The Happy Hammock

Insightful Books about Healing that You Need in Life

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the bad becomes worse. There was a sudden shifting on people’s daily routine and a direct restriction to things that they enjoyed doing. Even before the 2020 pandemic happened, individuals have been striving to be the best that they can be although they are also fighting their own battles silently. Hence, the longer that this pandemic becomes means that there are many whose well-being are being put to a not really good state.

Healing is one of the thing that people constantly wish to achieve, especially now. This doesn’t only apply to the physical state of a person but also to the emotional, spiritual, mental, and social well-being. That said, listed below are insightful books that focus on healing that everyone can needs in facing life.

The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself by Dr. Eric Pearl

In April 2003, the revised edition of The Reconnection by Dr. Eric Pearl was published by Hay House Inc. This book has received multiple positive reviews from readers and has been promoting healing ever since it was published. The author, Dr. Eric Pearl, provides a new approach and perspective when it comes to traditional healing. The “brand new” prevalence of healing that he described in his book go beyond technique and makes you exceed the levels that were attainable for everyone at any place before. Hence, this book will bring you to the author’s experiences from the moment he uncovered his skills in healing to the time that he received the reputation as the medium by which the healing process has been presented to the planet.

Healing and Transformation: Moving from the Ordinary to the Extraordinary by Eric Alsterberg

This book will ask you certain questions that will put your mind to work, such as the following: do you desire to change your life; and are you yearning to have a link with the divine in you to make a sacred and close bond with the Almighty Father. Healing and Transformation by Dr. Eric Alsterberg indicates that everyone has both spiritual and psychological egos that boxed people in flawed patterns of ideas and behaviors. The former stimulates division, diversity, and spiritual pride that turn out to be the opposition of following a real spiritual road. The latter, on the other hand, is the one responsible for restraining people from mending the emotional damages and traumas that they come across in life. Hence, it keeps individuals in building a path of happiness, witnessing unity, and learning to journey on the spiritual path successfully.

The Energy Codes: The 7-Step System to Awaken Your Spirit, Heal Your Body, and Live Your Best Life by S.U.E. Morter

The Energy Code by Dr. Sue Morter is an immediate literary success for it became a national bestseller, USA Today bestseller, and number 1 Los Angeles Times bestseller. It was published by Atria Books last March 19, 2019 and contains a foreword written by Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD. The book serves as a guide for readers who desire to create changes in their lives. It has a strong foundation from the different fields of science, which are energy medicine, neurobiology, and quantum physics. Hence, it will uncover the real health and capability of readers through energy healing. The author, Dr. Morter, experienced an exceptional and deep awakening a decade and 8 years ago. While she going through the process of meditation, she suddenly entered a field of energy or a consciousness level that exceeded her imagination. Hence, the experience created a big transformation in her life and freed her from the times of challenges and pain.

Hence, healing is truly among the essential things in life. When a person has mended all his wounds from inside out, then that is the only time when he can fully love himself, make a difference in the world, and inspire others to aim for healing too. Even if the world is in chaos and everyone is busy fighting their battles, people should never forget to take care of themselves and continue striving in this difficult life. Because with proper caring of personal wounds comes life transformation, as well as self-improvement.

How to Write an Effective Book

Books are not just made up of paper and ink, they are more than that. These pieces of literature are one of the things that make life more meaning and worth living. They make people inspired and motivated in facing life each day. Books are also good source of entertainment and learning, because of the facts, experiences, and well-studied information mixed in them. Hence, you cannot really measure how important and effective books are in the lives of the bibliophiles because each one of them has different charms and value.

You probably want to start embarking on a writing journey, but still uncertain on what parts to prioritize and such. That said, here are some useful tips on how to writing an effective book to jumpstart your writing career!

