I just finished reading my 50th book for 2019, and I’m confident that I’ll reach my goal of reading 200 books this year.  A lot of people are asking me for tips on how to read more, so I figured I’d write about it here.             The #1 advice I have is to ALWAYS Read More…

I decided to write my own short post after getting inspired by Bill Shapiro’s “What We Keep.”  The instructions are simple-choose an object that brings you joy, magic, and meaning. Next month will be the one-year anniversary of my mother’s passing.  More recently, I found an untouched bracelet of hers that was hanging in her Read More…

It’s been less than eight months, and I have just finished my 100th book for the year.  People think it’s quite crazy that I’m reading so much, or they think I simply don’t have a life (since when has reading become such a crime? Since…the beginning of time)-but everyone has time to pursue (and peruse) Read More…

I met Rudy Francisco back when we were both college kids, at a Southern Rap Conference in CA.  We were both performing spoken word, and I was mesmerized by his vulnerability and courage.  I remember recording his words on my old school digital camera, and replaying it over and over again for months (back before Read More…

I met Rose McGowan when I was an undergrad at UCI, and she came to speak about sexual assault. I was in awe of her courageous spirit back then, and I’m even more blown away by her fearlessness now. Thank you Rose, for sharing your story in “Brave,” and being a voice for those of Read More…

Min Jin Lee’s “Pachinko” was absolutely amazing, heart wrenching, gripping, and powerful. The four generations of stories are told with such feeling and meticulous detail, it’s as if you’re right alongside Sunja, Hansu, Isak, etc. I had already known many things about the history between Japan and Korea, but Min Jin Lee brings to light Read More…

I stumbled upon Anna Akana’s So Much I Want to Tell You several months ago, and was immediately hooked. That led me to reading all of her books, subscribing to her YouTube channel, and just having a ton of admiration and respect for her raw honesty and fearlessness. Anna’s sister committed suicide when she was Read More…

I taught Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian to eighth grade students several years ago, and was lucky to see him speak that same year. I just finished reading his memoir You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me (“you” referring to his mother), and truly appreciated his raw honesty. The Read More…

Wow. I felt like I was reading this novel a little too slowly at first, but realized I was just poring over each extremely detailed and picturesque word that consumed me into the world of those living in Shaker Heights. Celeste Ng is a pro at writing with such intensity and depth, it was difficult Read More…

Teaching has always been something that I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl. I’d spend hours on my beat up chalkboard in the garage (the chalk was so dirty that we didn’t want it to cause a mess inside), teaching my stuffed animals the basics in reading and writing. I’d write my Read More…