Barking at the Moon, Tracy Beckerman

                                                        * all Amazon links are affiliate links*

Let me start by sharing that I have known Tracy Beckerman since June of 2012. 

While that doesn't remotely sound possible when I do the math in my head, I popped over to check my Lost In Suburbia review and realize, oh. Yep. It is true.

The fortune of meeting Tracy and getting to know her over the years has blessed me with her incredible sense of humor. 

And when you pick up your copy (or Kindle/iPad/eReader of some sort) of Barking at the Moon, you'll know exactly what I mean.

Barking at the Moon is the tale of Tracy's first family dog, Riley. 

*Disclaimer: a copy of this book was provided to me to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

Riley was adorable. Riley was mischievous. Riley was the sweetest and goodest boi.

GAH. Look at his face. Y'all, I am quite certain I adore this dog. 

Riley had a taste for socks and underwear, and, of course, most anything he could get ahold of. It also sounds like he quite often had what I refer to as the zoomies, and was just cute enough to get away with all of it. 

What I love about Tracy, and her writing, is how real she keeps things. 

So while we get to experience her introduction to dog-parenting, we also get a lot of human parenting experiences in the mix. And fish-parenting. Chinchilla-parenting. Lizard-parenting. Or is it considered grandparenting if the pet is your child's? I honestly don't know. I'm the fur-baby mama to all the pets in my home at the moment. 

Pick up a copy of Barking at the Moon and you'll find yourself laughing, screaming (lizards eat bugs, y'all - don't ask - just read), and crying a bit, as well. 

I know there's often a saying people share, that we don't deserve dogs. 

I don't know that I agree, because most people I know love their dogs so very much and truly do deserve to be loved as much in return. But I do understand that sometimes the amount of heart they have - many people are just not worthy of that kind of love. /shrug/ It's a harsh truth, but it's still a truth. 

Tracy and her family deserved sweet Riley. 

They also deserved the love and heart of the dog that joined their family later on, just as sweet and cute and special. Meet Monty, seen below with a copy of Tracy's book about his predecessor.  

Now, what you really want to know is how you can get your hands on a copy - right? 

Barking at the Moon has been marked down over at Amazon, and you can get the Kindle version of the book for just $2.99 for the entire month of January. 

$2.99 is a STEAL. 

So go on and grab yourself a copy. And if you prefer to hold your books in your hand so you can fall asleep while reading without dropping an electronic device on your face [come on, I can't be the only one!], you can buy that there, too, by clicking the link below: 

Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble: paperback

And get to know sweet Riley. I promise you'll be glad you did. 

Find out more about my incredible friend Tracy and her other books over at:

tracybeckerman.com

And for more snippets of entertainment and great photos, head on over to tracyinmidlife on Instagram. Be sure and tell her I sent you!

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The Call of Kilimanjaro, Jeff Belanger

*all links to Amazon are affiliate links*

With pandemic living as it is and has been, you may have noticed that I haven't reviewed a book in a while. So when given an opportunity to do so for this book, I was hesitant, but excited. 

Hesitant, because I had no idea if I'd even be able to finish reading. January was FULL of books. I read seven titles. SEVEN. Now. Ask me how many books I completed in February. Go on. Ask. 

Zero. None, y'all. So committing to a book was a bit of a tricky thing. Except I knew I wanted to read this one. And I'm really glad I did. 

Let me offer you a disclaimer right at the start. And it goes beyond the "this book was provided to me by the author" typical blogger detail. Author and adventurer Jeff Belanger is a friend. And so I really hoped I would like his book. But opinions expressed have nothing to do with that. 

Because I really did like his book. 

The Call of Kilimanjaro: Finding Hope Above The Clouds was quite the journey. 

And if you know me? You know that I am not even remotely close to being a climber. 

So, it's no surprise that before reading The Call of Kilimanjaro, I could have never imagined the experience.

I could have never pictured what it meant to make your way up that high. What it would be like to be above the rest of the world, feeling as though you could practically touch the sky.

I could have never understood why someone would be courageous (foolish?) enough to find themselves in a place where they would be so extremely aware of their own ability [or lack thereof] to breathe in the thin air.

But not only did I learn why one would want to tackle such a literal mountain, I also learned that the mountain itself represented so much more. 

I'm the sum total of my scars and my triumphs. I don't want to change those things. 

- p. 7

You know how it is, when you're reading an ebook and you're able to highlight all the sentences that represent something to you? I read a hard copy of this book, and I do not tend to highlight at all when doing that. 