Know your target readers

Readers always play an integral part in your literary career. They are the ones that confirm if your work has made a difference or left an impact in the world. The more fanatics you gain means that your story is captivating. However, not all book lovers have the same preferences. That is why you must know who your targets are before writing your book. It will also become beneficial later when you start to choose what language and other important aspects will you use in writing. Decide whether your targets are toddlers, teenagers, young adults, adults, or children who are transitioning into teens. When you already picked your desired audience, research on what they commonly like or relive the moment that you were of their age and remember what those things that interest you are.

Plan and study the details, even the tiniest ones

Who said that writing doesn’t need research? This is one of the common misconceptions in writing a book. You see, just because it is a work of imagination doesn’t mean that you only have to use your talent. There are, in fact, details that make your story less enchanting when you get them wrong. It also cannot be avoided that you want to incorporate a piece of reality in your story but tweak some parts to make it look fictional. This will still require you to conduct a study on the aspects that will complete your story. Every piece is essential to the completion of the tale, so what are you waiting for? Get your laptop and gather the most reliable information that you can find in the internet or get your bag and start interviewing relevant people!

Write what you love, love what you write

Love is essential, even in writing. What you invest in your book will definitely come back to you. Hence, if you write something that you love and likewise, your readers will also reciprocate that affection because they can feel the genuineness in your work. Take for example author Lynda Hamblen, who is a cat person with a pet cat named Elvira. With her love for these particular feline species, she created a book called William and Tibby Forever that features two cats that are partners-in-crime. Thus, writing with passion is definitely a must. Being able to write a book that is a product of your hard work, time, and love is one of the most valuable and fulfilling things as an author. So, write what you love and love what you write and the fruits of your labor will emerge later!

Ensure that the plot is seamless and free-flowing

The sequence of events in your book is one of the things that readers keep an eye on. The most basic thing that readers will comment is “I don’t like the plot, it is cliché,” or “there are a lot of plot holes.” So, make sure that you hit the right spot where their interests lie. You will be required to become detail-oriented to ensure that your plot is complete, gapless, and engaging. There will also be a need for you to edit your work to remove and correct grammatical errors and improve and develop relevancy of your book. Although this is tough and daunting, this will bring you a big advantage the moment you release the book for the public to read.

The Benefits of Setting Personal Goals

Setting goals is often overrated, but it is not a bad thing because it is essential. People without goals are like birds that are wingless. They cannot go anywhere, especially to their dream place. That is why you always need to set your goals. You probably have observed that most people around you are progressing on their lives. Some are already entered the married life while others are travelling the world or getting good at their careers. In order for you to achieve your own success, you must dream and work hard for it.

There are many platform and instruments that will inspire you to turn your what ifs and could have beens into reality. Literature, as a way of life, and books, as mediums of living, are the best aspects that will encourage you to set your goals. Among the best pieces that will inspire you to set and achieve your dreams are Strong Boy, Weak Man by Earl Robert Key, Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, and more.

You are probably wondering why there is a need to set your own targets and what could be its advantages. Hence, listed below are the answers to your questions.

It boosts your motivation

When everything is not going your way and are getting heavier, you seem to become frustrated, drained, and unmotivated. It seems like the light that you once enjoyed is becoming dim and close to dying. The more you sit and wait, the more you become anxious. But once you try to set your frustrations aside and try again, you can slowly see how setting goals can make a difference. You can readjust your plans and set new targets along the way. When you have something that you genuinely want to achieve, you will become motivated. No matter how long and how hard it takes to bring victory to your hands, it won’t matter because you will be filled with motivation.

It gives you additional ounces of confidence

Confidence is always included in the starter pack to face life. Without it, you cannot bloom and develop into the best version of you. One of the ways to get a good amount of self-esteem is when you try to dream and make steps to achieve it. You see, having something to cling on and long to have will make you do more. You will soon realize that perhaps it is the right time to come out of your shell, discover the world out there, and compete without stepping others. The bigger your goal, the harder it is to achieve. But whether it is not hard or not, what matters is that it is not a dead end because it helped you boost your confidence.

