I have long considered myself an ally to the LGBTQ+ community but have often felt ill at ease with proper verbiage and have thought the questions I haI have long considered myself an ally to the LGBTQ+ community but have often felt ill at ease with proper verbiage and have thought the questions I have are too dumb to ask/may unintentionally offend somebody. This book was the perfect resource for me to learn and feel more empowered to be an advocate for friends, patients, and strangers alike. I feel like Gainsburg has taken something abstract and, using alchemy and experience, made it tangible and fresh. This book was informative but also very practical and entertaining. The pacing and progression was so natural; often the reading would inspire a question... which was then answered a couple pages later or in the next chapter. The Savvy Ally is not patronizing, but has an encouraging and fun tone including a few LOL moments for me. I LOVED the text box “pop quizzes� and “fun facts�. There are also many references to specific tedtalks/ youtube videos/ and websites for further reading and education. I feel that this book hand-delivered the tools for me to become a better ally. Ahem, some bullet points: � I know what to do when I’m not sure which pronoun someone prefers. (Hint: ask them which pronouns they prefer) � I have a CLEAR, DIRECT response to someone who wonders when the “straight pride� parade will happen � One of the best chapters in my humble opinion is Chapter 3, “Coming Out as LGBTQ+�. Gainsburg discusses the stages of coming out (identity confusion, identity comparison, identity tolerance, identity acceptance, identity pride, and identity synthesis) It made so much sense! And gave me greater empathy. And, on a personal note, was INCREDIBLY recognizable as I looked back on my own religious “coming out� (leaving Mormonism). � I am inspired to craft my own addition to my work name tag and more clearly identify myself as an ally to a pt population who already has multiple reasons to feel vulnerable. � The book gives a great explanation of passive vs active fixes (duct-tape vs major remodeling) and shows the difference between tolerating and being an active ally. I highly recommend for personal or professional purposes!
A fun and fast read. Here are some favorites--- what would yours say?
Followed yellow brick road, disappointment ensued. Kelsey Ochs
Verbal hemophilia. A fun and fast read. Here are some favorites--- what would yours say?
Followed yellow brick road, disappointment ensued. Kelsey Ochs
Verbal hemophilia. Why can't I clot? -Scott Mebus
I am awfully bored at work. -Chris Ponchak
I ate, drank, and was hairy. -Yianni Varonis
In a Manolo world, I'm Keds. Colleen Cook
Liars, hysterectomy didn't improve sex life! -Joan Rivers He wanted much, he feared more. - Randall Currey Underachieving pleasure punk seeks constant gratification. -Dennis Elj Lapsed Catholic; failed poet; unpublished prayers. -Marc Sheehan If there's more, I want it. -Alex Hart Born lucky, striving to die worthy. -Julia Carpenter I wrote a poem. Nobody cared. -Joe Heaps Nelson ... exalted philanderer of the English language... - Steven Ekstrom Slightly flabby, slightly fabulous, trying hard. Amy Friedman Drew on walls, creative for life. DeAnna Sandoval More than yesterday, less than tomorrow. - Nichiren Nahuel Palombo I don't nibble. I bite. Hard. -Matthew Torres Maybe you had to be there. - Roy Bount Jr. Right brain working left brain job. -Dave Terry EDITOR. Get it? -Kate Hamill Looking to know everything about everything. Tor Anderson Used to add. Now I subtract. -Melissa Gorelick Tried not believing everything I thought. - Beth Linas Loved home. Left to make sure. -Adam Krefman Seeds, flowers, pollen, bees, honey, toast. -Jeanette Cheezum
No thank you. I'm just looking. -Kariann Burleson ...more
“Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, Some of them are things people are scared of. Some of them are things that look like things people used to be scared of a long time ago. Sometimes monsters are things people should be scared of, but they aren't.�
“I’m going to tell you something important. Grown-ups don’t look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they’re big and thoughtless and they always know what they’re doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. The truth is, there aren’t any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.�
"I found myself thinking of an ocean running beneath the whole universe, like the dark seawater that laps beneath the wooden boards of an old pier: an ocean that stretches from forever to forever and is still small enough to fit inside a bucket, if you have Old Mrs. Hempstock to help you get it in there, and you ask nicely."...more
Same as the last one. Most stories were more cheesy than scary--- although reading alone late at night and in the dark, I did find a creepy one and veSame as the last one. Most stories were more cheesy than scary--- although reading alone late at night and in the dark, I did find a creepy one and very consciously decide to put it down and find something lighter. ...more
My siblings and I LOVED this book growing up. The illustrations are fantastic (even controversial for a young audience), so for that and nostalgia, 4 My siblings and I LOVED this book growing up. The illustrations are fantastic (even controversial for a young audience), so for that and nostalgia, 4 stars. I was, however, let down, (so terribly I found it humorous) by how un-spooky and plain MOST of the stories were. That said, "The Girl Who Stood on a Grave", "The Hook", and "The Babysitter" were just as good as remembered. The tone of nonchalance works well....more
A beautiful but distressing telling of growing up black in America. Laymon talks about his life, which includes physical and sexual abuse, eating dis A beautiful but distressing telling of growing up black in America. Laymon talks about his life, which includes physical and sexual abuse, eating disorders, gambling addiction and the extra efforts put into protecting himself as a big black boy in America. One lesser point that really stood out to me was the price of being young, African American, a resident of Mississippi, AND articulate (his mom, a grad student, then professor, forced writing assignments (outside of school) on him from an early age). Again, and again, and again, and again--- Kiese, was questioned, lectured, disciplined, and accused of plagiarism and FRAUD for expressed himself and writing well. Well-written and raw. ...more