Which is a very slight detriment to my review - because there were so many highlights to this book that left me assessing and reassessing my own life, my own growth, my own mountains.

But don't worry, as you can see, I have a few to share. 

One important lesson Jeff learned in preparation for this journey jumped out at me early on.

That hike showed me how I sometimes move through life: focusing on the goal, the summit, the end of the project. And often missing a lot along the way. - p. 84

Oh. Hi. How many of us have been there? The destination is always more important than the journey. The focus direct. The need to achieve matters most. 

How much do we miss when we don't avert our eyes from where we're headed? When we don't pay attention to the path? 

Fortunately this revelation came early on in preparation for Kilimanjaro. And ensured that Belanger did not miss anything on that journey. Which, I'd wager, is why I'm able to share this book with you today. 

Along with great detail on how he prepared for this climb, the descriptions and photos throughout the book ensure that we feel as though we are right there with him. 

We meet the porters and guides. His fellow adventurers. 

We take each step along the way. Without the effort. Without the training. 

We feel the temperatures drop. The air thin. Hear the wind whisper. 

We feel the weight of it all. Not just what he carries with him. But of his own body and movements, every choice that he makes and has made up to this point. 

We feel and sense everything. 

Because he shares it with us. 

I know, you already know that. Or you think you do. 

But I promise you this book will give you more than you expected. 

Even if you never ever (not in a million years) plan on physically climbing an actual mountain - I mean, it's a VOLCANO, y'all. 

This would be where I'd insert the wide-eyed emoji. 

The journey goes beyond the physical. Jeff takes us to a place we can all relate to. 

He reminds us ...

With real beauty, you're imperfect, you're scarred, you're misshapen, you're weathered, but you still stand tall for all to see. - p. 154

I thank Jeff so very much for that. 

And I encourage you to pick up a copy for yourself so you can join him and take your very own journey. 

Grab your copy of The Call of Kilimanjaro: Finding Hope Above The Clouds over on Amazon today.

Meet Jeff and learn more about his other adventures on his website: 

Jeff Belanger: Exploring the Unexplained

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I Turn To Books: Reading Black Authors

The world is aflame.

People are in pain.

Lives have been lost.

It's impossible to verbalize things.

Repeating 'I'm sorry,' only goes so far.

I have spent much of this last few weeks responding to people on Facebook. Explaining things like "all lives matter is NOT an appropriate thing to say," and "there's no such thing as reverse racism!".

I've typed until my brain was tired.

And still. I've not done enough.

So, this weekend? I turn to books.

Here are some Black authors who have created the work we need to be reading.

Some books you need to buy, borrow, listen to, whatever you prefer.

I have decided to include links throughout this post to a number of Black owned bookstores throughout the United States. I've done the legwork. You make the purchase.

Friends. Join me. Learn all you can. Then? Take action.

11 Books By Black Authors White People Need To Read

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide

Carol Anderson, Ph.D.

* Purchase at: St. Hope Underground Books *

Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? 

Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.

So You Want To Talk About Race

Ijeoma Oluo

* Purchase at: Brain Lair Books * 

Stamped from the Beginning: 

The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America

Ibram X. Kendi

How To Be An Antiracist

Ibram X. Kendi

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

Austin Channing Brown

* Purchase at: Pyramid Books *

This book is on backorder nearly everywhere you look - 

so you may need to find an ecopy!

Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race

Reni Eddo-Lodge

* Purchase at: Brain Lair Books * 

How to Be Less Stupid About Race:

On Racism, White Supremacy and the Racial Divide

Crystal M. Fleming, Ph.D.

* Purchase at: Brain Lair Books * 

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays

Damon Young

* Purchase at: Semicolon Bookstore and Gallery *

We Can't Breathe: 

On Black Lives, White Lies, and the Art of Survival

Jabari Asim

PRE-ORDER (COMING OUT IN EARLY JULY 2020)!

The End of White Politics

Zerlina Maxwell

* Purchase at: Brain Lair Books * 

So, friends, tell me - which book will you pick up first? 

Thus far (at the time of this writing/posting) I have read So You Want To Talk About Race and I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. I'm currently reading What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker. I have a few others on hold at the library and a few on their way to me, with another book directly geared towards reading with my teen. It's critical that we educate ourselves, my friends. 

An important note: Teach yourself, your kids, your friends, your family members why saying things like "I don't see color" is unacceptable. From one white person to another? Those four words can hurt.

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A Book A Month For 2020!