It helps you grow as a person

Growth is as essential as goals. Every person needs to grow holistically, one step at a time. This aspect is vital in each person’s life; and, it is one of the best advantages that you can get from aspiring. When you have something to look forward on achieving, you will gradually improve your decision-making, problem-solving, and any other skills or aspects of your well-being. You can also think everything through, understand other people’s feelings, become more patient, and turn out to be the bigger person. All of these improvements happen because you have something that you badly want to hit. The bigger the desire to succeed, the harder you work for it and the larger your development becomes.

It makes you see the world in different angle

The world is messy and chaotic. It has always been like this ever since. But, it cannot be denied that there are also positive things that happen to it. The moment you begin to dream big and start to follow the plan in achieving them, you will slowly see the other side of the world. The part where the world is full of positivity and sunshine that it almost seems like life is not cruel after all. It will influence you to do better and strive harder, because the challenges will become lighter and bearable. Hence, viewing the world using a different angle is definitely one of the benefits of being a goal-digger.

4 Insightful Books for Spiritual Growth

Growth is always necessary. No matter where you are in the world, how you are holding up, and what you are doing, you should never forget to aspire for development. The physical health is the aspect that most people often put their attention on. There is nothing wrong with it, but you should also give your time, and effort to focus on the other branches of your well-being.

Spiritual health is one of the factors that are being frequently overlooked. It shouldn’t stay that way, because it is as important as the your physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Moreover, there are several ways on how to achieve spiritual growth — and reading is one of those methods. That said, listed below are the best books for spiritual growth that you should never miss reading.

It’s Not Supposed to be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst

This number 1 Christian Bible Study Guide bestseller book It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered was written by Lysa TerKeurst. It was published in 2018 and was also categorized under Christian spiritual growth books and Christian personal growth. It talks about how life always turns out to be in contrast of your expectations of it. There are some situations that surprise you while there are also events that break you entirely. As a result, you become disappointed and disenchanted. You will also start to question the genuineness of the Lord’s goodness. The author comprehends the though profoundly; however, she also found out that the dismay can turn into divine disillusions that is essential for everyone’s soul to meet God.

Live in the Moment: Prophetic Affirmations by Barbara Lyons Slade

Published in 2013, Live in the Moment: Prophetic Affirmations by Barbara Lyons Slade helps you to bring your words and God’s words in agreement with one another. The book will also support you to calm the storm in your mind caused by doubts and worries. Live in the Moment is a book that contains a wide array of prophetic affirmation that aims to lift up yourself through your words and utilize the power of words to eliminate self-destructive ideas. When you begin to connect with this book, you will gradually learn to speak what God speaks and in that moment, you will discover that you’ll be speaking prophetically in your forever. The statement, “Say what God says” allows you to fully live in the moment and enjoy God’s goodness. With Him, you will be given with the power and control to proclaim words that will turn the bad thoughts into good ones. He will also ready you for your purpose.

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discover by Ian Morgan Cron

IVP Books published the book The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery authored by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile. The book is primarily classified as a popular psychology personality study book, but it also has elements in it that made it as one of the Christian spiritual growth books. It states that not knowing is some kind of a blessing. However, ignorance of one’s self-awareness is never bliss. What you are not aware of about yourself has the possibility to wound you and your relationships. It will also keep your connection to God only in the shallows. That is why the authors constructed a one-of-a-kind approach, which is a thorough and practical method of obtaining Enneagram knowledge and investigating its links to the Christian spirituality.

A Life Ablaze: Ten Simple Keys to Living on Fire for God by Rick Renner

Rick Renner is the promising author behind the Christian spiritual growth book A Life Ablaze: Ten Simple Keys to Living on Fire for God. The book, moreover, was published by Harrison House Publishers in January 9, 2020. Renner provides a timely message that is vital for each Christian during these moments of the Christian Church. He also raises multiple questions that put the minds of the readers to work and touch their hearts every time they flip the pages. The questions include the following: are you struggling to maintain the fire of the Holy Spirit blazing in your heart together with the similar burning level as the early moments of your walk with Him?; Are you feeling that the burning coals in the fire of your heart are getting fewer and getting cold?; and Are you willing to get more knowledge on how can you keep the fire for Him blazing until He come back?

