Let Them Speak: Author Harriet Marsden Discusses Women, Power, & What’s Holding You Back

Our June author is Harriet Marsden.

Harriet Marsden is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously a subeditor at The Times, she now works for a variety of publications, including The Independent, HuffPost, the Guardian, and Foreign Policy. Harriet can often be heard on the radio at stupid o’clock, reviewing the news and mocking politicians. She is also a feminist commentator and contributing author to DK’s The Feminism Book.

Hobbies include reading, swimming, and Broadway musicals (she can do all the raps from Hamilton). Harriet has a bachelor’s in languages from the University of Cambridge and a master’s in international journalism from City University, London. She lives in South London with a cat, two birds, and innumerable plants.

Harriet can be found tweeting at @harriet1marsden

Want to buy Harriet’s book, Don’t Lose Your Head? Get it here.

Tell us a little about your writing journey.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved to read and write. More than anything else, I love books and words and people’s stories on a page. It’s the physical embodiment of humanity. Of course, when I got a little older and realized that it paid like sh*t, I became a journalist instead. Which didn’t pay any better, in fairness, but at least it gave me an excuse to be a nosy drunken gossip.

I’ve personally always been fascinated by King Henry VIII & all his wives! But I’d never heard of a telling from the women’s perspective (I had to Google Six). How did you decide to write a book from the ladies’ perspective – was it inspired purely by the musical? Or was there other inspiration as well?

I owe a massive amount to bestselling British historical fiction writer, Philippa Gregory. I read The Other Boleyn Girl when it came out about 20 years ago and it completely opened my eyes to a whole new Tudor perspective. I’ve been hooked on the wives of Henry VIII and their stories ever since and read all her books multiple times. Add a show stopping musical like Six to 20 years of committed feminism and there you have it! I want the women of history to finally have their say. The men had the stage for long enough.

I want the women of history to finally have their say.

Each of the women has a distinct voice in the book. How did you develop those voices?

It’s partly linguistic – Catherine of Aragon was a Spanish native speaker who originally spoke to her husband in French and Latin, a child of Holy War, while Anne Boleyn was determined to be flirtatiously French and modern. Anna of Cleves barely spoke a word of English when she was brought to Henry, and Katherine Howard was an almost illiterate young girl with limited vocabulary.

Catherine Parr was a proud Northern woman who used lots of wonderful little phrases from her upbringing, alongside the high religious imagery of a deeply spiritual scholar. Jane Seymour was harder to pin down, as so little was written about her while she was alive and so much was informed by her deification after she died. And how much of her reportedly meek, placid speech was a deliberate attempt to counteract Anne’s Gallic temper?

But a lot is known about each woman’s style: her fashion choices, her religious inclination, her interests. As I got to know them a bit, I tried to imagine how they’d look at the world, and how they might tell their stories. But ultimately, there’s a lot of guesswork. You do as much research as you can to find the facts, and then you have to use your imagination.

I love the pieces throughout the book that aren’t text: the profiles, the Did You Know sections, and the sassy snippets almost like a text message! What was your process for finding and including those in the book?

I decided early on to give each queen a profile, a bit like a dating app bio, with the basic facts to guide the reader and to contextualise them in the chronology. I thought they’d be the easiest bit to write. I was horribly mistaken on that front. In many cases, historians disagreed on names, dates, even spellings – and there’s so much we’ll never know for sure. So I tried, wherever possible, to base the bullet-points on where there was most consensus. But the profiles were an absolute headache.

I tried to imagine how they’d look at the world, and how they might tell their stories.

The ‘Did You Know’ trivia sections are made up of titbits that I discovered about each woman as I researched their lives and legacies but couldn’t otherwise fit into the stories of their marriages. Those are the bits that I would text my friends about.

The snippets of interruption came later – when I realized that so many of their stories overlapped in real life. I needed to find a way of communicating that while still letting each queen have the mic in turn. Those were fun to write because I could let my inner bitch run riot.

You say in the Forward that Anna of Cleves who’s your “favorite” queen – was she also your favorite section of the book to write?

The opposite, if anything! We know relatively little about her, and what we do know is so twisted by the poisonous briefing against her by Henry’s team. Plus, from what we do know it seemed that she lived her best life out of the spotlight, after Henry. That’s great for her – not so great for historians.

Everything you need to know about Henry, what he was and what he became – and why - you can learn from the transition from Catherine to Anne.

My favourite section to write was Catherine of Aragon’s; that’s where the meat of the story is. Everything you need to know about Henry, what he was and what he became – and why - you can learn from the transition from Catherine to Anne. Remember they were married for the best part of a quarter century – and Catherine was a great ruler and queen in her own right.

Describe your writing and/or creative process.

I read a lot, I think a lot about what I’ve read, I draft sentences and phrases in my head while I’m doing something that physically stops me from writing, like running or swimming or taking a shower. I make notes on my phone while on the Tube.

Then after I’ve procrastinated beyond all possible comprehension, I sit down and bash bits out in long, intense stretches of coffee haze and biscuit crumbs. For the last bit, my best friend moved in with me and made sure I ate and washed. He has requested that I do not write a book again.

As you note, this isn’t a history book, but there is A LOT of history involved! What was the research process like & how did you translate that into so many (funny & witty) voices?

There are several modern historians, for example Lady Antonia Fraser and Alison Weir, who have basically read everything in existence about the Tudors and have written impeccable, meticulous anthologies. I leaned very heavily on those. So, they did all the work. That’s my research tip – identify the best authors and the best texts, and then read those.

That’s my research tip – identify the best authors and the best texts, and then read those.

I also had to read quite a lot of the male historians with a pinch of salt the size of Texas – particularly David Starkey. But ultimately, I just tried to immerse myself in the whole Tudor world – lot of historical fiction, lots of Philippa Gregory, lots of looking at paintings and royal palaces and thinking about stomachers. What did people eat? What did they wear? What were their day-to-day lives actually like? Most importantly, who was shagging who?

What was your biggest writing obstacle and how did you overcome it?

It’s almost… fear of the computer. Like genuinely, the fear of sitting down at my desk or laptop and actually cracking on. Procrastination verging on phobia. I get around that by easing myself into the writing process, with notes and texts and tweets – anything that I can do without opening my laptop.

Also, reading! The more you read, the more your brain wakes up. I also don’t try to impose much structure – if I feel like writing late at night, or first thing in the morning, or on the train, that’s when I do it. Go with your gut. Plus, coffee. I’ve rarely met a writer who wasn’t basically a caffeinated wreck.

What is the part of your published work or writing process you are most proud of?

When my friends and family received their copy of the book and read the acknowledgment section. When I could put down in print, for posterity, how much they mean to me and how much of what I do is entirely down to them. That I wouldn’t write a word without them. That was the best moment.

When my friends and family received their copy of the book and read the acknowledgment section.

I would write ten more books just for that feeling. Also, when I read reviews from people who I’ve never met, sometimes thousands of miles away, who say they enjoyed the book and that it gave them a whole new perspective or interest. Getting messages from readers is a total delight.

Do you have any new writing projects in the works? If so, would you tell us a little about them?

Yes, but you’ll have to wait and see because my editor will go bananas.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

This might sound counterintuitive, but you do not have to be a so-called “good writer” – whatever that means – to be a published one. Sometimes all you need is a good story and an open-mind – and a shit-hot editor.

You do not have to be a so-called “good writer” – whatever that means – to be a published one.

Good writing is very subjective, and there are all sorts of different styles and tastes and audiences. Also, writing can be a solitary hellscape, so surround yourself with good people and ask them for help. You don’t have to do it alone.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about writing a book, but isn’t quite sure if they can?

Anyone can write a book. Absolutely anyone. Even if you’re illiterate, you can dictate one. There is nothing stopping you – except yourself. Think you don’t have time? Write a sentence a day on the commute. Don’t have an idea? Write about something that interested you, or something you dreamt about, or saw in the street.

