Book(s) Review: The Neapolitan Novels of Elena Ferrante
I’m overwhelmed by how much I love these four books- the Neapolitan series. It wasn’t lo...
Continue reading
New Year’s Day
I wrote this poem in 2009 and wanted to share it. Every year I feel the same. New Year’...
Continue reading
Goodness In A Capricious World
September in the Rain I haven’t written in a bit. September was difficult. My Mom was hospitalized, and although she recovered and is back in her nursing home, it was an emotional few weeks. The uncertainty of living far from her, and relying on strangers with her primary her care is very emotional. I must rely on their…
Culture Talk: Gender and Race in “We Should All be Feminists”
We are in a thought provoking year to talk about race, gender, economic status. As a nation we are having more conversations about the nature of gender and sexuality. Parts of the country seem to be melting down at the notion of fluid sexuality or gender. Transgender people, and transgender people of color especially, are facing…
Book Reviews: Readings on the American Dream
I’ve read three books this year that deal with the theme of the American Dream. Two are juicy, magical novels, and one is the autobiography of a role model and Supreme Court Justice. Colson Whitehead’s American Dream/Nightmare I’ll start with my favorite. “The Underground Railroad,” by Colson Whitehead knocked me over. I love this book….
Book Review: Nadia Bolz-Weber, Sinner and Saint
Nadia Bolz-Weber is someone I follow on Twitter– she seems like my kind of fierce and funny tattooed human. I am delighted my local library branch had her memoir “Pastrix: the Cranky Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint” available. This book is meaty and memorable. There is so much to it that I decided…
Book Review, Part 2: Wisdom to Overcome Obstacles in “The Book of Joy”
It’s been about a month since I completed the “Book of Joy,” and I have needed its wisdom these past few days. Visiting my Mom with Alzheimer’s at her nursing home while my husband is traveling means working on my patience and putting aside expectations. Not having my husband there means I have no buffer…
Book Review, part 1: “The Book of Joy”
This book took me a few weeks to finish- its the kind of book you read, then put down and linger over passages. When you read a book with the sage conversation of two of the world’s great spirits, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, you realize how much there is to learn. There is…
Sonia Sotomayor Comes to Albany
On Tuesday night, I, and a packed SEFCU Arena audience at SUNY Albany, heard and saw Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. My Bronx pride and Latina pride were tapped to the fullest. After all, I too am a (part) Puerto RIcan girl from the Bronx who fiercely loves books and the Yankees.* She’s a…
Book Review: ‘The Hate U Give’ – Angie Thomas
I am still shocked by what happened to Trayvon Martin. It’s been five years and I wrestle with the insanity of a country that thinks a murderer like George Zimmerman can go free. I am still ashamed of the mystery behind the death of Sandra Bland. I don’t know how she died but I don’t…
Your Thoughts on Life on the Path