "My name is Christopher John Francis Boone. I know all the countries of the world and their capital cities and every prime number up to 7,057." "7. This is a murder mystery novel. [My teacher] said that I should write something I would want to read myself. Mostly I read books about Math and Science. I do not like proper novels." "I do not tell lies. Mother used to say that this was because I was a good person. But it is not because I am a good person. It is because I can't tell lies."

In the year 2019, most of the world will know James Baldwin for being the writer of If BeaIe Street Could Talk (written in 1974) which inspired a screen play by Berry Jenkins that went on to infamy being nominated for three oscars (winning one) and winning a golden globe. Some would be surprised to know that the name James Baldwin is almost synonymous with African American history in the United States. I doubt that an academic curriculum on African American History without a piece of his work exists today. His writings are inspired by a personal experience as an African American man in 20th Century America and explore the social dynamics in Western Societies as it related to race, sex, and class. He is one of the great literary intellectuals of the American Civil Right Movement. Baldwin (collected essays) is one of three books published by published by The Library of America referencing the aforementioned author. This collection was edited by Toni Morrison, and is the best of the three publications at exhibiting the evolution of his work over time. If you are a frequent visitor to (or follow) my instagram account you already know that I am a huge fan of James Baldwin's writing style. I really enjoy his humor, wit, vulnerability, sporadic darkness and verbal eloquence. Therefore, purchasing and reading (in some cases re-reading) the pieces in this collection of work was a must for my 2018 reading list! Also, might I add, it's a very esthetic addition to the bookshelf. This collection, of course, contains some of his most notable writings such as Notes of a Native Son and Nobody Knows my Name, however it also offers the reader insight to a more intimate Baldwin by including other essays less frequented such as The Creative Process, An Open Letter to Mr. Carter and The Price of the Ticket. See below for three of my favorite quotes from this collection (in no particular order). I am looking forward to hearing what you all think about this book. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? Visit Our Bookstore xoxoxoxoxox -Happy reading my friends, RTOR "I love America more than any other country in the world, and , exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually. I think all theories are suspect, that the finest principles may have to be modified, or may even be pulverized by the demands of life, and that one must find, therefore, one's own moral center and move through the world hoping that this center will guide one aright. I consider that I have many responsibilities, but none greater than this: to last, as Hemingway says, and get my work done. I want to be an honest man and a good writer." -Autobiographical Notes "Guilt is a luxury that we can no longer afford. I know you didn't do it, and I didn't do it either, but I am responsible for it because I am a man and a citizen of this country and you are responsible for it, too, for the very same reason: ... [together] we could save this country, we could save the world." -Essay: December 1964 "...the whole process of education occurs within a social framework and is designed to perpetuate the aims of society...as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated. The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not." -Essay: (A Talk to Teachers) December 1963 Visit Our Bookstore Happy Reading Friends! Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo, ROTR

The center of this memoir is an austere Mormon family, layered with the complexity of a monarch suffering from mental health ailments. Tara tells the story of her anomalous upbringing with her 6 siblings on a mountain side in rural Idaho. Never reaching a public classroom until she was seventeen years old, only after suffering physical, mental and emotional abuse from her family –though unintentional, Tara is forced to face the outside world on her own beginning with attending Brigham Young University (BYU). Her journey entails learning, unlearning and re-learning the tools that ultimately help her find herself. This book is highly entertaining, a must read for those looking to experience a lifestyle that they wouldn’t otherwise fathom. Parents, especially, will be shocked -gasping at some of the accounts of poor decision making by Tara’s Mother and Father –though from a place of what they perceived as love. Readers will also enjoy the triumphant, yet at times hesitant persistence of Tara in exploring herself, questioning the world around her and determination to live a life of her choosing. This is a well told story, the author's writing is simplistic allowing the reader to glide through the story as if in one long scene. The most moving accounts written are between the author and her physically abusive brother highlighting the naturally rippling effects of mentally ill parents on the behaviors of their children. This being the very topic Tara researches for a college term paper, serving as a pivotal turning point in the memoir. My favorite quality about reading true encounters is that they allow the readers to reflect on true life lessons. Keep reading for five self-care tools Tara picked up along her journey that may also help us along ours. Happy reading my friends! xoxoxoxox, RTOR 1. Tell the truth to yourself [always]… Tara couldn’t allow herself to heal from the abuse until she was willing to admit the abuse was in fact happening. Secondly, Tara's religious upbringing told her that her gender dictated her options in life and the only thing she should want is to be a wife and a mother. However Tara apprehensively followed her innate calling of pursuits in education at Cambridge and Harvard. 2. The Importance of keeping a journal… Tara mentions journaling several times throughout the story. As a young girl Tara mentions journaling questions: ponders of the world around her, the people, the places. However, the true breakthrough presented when she began to document true accounts of what she experienced without sugar coating and making no excuses for traumatic events. For example, Tara references an encounter with her brother outside of a hardware store where he assaulted her, cracked her wrist, and exposed her body to strangers all because she resisted his attempt to embarrass her in front of an ex-boyfriend. This being her first inkling in allowing herself to admit the abuse and her feelings. 3. “It’s strange how you give the people that you love power over you.” This is a quote from Tara's journal referenced in the book recognizing that the opinions of her father and brothers dictated many of her decisions. Not until she learned how to love her family AND herself at the same time, did she understand how destructive living a life for someone else, no matter how much you love them, can be. 4. “The most powerful advantage of money is the ability to think of things besides [not having] it.” By allowing herself to accept scholarship funds Tara could focus on her exploring her gifts and curiosities while at university. This created a sense of security for her basic needs allowing the privilege of focus. 5. “First find out what you are capable of then decide what you want to do.” This was a line of advice from one of Tara's professors at university. It reminds us all to continually test our limits, never count ourselves out, and never settle. We are all capable of much more than we assume. Click here to visit our bookstore!