Don’t think anyone will want to read it? Self-publish – your family will read any old crap if it has your name on it. And every time you think you can’t, just remember the worst book you ever read. That absolutely steaming pile of baloney that should never have been published. If that prick can get an advance, so can you.

Every time you think you can’t, just remember the worst book you ever read. That absolutely steaming pile of baloney that should never have been published. If that prick can get an advance, so can you.

If you would like to purchase Harriet Marsden’s Book, Don’t Lose Your Head , you can find a copy here.

If you know an author (or of an author) you would love to read an interview with, email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com or submit a suggestion through the contact page!

Don’t Buy Another Journal Until You Read About These

NOTE: This blog contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I’m a huge fan of journaling. I do it every day - my Morning Pages - and there are so many benefits.

That being said, it’s not always easy to just sit down and write, especially when you have all the feelings! (If you need help getting started, check this out.)

So, rather than buy another blank journal you probably won’t use (even though it’s beeeeautiful) check these journals out first. Some are for poetry, some are for writers, and some are for lists! There’s something for everyone, and each could be your next creative best friend.

Instant Poetry

What It Is

A journal for lazy (or new) poets who want to make magic with their words but feel like poetry just “isn’t their thing.” With this fun fill in the blank poetry journal, maybe you’ll become the poet you’ve dreamed about being!

Where Can You Get It?

Barnes & Noble

Why it’s Great for Writers

I’m not a poet, and I honestly never have been. That being said, the idea of poetry fascinates me! I couldn’t resist this fun fill in the blank poetry journal, and I think it’s a great way for writers to think about words differently - and poetry!

“Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.”

— T.S. Eliot

Overcoming Creative Anxiety by Karen C.L. Anderson

Words from the Author

Karen C.L. Anderson

“There are four things I hope readers take away from the prompts and practices in my book:

#1 Creativity is your birthright...it's not something that some people have and others don't.

#2 You are creating in every given moment.

#3 Intentional creativity happens when you wield your thoughts and feelings on purpose.

#4 Working with your nervous system increases your ability to hold uncomfortable feelings while at the same time mitigates creative anxiety.”

What it Is

This guided journal walks readers through meeting and “disarming” their inner critic. It also introduces the inner advocate and provides plenty of space for journalers to explore themselves and let their inner creative run wild.

Where Can You Get It?

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

Why it’s Great for Writers

If you’re a writer, you’ve probably met (or having an ongoing hate/hate relationship with) your inner critic. This journal is a great way to work on your relationship with yourself, your creativity, and your writing.

“Trying to get rid of your inner critic is like trying to get rid of your humanity.”

— Karen C.L. Anderson

You Should Be Writing by Brenda Knight & Nita Sweeney

Words from the Authors

“Journaling, especially in the form of freewriting can really help you unleash your full creativity. I cannot recommend journaling highly enough!”

Brenda Knight

Nita Sweeney

"A writer is an apprentice, learning from those who have gone before. We watch and listen, read and mimic, try, fail, and succeed, until we make the craft our own. In You Should Be Writing Brenda Knight and I built a structure for writers to learn from the goddesses, gods, and lesser known greats of writing. Each blank page, topped with a quote of instruction or inspiration, invites the writer to practice in a safe space, with the support of experts who, in time, become her colleagues and peers."

What it Is

This journal is a collection of inspiring quotes just for writers. The quotes illustrate all aspects of writing, from storytelling to craft to writing as medicine. A welcoming place to get reenergized and excited to write.

Where Can You Get It?

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

Why it’s Great for Writers

Aside from the fact that the journal is made for writers, I’ve always found a good quote can really help my creativity and I think it will do the same for you.

“Every form of art can provide sustenance to writers. Be open to it all. Take it in. See it. Let it feed you, inspire you, and shape your work. Let it fill your creative well and move you to share your stories on the page.”

— Brenda Knight & Nita Sweeney

A little sunshine and a little rain by Sabina Laura

Words from the Author

“The journal gives readers inspiration to write poetry, while encouraging them to find their own voice and express themselves. The journal is a way of helping the reader let go of any expectations they might have and just give poetry a go!”

Sabina Laura

What it Is

This journal helps inspire and gently guide readers to write their own poetry based on themes and ideas.

Where Can You Get It?

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

Why it’s Great for Writers

Besides the fact that this journal is physically beautiful, it’s also full of beautiful words and imagery that are sure to help you find your prettiest words and get them onto the page, even if you “don’t really write” poetry (like me).

“i have been
so afraid of
letting the light in
that i have forgotten
how to dream
with my eyes open”

— Sabina Laura

The Checklist Book by Alexandra Franzen

Words from the Author

Alexandra Franzen

“This isn’t complicated stuff. It’s pretty simple. Consider what matters strongly to you. Then, plan your day accordingly. It’s simple yet difficult, because often, we forget to slow down and actually do it. By creating a daily checklist habit, this gives you an opportunity to do this every day.”

What it Is

This book technically isn’t a journal…BUT, it has lots of sage advice and lots of pages to make lists of your own using the new checklist methodology you read about.

Where Can You Get It?

Amazon

Alexandra’s Website

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

Why it’s Great for Writers

Making lists is always a great way to organize yourself, but for writers it’s also another way to use words and be creative. Plus, it really will help that procrastination we all suffer from.

“Above all, trust your hut (heart + gut). Breathe. Keep it simple. Make a checklist.”

— Alexandra Franzen

Classics Series Book Review: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

NOTE: This blog contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is widely known as a classic love story. However, if you read it as a love story, you’ll be sorely disappointed. It’s more a story of vengeance and love lost. The characters, including the ever important Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff are written to extremes. Their intense emotions finally lead to death and destruction.

Content & Message

This book is written as an embedded narrative, or a story within a story. It begins with a man, Lockwood, who is renting the house at Thrushcross Grange from Heathcliff who owns it and the house of Wuthering Heights. The housekeeper of Thrushcross, Nelly Dean, tells Lockwood the story of Heathcliff and Catherine after Lockwood has an encounter with Catherine’s ghost at Wuthering Heights. 

“And that minx, Catherine Linton, or Earnshaw, or however she was called - she must have been a changeling - wicked little soul! She told me she had been walking the earth these twenty years: a punishment for her mortal transgressions, I’ve no doubt!” - Lockwood, Wuthering Heights

As Nelly delves into the story, we learn that Heathcliff and Catherine were brought up together at Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff, having been brought in as an orphan by Catherine’s father, was treated horribly by Catherine’s older brother, Hindley Earnshaw. This is when Heathcliff’s deep resentment begins to grow. 

Catherine, though treated much better than Heathcliff, is a bit unhinged. She has dramatic fits when she doesn’t get her way, and has almost as bad, if not worse, manners than Heathcliff. They cling to each other throughout the story. Unfortunately for Heathcliff, he’s not “suitable” for her, having not been from an established family. Catherine marries someone else, Edgar Linton, even though she really loves Heathcliff.  

From here, Heathcliff only becomes more obsessed with revenge. Not only does he want vengeance against Hindley, but also Edgar for marrying the love of his life. He uses the children of each of them, and his own child, to exact revenge. Heathcliff becomes a horrific terror in this story. He ropes in innocent people, not caring about the trauma he is inflicting, so he can have his way. 

“Mr. Heathcliff dislikes me; and is a most diabolical man, delighting to wrong and ruin those he hates, if they give him the slightest opportunity.”

- Edgar Linton, Wuthering Heights

Edgar Linton does a great job encapsulating exactly what Heathcliff is: a diabolical man. There seems to be no redeeming qualities in Heathcliff. Every time he has a chance to make a better choice, he chooses to be cruel, vindictive, and abusive.

Biggest Takeaway

Heathcliff shows us the extreme of what can happen when someone is treated cruelly for their whole life.  It also shows us how, when someone is exposed to such treachery and neglect/abuse, they are often more easily manipulated. 

We see this most in Catherine’s daughter Cathy. Heathcliff manipulates her into marrying his own son, Linton, so he gets all of Edgar's property and wealth. The same manipulation Heathcliff uses on Cathy, including physical abuse, is also used on Linton.

