SIX BOOKS OF 2010 THAT INSPIRED ME
A Reliable Wife, Robert Goolrick, Algonqin Books of Chapel Hill, January 2010
- I savoured this book … every single page. “A Reliable Wife” was an erotic, tantalizing tease. I was smitten from the very first meeting of Ralph Truitt, who placed an advertisement in the paper for a ‘reliable’ wife, and Catherine Land, the unreliable harlot who responded to his ad. I experienced the beauty of delicate words and one of the most incredible tales in literature.
Getting to Happy, Terry McMillan, Viking/Penguin Group, September 2010
- Terry McMillan’s “Waiting to Exhale” was a tough writing act to follow … and the sequel “Getting to Happy” packed a punch. I loved this book. My friends loved it. Movie producers loved it! The divas of drama, Robin (Lela Rochon), Savannah (Whitney Houston), Gloria (Loretta Devine), and Bernadine (Angela Bassett), graced the big screen in 1995, and left McMillan’s fans craving for more of this “BFF” reunion. Fiesty as ever, the four friends returned once again to break your heart and rejuvinate your spirit. One of the most anticipated book sequels in African American fiction, “Getting to Happy” fulfilled the promise to entertain and make readers happy.
Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks, Grand Central Publishing, September 2010
- Nicholas Sparks fans had something in common — they were suckers for another good love story. And I was one of them. This past year, no one knew more about pain, love, and redemption than Sparks. With more than 50 million copies of his books in print worldwide, the author penned one more winner with his sixteenth novel, “Safe Haven.” This hot fiction was a blend of passion, romance, and mystery. Fans had another great novel to add to their Nicholas Sparks collection. Book clubs nationwide had another great love story to talk about.
Missing You Metropolis, Gary Jackson, Graywolf Press, November 2010
- Poetry was never high on my reading list, but this sort of “ode to comic heroes” was just the poetic justice I needed to change my mind. Super words transported me to a fun place. The few worries I had melted away among numerous stanzas of hot poetic memories. Gary Jackson’s furious love of comics is the vein for his talent of transporting his desires to paper like humans fading to super heroes right before take off. I’ve never picked up a comic book. But after spending an evening with “Missing You Metropolis,” I feel a strange kinship to Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, Captain America, and the who-can-ever-forget-the-unforgettable Wonder Woman. Who knows, one day, I just might read a comic book or two.
Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want, Lisa Johnson Mandell, Grand Central Publishing, January 2010
- One of the best career manuals I’ve ever read could land me that dream job … or just a regular 9-to-5 job, until the economy gets better. “Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want” was all about making yourself over, even if you thought you were perfect. And with a little push and creativity from author Lisa Johnson Mandell, it was actually doable. A career comeback was never more urgent than in 2010. It was (and still is) a necessity for anyone rebounding from a setback, a layoff, or another bad beginning. And you’ve got to start somewhere.
What I Know Now About Success: Letters from Extraordinary Women to Their Younger Selves, edited by Ellyn Spragins, Da Capo Lifelong, May 2010
- I was so impressed by this little advice manual disguised as personal letters, I gave it to a friend and asked her to pass it along to her young daughter. And later, I even purchased a copy for my niece, who has a mind of her own. More than 14 brilliant women, including Barbara Walters, Kate Spade, and Soledad O’Brien opened up about their struggles and ultimate triumphs. But I was most impressed with personal-finance, author and columnist Suze Orman. This past year, just about everyone, even the rich and famous, needed good, old-fashioned money advice. She provided us with all the tools we needed to shape up. Orman also shared her advice on truth, “
“You will not — you cannot — come into your power until you live a life that is 100 percent authentic every moment of the day, in every way.”