I've always appreciated breadth instead of depth when it comes to education, interests, hobbies, skills, etc. and would love the opportunity to becomeI've always appreciated breadth instead of depth when it comes to education, interests, hobbies, skills, etc. and would love the opportunity to become a renaissance woman (who need a "full-time job" amirite?) This coincides with my love of trivia and jeopardy. Also, my admiration of those who have "range" (Grandma Davis who could undoubtedly butcher a farm animal and sew a lavish prom dress all in the same day, an ortho surgeon who also plays in his own rock band, my Oxford-educated high school English teacher when she casually mentioned she was certified in bovine artificial insemination.) This has also lead me to believe that I am missing something--- so many friends and family are very good at one thing or have chosen a very specific career/educational path. I have trouble holding interest in just a couple things, preferring to be a jill of all trades; mistress of none. So yeah, not writing a book review, but just leaving you with thoughts about why I chose the book and why I liked it. :) This has long-been one of my favorite quotes:
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
Inconclusive and disjointed, but still piqued my curiosity. As always, Gladwell comes across a bit ... conceited (?), sharing opinions as if they are Inconclusive and disjointed, but still piqued my curiosity. As always, Gladwell comes across a bit ... conceited (?), sharing opinions as if they are facts, but I do still enjoy the interesting stories and ideas he brings to the table. I like that his books make me think. Be warned this book does include descriptions of sexual violence in the instances of sex offenders Jerry Sandusky and Brock Turner. ...more
Again, Tan weaves a great story about mothers and daughters and hits home the theme that we never know someone's full story or what they've been throuAgain, Tan weaves a great story about mothers and daughters and hits home the theme that we never know someone's full story or what they've been through....more
DNF. Other reviews are so different, I really feel like I'm missing something. I think the story is interesting, but the book felt so disjointed, I haDNF. Other reviews are so different, I really feel like I'm missing something. I think the story is interesting, but the book felt so disjointed, I had no desire to continue after about 1/5 or 1/4. I'm in the minority but I'd rather read a news article....more
This was a big book, but the good writing and story (and a book club deadline) pushed me to finish rather quickly. I loved the unique characters and This was a big book, but the good writing and story (and a book club deadline) pushed me to finish rather quickly. I loved the unique characters and quirky humor-- both of which combined interestingly with the serious topic of living as a gay man in homophobic Ireland circa 1950's-70's and beyond in other locations. There was a lot to discuss. Negatives include too much dependence on serendipitous encounters. I wanted to just love what was happening in the development of the story, but too many coincidences added up to a bit of distraction. Some of the meaningless banter/dialogue should have been cut. The epilogue was terrible, the last line being something I would've written in 4th grade. It added NOTHING to the story and actually made me lose some respect for Boyne. One example excerpt that I enjoyed: (Cyril is speaking of his adopted parents who were never abusive, but certainly neglectful) "Occasionally Charles and Maude would host a dinner party where they would come together and Husband and Wife, and on such occasions I would be brought down and passed around from couple to couple like a Faberge egg they'd purchased from a descendant of the last Russian czar."...more
3.5 Don't expect a fantastic story arc, but a nice, short (100pgs) little meandering of a young man with a passion for cooking. I loved the setting in3.5 Don't expect a fantastic story arc, but a nice, short (100pgs) little meandering of a young man with a passion for cooking. I loved the setting in Paris and now I want to visit a fine dining establishment and order ​a gnocchi with girolle mushrooms, or mackerel with fresh strawberries, or gnocchi with bacon and peas, or pumpkin risotto with beef braised in carrot and basil sauce-- served on a cabbage leaf, or a flaky croissant (or 5), or octopus salad with fresh fennel, or a sweet cake of potatoes with blood-orange sorbet, or..., or......more
I liked learning more of Abby's story and hearing her tell it herself. The local connection was kind of fun. The writing is not great--- many parts j I liked learning more of Abby's story and hearing her tell it herself. The local connection was kind of fun. The writing is not great--- many parts jump around and are glossed over and not explained. I would have liked a little less "A then B then C then back to A" and more in depth analysis of the rough patches in her life. Her inclusion of prior emails seemed weird and sometimes condescending to the receiver. I appreciated Abby's vulnerability when telling about: 1) her struggles with alcohol and pills while attempting to maintain the physical calling of being a professional athlete. 2) the feeling that she didn't really love soccer, but played it because she was good at it and that's how she felt she could gain love and acceptance in life. 3) how scary a life transition can be, especially when you're known for one thing and one thing only. Each chapter is titled a different label she gives herself for that stage in life and this prompted great discussion about the labels we give others, the ones we give ourselves, and which of them deserve our recognition or acceptance....more
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