Tag: Reading

Exploring New Worlds: Shonda Rhimes, Year of Yes

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I read the book and now, I want more!

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I love the fact that I have family members and friends who recommend books or buy them for me when they KNOW I’ll love the content.

In the book, Shonda speaks about how a comment from her sister about her limitations of herself regarding fears prevents her from saying yes to anything, and that jolted something alive in her to change that.

A younger cousin of mine told me about Shonda Rhimes’ Year of Yes because she truly enjoyed it in its audiobook form. She gave me the gist of it and hyped it up enthusiastically, too.

I had to see for myself, and I’m glad I did. Here is the Amazon review for it:

“My Cousin Recommended This Book!

And I’m awfully glad she did! Firstly, I didn’t expect to read what I just read. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect.

It’s Shonda Rhimes! Of course, I was thinking, in the back of my mind, the woman can downright write, so it ought to be good. But this was/is much better than good. It’s phenomenal!

Secondly, I hadn’t factored in the reality that she’d let us into her personal life just a bit with this book, and lo and behold, she did!

I felt like a member of her family thumbing through the pages, laughing, sighing, and crying. Not only is Year of Yes well-written, it is full of humor and grit and witty retorts.

I sank into so many scenes as they were told from the writer’s point of view and recollection. I connected with various happenings in her life as a writer, and her love life reminded me of mine as well.

There is so much to explore and unpack in this book, and I am happy to have had the opportunity to do so. I assure you, it IS a work of art that is worth your time.”

I absolutely adore it when a recommendation does not steer me wrong. And this book is now a favorite of mine!

Reading Is Still Fundamental

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A few Amazon reviews for your reading pleasure

All the Words I Kept Inside. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Pooja Gudka, at LifesFineWhine, first book of poetry was recently published, and I knew I would enjoy the content.

I read it in one sitting; took me about an hour to absorb everything and connect with a few of the gifts she has given us with this debut book of authentically vulnerable & expressive poems.

Below is the review I left for it on Amazon:

“First, I’ll say if you have a problem with the explicit truth about depression and anxiety, and how the two combined can be incredibly damaging to a human being, this is NOT the book for you.

However, if you can appreciate someone digging deep within themselves to bring you the most vulnerable parts of themselves in the form of poetry, then sit back and revel in the short ride of a most exquisite debut book of poems.

I felt so many emotions while reading ‘All The Words I Kept Inside.’ Pooja did a phenomenal job with the placement of the poems in every section of the book. One thing is for certain, you WILL FEEL something.

And however you feel afterward, will stick with you for years to come. It is as though the depths of her very soul lie in the lines of this book.

You will walk away embracing the damaged version of yourself.

And that’s an incredible accomplishment.”

Being a Woman: Overcoming. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

After I read Pooja’s book, I dove into Michele Lee Sefton‘s first two books of the “Being a Woman” project: Overcoming & Becoming.

Both are light reads with just under 18 and 25 pages, so consuming the content was not a time-eating issue.

Below is the review I left for the first offering on Amazon:

“The author, Michele, is intentional with this book about her message. She is free to be who she is regardless of what society and the many men who make the rules believe she should be.

Her coming of age and into the human being she wants to be took place during the rise of a global pandemic in 2020. Not only was she able to still be creative, but she produced this work of art.

My only dislike is that it’s much too short.

If you’re looking for a quick read, with poignant poetry and brilliant artwork as an accompaniment, I recommend Being a Woman: Overcoming.“

Being a Woman: Becoming. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

As I stated above, after I finished the first book, I thumbed through the second one and knocked it out as well. 

Here is the review for the second offering of poems by the writer:

“Michele has a knack for tackling tough subjects without making the reader feel burdened. As the second body of work for the “Being a Woman” project, “Becoming” isn’t what I thought it would be, but definitely what it should be.

It is a compilation of tiny reminders, cultural embraces, and acknowledgment of the women who make this world go ’round. The accompanying artwork by her daughter, Sammi, is also something to be admired.

If you’re a stickler for completing serial works just as I am, you’ll want this book to add to your collection.”

We are surrounded by a deluge of talented writers and thinkers in this WordPress community, and I’m happy I have a chance to delve into the words of so many of your productions.

Peace and blessings.

Séduire

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Serial Tales & Flash Fiction

Séduire, Front Cover. Created with Canva by Tremaine L. Loadholt
Séduire, Back Cover. Created with Canva by Tremaine L. Loadholt

I have been hard at work on something for the last two years, and . . . the above front and back covers are the faces of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction. Séduire (French), meaning to seduce or charm, encapsulates everything I wanted to do with the words I turned into characters that turned into stories for this book.