Hey! Guess who started this post a few months ago?

*looks around*

Yep, you guessed correctly.

The major bonus there is that some of the early titles I list below are already available to you. Yay! Go forth and read, friends. It's a great way to get through each day.

I'm normally an avid reader.

Truly tearing through books left and right.

2019 was a totally different kind of reading year for me.

I left many books unfinished. Not necessarily because I didn't enjoy them, but because I was distracted, frustrated, or - yes - quite possibly bored.

But this is a new and fresh year, and I am planning on reading all the things.

Read with me?

I have decided to share one new release per month that I am planning to read this coming year.

Let me know if you'll join me. It'll be fun.

And if you want to talk books, consider popping into my Facebook group: I Like Big Books!


* p.s. Links may be affiliate links and if you use them to shop I'll make a few cents from your purchase at no cost to you - so, thanks!

12 Books To Read in 2020

January 

Dear Edward, Ann Napolitano

February

The Other Mrs, Mary Kubica

March

Wow, No Thank You, Samantha Irby

April

Rick, Alex Gino

May 

Summer Longing, Jamie Brenner

June

Influence, Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham

June (yes, again)

Party of Two, Jasmine Guillory

July

How To Save a Life, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

August

With or Without You, Caroline Leavitt

September

Anxious People, Fredrik Backman

* cover not yet revealed *

October

Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters, Emily Carpenter

November

After All I've Done, Mina Hardy

Okay, friends. I give up. I have been searching for a December release for weeks and have had no real luck finding something that I could concretely share with you. So. I am skipping December. Who reads during the holidays, anyway, right? (I know - I know, many of us do!)

Instead I'm going to toss an extra into the mix. Scroll back a bit. You'll notice that June has two titles. Maybe you already noticed. Whatever. You'll forgive me - right? Because there's no overlooking Jasmine Guillory. Period. 

Now - let me know which covers you like best. Because we all know we totally do judge books by their covers. 

And if you're looking for more recommendations, consider taking a peek at some of these posts shared below:

100 Books You Should Read in This Lifetime

January 2020 New Releases

October 2019 New Releases

Summer Reads: July 2019 New Releases 

Nonfiction Reading Recommendations: Spring 2019

Diversify Your Personal Library With These Titles

Happy reading!

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What To Read: January New Releases

So I have been trying to finish a post for days and days and days now.

It's a post with a new book recommendation for each month of this year.

ALL the new 2020 books. Yay!

Thing is, I am having the hardest time finding books to wrap the year up with. Dang it.

But I'm having no trouble at all finding January releases.

No trouble at all, y'all.

So I've created a list of January books I'm planning on getting my hands on.

And I think you should, too.

* As always, all books throughout this post include affiliate links to ensure you have a quick and easy shopping experience. If you use these links I'll make a few pennies off of your purchase - so thanks! *

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100 Books You Should Read in This Lifetime

If you're new here you may not know about my reading addiction.

Or maybe you knew and that's why you're here.

Either way, I'm glad you came by. I've decided to look back over my years of blogging and book reviewing and share some of my favorite reads with you.

As always, links will be affiliate links - meaning if you use them to shop I'll make a few pennies towards my next book purchases!

Let's consider it a list of must-reads for the ages. Or, you know, some ideas you might find worth considering, depending on your reading style. Keep reading...

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What To Read: October New Releases

This month, as most have been so far this year, is filled with titles that I'm itching to get my hands on. It has finally felt like fall here in NC, albeit brief - nobody counts on fall lasting very long - unfortunately.

But fall reads are coming hard and fast!

Let's grab a few and dive into them together.

* There are affiliate links throughout this post. If you use them I will earn a few pennies towards my next book purchases, so I thank you in advance. *

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Summer Reads: August Releases

It's a new month and I'm ready for all the new releases that we'll see in the upcoming weeks.

I'm not going to bore you with any fancy introduction today. I'm going to get right to it.

Have a look at the books listed below. Look at what August holds for all of us and how exciting it is. AND - if you decide to buy a book through one of my links here I'll make a few pennies towards my next book purchase - at no cost to you at all. I know, you know that already, I'm just required to tell y'all again, is all. Happy shopping!

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Summer Reads: July New Releases

We all know that July is a super hot month - but did you know that it's also on fire where books are concerned? There are so many great titles coming out this month that you're going to want to get your hands on. And I'm here to help.

I've compiled this batch of new releases for you, and they're all on my summer reading list.

