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To Be Seen
Spark Your Story is a deeply personal and powerfully candid memoir-essay hybrid that follows the journey of a young, autistic, biracial teenage girl navigating creativity, identity, and self-worth in a world that doesn’t always make room for people like her. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wrote Spark Your Story because God inspired me. A young teenager like me couldn’t do this alone. I feel like I’m doing the Lord’s work with every book published. Writing is a very fulfilling mission as well. I know that people are blessed with each word. Maybe even more teenagers will be touched by my story. Perhaps this will inspire a new generation of young authors.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
It was less about lessons and teachings and more about giving the world a piece of myself. I wanted to be seen, and I thought if people saw me, they’d be inspired. Think of this book as a gift to you and everyone who desires it.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging part was the section on bullying. It wasn’t because of the prose or the skill required to write, but because it reached into a vulnerable part of myself. Those pages were stained with tears. I may be a fifteen-year-old author, but I’m not perfect. I’m hurt too. And writing that was like cleansing the wound. It may have stung, but crafting it was a significant part of my healing. It helped me rise above the teasing I experienced.
The most rewarding part would have to be the amount of people touched by my words. My heart goes to those who smile at the colorful pages, scribble notes in the margins, and go on to write books of their own. Readers like those are some of the greatest blessings of being an author.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope readers learn that you’re never too young or too inexperienced to achieve. Hard work and intellectual skills can be developed at any age. You can do it. You can write a book. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you are willing to put in the time and effort, you too could become an author or intellectual.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
A Drunk in the Midnight Choir
A Drunk in the Midnight Choir by Jensen is an enigmatic and thought-provoking work that defies easy categorization. It’s a blend of ideas and reflections that flow together like a series of loosely connected conversations, seemingly random yet purposeful. This piece of writing isn’t easily defined as a traditional essay, novella, or poem; instead, it feels like a collection of oddities that, when woven together, create a narrative that is more than the sum of its parts. Perhaps the best approach is not to define it at all but to experience it for what it is.
Jensen’s work, though the length of a novella or novelette, doesn’t fit neatly into the realm of fiction. Instead, it reads like an essay, with moments that resemble the introspective musings of someone sifting through the complexities of their life. The author, who refers to himself only as Jensen, presents himself as an intellectual, and the insights he shares are never less than captivating. The narrative begins with Jensen recalling a memorable conversation with a friend in Bangkok. From there, the essay takes the reader on a journey through his thoughts on a wide range of topics, including his struggle to write a conventional novel, his behavioral issues as a youth, and his musings on figures like Jordan Peterson and Alexander Humboldt. Along the way, he touches on themes of God, Confucianism, child-rearing, and ESL, among others. The meaning of this eclectic mix of reflections may vary from reader to reader, as is often the case with more abstract works. While it may be best understood as an essay, it is also humorous, thought-provoking, and occasionally quite touching. In essence, the reader is invited to spend time inside Jensen’s mind, which proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience.
A Drunk in the Midnight Choir by Jensen is a uniquely engaging exploration of one man’s inner world, offering readers a window into the mind of a reflective and intellectually curious individual. It challenges conventional literary forms, blending personal musings with broader philosophical inquiries. The result is a work that is as perplexing as it is captivating, inviting readers to draw their own interpretations from its rich tapestry of ideas.
Pages: 97
The Silent Cries Of A Barbie Doll
The Silent Cries of a Barbie Doll, a poignant novel by Tamika Barr Jaskolka, draws inspiration from the author’s own personal experiences. This stirring work interweaves essays with a narrative tone and complimentary poetry to create a cohesive and compelling story. The protagonist, Barbie Desiree Smith, is a young biracial poet who invites readers into her life through essays and poetry detailing her emotional journey.
Barbie’s quest for love leads her to confront both inner and outer demons and endure numerous hardships. Through her writings, she candidly discusses growing up biracial, her religious background and beliefs, relationships, the challenges of becoming a young mother, surviving rape, and more. The poetry in the novel serves as Barbie’s means of expressing her silent cries. Jaskolka’s honest and unflinching writing style resonates deeply with readers, particularly women. She confronts uncomfortable and unpleasant topics head-on, shining a light on the often-hidden struggles many people face. One particularly powerful chapter, titled “A Monster,” explores themes of guilt, loss, and trauma, prompting readers to reflect on their own relationships and the people around them. This chapter tackles complex subject matter, including a harrowing account of sexual assault, which serves as a testament to the raw emotions conveyed throughout the novel.
The Silent Cries of a Barbie Doll by Tamika Barr Jaskolka is an exceptional work that genuinely represents the struggles many women face today, transcending their differences. It is highly recommended for anyone seeking to understand and empathize with these struggles and contribute to their prevention.
Pages: 64 | ASIN : B00L6NFS2A
Entrancement: The Consciousness of Dreaming, Music and the World
If you’ve ever wondered where your mind goes in those moments when you’re not quite awake or when you’ve been staring out the window for just a tad too long, you will find some clues to an answer in Ruth Finnegan’s Entrancement. This collection of essays from educated professionals will expose you to different viewpoints on the topics of dreaming, trancing and the collective unconscious. Fashioned the same way a textbook might be, readers will gain insight into various hypotheses on what happens to our minds when we enter these states. Exploring the world from a slight occultist view, readers are privy to personal stories from professionals in the field of the social sciences who have backed up their personal experiences with data and sources. Investigate how music and dreaming contribute to artistic expression; identify your own personal cues and what might draw you into a trance.
Finnegan begins with her own personal experience with trancing. During her sections at the beginning and the end of the book she uses language that is friendly for non-academic readers. The same can be said for all of those who have contributed to this piece. By using common language, Finnegan has opened up the potentials for her audience. Anyone who is interested in this topic will find useful information within its pages.
There are some typos in the book which were distracting in such a highly educated piece. But the errors are few and can be easily forgotten. The presentation of the book leaves a little to be desired. The table of contents could use some formatting and the pages between essays could have been laid out better. These are all minor things, but they impact the reader experience.
It is interesting to read a collection of essays on a somewhat supernatural topic that is rife with research. For someone who is studying psychology or the other social sciences, Entrancement by Ruth Finnegan would be an excellent resource piece to read. The abilities of the mind have been studied for decades and we are no closer to unraveling the secrets now than we were in the beginning. If you’re a beginner doing preliminary readings or research on this topic, you will find this book useful. The content is not only useful, but the suggested readings in the back open up a whole library of future readings. For those who hunger for more information, who want to explore this world and our place in it, this is a delightful bonus.
Pages: 288 | ASIN: B06XVD9WKM
LITERARY TITAN 