Book Review- Carol D. Marsh's Nowhere Else I Want to Be

Thank You to Inkshares for providing me with an advanced copy of Carol D. Marsh's memoir, Nowhere Else I Want to Be, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- In the mid 90's Carol Marsh founded Miriam's House, a shelter in Washington D.C. for homeless women infected with HIV. Marsh spent many years as the director of the non-profit, including living in Miriam's House with her husband, Tim. Nowhere Else I Want to Be, is not just Marsh's story, but the story of the women who both worked and lived at Miriam's House. 

LIKE- I saw Nowhere Else I Want to Be on NetGalley and requested it for personal reasons. This summer, I moved to Portland, Oregon and we have an apartment in the middle of downtown, where we are confronted with extreme homelessness and drug addiction every time we step outside of our building. Quite honestly, it's a difficult thing to see, and I'm not dealing with it well, basically sheltering myself within our building. I had hoped that Marsh's memoir, might give me a better sense of the difficulties that people are facing, and that the personal stories, might make me less fearful and more compassionate. On this personal level, I think Marsh's book succeeded. It's the personal stories that make Nowhere Else I Want to Be, so compelling and tragic. 

One of the saddest stories is of a young woman, if I'm remembering correctly she is the youngest Miriam's House resident, who had contracted HIV from a blood transfusion as a child living in Africa. Although her family had to stay in Africa, she was sent to America for medical care. Her mother desperately tries to save money for visits, but knows that her daughter is dying in America, alone. The residents and employees of Miriam's House try to give her daughter comfort, but she is severely depressed and lonely. It's crushing. 

One of the strict rules for residents at Miriam's House is no drugs or alcohol. Zero tolerance, so that the women trying to maintain their sobriety won't be tempted by another's slip-up. Many of the women relapse, several times, making their stays at Miriam's House sporadic. Some die from overdoses and some simply disappear. However, more of the stories are hopeful, even if they ultimately end with death. These women get to die with care, knowing friendship and love towards the end of their lives. They have times where they can laugh and smile, knowing a sense of comfort that they likely would not have experienced without the non-profit. Another hopeful element of the story, is as Marsh's time working at Miriam's House comes to an end, new drugs and a better understanding of the virus, are extending lives and the women are learning to manage their disease, rather than rapidly declining. Miriam's House is no longer a place where women go to die.

The part of Marsh's experience, that I didn't anticipate, but found so interesting, is her missteps and miscommunications as a white middle-class woman, working with primary poor women of color. Beyond the residents of Miriam's House, Marsh makes an effort to hire African American women, which sometimes creates a cultural difference between Marsh and her fellow employees. Although, over time, this lessens, as Marsh and her staff, learn to listen to each other and work with their various communication styles. Early on, it is pointed out to Marsh, that she has a great need to be "liked" and that she needs to let go of her need to better serve the women in her care. The transformation of Marsh is as compelling as the stories of the Miriam's House residents.

DISLIKE- Nothing. Nowhere Else I Want to Be is a very worthwhile, transformative read.

RECOMMEND- Yes. Be sure to steel yourself for some depressing stories, and have your kleenex handy for those uplifting moments that will make you cry. One that really got me, was a very ill woman who got to go on an outing to Six Flags Theme Park. There are many reminders to cherish the smaller pleasures in life. 

Book Review- Lindsey Lee Johnson's The Most Dangerous Place on Earth

Thank You to Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of Lindsey Lee Johnson's novel, The Most Dangerous Place on Earth, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- In the privileged and idyllic Northern California town of Mill Valley, the kids seem to have it all. However, look beneath the surface, and their lives are ruled by insecurities, bullying, and vicious gossip, all magnified by social media.

 The Most Dangerous Place on Earth, begins with an incident that rocks an eighth grade class; a boy sends a note to a girl professing his love and the note falls into the wrong hands, driving the boy to commit suicide. The impact of the suicide is primarily felt by Calista, the girl to whom the love letter was written. As the students transition to high school, they don't understand the impact of gossip, until they are on the receiving end. How much risky behavior can they get away with before facing the consequences? How much will the consequences alter their lives?