Heathcliff shows us how far someone will go for the person they love, and how far someone will go to harm their enemies. He dug up Catherine’s grave because he was driven mad with grief and longing to be with her. And then he ruined the lives of those he hated because he had nothing else to live for. 

“Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”

- Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights

Overall Impressions

Emily Bronte does a great job at making the reader hate the main characters. Honestly, everyone in the story is cruel and dysfunctional in some way. The only characters I had any sympathy for were the children, Cathy, Linton, and Hareton, but even they manage to make me dislike them many times. 

I did feel sorry about Heathcliff’s upbringing, but who he ultimately became kind of destroyed that like he did everyone’s lives in the book. There was no reason for him to go all out, hell-bent on destroying lives, even of his enemy’s children. They were innocents and had nothing to do with the choices of their parents. 

As a love story, I was not impressed with how things played out. The “romance” between Catherine and Heathcliff was more of an unhealthy obsession. This is not a book I want to read again, and I’m not totally happy about the hours I spent on reading it the first time. 

If you are someone who likes to read into a book and analyze the deeper meaning, or the “classical” bit, then this is probably an okay read. Otherwise, it’s just frustrating and sad. 

Why Writers Need this Book

As a writer, it’s always interesting to read books that are considered “classics.” To discover what makes them so popular and what the author did right. Utilizing the book in that way, then maybe it’s worth reading for us writers.

I won’t say that writer’s need this book, because I myself didn’t enjoy it; however, there is something to be said about how extremely dislikable everyone is. There aren’t many writers who can make readers hate almost every character in the intense way Bronte does, so for that I have to give it props. 

You can get the book here. (Or here or here). Better yet, check your local library!

My challenge to you is to read the book and think about Heathcliff’s motivations.

Have you read the book? What did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great reading & writing. 

Book Review: You are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero (2017)

NOTE: This blog contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

When you read You are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero, you discover what’s been holding you back from making the money of your dreams, and how to achieve financial success. It shows you how to reset your mind and puts you in a good space to start making more money now. Sincero’s voice is delightful and instructive, and the book comes complete with chapter exercises, to help you figure out your own path to success. If you’re ready to start living the life you want, and making the money you dream of, this is a must read!

Content & Message

The premise of the book is that we need to change the way we think about money in order to start making money. A big component of creating a new money mindset is changing our inner monologue and the way we talk about money. 

We can easily swap negative phrases, like “Money is the root of all problems” or “Money doesn’t grow on trees” and replace them with more positive phrases, like “Money is great because it pays my bills!” or “Money is all around me.” 

This may seem like a hard sell on its own - after all, money doesn’t grow on trees, right? While that part is true, a positive money mindset and adding new language surrounding money can do a heck of a lot for attracting money into our lives. We need to believe these things that we’re saying for them to work. 

As Sincero says, it may seem weird or awkward to us at first, but when we keep repeating these affirmations, eventually it will be second nature and money will become more present in our lives.

 Worrying is praying for stuff you don’t want”(126). 

By focusing our thoughts on what we want instead of worrying about what we don’t, we can change how we view the world and opportunities will open up for us. 

Sincero also points out that it isn't enough to just say positive money mantras or affirmations, but we also need to think about them, and take actions to bring more money into our lives. One action we can do easily that Sincero offers as an exercise is place money around living space. Seeing money around us every day reminds us that it’s accessible and surrounds us, even when we can’t see the tangible proof.

In each chapter of the book, Sincero includes a success story of someone who has utilized the exercises she talks about in the chapter. The regular everyday people in the stories have succeeded in bringing money into their lives, which shows us that we, too, can be like Sincero and draw in an abundance of money - if we have the right mindset.

As hard as it is, we do have to remember to be patient, and while we can feel free to ask or attract for whatever our hearts desire, it may not come in the way we expect. We must be open to possibilities and change. Sincero discusses the fear of change and taking big risks that are bound to make us uncomfortable. 

It’s these risks that get us the biggest results, though, and we can rest assured that Sincero has been around the block more than once. It’s not her first rodeo, and we learn about the risks she took to get where she’s at today. Getting out of our comfort zone is the only way to live a better life, like the one of our dreams.

 We’ve been raised to believe that you have to work hard to make money...but the real secret is you have to take huge, uncomfy risks (9).

If you read this book, follow through with the exercises, and continue to keep up with them, money should, theoretically, begin to flow into your life. While it’s tempting to choose one or two new habits, try them out for a while, and give up when we see no results, the key to success is to create a habit. 

The key to money mindset and financial abundance - according to Sincero - is to utilize all the new habits. Each one is important to finding success. 

You can get rich too. You are mighty and magnificent beyond measure, grasshopper. You are meant to follow your desires. You are meant to blossom into the fullest expression of your unique and fantabulous badassery. You are meant to be rich (267).

Biggest Takeaway

Change starts within ourselves. If we aren’t willing to step out of our comfort zone, put in the work, and believe it’s possible, we won’t be able to change our lives and start making more money. 

Change your mind, change your life (208). 

There are many great exercises and ideas to help us with changing our old, money blocking mindset. For instance, listing your negative thoughts about money, figuring out where they came from, and rewriting new truths. 

If you really focus on doing the work and making the effort to change your mindset, this book will change your life.

Overall Impressions

This is an awesome book, not just because it teaches us a new way to think about money, but also because it changes the way we think. We can apply these lessons about money to all the areas of our lives. In fact, this isn’t her first book about mindset! Check out this review of Sincero’s first book You are a Badass (2013) to read more about her work (and get another major confidence boost). 

The book is set up logically, with the text of the chapter explaining the money making tactic followed by a success story and a set of exercises to complete. I love it! Taking in the information this way, I could immediately apply the ideas I just learned and put them to use. If it was just a text or just a workbook, it would be easy to let the reading fall forgotten into the shadows.

Why Writers Need this Book

Instills Confidence & Capability.

Jen Sincero is a writer and talks about how she was able to make money freelancing. Now she’s a multimillionaire who’s world renown for her coaching and writing. It goes to show that we all start somewhere - even the wealthiest and most famous among us! It also applies directly to us writers who haven’t yet hit the big time, which makes it feel less overwhelming to apply in our own lives. 

After all, if she can do it, so can we, right? 

In resetting our thoughts about money, we can also work on resetting our thoughts about our writing. Confidence can flow freely through our lives just as easily as money. 

Manifests Abundance.

Sincero discusses Universal Intelligence (also known as God and other life forces around us - whatever belief system you live by) and how we can shape our own realities. We can continually put into the universe - through thoughts, words, and actions - what we desire most. If we believe it and work hard for it, it will eventually become our reality. 

For example, as writers we can say “I am going to sell (#) books this week.” We write it down, repeat it in our mind, truly believe we can do it, put in the work to market our book, and it will come to fruition. The key is that we can’t just sit around waiting for things to happen, we need to make moves to help the universe bring about what we want.

Next Steps

There are a few steps to take next: 

1. Get the book here. (Or here). Better yet, check your local library.

2. Read the book & do the exercises

3. Start utilizing your new money mindset.
   

My challenge to you is to read this book and commit to trying a new money mindset.

Have you read this book? Did you complete the exercises? Which proved most useful to you? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great reading & writing.

Classics Series Book Review: The Color Purple by Alice Walker

NOTE: This blog contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Trigger warning: sexual assault

Overview 

Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is a classic in American literature and when you read it, it’s not hard to figure out why. The tale of Celie, who’s married off to an older man at a very young age in the deep South, and her sister Nettie who goes off to be a missionary in Africa is at once heart wrenching and eye-opening. It’s a true tale of survival and making the best of hardship. It’s also about love, not just between partners and sisters, but love for yourself and how hard that can be.  

Content & Message

Written entirely in the epistolary style - writing in the form of letters - Celie initially writes to God. Her faith is unwavering despite being 14 years old and having been raped by the town doctor and gotten pregnant. By the time she’s 20, she’s had two babies, but she’s not allowed to keep them. 