Adventure Is Out There: 5 Brilliant Adventure Books for Kids

Adventure is what a child always dreams of achieving. But come to think of it, there is nobody in this world who didn’t dream to go on an amazing journey for once. We have been a child and the kid inside of us never left. Somehow, we are connected into our little selves who always aspire to have the adventure of their lifetime.

Apart from our childhood, where we go on little trips and crazy moments — such as climbing a tree, playing in the mud, bathing in the rain, skipping puddles, chasing the moon, and more. We also read books in the hopes of going on an amazing world beyond our realm. That said, provided below are some of the best adventure books for kids.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

In January 1964, the first US edition of Charlie the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl was published by Alfred A. Knopf. The works of art that the first edition of the book contains are by Joseph Schindelman. It was followed by Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator which was published 8 years after. Furthermore, the book follows the amazing trip of a little Charlie Bucket in the bizarre chocolatier Willy Wonka’s factory. The thrill began when Willy Wonka re-opened his doors for outsiders and has invited 5 kids for a tour in the chocolate factory. Charlie luckily received the last golden ticket for the tour and took his Granpa Joe with him. He and his granpa is about to have the adventure of their lives.

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

This children historical fiction novel is written by Richard Peck. It was published in 1998 by Dial Press, which was followed by A Year Down Yonder in 2000. What makes this book a little more interesting is how the story is told. It is almost like an anthology of short stories because the novel contains several tales instead of one whole story divided into chapters. The short stories are titled Shotgun Cheatham’s Last Night Above Ground – 1929, The Mouse in the Milk – 1930, A One-Woman Crime Wave – 1931, The Day of Judgment – 1932, The Phantom Brakeman – 1933, Things with Wings – 1934, Centennial Summer – 1935, and The Troop Train – 1942. One year after its publication, the book was awarded with the 1999 Newbery Honor.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

This 2017 Newbery Medal awardee was written by Kelly Barnhill. It was published by Algonquin Young Readers in August 9, 2016. Its audio book was read by Christina Moore. It revolves around the story of a girl named Luna. She grew up under the care of a witch. With that, Luna must find a way on how to control the magical powers that was bestowed to her in accident. She should handle her magic before everything becomes too late — and that leads to Luna greatest adventure. Furthermore, The Girl Who Drank the Moon was positively criticized by many book critics, such as Common Sense Media and Diana Wagman who wrote in behalf of the New York Times.

Blaze the Dragon, The Adventures of Ra-me The Traveling Troubadour Book 2 by Connie Arnold

In February 2019, Connie Arnold’s book Blaze the Dragonwas published. It is the second book of The Adventure of Ra-me The Traveling Troubadour series that was preceded by The Patchwork Princess. It follows the story of Ra-me who was being invited to perform on the 12^th birthday of Blaze the dragon. Every attendee is a dragon except from Ra-me; but, he carries a permission slip to ensure his safety in the midst of a dragon-filled celebration. When the fun party unexpectedly turned into a restless one when the celebrant suddenly lost his skill to breathe fire, will the traveling troubadour be safe from the dragons? Discover how Ra-me handled the situation by reading the story!

The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson

This children’s book by Eva Ibbotson was published in 1994. It contains wonderful illustrations by Sue Porter. The book garnered more importance after the readers notice some similarities with the first Harry Potter book of J.K Rowling. The story opens with an observation about the London’s King’s Cross Station’s 13^th platform. The place was being kept close for many years. The peculiar thing is that when there are changes and modifications done in the platform, they would result into failure for no concrete reasons. Later on, it was discovered that the Platform 13 is hiding a gump that leads into a mystical island. The gump, however, only opens its doors once every 9 years. The opening of the passage to the island lasts up to 9 days, but a lot can happen in 9 days.