It is comprised of fourteen fiction tales, housed in 87 pages from my restless and imaginative mind. It is my first book comprised completely of fiction. It was hard to select which stories I wanted to share, but I believe I made the best decision in selecting the stories published in this book.

Its publishing date will be October 30, 2024. Why this date? It’s close enough to Thanksgiving and Christmas, yet not so close to hinder holiday expenses. I believe it will make the perfect gift for family, friends, and acquaintances. Over the next few months, I will post an announcement about the book along with blurbs from its beta readers.

The first two are below:

Tremaine isn’t just a writer; she is a sage who applies the practices and alchemy of empathy. She doesn’t just create compelling characters; she inhabits them and allows them to speak their truth through her grounded prose, regardless of how vulnerable, how conflicted, how beautiful, or how harrowing. -Barry Dawson, Jr. IV

In Séduire, Tre Loadholt gives us the full range of her storytelling magic. Beyond the humorous dialogue, the raw earthiness of relationships, and the intense despair of grief and loss … eternal hope is the emotion that always shines through her stories.This iconic collection of short fiction belongs on your must-read list. -Kay Bolden

For those of you who have always supported me, thank you. I hope you will do so this time around as well when Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction is published.

Are you interested in reading my previously published books? You can do so here.

Stay Tuned.

Two Things Thursday #18

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1. New Construction. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
2. The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

1. New Construction is a photo I snapped of the most recent sister construction to my apartment community. The building I call home has 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms. The one just behind my building has 1 & 2 bedrooms. This new construction is going to have 1 bedroom and Studio apartments.

I think having a trio in our community is wise, especially with more 1 bedroom apartments. Studios are also wise to have on-site.

I do not know when this construction will be completed but they’ve made a ton of progress since I’ve been here. My move-in date was August 24, 2023. Judging by how quickly they managed to do this, I would venture to say, that the project should be done by the end of this year or early next year.

I will keep you guys updated. I can’t wait to see the finished product!

2. The Last American Man is a novel by Elizabeth Gilbert. Gilbert is the author of the iconized book, Eat, Pray, Love, which was made into a movie. I own and read the book and I’ve seen the movie. I love them both.

However, I did not think I would read The Last American Man by Gilbert, but I am glad she wrote it. Her masterful way of thoughtfully placing paragraphs succinctly and using layman’s terms with a variety of flair has always lured me in. I now own four of Gilbert’s books, and I can truly say she’s fast becoming one of my favorite writers.

Here is a brief synopsis of The Last American Man:

In this rousing examination of contemporary American male identity, acclaimed author and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert explores the fascinating true story of Eustace Conway. In 1977, at the age of seventeen, Conway left his family’s comfortable suburban home to move to the Appalachian Mountains. For more than two decades he has lived there, making fire with sticks, wearing skins from animals he has trapped, and trying to convince Americans to give up their materialistic lifestyles and return with him back to nature. To Gilbert, Conway’s mythical character challenges all our assumptions about what it is to be a modern man in America; he is a symbol of much we feel how our men should be, but rarely are.

Her way of sharing Conway’s story without simply rehashing his past life and merging it into his present is stellar. She not only lets the reader into the life of Eustace Conway, but she sets a path before us to feel as though we’re walking it with him. From the abuse (both verbal and physical) he endured from his father, to the pain of being the eldest and namesake and not feeling adequate enough, to his travels all over the world, etc, Gilbert weaves a tale that doesn’t feel real, but it is.

If you’re looking for your next book, I recommend this one! It’ll give you more to think about concerning our surroundings, environment, and our way of life and have you questioning all that we have come to know in this day and age.

Two Things Thursday #15

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1. The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom. ©2024 Tremaine L. Loadholt
2. Caison’s Throw. ©2024 Tremaine L. Loadholt

1. The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom is what I am currently reading. I don’t think I need to reiterate how much I love this author. So, I won’t! Lol! The book is captivating and written in a way that allows a reader to sink in totally to every chapter.

There are morsels shared here and there and the plot builds up slowly but surely. It is mind-blowing how accurately each character develops based on the initial details a reader is given about them in the beginning.

Here is a brief synopsis of the book:

The Time Keeper is a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours. The man who became Father Time.

In The Time Keeper, the inventor of the world’s first clock is punished for trying to measure God’s greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time. –Mitch Albom/Books

I enjoy every moment of this book and I am happy I added this one to my Mitch Albom collection.

2. Caison’s Throw is probably going to be one of my favorite photos of my baby cousin, Caison Michael. The photo was taken by Yours Truly at his soccer game last evening. We had a blast!

He scored two goals and was such an encouraging team player!

It was the final game of the season, but I was so happy to be in attendance. With him growing up so quickly, I am taking in every event and creating lasting memories from them, too.

I’ll blink, and he’ll be an adult. I am gathering as many memories of him as I can while I can. Life is too short not to!