She’s married at 20 to a man, Mr. _____, who takes months to decide if he wants her because “She ain’t fresh,” “She spoiled. Twice,” and “She ugly” (7-8). The immediate reaction is one of incredible want to free her of the situation she’s in that really doesn’t have an escape. At least not for many years. 

In the end, Celie is happy. I won’t spoil it, but the book ends in a way that feels good for Celie

Meanwhile, her younger sister, Nettie, leaves for a mission trip in Africa with a couple named Samuel & Corrine. The letters are now for Nettie. The couple takes care of her, and she writes to Celie often - except Mr. _____ hides the letters and makes Celie believe Nettie has abandoned her, or worse, died. It isn’t until famous musician Shug Avery comes to town - and falls in love with Celie - that they learn of Mr. _____’s treachery. 

Celie finds years of letters from her sister, and it’s at this point that she decides she’s going to leave to be with Shug. She finally has an escape, and the love she’s always longed for. With Shug, and their life together in Shug’s big house, Celie can finally think about herself and learn to love herself. Shug even helps Celie begin a small sewing business - pants for women. Celie writes letters to God and Nettie. 

In the end, Celie is happy. I won’t spoil it, but the book ends in a way that feels good for Celie: “I don’t think us feel old at all. And us so happy. Matter of fact, I think this is the youngest us ever felt” (288). 

Biggest Takeaway

The most powerful thing about this book is Celie’s story of her experience as a young black woman in the South. It’s not set in the present-day, as there are clear mentions about segregation throughout, but hearing about all the terrible things that happened in her life, in her words, makes the book tremendously moving. 

Not only does Celie grapple with her own trauma, but she also has to navigate life experiences and her faith. Walker is a masterful storyteller, and this book tells an important story not just about one woman, but about how being African American, and a woman on top of that, was - and still remains - a complicated business far too often. 

Overall Impressions

I love The Color Purple. I’ve read it at least 3-4 times, and while I won’t say it’s an easy read (because it’s not) I keep going back to it over and over again because Walker so fully captures the voices and experiences of Celie & Nettie. 

From the first page, the reader begins to feel the scope of Celie’s tragedies in her own voice. I love epistolary novels and this remains one of the best examples I can think of to represent how powerful first person voice can be in a novel. 

This book is a hard read, but a necessary one.

The topics and ideas are also important, even if they’re hard to read about. The book isn’t hard in the sense of academic language or long sentences (like many other classic books), but hard in the mental & emotional sense. It’s hard to read about these experiences knowing that real people lived like this - and not just one person, either. For the same reasons it’s hard to read, it’s a book that must be read. 

For many of us in the modern day world, this book is a reminder that reality isn’t the same for everyone, and despite the many ways we’ve moved forward, not that many years ago public places were still segregated & Jim Crow laws were very much a part of everyday life. Not that many years ago it was still legal to discriminate against people based on race and gender. 

This book is a hard read, but a necessary one. It’s beautifully written, and I think you’ll find that when you pick it up, you’ll keep turning page after page because you just have to know: what’s going to happen next? And how in the world can this woman survive, let alone have a happy ending?

Why Writers Need this Book

If you’re a writer, you need to read this book not just because of the way the book handles heavy themes and ideas with grace & clarity, but also because the language is incredible. You’ll be transported into Celie’s world, and that’s the ultimate goal of a book, but especially an epistolary style book. 

The letters aren’t written in “proper English” as we usually think but in Celie’s voice as she would speak to you in a normal conversation - up to and including very direct language about bodies and love and faith. 

Next Steps

There are a few steps to take next: 

1. Get the book here. (Or here or here). Better yet, check your local library! Easy peasy.

2. Read the book & take it in. 

My challenge to you is to read the book and think about the voices being represented.

Have you read the book? What did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great reading & writing. 

Book Review: The Poison Factory - Operation Kamera by Lucy Kirk (2020)

Overview

Lucy Kirk and her book The Poison Factory are a prime example of the magic that can happen when we write what we know. After spending more than three decades working in the CIA, Kirk knows the ins and outs. Her focuses during her time at the CIA were the USSR and post-Soviet Russia - topics she addresses in The Poison Factory (TPF). 

Her main character in TPF, Decktora Raines, is a woman on leave from the CIA, also having worked with a focus on Russia. Knowing Kirk’s history, we feel confident knowing her depiction of this character and the CIA will be accurate and informational. All that’s left for us to worry about is - what’s going to happen next?

Content & Message

We are brought into the story with an introduction to Decktora Raines as she lounges on her couch on a summer day. Her life partner, Alex, also a member of the CIA, has been missing for a year, and she has been helpless in the attempts to locate him and his missing colleagues. This is not Raines’ main mission, though. As it turns out, a former Russian defector she helped transfer to London reaches out to her when he believes his life is in danger. Cue our introductions to the other main characters. 

We meet Sergei Dumanovskiy, the Russian defector who contacts Raines, and Detective Chief Inspector Cransford Garvin, who is brought it by the murder of another Russian defector. Soon after, we meet Senior British Intelligence officer Jason Drake, who connects the dots between the murder and the Russian affilation. 

While in London,  people connected to Raines are murdered, and she begins to wonder if she’s in over her head. Thankfully, she has a whole host of people standing behind her from the CIA, but that doesn’t stop the doubts and fears that settle in:

“‘I wish there were no connection to me’...’Wish again, my friend. There are no ruby slippers in this game, as you well know.’” (181).

As any good story has, there are fearsome villains.  The villains of this story are introduced early on, and so it isn’t so much a matter of who-dun-it, but will they catch the bad guys? Ivanchukov and Olga are originally from Russia, and they have a score to settle with the Russian defectors who once worked for a company in Russia. Olga is a puppet being controlled by the master, Ivanchukov. She commits the murders that take place while Raines is in London, using a claw and poison to ensure her victim’s deaths. 

What I love about any story is a villain with a good backstory. I’m sure many of us would agree: the backstory is what makes the villain and determines whether they are truly evil, or simply misunderstood. In this case, the villains are evil, with a sprinkle of misunderstood. The backstories for Olga and Ivanchukov encourage empathy for them and how they wound up in their current situation, but it doesn’t justify their actions.
The interesting thing is how Kirk is able to write this story while also staying in line with the processes of the CIA. Though the character Raines is on leave, she still must follow all of the CIA protocol when it comes to her visit to London to check in with Dumanovskiy. Kirk has a great way of explaining the protocols and processes without the book feeling like she’s teaching rather than telling a story. I never felt bogged down by the details.

Biggest Takeaway

The biggest takeaway from this story would have to be that sometimes it’s hard to make all the right decisions. Especially when you are limited by your job, and/or the people around you. Decktora Raines stood by her firm belief that Segei Dumanovskiy deserved safety after everything he’d been through, and she did everything in her power to ensure that he remained unharmed. 

Unfortunately, there were other casualties along the way, but it’s important to remember not to blame yourself for the actions of others. It was Olga who murdered the people in London, but Raines and Dumanovskiy still felt the burden of blame:

“...now we both felt guilty, and there was no bandage that would instantly take away the pain for either of us.” (235).

Overall Impressions

I was drawn to this book by the CIA aspect. I am a big fan of Criminal Minds, so I was intrigued to read a crime novel. Though it is not exactly a crime novel, it does have a similar structure and feel. It’s actually classified as a mystery and suspense thriller. 

In the first few pages, the book sucks you in with a mysterious package, a murder, and a host of dynamic characters. It was a quick read and kept you wanting to read and learn more.

Why Writers Need this Book

Whether it’s your favorite genre or not, this book is a great example for writers to show how to effectively use what you know to enhance a story. As writers, when we know what we’re talking about- and really know, not just a quick listicle you read on the internet - it makes the writing process smoother for the writer & reader.

If you’re writing a novel about the CIA, for example, it’s important that you know a lot about the topic and everything surrounding it, or else you may convey incorrect depictions. In fantasy this isn’t much of a concern, but with realistic fiction such as The Poison Factory, accuracy is a must.

