Book Review: Preparing My Daughter For Rain:: notes on how to heal and survive. by Key Ballah

Self Published
Published Aug. 24,2014
106 Pages

A collection of poetry for daughters, future daughters and women about how to heal and survive. 

This is going to be short review and that is because I do not have the words to describe this other than deep and powerful.  I wasn’t expecting much and that is because its been a hit and miss for me with poetry; mostly because I am not at a point in my life where I am sad nor am I obsess or desperate about love and being in love (long statement I know).

But anyway, this book, this poetry moved me so much. To say I am not an emotional fragile woman at this moment, would be a lie. The words were so honest but followed so beautifully without the fillers and the whimsical ideas. It reminded me of my past and made me feel for my future. It also made me think of mom a lot, which is the purpose but I really thought about my mom and who she was before kids.

I love this book and although I go it for kindle unlimited, I have every intentions of buying it for my library. I fell for this book and I think each time I read it I will learn something new about myself, women and my mom.

Powerful…powerful read I would recommend to all women for themselves and their daughters.

5 Pickles 

Book Review: Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

Nancy Paulsen Books
Published March 24, 2015
304 Pages

Naila’s parents are conservative immigrants that believe in keeping their culture alive even though they live in America. Naila is allowed to go to school and choose her career but she isn’t allowed to choose her husband . . . dating is forbidden.

When her parents catch Naila with her boyfriend, Saif, they whisk her away to Pakistan to explore her roots. But things quickly change when Naila’s parents state they have found her a husband and she is to be married immediately.

Desperate to get out of this situation but unsure how since she is cut off of everyone she loves, her only hope is Saif and if he could find her.

Sidenote: It is hard for me to read realistic books.  I read them because it shows me something different about the world I live in.  But man, it is hard. *Short Review*

Now to the book.

I like how the book gets right into it. There isn’t a lot of fluff in regards to Naila’s situation with her family and her romantic relationship. Saif isn’t just a new boy in school Naila falls in love with instantly; they have history and they have been together for at least a year at this point and Naila knows as well as Saif what could happen if her parent’s found out.

The book was written well with a nice even pace. Naila is betrayed by her parents and family not betrayed by her lack of strength or back bone. Naila is respectful and she has a very simple personality that just makes you want to hug her. It was so hard to read this and know that Naila’s story could be or is someone’s true story.

Naila was the reason I kept reading this book because I loved her. But that is not because it was a bad book. The author created such an amazing mental picture, so detailed and with a lot of care. When Naila hurt . . . you hurt.

Because of the nature of this book, it had a simple pace that didn’t leave you so hung up on something missing. For the most part everything was straight forward but it didn’t leave any predictability.

If you are into realistic and emotional fiction then this is for you.

3 Pickles