Odd note for y'all: SO MANY BOOKS are coming out on JULY 9th. I have no idea why. Maybe it's because it's after the Fourth and publishers feel like nobody reads before then? /shrug/ Either way - there's a *boom* of books this month, so go forth and enjoy!

Extra note: Every time you click you'll be brought to the Amazon link for these books. Make a purchase and support my book addiction at no cost whatsoever to you. None. Zilch. Amazon just says thank you to me for sending you their way. Yay!

July 2019 New Releases

The Lie: A Memoir of Two Marriages, Catfishing, and Coming Out 

William Dameron

July 1

*bonus tip for Amazon Prime members: 

This is one of the choices for your free Kindle First read in July. 

Grab it while you can!

The Gifted School

Bruce Holsinger

July 2

The Boy and Girl Who Broke The World 

Amy Reed

July 9

Three Women

Lisa Taddeo

July 9

The Last Book Party

Karen Dukess

July 9

The Golden Hour

Beatriz Williams

July 9

The Wedding Party,

Jasmine Guillory

July 16

The Floating Feldmans

Elyssa Friedland

July 23

Speaking of Summer

Kalisha Buckhanon

July 30

Never Have I Ever

Joshilyn Jackson

July 30

Looking for even more great suggestions?

Have a look at these lists:

Start Your Summer Off Right With These Titles

Nonfiction Reading Recommendations: Spring 2019

Diversify Your Personal Library With These Titles

Beach Reads You'll Dive Right Into

Grab One of These Unlikely Beach Reads

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7 Books to Kickstart Your Summer

Summer is coming in quickly, friends.

And there's nothing many of us enjoy more than a great summer read.

I've got a few recommendations for you.

Some are old, some are new, but whenever they were published matters not - they're going to get you through your summer travels, the impossible and unbearable heat, the days by the pool, your commute to work, your road trips (audiobooks, y'all) and the days when you really wish your kids were at camp but they're not. So. Join me!

* As always there are affiliate links in this post. By making a purchase through these links you support Good Girl Gone Redneck at no additional cost to you. Thank you! * 

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Nonfiction Reads: Spring 2019

There are so many books that I want to read, and each time a new novel or nonfiction book comes out I find myself adding them to my list.

The never-ending and always growing to-read list.

So for today I thought I'd share some new nonfiction books that I'm looking forward to getting my hands on this year. (Referral links are scattered throughout this post.)

Let me know which of these you're interested in.

Who knows? Maybe I'll decide to gift you a copy!

Nonfiction Recommendations for Spring

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive

Stephanie Land

You guys? Maid was so good. Like really good. This book was a powerful and moving read. In sharing her perspective as a single mother who worked as hard as she could to get by and keep herself and her child safe, sheltered and sometimes barely fed, Land pulls us in and doesn't let us go until the very end. Even after you turn the last page or swipe on through the entire book? You'll want to find out more about her and see what she's up to now. And how her daughter is doing. Don't miss Maid, y'all. 

The Truths We Hold: An American Journey

Kamala Harris 

Regardless of your thoughts about Harris, she was one of the first Democrats to throw her hat into the race for President for the 2020 election. As a woman candidate, there is bound to be so much information thrown around - and I - for one - would love to get to meet her for who she is before I make any decisions about her. The Truths We Hold: An American Journey seems to be a great way to jump into doing just that. 

Calm The F*ck Down: How to Control What You Can and Accept What You Can't So You Can Stop Freaking Out and Get On With Your Life (No F*cks Given Guides)

Sarah Knight

I really like Sarah Knight. So far, You Do You is my favorite of her No F*cks Given Guides. That said, who doesn't want to read a book titled Calm the F*ck Down, am I right? Fine. Maybe you don't want to. But I do. And I think this is going to be a good one. It was released in December, but who had time to read in December, anyway? Not me. Want to join me in reading this one? Let me know. Maybe I'll send you an e-copy. I'm just THAT big of a fan.

Wolfpack

Abby Wambach

The best way for me to describe why I plan on reading this book is to simply state that Wolfpack has been repeatedly showing up in my world in different ways. I can't even pinpoint why or where, I can just tell you that I plan on reading it because it seems to hold something that I currently need in my life. I regret not getting my hands on it sooner. But spring seems like the perfect time to grab a copy. Renewal. Growth. Expression. I plan to walk away from Wambach's book with all of those on my mind. 

So - thoughts? Which might you choose for your spring reading this year?

Care to share some suggestions of your own? Your favorite nonfiction must-reads?

Let me know! I look forward to hearing from you. 

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