Next Steps

There are a few steps to take next: 

1. Get the book here. (Or here or here). Better yet, check your local library! Easy peasy.

2. Read the book & take it in. 

3. Start utilizing what you already know in your writing! Think of some ideas or topics that you have either researched, or experienced that you could use to enhance your own writing.  

My challenge to you is to pinpoint the areas Lucy Kirk most effectively utilized her prior knowledge to better the story as you read.

Have you read the book? What did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great reading & writing. 

14 Books that Make Great Secret Santa Gifts

The holiday season is almost here! Soon it will be cold and we’ll be thinking about feasting at Thanksgiving and gift giving for Christmas. 

In preparation of the busy season (or if you’re an early shopper like me), I put together a list of some great books to give your Secret Santa this year - assuming they like to read! 

There’s a little something for everyone - Non-Fiction, Fiction, & Journals. As a writer & reader, I can vouch for all of these books! Some of them I’ve even done full book reviews on. 

“The trick to finding a great Secret Santa gift book is to keep it interesting to the person you’ll be giving it to & away from polarizing topics”

The trick to finding a great Secret Santa gift book is to keep it interesting to the person you’ll be giving it to & away from polarizing topics (like war, politics, etc.) unless you intimately know what their beliefs are. I try to focus on uplifting & books with a positive vibe, but that’s completely up to you! If your Secret Santa loves to have a good cry, by all means, get them a sappy story. 

Ultimately, there are always more choices - but these are some great picks to get you started!

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NON-FICTION

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You are a Badass - Jen Sincero

Brief summary: The full title of this book is You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. As the title implies, Sincero helps the reader step-by-step to figure out what’s holding them back, how to create a brand new badass mindset, and what to do with that new mindset.  You can read a full review here.

Why it’s a good pick: You might guess from the sunshine yellow cover that this book radiates positivity, and you’d be right. It only gets better as you read it! Unlike many self-help books, there is nothing implied about needing to “fix” yourself and it doesn’t preach at you. It’s all about learning, accepting, and growing. This book changes mindset, and can literally impact someone’s life in the best way - I know it did for me. I’m waiting with baited breath for a chance to give this as a gift. 

Who would love this book?: Anyone would enjoy this book, especially people who are looking for a positive kick in the pants positive attitude. 

Note: There is swearing, so it’s not necessarily for young readers.

Buy It Here

Everything is Figureoutable - Marie Forleo

Brief summary: Forleo’s little phrase “Everything is Figureoutable” is making big waves for people everywhere. Her goal is to show readers that “the power isn’t out there, it’s in you.” Forleo uses her own experiences and those of other figureoutable success stories from all over the world to show that you can figure out anything that comes up in your life - even if it’s the worst of the worst. You can read a full review here.

Why it’s a good pick: This was the first “self-help” book I read - I preordered it actually, because I was taking a webinar with Marie and she’s magnetic. I never once read a self-help book before this, and in fact, I kind of scoffed at them. They’re lame, right? WRONG. This book. Seriously. It’s a game-changer for anyone who reads it & actually does the work. It literally shows you how to be a better & more positive you. I have given it as a gift more than once!

Who would love this book?: People who dislike self-help books, anyone who’s wants to be their best self without changing who they are, & anyone who’s ready to take action to make their dreams come true (even if they don’t know where to start)

Note: There is swearing, so it’s not necessarily for young readers. 

Buy It Here

Educated - Tara Westover

Brief Summary: This is a memoir, so Westover is telling about her life growing up in a survivalist Mormon household in Idaho. When she’s 17 she goes to college - setting foot in a classroom for the first time ever. Westover’s is a tale of incredible self-discovery and growth despite tremendous odds. It shows the interesting dynamics of a family lifestyle that most people only see on TV. Most of all, it shows perseverance and strength. You can read a full review here.

Why it’s a good pick: Even though it’s a memoir, Educated reads like a novel - one that you won’t want to put down. The subject is fascinating, and Westover’s voice is powerful. It’s even more powerful when you understand that this woman, who is only in her mid-30s, went through it all. It’s definitely a more serious read, but still feels positive and hopeful. 

Who would love this book?: People who love a powerful story, educators, people who support education, people who love to learn about cultures & beliefs different than their own, people who love a good underdog story

Buy It Here

The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson

Brief Summary: The full title of this book is The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America. Larson weaves the tale of multiple important members of history. Arguably, the most “thrilling” story is that of H.H. Holmes who is thought to be one of America’s first serial killers. 

That being said, there are a number of other stories intertwined, such as architect Daniel Hudson Burnham who built many famous buildings across the U.S. & directed the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. Larson paints a pretty comprehensive picture of the time and goings-on during a very exciting & innovative time in American history. 

Why it’s a good pick: Larson is an amazing writer and historian. He writes history that reads like a novel and makes it exciting. The people come alive and you’re, at once, wondering how no one has caught this madman yet (H.H. Holmes), but entranced by the fact that the world around him is just building the first Ferris Wheel (thought impossible at the time) and getting electric lighting. It’s a good story, but it’s also an interesting learning experience. Larson has many other books, too, so when your Secret Santa loves the book, they’ll have plenty more to read!

Who would love this book?: People who love history, people who love serial killers & creepy murderers, people who are interested in architecture, people who are interested in invention & inventing, people who are into the darker parts of history, people who are from Chicago or Indiana

Note: This book depicts some creepy & gruesome elements

Buy It Here

Half Broke Horses - Jeanette Walls

Brief Summary: Walls tells the tale of her spunky and incredibly strong grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. From breaking horses with her father on the ranch at 6 years old to leaving home at 15 and riding 500 miles alone with her horse to be a schoolteacher on the western frontier, Lily exhibits an incredible outlook on life for someone who has survived so much hardship. 

Why it’s a good pick: I guess there’s a theme here for historical books that read like novels! If you’ve read any of Walls’s other books (like The Glass Castle), you know she has a very unique voice that’s just so good at telling stories. This book feels like the incredible story your grandma told you when you were little that you never wanted to end. Not only is there an element of history, but Lily’s sheer willpower and strength makes you want to stay till the end just to find out what happens.

Who would love this book?: People who like history, people who are interested in American history & the frontier, people who are interested in survival during hardship stories, people who like strong heroines, people who enjoy strong female characters, people who like learning

Buy It Here

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FICTION

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The Enlightenment of Bees - Rachel Linden

Brief Summary: Mia West, an apprentice baker, has her life planned out. Except she didn’t plan to lose her apprenticeship or her fiance. Not quite knowing what else to do, Mia goes on a humanitarian trip with her friend and roommate Rosie. She sees the world in a new way, and starts to understand that sometimes the small things - the things we love - can have a big impact in the world. Oh, and a little romance, of course.

Why it’s a good pick: This book is a delight. It’s light and positive, but it has the depth to question what we really want in life through Mia’s journey around the world. On the surface it may seem like a simple romance, or a journey to self-discovery. To an extent it is both of those things. But it’s also about the world - how we see it and how we learn from it. Completely unexpected and fun. 

Who would love this book?: People who like travel, people who like baking, people who like romance, people who like humanitarian work, people who like unexpected twists, people who love to fall into a good book, people who like learning about the world, people who like thinking about and changing their perspective

Buy It Here

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

Brief Summary: Marco & Celia: marked as magical competitors from an early age, but never saw each other until adulthood. A black and white circus that only opens at night, and moves around at will, appearing as suddenly as it disappears. A challenge - the “game” - that can only be won by a single competitor...or can it?

Why it’s a good pick: This book has a little bit of everything: mystery, intrigue, romance, magic, and a fascinating magical circus! Morgenstern has a talent for words, and this book will draw anyone in who loves a little bit of a mystery. Morgenstern creates a magical world that we’d all like to live in - not too outlandish, but interesting enough to keep us wanting to know more. 