The Difference between Developmental Editing and Copy Editing

The world of editing is not as simple as it looks like. There are many corners that you have to go through before you can truly call yourself an editor. It is not just about paying attention to details but also about commitment. When the idea of editing looks like fun and games to you, you need to shift your views because editing goes beyond that.

You probably have heard about editing, revising, and proofreading. These three are the terms that are commonly used today when one touch the topic of polishing a draft. But have you heard about developmental editing and copy editing? If you do, then good for you! However, if the two don’t ring a bell — then worry not because that’s we are tackling today.

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing pertains to the first editing step, where you have to go through the raw draft thoroughly. This is, correct me or not, the most important part of editing. It is not because it the first stage is always important, but it is due to the fact that this is when you have to clean most of the mess and shift ideas. Tweaking or changing the thought of the text is a huge responsibility that needs thorough thinking. You have to pay respect to the idea of the writer and make sure that you the enhanced one is still relevant to the subject.

Furthermore, it is the part where you identify the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript and mark the points that needs improvements. Some of the common parts that needs developmental editing include but not limited to issues in the pacing, holes in the plot, problems in the theme, errors in the setting, concerns on the characterization, and faults in the total structure.

As a developmental editor, you have to provide direct feedback based on what you have reviewed. There is no need to beat around the bush and sugar coat your words because your goal is to improve the text and educate the writer. In that way, the client will know what should and should not be done next time. Furthermore, there are many developmental editors in the industry. Some of them are working under a company while others are working as a freelancer. Greg Van Arsdale’s Developmental Editing is one of the best developmental editing services in the industry.

Copy Editing

Copy editing refers to the second stage of editing. It is the part when the document has already gone through the developmental edit and all you need to do is to review the structure of the text. The purpose of this step is to make improvements in your manuscript so that it will be more decent to be shown to the public. Thus, a copy editor needs to be detail-oriented, observant, and meticulous in order improve the quality of the text and not the other way around.

Moreover, copy editing is also known as line editing, because copy editors are responsible for examining the story and polishing it line by line. This process gives a good chance to the edito0r to detect more specific errors in the text. It also provides a better opportunity to edit inaccurate facts, anomalous tales, and inconsistent character back stories. By examining the text per line, it enhances the readability and strength of the client’s manuscript making it more reader-friendly and flawless.

This step can be compared to frosting a cake. You are already done with the baking process and all you need to do is to put the frosting of the cake. You wouldn’t want to present a naked cake to your clients, wouldn’t you? Hence, copy editing is there to make your initially finished material near its completion and already presentable enough.

This kind of editing will revolve around the minute portions of your manuscript. Professional copy editors will enhance the sentence structure, eliminate wordiness, highlight text flow, remove redundancy, change passive voice, improve vocabulary, delete vagueness, and edit unpleasant dialogue. However, the method of copy editing is not far different than developmental editing. The editor will still need to read the document in order to spot the structural and technical errors.

Tips on Creating Effective Animal Characters

Animals are among the widely used characters in the world of literature. They are not only used in fables but also in children’s literature, and even on other different genres. The Cat in the Hat, Charlotte’s Web, The Animals Kissed Goodnight, The Song of Solomon the Snail, Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Fox and the Hound are some great books with animal characters.

What makes readers drawn to stories with these kinds of characters is their ability to bring something new to the table. Who would have thought that animals can bring so much inspiration and joy to the lives of the readers? So, if you are planning to write a story for kids and want to use animals as characters; then, worry not! Here are some easy tips on how to create effective animal characters.

Pick the particular animal that you’d want to move your story

Everyone has different likes. Perhaps some likes animals that live on land while others are fond of animals that live in water. Since there are millions of interesting species in the world, make sure that you pick the right animal that fit your liking. But, take note that there are also people that want to read your story. That is why narrow down your choices into animals that are commonly known by the public. This helps your story get understood by your readers easily. Also, it is beneficial for younger readers. Hence, specify the animals that you want to move your story forward and create a huge impact to the lives of your readers.

