Earlier this week, I received some really heartbreaking news from my family. I know this year seems to keep delivering blog after blow, and well, it seems like everything has gone to shit at times.
But, I’ve been thinking a lot about it… why is this year SO much worse than all of the rest? When I really paused to think it over, I realized that I think when you take away the obvious reasons — a pandemic and natural disasters, etc. — this year is probably similar to many other years.
After all, life always has ups and downs. But, we are usually able to plan some really great things like vacations or birthday parties to make up for the sad and tough times that are inevitable.
In a “normal” year, we could count on happy hours and plane rides to help us coast over the rough moments. But this year, we have nothing to distract us. And to make matters worse, many of us have lost our jobs and/or we can’t travel to be with loved ones who are ill.
I don’t know if that makes anyone feel any better, but I hate this feeling that there’s a total hex on the year. I know good things can happen this year, we just have to look really, really hard to find them.
Anyway, we’re here to discuss the latest read from Blanche’s Book Club: “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates” by Wes Moore.
This is a true story about Wes Moore (the author) and his life growing up in Baltimore. It’s also the true story about another man named Wes Moore who also grew up in Baltimore around the same time as the author.
Only… the author went on to be an academic and the other Wes Moore is serving a life sentence in prison, without parole.
I am not entirely sure how I heard about this book — I think it was on a news program. But, wow, it is FASCINATING. Seriously, I devoured this book.
The parallels in the lives of these two men is almost scary, and it really makes you wonder about the tiny decisions that change your life from someone else’s.
This book was written many years ago, but feels so timely now. I’ve read so many books by Black authors this year and all of them feel so timely… which is the sad reality of racism in America — it will always be timely until we fix it.
So, I am recommending this book to anyone who likes reading true stories. Also if you’re into reading about different upbringings. This is so good!
The next book Blanche’s Book Club will be reading is “Queenie” by Candice Carty-Williams.
For more book recommendations, be sure to subscribe to the blog (look to the right) and follow me on Goodreads @thebitterlemon – where I share more of my book picks. Need help with your blog? I can help with all of your digital marketing efforts – just let me know!
The Bitter Lemon 
One Comment