Reading is beginning to become one of my favorite pastimes. Sitting down with a good book or magazine in your reading nook or listening to an audiobook while doing some household chores is a great way to boost your mind and feed your spirit.
Late last year I went down a rabbit hole was picking up one book after another, I couldn’t put them down! While in this hole I found some books that I want to share with you and hope you add to your collection, if you do make sure to let me know!
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
This books tells the story of the unsung hero Henrietta Lacks a poor southern black tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors. Her cells were taken without her knowledge and became one of the most important cells in medical history! She’s immortal because her cells, unlike the others, have never stopped growing. Even to this day, they are in a lab somewhere and are growing at a rapid pace.
The author Rebecca Skloot does a fantastic job of telling the story of Henrietta’s life from how she grew up to her death as well as the remarkable story of her children, all while sharing the amazing journey her cells have had through science. Her cells are the reason we have a cure to the polio vaccine, know about how cancer cells, viruses and vitro-fertilization! All thanks to Henrietta Lacks, but the scientist refer to her as HeLa.
This book made me smile, laugh, and cry. It’s a beautiful and empowering story about a how medical doctors treated blacks back in the 50’s and even to this day in some cases all while reminding us that something great can still come from the greatest pain.
2. Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden
Memoirs of A Geisha was a book I picked up when I wanted to take a break from self help books and read something more grounded. Little did I know that this book would take me for a spin and show me what strength and determination really looks like, all wrapped up in a unconventional love story.
Nitta Sayuri tells us of her story to becoming a Geisha. Starting out in a fishing village in the 1920’s. A man spots Sayuri’s unusual grey eyes after helping her when she fell. She is then taken from her home town and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. Sayuri has to learn how to navigate this new life on her own without her sister, mother, or father to guide her. She has to work her way up on her own facing greedy men, abusive older Geisha’s and the tea houses being shut down in the wake of WWII to find her own type of freedom.
One thing I enjoyed about this book in particular is I could never figure out where it was headed. Finding out the inner workings of the Geisha lifestyle was hard for me to comprehend in my 30’s I can only imagine what it would be like if I was a child. Over all the book is a great read if you want a drama filled love story. It had me on the edge of my seat needing to know what happened next.
3. The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
If you want a book that will make you sit and think about your life, expand your mind, and put more things in perspective, this is it. The untethered soul is a book that will have you taking a long look at your life just to find out what on earth were you thinking?
Singer explores the question of who we are and makes us dive deep in to our consciousness. He aims to show us how to live in the present moment by tapping in to meditation and mindfulness practicesto enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of our painful past and memories that prevent us from achieving happiness and self realization.
When I say this book really changed my life, it did. As someone who has negative intrusive thoughts and focused on my past way to much this book taught me the necessary practices to not only stopping those thoughts when they happen but prevent them in the first place. It taught me humbleness and to put forth what really matters, enjoying life while I still have it and there is no greater gift than that.
Enjoyed this? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Share them below, and don’t forget to like and follow for more inspiration.
With love & moonlight,
Vintessa
Sacred musings | Mystic practices | Soft heart, wild spirit