Sort their character types

Writing a story is all fun and games until you get to the complicated parts. Can you imagine how hard can it become when you have to identify what is the character type of your animals? There are different kinds of characters in literature. The basic ones are the protagonist, which is the main character, and the antagonist, which is the one that gives the main character a hard time. But there are still a lot of character classifications, such as the dynamic, foil, flat, round, and more that’s why you need to make sure that you have sorted each of them to have a smoother process.

Describe their physical appearance thoroughly

The appearance of every character is crucial. Stories are made up with words and are being brought to life by imagination. For that reason, you have to make sure that you provide a description for your characters. It is not enough that you would only indicate the particular character is a frog; instead you need to define their physical appearance from top to bottom. You have to consider that not all species are the same and since it is in literature you can add some amazing physical features to your characters. That said, specify every detail of their outer appearances. In that way, your readers will not have a hard time imagining what your character looks like.

Let their actions speak for their inner selves

You cannot directly tell the readers that this character is bad or good. Take this statement for example, “the queen bee is cruel.” It directly tells the readers that the queen bee is a cruel ruler, and that is a big NO in writing, specifically in building an effective character. Do not take the opportunity to discover what the characters’ inner selves are from the readers. Let your characters show your prospects what they really are apart from their physical appearances. Allow them to move your story and show their truest selves.

Give them one defining trait

Every character in every story has something that makes the readers in awe. It could be because of their determination, perceptions in life, personal goals, and drive to do better. Whatever it could be, make sure that you put that ingredient in your characters. Give them one defining trait that will help you get a better response from the readers. The traits can be either mix in their inner or outer beauties, such as big brown eyes, long whiskers, sharp teeth, kind heart, loving son, brilliant mind, and more. These things are the key that will leave a great mark in the lives of the readers.

4 Wonderful Children’s Books to Read this End of Summer

The end of summer season is here. Now you’d have to keep your inflatables, sunglasses, and sunscreen because fall is about to come. But if you are worried that all the fun will go away with summer, worry not! There are still a lot of things that you can do at home that will wipe away your summer sadness. You can still go to places you never thought existed and savor the magical moments in their by reading. Yes, you read it right! Reading is a fun activity that can bridge reality and imagination, and can be done in any season.

There are so many books to read and so many genres to choose from. There’s this genre called children’s literature. It is primarily intended for children but adults can also have fun and learn from this genre. Some of the great authors in this genre are Gabriella Eva Nagy, Janet Councilman, Lynda Daniele, William Dalmas, and Caroleann Rice. That said, here are some of the best children’s books that you can read during this last few days of summer.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

In 1961, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. published the book by Roald Dahl titled Jack and the Giant Peach. It is a children’s book that is also under the fantasy genre. The novel contains illustrations that were created by different talents, such as Nancy Ekholm Burkert, Michael Simeon, Emma Chichester Clark, Quentin Blake, Lane Smith, and Jordan Crane.

The novel centers on the story of a little English orphan boy named Jack. He suddenly entered a magical peach that is in the size of a giant. Because of the giant fruit, Jack went to a wild and unbelievable adventure together with the 7 magically-modified bugs that he met along the way. Fun fact, the author’s original idea about the giant fruit was a cherry but he changed it to a peach, because the latter was more beautiful, more massive, and squishier.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Originally written in French with the title Le Petit Prince, this book was published by Reynal & Hitchcock in the US and Gallimard in France. The story and illustrations were done by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Since the author’s disappearance, this beautiful story was preserved and translated into different languages. Some of its English edition translators are Katherine Woods, T.V.F. Cuffe, Michael Morpurgo, Irene Testot-Ferry, Alan Wakeman, Janet Hill, David Wilkinson, and Gregory Norminton.