Who would love this book?: People who like magic, people who like mystery, people who like intrigue, people who like romance, people who like games & challenges on an epic scale, people who like books, people who like magical worlds

Buy It Here

Peyton Place - Grace Metalious

Brief Summary: Peyton Place is the story of Allison MacKenzie - a small town New Hampshire girl that longs to be a writer. Because of the small town culture, expectations, and her own mother, Constance MacKenzie, she finds herself stifled. 

Why it’s a good pick: Throughout the novel, Metalious writes of things heretofore unheard of - illicit sex, drunkenness, incest, secret lives, and more - that happen in small towns everywhere. But when it was published in 1956, people just didn’t talk about those things. It was a mega-hit, becoming a TV series and film. Suffice it to say, it’s juicy!

Who would love this book?: People who like reality television, people who love drama, people who are interested in the goings on in their town or city, people who like rebellious women, people who are interested in knowing more about small towns or are from a small town, people who like scandal, people who have heard of the book and/or TV series & movie, people who like tabloid magazine

Note: There is a lot of mature content, so this book definitely isn’t for young readers.

Buy It Here

The Look of Love - Sarah Jio

Brief Summary: Jane Williams is a florist, and on an average day, feels like her life is pretty boring. It’s just her and her dog Sam. But what Jane doesn’t know is that the mysterious “eye problem” she’s had since she was a little girl is actually a gift - the gift of being able to see love in all its various forms. When she turns 29, a mysterious stranger sends her on a life-changing adventure that she must complete before her 30th birthday. Will she be able to find true love for herself - before it’s too late?

Why it’s a good pick: This book is just plain fun. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or not (I’m not and I still loved the book), the way Jio weaves the story is enchanting. It’s a completely different look at love as we know it. 

Who would love this book?: People who like romance, people who like happy endings, people who like falling into a good book, people who want to read but who want it to feel easy, people who live in the Seattle area, people who like a little mystery but not too much, people who love love

Buy It Here

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JOURNALS

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Affirm Your Life - Becca Anderson

Brief Summary: The full title of this book is Affirm Your Life: Your Affirmations Journal for Purpose & Personal Effectiveness. This cute little journal is literally about bringing positivity to your life. It’s based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and has areas where you can do some soul-searching and personal development. 

Why it’s a good pick: First of all, this book is pretty! Like, physically pretty in the way it’s designed. It’s also not overwhelmingly large. At just over 150 pages, it is something that can easily be carried and filled in without feeling like you have a brick in your bag. It’s awesomely positive, and teaches strategies you can keep using while still feeling good about it. 

Who would love this book?: Writers, small business owners, creatives, artists, people who like writing, people who like journaling, people who like and/or are working on personal development, people who enjoy introspection, people interested in self-growth

Buy It Here

The  Checklist Book - Alexandra Franzen

Brief Summary: This handy book isn’t just full of lists for you to fill in - it actually teaches you how to make effective lists to organize your life! Even if you’re someone who already uses a lot of lists, Franzen provides interesting facts & history about checklists, as well as the how-to aspect. Did you know there’s actually science about checklists? I didn’t! But Franzen did, thank goodness.

Why it’s a good pick: As someone who is probably unusually organized in most ways, it just makes sense to me that anyone would want to read more about lists. Then I think, not everyone is quite as obsessed as I am. Hah! This is still a good pick because it’s fun and useful - and unlike a true “journal,” it’s part book, part activity, and all around helpful.

Who would love this book?: People who like lists, people who thrive off of achieving, people who are super organized, people who aren’t very organized, people who are interested in organization, people who like learning, people who are overwhelmed or have large to-do lists

Buy It Here

You Should be Writing - Brenda Knight & Nita Sweeney

Brief Summary: The full title of this book is: You Should be Writing: A Journal of Inspiration & Instruction to Keep Your Pen Moving. This journal has plenty of space and inspiration to get your creativity kick started. And a few tips & tricks, of course.

Why it’s a good pick: If you’ve been around many writers, you’ve probably heard the term “I should be writing” or seen a prominent post-it note or meme that says, “You should be writing.” Actually, starting & keeping a writing routine is the hardest thing for many writers! So this book is a great and thoughtful way to help someone out.

Who would love this book?: Writers, journalers, creatives, people who like writing, people who like creating but are stuck

Buy It Here

Overcoming Creative Anxiety - Karen C.L. Anderson

Brief Summary: The full title of this book is: Overcoming Creative Anxiety: Journal Prompts & Practices for Disarming Your Inner Critic & Allowing Creativity to Flow. This journal takes a deep dive into the inner critic & how you can change the way you interact with it. 

Why it’s a good pick: Everyone’s got an inner critic! Some of us are good at controlling it, but it’s hard, especially, it seems, for creatives and writers. I’ve written about it before, but this journal goes even deeper into how it makes you feel, the ways you can talk to it, and how to strengthen what Anderson calls your inner advocate. Very uplifting! 

Who would love this book?: Writers, creatives, artists, people who want to create more but are afraid, people who struggle with a mean inner critic, people who like journaling, people who like writing, people who want to do some personal growth & development

Buy It Here

The 52 Lists Project - Moorea Seal

Brief Summary: This fun journal gives a journal prompt/list for each week of the year. It’s broken down into the 4 seasons, and each season has prompts relevant to the time of year. For instance, the first list of the journal is “List your goals and dreams for this year.”

Why it’s a good pick: A journal can be a really thoughtful gift, especially for the people in your life you know enjoy writing or sharing their feelings. The major perk of this journal is that it already has areas for each week of the year, so there’s less pressure to do it “correctly” or fill it in however you like. You simply open it up and it’s ready to go!
Who would love this book?: Writers, artists, creatives, anyone who likes to journal, anyone who likes lists, anyone who is introspective, anyone who is working on personal development

Buy It Here

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NEXT STEPS

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1. Look at the books for potential gift ideas - Don’t be shy! Check out Amazon, go to your local library and read a little of it. See how you feel about it before you decide. 

2. Figure out what your Secret Santa is interested in - Before you pick something, make sure to think about what your Secret Santa will like. If they’re not a writer, they may not want a journal that shows them how to overcome creative anxiety. Or if they like reading lighter books that they don’t want to think too much about, a heavier memoir or non-fiction book might not be the best pick. 

3. Buy the book(s) & get ahead of the game! - Use the links above or Google where you can pick up a copy of the book. You’ll be done before you even started thinking about it last year!

My challenge to you is to start thinking about what the people in your life like to read or learn about now instead of a month or 6 weeks from now. 

Given a Secret Santa book before? How’d it go? Did I miss a “must have”?  I’d love to hear from you! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great gift giving. 

Book Review: Educated by Tara Westover (2018)

Overview

Tara Westover’s powerful memoir, Educated, is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. It challenges what many of us think we know not just about Mormon beliefs, but also religion in general. Above all, it makes you think about the way we see our lives, as well as others, and how becoming aware of other perspectives can literally change your life. 

Content & Message

Unlike many of the book reviews I’ve done recently, this book is not a self-help guide. It’s a memoir with 3 parts, which signal major shifts in Westover’s life. 

The first part brings readers through the young years and the ideology Westover grew up believing as the ultimate truth. It details her tumultuous and dangerous relationship with her father and brothers, as well as a strained relationship with her mother. At the end of the section, Westover is preparing to leave for Brigham Young University as a 17-year-old who has never been in a classroom. 

During the second part, readers learn about Westover’s college years. She has extreme struggles due to her lack of prior education. For example, in her first History class, she asked what the Holocaust was and everyone thought she was making an inappropriate joke even though she’d never heard of it. She also struggled because her parents always upheld strictly anti-medical establishment beliefs. 

Until she went away to college, she never considered that her father’s beliefs were anything but normal, and in this section we see her mind opening up to the possibility that there are other valid ways to live. At the end of the section, Westover is graduating as an outstanding undergraduate and preparing to go to grad school at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom (UK). 

