By Desiree Anderson
Some books have a way of altering your life without you even realizing it. Over the past few years, I myself have changed tremendously from a young girl trying to figure out what the next step in her journey is, to an ambitious young woman learning to embrace all of what life has to offer in the midst of undesirable circumstances. In every new chapter my life has completed, my love for books and self-exploration has been the one unchanging constant and the foundation from which all of my accomplishments have grown from. The following books are just a few of which have helped me grow into a strong, independent woman with a love for helping and teaching others, and I pray that the least they do is help all of you ladies reading grasp the power of your black girl magic and believe that you can do anything.
1. The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst: every woman who has ever caved under the pressure of consistently saying “yes” to countless demands regardless of whether you wanted to or not, needs to read this book.
2. When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago: a devastatingly beautiful memoir that all women, regardless of race or ethnicity, can appreciate and learn from. You are not where you come from, whether that be the rural Puerto Rico like Santiago, or right here in Hartford, CT. You determine your future and where you go from here.
3. Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich: There aren’t many books that feature a plus sized woman as the main character in a way that isn’t self-demolishing or tasteful. However, Evanovich has created a hilarious romantic comedy following the journey of a woman who has found something she doesn’t like and is determined to correct it.
4. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp: a “poetically written” book that will move you in ways you could never imagine and remind you that even in the midst of chaos and pain, always live life to its fullest.
5. The Girls Guide by Melissa Kirsch: a very literal “How to…” guide that I recommend for every post-college age woman learning to be self-fulfilling/sustaining and independent.
While I can’t guarantee that for every lesson there is to learn in life, there will be a book, I can guarantee that for every book, there is a lesson.