It follows the story of a pilot who hates grown-ups but ended up to be one and a Little Prince who lives alone in a planet. They met in a desert, after the pilot crashed his plane in the area. They started sharing tales about one another, but mostly the Little Prince shares his. The pilot learned a lot about the life of the Little Prince. And in that moment, he knew that the Little Prince tamed him and that they formed a bond that no one can break.

Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Macmillan published the book by Lewis Carroll titled Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland. It is under tbe fantasy genre that has been entertaining readers since 1865. It was followed by Through the Looking Glass in 1871. What made this story more popular is Disney’s film adaptation of it, as well as the other adaptations that followed in the 20^th century.

The story revolved around a little lady named Alice and her adventures in a world that is opposite of the ordinary. One afternoon, Alice fell into a rabbit hole after she chased a rabbit that is wearing a suit. The hole led her into a subterranean world that is unbelievably magical. It contains creatures that are extraordinary, there were a Cheshire cat, Red queen, White queen, Mad Hatter, March Hare, White Rabbit, and more.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

In 1911, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett was published by Frederick A. Stokes in the US and William Heinemann in the UK. This children’s novel contains illustrations that were illustrated by M.L. Kirk, for the US edition, and Charles Robinson, for the UK edition.

It focuses on the story of a 10-year-old sickly girl named Mary Lennox. She was born in British India in a wealthy family. But the thing is she is ignored and unloved by her parents, because of the fact that she is unwanted. Who took care of her were not her wealthy parents but their servants. Because of their wealth and the way she was raised, Mary Lennox grew up to be spoiled, aggressive, and narcissistic. But the after the cholera pandemic, the tables seemed to turn. She was left alone in a house penniless because her parents died and their servants were either dead or gone. That’s when Mary started to strive for herself.

4 Promising Biographies of Women

Biographies are often confused with memoirs because of the fact that they have almost the same elements. But for everyone’s benefit, the one defining trait of a biography is that it covers the story from beginning to end or the present. Unlike memoirs where you only have to cover a certain part of a person’s life, biographies are lengthier because they cover from top to bottom. Thus, here are some of the best biographies of women in literature!

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The first edition of Maya Angelou’s brilliant book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was published by Random House in 1969. It is an autobiography that tells the story of the remarkable poet and author Maya Angelou. It is a coming-of-age tale that shows the toughness of the main character and her love for literature are two keys that helped her conquer both racism and trauma.

It was opened by a three-year-old Maya Angelou and the time when her and his brother were brought to live with their grandmother in Arkansas. The story was ended the moment when Maya was 16 years old and entered motherhood. The captivating part of the story is its ability of showing the readers not only the extreme racism in the past but also the personal development of the author — from having an inferiority complex and being attacked because of her race to a self-possessed woman and a strong individual who answers to prejudice with dignity.

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell

This New York Times bestseller, NPR’s Best Book of the Year, and Plutarch Award’s Best Biography was published by Penguin Books on April 9, 2019. It was not only included in the scope of women biographies but also in other genres, like history and gender studies. It is written by Sonia Purnell and is available in hardcover, audiobook, and kindle.

It revolves around the untold tale of the American spy who altered the trajectory of World War II named Virginia Hall. She is known to be the first Allied woman who was sent out at the back of enemy lines. She was a Baltimore socialite that is part of the Special Operations Executive who has a prosthetic leg. After being deployed to the enemies, Virginia lent her hand to ignite the flame of the French Resistance, which revolutionized the confidential warfare. In 1942, Hall was considered as the most threatening of each and every Allied spy. That is why Gestapo ordered dire mission to terminate her. But did they succeed on killing Virginia Hall? Find it out.

Patchwork by Carol Wilson-Mack

In July 10, 2020, Readersmagnet LLC published the book by Carol Wilson-Mack titled Patchwork: Conversation Between Generations. It contains different tales of females that are residing in a rural are in South Carolina called Bamberg around 1939 to 1959. These amazing women made God the center of their lives and formed an atmosphere that made the participants able to support their families.