LIKE- The Most Dangerous Place on Earth is a page-turner. I absolutely couldn't put it down and although it isn't necessarily a short book ( nearly three hundred pages), I tore through it in a single day. I just had to keep reading. Johnson's compelling cast of characters and thrilling plot kept me up late.

The book title is not an overstatement, Mill Valley is a place filled with danger. It's not a conventionally dangerous place, no murders; the danger is in the behavior of the people and the general callousness that they show towards others. Mill Valley could be a stand in for many parts of America, or even wealthy suburbs in other countries. This is a community where the parents are wrapped up in their own lives, giving their teenagers ample freedom. As long as the kids keep up a facade of perfection ( good grades, on track toward a prestigious college), no one notices the negative behavior, like crashing expensive cars, running up credit card tabs, and social media obsessions. The danger level keeps ramping up in scary and shocking ways.

It was so shocking that I had to stop reading and share portions with my husband. I've been thinking about the shock value over the last few days. and I think the reason that it packed such a punch, is that nothing is this story seems outlandish. These kids are very much real, so much so, that if I had been told this was a memoir, I would have believed it. The things that happen in this story, you don't want to imagine are happening in high schools, but I'm certain they are and it's upsetting. Johnson writes with emotion that is raw and real. The Most Dangerous Place on Earth points to major flaws that our society is currently facing with regard to our obsession with social media, and the way that we isolate ourselves from truly engaging with others. It's stomach turning and makes this novel very current.

DISLIKE- Nothing. The Most Dangerous Place on Earth is brilliant.

RECOMMEND- Yes. The Most Dangerous Place on Earth is a must-read and I'm certain that it will be on the 2017 best sellers list. This would be a great book club pick, as it begs to be discussed. Johnson is a fantastic writer and I look forward to her next novel. 

Book Review - Amy Schumer's The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo

PLOT- In her memoir, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, comedian Amy Schumer shares stories from her childhood, career, and love life. 

LIKE- When choosing books to take on vacation, I have a tradition of picking memoirs by comedians to read on the plane. They tend to be highly entertaining, an easy read in a distracting environment. For my winter holiday, I went with Schumer's The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo. Recently, my husband and I have been on a Amy Schumer kick, binge watching her television series: Inside Amy Schumer. She has an off-beat world view that informs her comedy. She makes us laugh. 

Although often humorous, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, reveals a more serious, introspective side of Schumer. She writes about her rocky childhood, which includes financial changes, her father's alcoholism, and her mother's infidelity with Schumer's best friend's father.

Schumer's father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which Schumer writes about in length. Having cared for a sick parent, I found these stories to be the most close to my own heart, especially those of her father being sick in public. Crushing. There is a beautiful story about the last time she went body surfing with her father, when he knew that soon his health would decline to the point where it would be impossible. They braved the cold waters to have that last experience together of an activity that he used to do with her when she was a kid. Amy has a lot of love for her family, a theme that is repeated throughout the book. As an only child, I was very envious of the bond that she shares with her younger sister, Kim. 

One of the biggest shocks, was Schumer revealing that she had been in a highly abusive relationship in her twenties. Schumer is so fearless and strong in her career, that it is hard to imagine that she could be a victim of domestic abuse. The power of her sharing this story, is that it can truly happen to anyone. Domestic abuse doesn't just happen to "weak people". 

Schumer writes about the Louisiana movie theatre shooting that occurred during a screening of her film, Trainwreck. Two women, Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson, were fatally shot and this completely shattered Schumer. She became involved in gun control activism, including dedicating the end of this book to the cause. 

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, made me an even bigger fan of Schumer. I like that she took a serious tone throughout much of her memoir, rather than writing a flippant humor book. She is still young, but she had plenty to share without padding her memoir with filler. The actual story of her lower back tattoo is painfully funny. 

DISLIKE- Nothing. However, I'd like to caution anyone who like me, thinks that The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, is good pick for a flight...this is a noisy book, meaning I had to reign myself in from laughing-out-loud, and I had to try to hide the fact that I was moved to tears. This is not a memoir that you can read without emotion.

RECOMMEND- Yes! I know that Amy Schumer tends to be one of those polarizing entertainers that you either love or hate, however, I would still recommend The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo to non-fans. Not all, but much, of Schumer's memoir is a departure from her comedy and a really meaty story of dysfunction and family.