In honor of National Poetry Month I went on a shopping spree to buy books authored by Poets all over the internet, therefore had the pleasure of reading a diverse group of inspiring work. I am so excited to share these recommendations with you all as I am sure you will enjoy at least one, if not all of them. Keep reading to find awesome additions to any bookshelf. Oh, I almost forgot, -Happy poetry month friends! 1. Depression and Other Magic Tricks by Sabrina Benaim Sabrina takes the reader through an honest look at her internal thoughts during depression and shares a few magical moments along the way. Her conversation with her mother in which she attempts to describe her depressive journey will resonate with every reader who has ever tried to share something with those they love while not quite being able to grasp the feeling itself. Visit Our Bookstore 2. Still Can't Do My Daughter's Hair by William Evans This collection of poems is a real treat. Not often do we as an audience get to hear the articulate deep inner thoughts of the struggles men go through on a daily basis. Through these pages Evans gives us an insight, from an African American male perspective, on the hidden pains of domestic black life, the resilience it breeds and how it shapes our future society. Visit Our Bookstore 3. No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay Sarah Kay is a poet on a mission to break the internet. Her performative videos boasts over twelve million views. No Matter the Wreckage is her debut collection of poems. In a way only she can, Kay deliciously describes the world around her as she discovers new feelings, places, and relationships. I have yet to read a bad poem by this author and I won't be holding by breath until I do. Visit Our Bookstore 4. The Future by Neil Hilborn Hilborn writes with a boyish humor yet with the emotion of an old soul. This collection explores his first kiss, revenge sex and the reimagined event of his father's absence. Complete with a dinosaur on the front cover and quotes from his phone, notebook and bike (yes, you read that correctly) -this read will give you the light-hearted fun you seek along with the deep meaningful art that you expect. Visit Our Bookstore 5. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur If you are a frequent here at ReadingOnTheRun then you already know that Rupi Kaur is one of our favorites. Her ability to tell an impactful story with as few words as possible gives her a signature that can't be imitated. This collection covers the beauty of being a women while hurting, loving, breaking and healing. A must read indeed. Visit Our Bookstore Hope you enjoy these great reads. Happy reading my friends! xoxoxoxox, RTOR

Tired of doing brunch with the bestie? Sounds like it's time to spice up the relationship with a little travel inspiration. Meet Lynn and Shayla, best friends from Tallahassee, Florida who decided to take a girls trip to Morocco. Keep reading to hear more, in their own words. Enjoy! Did you have any initial expectations? If so, were they met? Although Morocco is located in Northern Africa we had the pleasure of experiencing Arab/African culture. The people there lived so simply yet still seemed genuinely happy. It gave us a great appreciation for the things we have and reminded us that it doesn’t take much to live a robust life. Name: Lynn and Shayla Traveling Destination: Morocco Cities Visited: Casablanca, Rabat, Fez, and Marrakech. Plane Ticket: $675 All Inclusive Trip Package: $800 per person Spa Date: $45 Why Morocco? We decided to visit Morocco for a girls trip after our good friend and Travel Agent Y’desha Alsup of the Travel Joy Experience previously visited the country. She told us about what a great time she had and offered to organize a trip for a bunch of us to return with her to experience it for ourselves During our trip we traveled to four cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Fez, and Marrakech. One of the major highlights of our trip happened when we visited Les Bains de Marrakech. Here we treated ourselves to a traditional hammam. First we got a chance to relax in a calming room with dim lights and soft music. We were then led to a steaming hot bathing room covered in marble. We were soaked with warm water and allowed to steam for some time. Our attendants returned and used a scrubbing glove to remove dead skin cells. Afterwards they slathered on a layer of a clay body mask and we steamed some more before they rinsed us and gave us a 20 minute massage. Leaving there we were refreshed and our skin was incredibly soft! The best part is it only cost us $45US and we were allowed to keep the scrubbing cloth! For food, we highly recommend Restaurant Dar Hatim it’s located in the bustling Medina of Fez. The owner transformed her home into a quaint restaurant and the food was absolutely delicious! All of the food is served family style and there was plenty of it! Moroccan’s serve a “hot salad” before each meal and it could truly serve as a meal of its own. It includes eggplant (our favorite), roasted carrots, olives, a salsa-ish dish and bread. For our entrée we decided to try the Lamb tajin. O-M-G! It was delicious! A tajine is a cone shaped cooking vessel traditionally used to slow-cook meat and poultry dishes. The meat was so flavorful and tender! We ate until we were stuffed and there was still plenty of food left over to box up. Another cool thing about this restaurant was they provided our transportation to and from our hotel at no extra cost! Shayla currently works full-time and recently launched Chaos Under Control, a home organization consultancy helping people to organize their home and business spaces "encouraging them to cherish the things they surround themselves with while letting go of the rest". Lynn is a full time health administrator and serial entrepreneur. She is the founder of the Dorvil Advocacy Group, a health and patient advocacy firm. She is also a licensed realtor in Florida with Hamilton Realty Advisors. Are you interested in being featured in the ROTR Travel Inspiration series? Visit our Contact Us page to submit a request.

Aqua Wellness Resort is a family of tree houses situated in a natural lush tropical forest within a private Central American beach cove on Nicaragua’s Pacific ‘Emerald Coast’, just north of Costa Rica. Aqua is only two-hours from Nicaragua’s International MGA airport by car. We stayed in a beautiful private villa equipped with a studio layout of amenities including a private pool, balcony, and kitchen. Also, the villa boasted a breathtaking ocean view upon sunrise every morning from the bed which also allowed us to enjoy the sounds of the ocean waves at all times of the day and night. In this peaceful reserve, without the interruption of television and/or technology we were surrounded by nature and wildlife constantly. The resort offers five star Spa services (so relaxing we forgot to take pictures!), yoga packages and guided meditation. Our villa was a whooping 185 steps (uphill) from the beach so we definitely had our daily exercise. However, the yoga sessions were unreliable -so much so that our yoga instructor didn't show up to our session or respond to our messages after initially booking a time/date/pace. The resort did apologize and made-up for it by offering us additional spa services on the house. Further, they explained that this particular Yoga instructor was a private independent contractor and not directly associated with the resort. Later that day we coincidentally had the opportunity to watch another instructor practice sheet yoga on the beach. We stayed at the resort for 5-nights and left refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed and ready to take on the next phase of life. We would definitely recommend this resort for those who enjoy being in nature. I hope that I have the opportunity to visit Nicaragua and the Aqua Wellness Resort again. Check out the video below for more pictures and videos! Click on the links below if you are interested in learning more about our trip: Books I read in Nicaragua Uber Talks (Nicaragua) What to Eat in Nicaragua Nicaragua: Aqua Wellness Resort xoxoxoxoxox, ROTR

There was a delicious menu of selections at the Aqua Wellness Resort in Nicaragua (@AquaWellnessResort). Since it was my first time visiting a wellness resort I really didn't know what to expect. All of the food was made fresh once ordered. There were options of Fish, Poultry, Steak, Vegetables, Grains, Rice and Legumes -wonderful options for any lifestyle diet. There was a full bar, however no options for dessert...ever. Hey, you win some and you lose some, right?! Below are photos and descriptions of some of the cuisines we enjoyed. Click on the links below if you are interested in learning more about our trip: Books I read in Nicaragua Uber Talks (Nicaragua) What to Eat in Nicaragua Nicaragua: Aqua Wellness Resort