One of the activities that they focused on was quilting. It is also the activity that allowed them to communicate and express their tales of struggles with each other. Patchwork inspiring stories inspire the readers in searching for ways to close the gap that is present between generations through telling substantial information by communication. Moreover, the circle of the youth and the group of the elders should keep an open mind regarding a two-way conversation. As an elder, one must not think that he or she have a monopoly in educating while as a youth, one must also have a thing to say. Thus, this book didn’t only document the lives of these women but also revolves around the significance of conversation.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers published the illustrated edition of the book by Vashti Harrison titled Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History last December 5, 2017. It became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, and is inspiring both children and adults from the date of its publication until today.This book teaches and motivates readers in a more captivating way because it relates real tales of 40 amazing black women in the history of America. Apart from that, it also contains irradiating text along with wonderful illustrations that bring both well and lesser known women of Black history.

4 Wonderful Books about Food, Memories, and Everything in Between

Tell me someone in this world who doesn’t love food? I bet there would be none. It is because of the fact that food has played a vital role in everybody’s lives. There is nothing better than eating the food you love with the people that make your day brighter. Food is also a big part of a place’s culture, tradition, and literature. Every country in the world has its own delicacies and special dishes. That said, those dishes also have their rich history aside from their delightful tastes, inspiring literature to create works based on those delectables.

Not all books about food are recipe books; there are also works that are inspired by a person’s favorite food, a place’s signature dish, or both. If you want to know more about food, memories, and everything in between through literature, then here are some of the most amazing books for you to check out!

The Food Lab by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

W.W. Norton & Company published The Food Lab by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt in September 21, 2015. This cookbook has won multiple awards, such as the 2016 IACP Cookbook of the Year and 2016 James Beard Foundation General Cooking Cookbook Award. The Food Lab is comprised of almost 300 wholesome recipes of the American cuisine. The author made use of the scientific method in writing the book in order to develop the infamous recipes of the said cuisine, as well as to elaborate the science of cooking. The book came into view after 5 long but worth it years. The author described The Food Lab as a book that is intended for individuals who desire to learn the methods and reasons behind cooking; thus, it is not a recipe book at all.

Remembrance of Meals Past by Anita Legsdin

In 2018, Westwood Books Pub LLC published the book by Anita Legsdin titled Remembrance of Meals Past. The book encompasses subjects that are important in every person’s life not just as a citizen but as a person in general. The common subjects that are tackled by Remembrance of Meals Past are cooking, ethnicity, relationship, and life as a whole. The book is an anthology of short stories that focuses on different things, such as the food and the memories that are related to the wide array of dishes that were being served. Are there any foods that suit your taste or have disappointed your taste buds based on your previous experiences? If there are, then you will be to agree to the opinions and sentiments with each of the characters in the tales.

On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of The Kitchen by Harold McGEE

Harold McGee published his book titled On Food and Cooking: The Science and Loreof the Kitchen under Scribner in U.S. and Hodder & Stoughton in UK. The first edition was published in 1984 while the second edition was in 2004. The novel lays down a guide to the scientific comprehension and preparation regarding food. Alton Brown even referred to the book as “the Rosetta stone of the culinary world,” while Daniel Boulud referred to it as a “must for every cook who possesses and inquiring mind.” Furthermore, the book is split into parts where each chapter revolves around the ingredients supplying the foundation for the author to think on the history of staples, groceries, and cuisine, as well as the molecular attributes of the different flavors of food.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Like Water for Chocolate is a critically-acclaimed classic novel. It is originally written in Spanish, where it was called Como Agua para Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel. The book was published by Doubleday in 1992 in Mexico while by Perfection Learning in 1995 in US. It is under the genres romance, magical realism, and tragedy. You probably wondered what the connection of this book and food is, well that’s what we are going to tackle. That said, food is among the significant topics that are discussed in the story. Food was being utilized throughout the tale in a creative way in order to symbolize the emotions and situations of the characters. The magical essence of food created literal impacts on the individuals consuming it, which were transmitted to both minds and hearts of people who ate it.