At this point, I’m definitely an addict.

Stop Telling Women To Smile by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is a gut punch of a book, and I enjoyed reading it!
I had no doubt that I would. It has the author’s voice, her passion, and the intensity for the importance of the topic at hand shines through each page effortlessly.
The Amazon review is below:
“STWTS Should Be Taught In Sex & Gender Courses.
And I say this, having had my stent in one such class while in college, and if I was assigned this book to read, I probably would have felt as if I learned more.
It is a beautiful thing to be able to see words within pages that perfectly describe what I have felt–still feel sometimes about street harassment and the various interactions I’ve had with men while in public.
It is a VERY real thing and should not be brushed aside or swept under the proverbial rug.
The artwork accompanying the stories helps to drive the power of the words home as well as what every woman, non-binary person, and trans-woman has experienced and how street harassment has shaped their lives. You can see the strain and exhaustion on every face.
It also opens a door to dialogue and the changes men must make for this issue to become a non-issue.
The author/artist did a phenomenal job with this book, and I am happy to have it as a part of my collection and favorite reads.”

The final book to Michele Lee Sefton‘s Being a Woman project is Forthcoming.
It is the perfect way to complete a series. Out of all three, though, the first book is my favorite. It set the tone for the project and had the most impactful words within it.
Below is my Amazon review:
“Emotionally Charged, Binding Poetry.
In this third offering from the “Being a Woman,” project, “Forthcoming” took what I thought was a completely different turn, but this did not dampen or lessen the strength and depth of the poems shared.
Michele shone a light on the dearly departed, the forgotten, the worried, the weakened, and the powerful in this book.
It was easy to connect with quite a few poems and allow my emotions to get the best of me: I felt something. And I assume that’s exactly what the author wants.
Ending the collection, “Forthcoming” finishes on a high note with its last offering, “Return Home”, which solidifies the book in a huge way, and allows the reader to breathe a sigh of relief.
If you haven’t already made this book one of your own, I suggest that you do, and soon.”
Does anyone else need to attend a Books Anonymous meeting or two or three?!
Books have been my lifeline since age ten, so I can definitely relate! You’re so good at writing reviews, Tre. Do they come easily to you?
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Hey, you! Thank you! They kinda do! I like to review a book right after I’ve read it while the details are fresh. I get excited to write them now. In the past, it wasn’t an enjoyable thing for me to do. Now, it’s a bit more tolerable.
Books have been my lifeline as well. Since about age 6. I think I was the only young one in my little crew who had a bookshelf full of books at that age. 🤣😂😆
I was an only child for 8 years, so books were a great way for me to further tap into my imagination, and my parents recognized this early on. Thank GAWD they did!
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Since age 6? Wow!
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Incredible insight. Love the reviews. But most of all you’re amazing for posting reviews.
I’ve no idea what books anon is. 🤷🏽♀️
Congratulations to the authors. Thanks trE.
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Like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). I was inquiring if BA is an actual thing for people addicted to reading books.
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Jester!
I’ll keep riding with it… 😆
keep reading and growing 👏🏽
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Wonderful reviews and so happy to see Michele’s book being highlighted. She is a superb writer and well versed in her poetry, honesty and gifts in writing and I know she was over the moon! Both superb choices and description trE💓
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Thank you kindly. I appreciate you stopping by. 🙏🏾💙
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trE! You are a blessing to me and to the community, thank you so very much. It is fun to be surprised by you and to note another author/book I am interested in exploring. Take care talented writer and inspiring friend. 🌻
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Peace, Michele. Thank you. And you’re most welcome!
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😊🙏🏻🕊️
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I love reading your reviews. I wish I could get into books like that. If it’s a good book, I tend to read it like it’s a good series because I never want it to end. If it’s something that I begin to read but can’t connect with, I put it aside for a few months, then try again. I used to read a lot more in my 20s. Not sure what happened. Maybe I’ll get back into it. Until then, keep the reviews coming! And that artwork is BEAUTIFUL!!
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Thank you! I’ll keep them coming. Reading calms me–it’s my escape. It also helps to read others’ work so I can continue to become a better writer, too. 🙏🏾💙
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I believe I did enough escaping as a teen reading Harlequin Romance novels. I used to read several books a week during the summertime. Several years ago, I was hooked on Christine Feehan and J.R. Ward novels. Those were the ones I never wanted to end. Lol.
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Yeah, Book Anonymous is a thing.
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Get out?! For real?! For people addicted to reading books?! And not E-books, but old school paperbacks and hard covers?!
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It’s a thing in this household. We have 17 bookcases!
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Haha. I only have 3. But I’m just one person, though, with a one-bedroom apartment. Goodness, if I had a WHOLE HOUSE, though?! Curtains! 🤣😆😂
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Is that book a graphic novel?
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There are many photos to accompany some of the details, but it’s not a graphic novel.
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Ah ok..sounds intriguing all the same…being that i read a lot about people
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I definitely need to attend a meeting. I finished three books yesterday when I realized I had ten books with bookmarks in them!
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Haha. It’s bananas, but it’s also so enjoyable and relaxing, too.
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It’s still my favorite activity ever for sure. ☺️
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💯💯💯
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STWTS sounds fantastic, will definitely be reading it. And excited to read Michele’s books too.
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👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 You’ll enjoy them!
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