New Things Happening at Page 59!

Changes are taking place and we couldn't be more excited! So please, take the time to visit some of our past book reviews as we go through this transition. Thank you for your support!  :)

Review: Awakenings: Epiphanies Along A Spiritual Journey

Title:  Awakenings: Epiphanies Along A Spiritual Journey

Author: Demetris Taylor

Pages:  102

Publisher: Self Published

ISBN: 978-0-615-45166

Age: 18+

Front Cover

The front cover displays a peaceful and serene pathway that would imply that you are traveling on a road to an unknown destination.  Which I believe is exactly what the author wants you to draw from it.  While inviting, it also leaves me with a sense of the unknown or mystery, which is how life pretty much is.

Background (provided by author)

“Awakenings: Epiphanies Along a Spiritual Journey” is a compelling collection of blogs that has been a pinnacle of spiritual development and discernment for the author.  Not only does this body of work provide what epiphanies has been revealed unto the author, it also provides the readers an opportunity to take a spiritual journey that will awaken their own insight into their higher power.

My Thoughts

Did I like this book?  Absolutely!  This book was thought provoking, motivational, and as real as real can get!  Demetris Taylor does not hold back in the least bit and tells you up close and personal!  This book once again is not for the easily offended or the faint of heart.  Taylor speaks from his own personal experiences as he shares his journey and revelations along the way.

As I read this book, I found myself revisiting a few of my own beliefs and conversations that I have had with others.  It motivated me to challenge myself in a few areas and made me realize a few things that I had never considered.  It encouraged me not to give in to my own self sabotage as I enter into my own new personal journey.  I was able to grasp this because I have an open mind and realize that there are many viewpoints and perspectives that exist other than my own.  This book is a great read and I would encourage you to check it out and challenge yourself to experience the journey of another who was willing to share.  Enjoy!

Tasha

Pg.59 Interviews Demetris Taylor (Pt. 1)

 Awakenings–Epiphanies Along A Spiritual Journey

By: Demetris Taylor writing as BIG MEACH

Pg.59:  Briefly, tell us a little about your book and what inspired you write it?

Big Meach:  “Awakenings-Epiphanies Along a Spiritual Journey” is a self empowering, motivational, inspirational book that is designed to stimulate personal growth, reflection and dialogue between the reader and those with whom the reader shares the offerings.  I was inspired to put this together after I relinquished my 12 year membership with my church and needed to stay connected with my spirituality without conforming to the mundaneness of organized religion. 

Pg.59:  Who do you hope or want to connect with by writing this book?

Big Meach:  It is my Praise Report that I connect and reach all those who wish to stay connected and in tune with their spirituality and are looking for fresh, new, innovative ideas and approaches to stay on their paths or journey toward becoming their authentic selves without being bombarded, bamboozled, and betrayed by what traditional religion regurgitates and dictates as truth through contradictions and fear.  

Pg.59:  Will there be additional books in this series or likeness?

Big Meach:  That remains to be seen.  I KNOW the journey IS NOT over; however, I will see how my spirit leads me with this one.

To be continued....
Email us @ pg.59bookclub@gmail.com to enter to win your free copy before 9/19!!  Please leave any questions/comments for us below.  Thanks!

September Book Selection: "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers

Good morning everyone!

Our September book selection has been chosen and we will be reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  Here is a brief introduction to the book:

California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.  Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything, Michael Hosea obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation until, despite her resistance her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she can no longer deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael Hosea does…the One who will never let her go.  A life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love...

We hope you enjoy this book and join us on 10/1 when we discuss our thoughts, likes and dislikes about the book.  Click here to get your copy today!

P.S. Please be sure to take advantage of our book giveaway, Awakenings: Epiphanies Along A Spiritual Journey we are higlighting this month!  Email us at pg.59bookclub@gmail.com to enter a chance to receive your free copy!

Tasha

Review: Dancing Her Dreams Away by Alretha Thomas

Title:  Dancing Her Dreams Away

Author: Alretha Thomas

Pages:  318

Publisher: Diverse Arts Collective, Inc.

ISBN: 978-0615458175

Age: 16+

Front Cover

The front cover of this book draws the reader in along with the title, “Dancing Her Dreams Away.”  Why would this girl be dancing away her dreams??  First thought… What choices has she made that has lead her to a challenging/compromising situation where her dreams are no longer a priority?  Let me check it out!

Background (Provided by Amazon)

Shelia King, a fun-loving grandma’s girl, needs to keep her days open for auditions in the hope of landing a role that will catapult her to stardom. With the threat of eviction looming, she scrambles to find a night job and convinces the owner of a hostess club to hire her. Now she’s a dance-partner-for-hire by night and struggling thespian by day. When her agent pitches a topless role, fearing her grandmother’s disapproval, Shelia declines. But after setbacks and considerable thought, she agrees to meet the producer. Gregory Livingston III is rich, suave, ridiculously fine, and the panacea for Shelia’s career woes. At first sight she shapes plans to win the role and his heart. She gets both and works hard to give an Oscar worthy performance. However, when the movie wraps, nothing can prepare her for the startling revelations about Greg’s past and the aftermath of a dream gone awry.

My Thoughts

So, I guess you are wondering if I liked the book or not….  Well, I won’t keep you waiting.  *drum roll* Yes, I did enjoy it!  Why?  Well for starters, I liked how the author jumps right into the swing of things, introducing us to her main character (Shelia King) and her troubles.  I was able to easily visualize the scenes that the author described as the story of Shelia King unfolded.  I also liked the mystery that was present.  There was always that feeling that something was about to be revealed about one of the characters in the book and you had to keep reading in order to find out.  And YES, there is much that is revealed!! 

As far as challenges, I did find that there were a few things that were a little unbelievable or far reaching (in my opinion).  However, I think this demonstrates the creativity of the author and her way of driving the reader to believe differently from the norm.  For example (Spoiler Alert!!), Shelia could have easily been working in a strip club instead of a club where men come to ballroom dance with a partner for a small fee or a “dance-partner-for-hire.”  I believe the author challenges us to move away from the typical result/outcome of a struggling aspiring actress to a more positive one.  Another challenge this was how quickly she fell for Gregory Livingston.  Now, I have heard of love at first site, but wow!  I felt as though they should have dated at least three days before they were madly in love.  Just to make sure he wasn’t a toad (LOL)!  Lastly, I did not really connect the title with the plot directly.  I understand how they can be associated; however, I did not see how dancing was the direct result of her dreams being jeopardized.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book!  The turn of events at the end of the book that allowed Shelia to restore and rebuild her life was awesome.  It was a very emotional experience and I actually was able to take something from her healing process and apply it to my own life.

My recommendation for this book is:

Book Give Away *Update*

Pg.59 Congratulates

LATINA JOHNSON

the winner of our book give away,

"Dancing Her Dreams Away"



by: Alretha Thomas

Many thanks to everyone that participated!

Pg.59 Interviews Author Alretha Thomas

Pg.59 was given the opportunity to find out a little more about Alretha Thomas, the author of our book give away this month. We hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did and support her by purchasing a copy of her book!

Book: “Dancing Her Dreams Away”

Author: Alretha Thomas

About the book:

(Pg.59) Briefly, tell us a little about your book and what inspired you to write it.  

(A.T.) “Dancing Her Dreams Away” takes place in 1985 and is about a young woman named Shelia King who wants to be a star. She never knew her father and her mother wasn’t around very much. Her only living and know relative is her religious grandmother who raised her. Outside of her grandmother, she’s closest to her best friend Edwina. