Page 32...YAAAAAAAAASSSSSSS I think any woman who has experienced a man trying to take advantage of her will feel avenged in this scene. This. Is. Awesome.

Loving this so far! A perfect fall read, too. 💀

‪"Courtland County bowed to Marie's demands because the people there, like well-meaning decent and caring people anywhere, were loath to think of themselves as racists but also loath to think of race at all."‬

This is why I must judge us, for using religion as a tool of mass control, discrimination, oppression, and hate-mongering for so long.

"Because I do not wish my own skin was white. What I envy is not their skin but their insouciance. I envy the freedom to sin with only a little bit of consequence, to commit one selfish act and not have it mean the downfall of my entire people."

Every time I read a food memoir I remember how much I love food memoirs.

There is something so wonderful about the way this story is told. It feels like it is blooming slowly.

Remember this moment. I will remember this because, even though this morning's not much of his life, it's very much of mine.

I was so nervous this wouldn't live up to my expectations because A Girl is a Half Formed Thing is my favorite book of all time, BUT so far I have loved this. Her writing style is not for everyone, but for me it somehow reflects real life in a way traditional writing doesn't. It makes the emotion in the book feel fresh+raw.

"And now that she has, we just lie there in the accident and the minutes on the clock keep changing and the love I have for her keeps growing and we both keep drawing breath."

DAMN. This book was so much quirkier than I expected. I really enjoyed it- the portrayal of the love between a beloved creature and her owner is wonderful. There were parts (the "adventure" on the ship) that I didn't enjoy quite as much, but the ending makes up for it.

I had such high expectations for this book, and it rose higher than all of them. It feels like a modern answer to the queen (also known as Toni Morrison) and more specifically, a modern day Sula. Everything about it is brilliant. The ending left the tone in a slightly dark place though, which left me almost confused, so if anyone has thoughts about the ending, please share!

Reckless white boys became politicians and bankers, reckless black boys became dead.

I enjoyed A Game of Thrones but DAMN this is so good. And these itty bitty editions make reading this book such a pleasure.

I wouldn't miss Mrs. Flowers, for she had given me her secret word which called forth a djinn who was to serve me all my life: books.

So good. So sad. I would recommend giving yourself a couple hours to read this one in a single sitting because the writing begs for it.

Toni Morrison is a gift to us all. This book would be a great starting point for anyone who is intimidated by her brilliance. It's set in the present-day, but still has a distinct feel unique to her books.

I finished this book in tears, something that NEVER happens to me. It is part memoir, part call to arms, part love letter. It accomplishes so many things without feeling overwhelmed (probably because Terry Tempest Williams is the SHIT), and it's honestly so hard for me to put into words how much this book made me FEEL. And that is something that I find especially difficult with a non-fiction book that is not a straight-up memoir. Well done.

Wild obedience--a guide to finding one's while self in relationship to wildness, not one's fragmented self through war.

Boundaries are fears made manifest, designed to protect us. I don't want protection, I want freedom.

I cannot put a lid on my love. / All I can do is take these giant arms of mine like tree trunks / dip them into that star, / and like paintbrushes / swing them / across empty spaces / to see what falls through the clouds.

"...dawn shooting its rosy fingers into skies more transparent than love."

This one is perfect for anyone who loved The Soul of an Octopus, but craved a bit more science. What a Fish Knows is well organized, well written, and engaging. Balcombe really knows how to balance fact with anecdote. A must read for anyone who loves fish/aquatic creatures.