The haunting image of Westover’s father’s fear stays with us as we head into the final section:

“If you’re in America,’ he’d whispered, ‘we can come for you. Wherever you are. I’ve got a thousand gallons of fuel buried in the field. I can fetch you when the end comes, bring you home, make you safe. But if you cross the ocean…’”

— Gene* Westover (Tara's Father)

“If you’re in America,’ he’d whispered, ‘we can come for you. Wherever you are. I’ve got a thousand gallons of fuel buried in the field. I can fetch you when the end comes, bring you home, make you safe. But if you cross the ocean…’” 

In the third part of the memoir, Westover tells of her time during grad school, the terrible accident that almost killed her father, and what would seem to be the ultimate family feud. Through lies and betrayal, Westover’s pain is palpable on the page and the only thing you can do is to keep reading to find out what ultimately happens. 

I won’t tell you the outcome, so as not to give a huge spoiler (I hate that), but I’ll say this: there was never a “winning” solution, as it often happens with messy family divides. Westover made the best decisions she could to become her own person and forged her own path to safety and success. 

Biggest Takeaway

There are so many lessons we can learn from this incredible story, but I think the biggest of them all is that anything is possible.

Sometimes we have to make decisions that others don’t approve of or like to get to the places we want to go - even sacrifices - but there are possibilities around every corner. 

“Sometimes we have to make decisions that others don’t approve of or like to get to the places we want to go”

Overall Impressions

Ever since this book came out in 2018 it has been on my “To Read” list for the sheer intrigue of the thing. Reading non-fiction has become a new interest of mine, but as an educator and someone who highly values and advocates for education, I was immediately drawn to it, even before I read the jacket cover blurb.

When I started it, I couldn’t put it down.

I read all 334 pages probably within the span of about a week that involved many late nights where I had to force myself to close the book and go to sleep. Part of the draw was, undoubtedly, the marked difference between Westover’s experience and mine.

It was wild envisioning the world her words created, and then to know that they’re all true! Seeing the tenuous family bonds and the raw look into the end days prepper ideology was truly fascinating in a way that made me really consider what I believe and why. 

I think my favorite part is the prose itself. I find Westover’s voice magnetic. It’s not overly fancy or academic, which I thoroughly appreciated. It’s open, honest, and incredibly vulnerable, which are all things I look for in non-fiction because how can you write an honest memoir without them?

My long-time anticipation for reading this book was heartily fulfilled and it way exceeded what I could have hoped for. Westover will definitely be near the top on the list of authors I eagerly hope for more writing from sometime soon. 

Why Writers Need this Book

As a writer myself, this book is an amazing example of how powerful words can be. 

“It’s important to read from all genres when you’re a writer because it strengthens the way in which you can use your own words.”

It’s important to read from all genres when you’re a writer because it strengthens the way in which you can use your own words. It shows you what others have done, and allows your creativity to wander and consider what else could be done - what you could do. 

The memoir also does an excellent job of showing that you don’t necessarily need to use “fancy” language to write a great book. Seriously. There are times when “$5 words” work really well, but not if you don’t normally use them in that way. 

There is no point during the entire memoir where it feels like Westover is uneducated or less intelligent because she uses clear and simple language. It’s much better to write clearly and expressively than to clog up the ideas with words that make everything feel disjointed. 

Next Steps

There are a few steps to take next: 

1. Get the book here. (Or here or here). Better yet, check your local library! Easy peasy.

2. Read the book & take it in. 

3. Start telling your own story. If you read the book and are fired up to tell your story (go you!), go for it! Memoir isn’t the only way to tell your story, so don’t be afraid to get creative. 

If you need some help getting started, or figuring out how to organize your ideas, I can help, too! I work with writers just like you on planning, strategy, and accountability. Because I’m also a confidence coach, I will empower you and encourage you every step of the way. If you’re intrigued or READY TO GO, you can click here to read more about working with me. Let’s get your story out into the world! 

My challenge to you is to consider your own beliefs and story as you read this book.

Have you read the book? What did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

Book Review: You are a Badass by Jen Sincero (2013)

I don’t do book reviews too often because, anymore, I read faster than I can review. This book is a must review for me, though, because I think it will be a powerful tool for you. 

Overview

Jen Sincero’s first book, You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, is pretty dang empowering. It’s not quite like other self-help books because it doesn’t take a lot of time to do the “feel good” shmoozing we’re used to. BUT, even through the blunt advice (said in a loving way), the message is still to love yourself because you’re worth it. The book itself is pretty badass. 

Content & Message

The overarching goal of the book is: “to help you get where you want to go.” In her unique voice, Sincero follows that up by noting, “I’m going to ask you to roll  with some pretty out-there things throughout this book, and I want to encourage you to have an open mind. No, on second thought, I want to yell in your face about it: STAY OPEN OR YOU ARE SCREWED.” 

At first you might think, “Okay, Jen, sure.”

But this book is 244 pages of real, badass advice. It’s broken down into 5 parts and a Resources section at the end. During each chapter, Sincero gives examples from her own life that show that she has made this journey she’s taking you on. She’s a human being who’s vulnerable just like we are and she talks to readers on a human level, which is refreshing. 

This book is 244 pages of real, badass advice.

It’s not about getting advice from someone who has all her shit together. It’s about letting someone who knows what you’re going through, and sincerely wants to help you, be a guide using a little tough love and profanity.

After Part 1, which is mainly just informative, the chapters from the other parts begin to have actionable steps to take. Sometimes there are affirmations to practice, or an exercise to stop and do where it’s most helpful. The book is designed not just to keep you reading, but also doing the personal work along the way. 

Each chapter ends with a numbered list of ways to start improving your life and begin making it a little more badass. The final point in every list is to love yourself because you are worth it, plain and simple. 

Biggest Takeaway

The biggest takeaway, as you might expect, is that through loving yourself you can make your own life badass. You don’t need to wait on things to come to you - by believing in yourself and unpacking all the crap you’ve collected that’s holding you back, you can be a badass with an awesome life. We all can.

Overall Impressions

I will be the first to admit that I have NEVER been a person who’s like self-help books. Or any type of nonfiction book, really. But when I started building my business, I needed to start branching out - taking some chances on new things. 

Who doesn’t want to be told over and over again that they can do it?

This whole trend started, for me, with Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo, which I actually pre-ordered because I was so excited. You can read my review of it here. After that, I was in love because it’s not just reading. It’s action. It’s positivity. It’s successful people knowing that I, too, can be like them (and after writing that it seems kind of lame. But you know what? I stand by it!)

I stumbled across You are a Badass at the end of last year and put it in the Amazon cart. Where it sat for months and months. But I finally purchased it at the beginning of the year. I’m not kidding that I read it in less than a week. I couldn’t put it down! 

Since then, I’ve purchased her other two books and I will preorder her new book that’s coming out soon. And I’ll love all of them because I’m hooked. I think if you give it a chance, you will be, too.

Why Writers Need this Book

This is a great book for everyone, but writers can specifically benefit from it because it begins to create a new version of success in our minds and starts pushing out that old stale mindset of success & failure. 

It’s also just a huge confidence boost, which I find helps most writers and creatives! After all, who doesn’t want to be told over and over again that they can do it.

Next Steps

There are a few steps to take next: 

1. Get the book here. (Or here or here). Better yet, check your local library! Easy peasy.

2. Read the book & do the exercises. I bet you’ll fly through it and want more. Try it and see!

3. Practice your new badass mindset. This has been so fun! Honestly, sometimes with new mindsets it’s hard or almost feels like a drag to learn. But THIS, this is like being a better, less scared version of you. Super empowering, and honestly just a good experience all around. You’ll notice a difference right away. 

4. Get Help if You Need It If you read the book and aren’t sure where to start, or if it gets you fired up to start RIGHT NOW (this happened to me), I can help! I work with writers just like you to plan & strategize their writing projects. I am also a confidence coach, which means that I am constantly empowering and encouraging my clients and other writers - with less profanity. If you’re intrigued or READY TO GO, you can click here to read more about my 1:1 services. Let’s get you that badass life you want!

My challenge to you is to read the book with an open mind and take action right away. 