If you haven’t been hiding under a rock for the past few years you already know of or have heard of the impeccable writing skill of Jodi Picoult. As a huge fan of her meticulously detailed and well researched novels, I have already read five of her twenty-two fiction masterpieces. Fun fact: Nine of her twenty-two novels have graced the New York Times best sellers list. If that is not a testament to her talent, what is?! As expected, Leaving Time does not disappoint. Picoult delivers her signature style of bringing together a family of highly developed, entertaining characters in order to tell a story with underlying moral relevance. Serenity, a once famous psychic, and Virgil, a washed-up detective, is approached by thirteen-year-old Jenna with a request to help find her missing mother, an elephant researcher by the name of Alice. While letting the characters lead the way, Picoult tickles the imagination of the reader in a classic “who done it” way while also taking them through the ever-mystical love between a mother and child via not just one species but two: both human and elephant. Any animal lover would find much wonder in this novel. Picoult vividly shares initiate details of thought patterns, behavioral nuances and quintessential facts about elephant species across the continents of both Africa and Asia. In the Author Notes, Picoult offers resources to prevent the real-life pouching of elephants in the wild and calls the reader to action by suggesting visiting www. Savetheelephants.org to learn more ways to help. In a nutshell, this read is well worth your time and philanthropy, delivering a twist that you won’t see coming…that is, until it melts your heart and causes you to reach for a tissue. I am looking forward to hearing what you think about this book. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? xoxoxoxoxo -Happy Reading My Friends :) RTOR For other delightful reads by this author click below: Sing you Home My Sister’s Keeper Handle with Care Small Great Things

Song of Solomon is the second published novel written by Toni Morrison, a winner of the Nobel Prize in literature (1993). Though she was awarded the Nobel Prize sixteen years after writing Song of Solomon, and published many other literary works in between, this novel still contains the eloquent poetic writing signature to Morrison’s style. Song of Solomon tells the story of a young upper middle-class African American man coming of age in Michigan during the 1960s. Macon Dead, better known as Milkman, tries to find his own place in the world instead of relying on the reputation of his predecessors. In doing so, Milkman encounters a slew of colorful, interesting characters that fly off the page. Traveling from Michigan to Pennsylvania to Virginia and back searching for his true place in the world as it is to him, Milkman travels his passage to manhood in a way he least expects it and only realizes the necessity of his journey once he arrivals at its end. About the Characters As the main character wades through the lessons of his grandfather, a physician celebrated for his academic accomplishments but hated for his social politics, and his father, a real estate success who places too much value on material things, the reader is submerged in the unmatched wordsmithing of Morrison and her natural talent for creating all too realistic character dialogue. Morrison gives each character a unique voice in which the reader can independently interpret emotion rather than it being told through the author’s story telling. The characters come alive through conversation in a way only Morrison can imagine, and tell, a story. “How can he not love your hair? It’s the same hair that grows out of his own armpits. The same hair that crawls up out his crotch on up his stomach. All over his chest. The very same. It grows out of his nose, over his lips, and if he ever lost his razor it would grow all over his face. It’s all over his head, Hagar. It’s his hair too. He got to love it…..He don’t know what he loves, but he’ll come around, honey, one of these days. How can he love himself and hate your hair?” ~Pilate Subsequently and equally impressive Morrison writes the parallel stories of the women surrounding Milkman, effortlessly giving the reader insight into African American culture, dialogue, pressures and threats during the time period in which the novel takes place. In this fictional tale Ruth, Corinthians, Magdalene, Pilate, Reba, Hagar and Sweet are the true conquerors. Even in a small exchange of a grandmother answering her grand-daughter's question of why the man she loves doesn’t love her or her hair, Morrison manages to ask a larger equivocal question. One that addresses the humanity of self-loathing manifesting in ways we don't expect...in ways even a loving grandmother can't rationalize. Any reader will find shades of pillars peppering their own life journey in the hearts of these masterfully developed characters. Rather learning true life lessons through their eyes. Ever eventful, this novel is full of wisdom, lies, deception, secrets, assassins and much more; sure to keep the reader’s attention -fully entertained. At the very least, the reader is graced with experiencing a talent that has forever woven itself into American History as one of the greatest story tellers of all time. I am looking forward to hearing what you think about this book. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? xoxoxoxoxox -Happy Reading My friends! ROTR For delightful reads by this author click below: Beloved The Bluest Eye Song of Solomon The Source of Self-Regard

This post is a part of the ReadOnTheRun-Uber Talks series in which we feature strangers that inspire us along our journey. Let's make an effort to be conscious of the people we meet throughout our journeys, spreading the spirit of curiosity, promoting empathy to the journey of others and sharing a bit of ourselves with those around us. Meet Yustin! Yustin, pronounced "Justin" has been a driver for The Aqua Wellness Resort in Nicaragua (@aquawellnessresort) for a few years. During our two hour drive South from the Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport in Managua to the front door of the resort just outside of his hometown Tola, Yustin showed us active live volcanos, beautiful rock formations due to those volcanos and sentimental old historic towns in between. His face lit up with each question we asked about his love for his country, its current political unrest, the people who make it great and the beautiful landscape. When asked about his favorite food he quickly answered "fruit, sandía". He continued, "It's green on the outside and red on the inside. Sweet, plenty seeds." Though we had never heard of it, we smiled along with him, nodding our heads in agreement excited to hopefully soon taste the exotic Nicaragua treat for the first time once we reached the resort. We continued to share stories quickly learning that Yustin has a young daughter and a wife who also lives with him in Tola and, by observation, that his driving skills were impeccable. His sharp reflexes kept us safe when large animals darted out in to the middle of the rode or when Police check points popped up just outside of school zones expecting to catch those passing by going well above the speed limit. Sometime later about a little over an hour in to the trip Yustin pulls over to the side of the rode in front of a fruit stand, "sandía temporada, that is sandía". I turn my head to the right a little more in order to be sure that I was seeing straight. After a few seconds, instinctively I excitedly practically yelled "Watermelon season!". The car roars in to laughter. "That's my favorite too!" I continued. Needless to say all of us learned a new word in a foreign language that day. Yustin, watermelon - us "sandía". But then we all realized that no matter where we are born, we all are more alike than different: Our faces light up all the same when we imagine our love for our home, the people who make it great, the beautiful landscape and the delicious food. We all share a love and passion for life. Yustin, we wish you and your family health, happiness and prosperity on your journey. We thank you for traveling through life with joy, curiosity, humility and the heart of a teacher. Five star ride! xoxoxoxo, ROTR Thank you for reading this feature. Who has inspired you today?

Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize winning author best known for her eleven fiction novels including Song of Solomon. It's a rare treat that we get a peek inside her non-fiction writings: those of hopes, warm memories, private encounters and learnings. Ever so poetic this read encompasses selected essays, speeches and meditations by a rare talent highly recognized and revered by both her collogues and the public for her work. To me, everything she writes, fiction or non-fiction, sounds like poetry dedicated to the object of her affection...that object: each and every reader consuming the page. See below for six of my favorite quotes from this collection (in no particular order). I am looking forward to hearing what you think about this book. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? For delightful reads by this author click the links below: Beloved The Bluest Eye Song of Solomon The Source of Self-Regard xoxoxoxoxox -Happy reading my friends, RTOR "But I am not reasonable. A reasonable man adjusts to his environment. And unreasonable man does not. All progress, therefore, depends on the unreasonable man. I prefer not to adjust to my environment. I refuse the prison of "I" and choose the open spaces of "we". -Moral Inhabitants "Art invites us to take the journey beyond price, beyond costs into bearing witness to the world as it is and as it should be. Art invites us to know beauty and to solicit it from even the most tragic of circumstances. Art reminds us that we belong here. And if we serve, we last...Its [art] conversation with the public and among its various genres is critical to the understanding of what it means to care deeply and to be human completely." -The Price of Wealth, the Cost of Care "Know the difference between fever and the disease." -Moral Inhabitants "The point is, the form (Greek tragedy [writings]) makes available these varieties of provocative love because it is masterly -not because the civilization that is its referent was flawless or superior to all others." -Unspeakable Things Unspoken, The Afro-American Presence in American Literature "Beauty of course is a duplicate of what we already know, intensified, refined. Or what we have never known articulated. Beatific, benevolent nature combined with precious metals and jewelry. What it cannot be is beauty beyond imagination. -God's Language "I once wrote an article for a popular magazine that had a small irregular "arts" section. They wanted something laudatory about the value of perhaps just the pleasure of reading. This last noun, 'pleasure,' annoyed me because it is routinely associated with emotion: delight accompanied by suspense. Reading is fundamental -emphasis on the 'fun'. At least, of course, it is understood, in popular discourse, to be uplifting, instructive; at its best encouraging deep thought." -Invisible Ink, Reading the Writing and Writing the Reading