Have you read the book? What did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@captuingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

5 Must Read Books by Black Women

NOTE: There are NO affiliate links in this article. If you choose to purchase something from a link, I will not profit. You will get great books, though! So I would encourage you to select a few and try them out!

By this point, you’ve probably heard more than one thing about the Black Lives Matter movement. Some of it has probably been positive and realized the need for serious change in the way our society is structured. People taking a stand against what has proven to be more ugliness than most of us probably realized was there.

And some of it has probably been negative - from those people who don’t (or won’t) understand the true tragedy and magnitude of what has continued to happen to the black community for decades. I’ve seen comments that are downright hateful, and to be frank, pretty racist. 

Our friends, people we know and love, have been affected on a level that most of us can’t even begin to imagine.

I don’t pretend to be an expert in race relations, and I certainly can’t claim any firsthand knowledge of the black experience. I am white, and that has extended me quite a bit of protection from daily microaggressions other people face. 

What I do know is this: there is a LARGE portion of our communities that are hurting yet again. Our friends, people we know and love, have been affected on a level that most of us can’t even begin to imagine. And they are angry. And they should be. Everyone should be able to feel secure in their daily lives - that should NOT be a privilege, and unfortunately right now it is. 

Change is uncomfortable.

Change is uncomfortable. Nothing changes when we are in our comfort zone, and there have been a lot of us who have been peeking out, wondering if our voices would actually make a difference. We have watched and empathized. Tried to listen and learn. But then didn’t take action on what we believed. We have been scared. 

Let me rephrase that, I have been afraid to stand up. 

Probably for selfish reasons. Probably because I avoid conflict that makes me emotional and angry. Probably because for my whole life I’ve been a people-pleaser: that is my comfort zone. The one where people like me. 

The reality is, though, that my life is (comparatively) safe. I don’t have to worry when I go to the store, or when I get pulled over. People don’t look twice when I go into a ritzy store, or when I browse at something for a long time in the store. That’s the truth. I’m not an immediate suspect for things - in fact, I’m a person other people turn to and say “Did you see that?”

That is why it’s so important to stand up right now. I will likely mess up. I will probably offend people. I might even lose friends or future customers and clients. But this is too important for inaction.

If you are scared, too, but also realize that your voice can be powerful, let’s do it together. 

I always advise people to do the thing that scares them, and I do this often myself. It helps us grow and be better. So this is me standing up scared. If you are scared, too, but also realize that your voice can be powerful, let’s do it together. 

If you know me on a personal level, you know that I’m typically very apolitical. I’m never looking for a debate, and there are only a couple of issues that I feel strongly enough about to even broach the subject. 

The thing about black lives is that they are not a political movement. They are HUMAN LIVES. The movement is about unnecessary and often brutal loss of precious, unique humans. It’s about protecting black citizens from violence, and changing the system that has condoned it for a long time. 

I am one person, but I have a voice and a platform. Rather than using my voice to give information this week, I wanted to share some of my favorite books by black writers. 

I want to take this space to amplify the powerful words of black writers who have shaped, and continue to shape, generations of readers.

Some of the best literature I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot) was written by black women. I want to take this space to amplify the powerful words of black writers who have shaped, and continue to shape, generations of readers. In the coming months, you will also see a purposeful diversification of book reviews & interviews to continue to include strong black voices.

Here are 5 of my favorite books by black women. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

ayiti by Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay, ayiti(2011)

About the Author

Brief Summary

ayiti is a collection of brief stories ruminating on the Hatian diaspora experience. With brief pieces like “The Dirt We Do Not Eat,” Gay expresses the intricacies of stereotyping and the damage of assumption. Part fictional, part non-fictional, and with a little poetry thrown into the mix, Gay’s collection brings to light the often unspoken emotion of Hatian immigrants, emigrants, and Hatian-Americans. 

Favorite Passage

from “About My Father’s Accent”

“For many years, we didn’t realize our parents had accents, that their voices sounded different to unkind American ears. All we heard was home. Then the world intruded. It always does.” 

Author Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rml6KQlLIsA&t=57s

Other Works

An Untamed State(2014) - Novel

Bad Feminist (2014) - Essay Collection

World of Wakanda (2016) - Novel

Difficult Women (2017) - Story Collection

Hunger (2017) - Memoir

Not That Bad (2018) - Anthology

Best American Short Stories (2018) - Guest Edited Collection

ayiti (Grove Press) (2018) - Story Collection 

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison, Beloved(1988)

About the Author

Brief Summary

Beloved is a novel about former slave, Sethe, who is working to support herself and her daughter. She lives in a house haunted by her dead baby, but finds love in Paul D, another former slave. When a mystery women, Beloved, shows up, things start getting weird. Although the town has always forsaken Sethe and her house, they rally to protect her by driving Beloved out. 

Favorite Passage

“She moved him. Not the way he had beat off the baby’s ghost - all bang and shriek with windows smashed and jelly jars rolled in a heap. But she moved him nonetheless, and Paul D didn’t know how to stop it because it looked like he was moving himself.” 

Author Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPuQxcD2l2o

Other Works (Note, this is only a small selection of her work!)

The Bluest Eye(1970) - Novel

Sula (1973) - Novel

Song of Solomon(1977) - Novel

Jazz(1992) - Novel

Paradise(1997) - Novel

A Mercy (2008) - Novel

The Source of Self-Regard(2019) - Non-fiction Essay Collection

More comprehensive list here

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God(1937)

About the Author

Brief Summary

In this novel, Janie tells her story to friend, Phoeby, while sitting together on her porch. Janie tells of her escape from multiple loveless marriages, and a love affair ending in tragedy. The townspeople might gossip, but Janie is at peace. 

Favorite Passage

“Of course he wasn’t dead. He could never be dead until she herself had finished feeling and thinking. The kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light against the wall. Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.” 

Author Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucu9qKY20bw

Other Works (Note, this is only a small selection of her work!)

Jonah’s Gourd Vine(1933) - Novel

Mules and Men(1935) - Collection of folklore

Tell My Horse (1938) - Study of Voodoo

Moses, Man of the Mountain (1939) - Novel

Full list of published works here

Citizen by Claudia Rankine

Claudia Rankine, Citizen: An American Lyric(2014)

About the Author

Brief Summary

Citizen explores themes of race and black experience in the United States through a poem with many formats. The book also features expressive images and purposeful use of color and white space to make its points. 

Favorite Passage

“The sunrise is slow and cloudy, dragging the light in, but barely. 

Did you win? he asks. 

It wasn’t a match, I say. It was a lesson.”

Author Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upCFbREUvtk

Other Works

Nothing in Nature is Private (1994) - Poetry Collection

Plot (2001) - Poetry Collection

Don’t Let Me Be Lonely: An American Lyric(2004) 

Si toi aussi tu m'abandonnes ballade américaine(2010) - Documentary Poetry (in French)

The End of the Alphabet (2015) - Poetry Collection

Full list of other types of published work here

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Alice Walker, The Color Purple(1982)

About the Author

Brief Summary

Celie’s life has been one hardship after another. The various traumatic events don’t stop her from faithfully writing letters to God, or her sister Nettie. Though her life started in hardship in rural Georgia, she finds unexpected love, and is ultimately able to break out of the shell of a personality others have created for her throughout her life.

Favorite Passage

“I believe God is everything, say Shug. Everything that is or ever was or ever will be. And when you feel that, and be happy to feel that, you’ve found It.”

Author Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoNSQsXL_CM

Other Works (Note, this is only a small selection of her work!)

Once(1976) - Poetry Collection

You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down (1982) - Story Collection

The Third Life of Grange Copeland(1988) - Novel

Meridian (1989) - Novel

By the Light of My Father’s Smile (1999) - Novel

Now is the Time to Open Your Heart (2004) - Novel 

Full list of published works here

For More Recommendations:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/t-magazine/black-women-writers.html

https://www.ywboston.org/2018/02/14-black-women-writers-read-year-round/

https://www.pbs.org/black-culture/explore/10-black-authors-to-read/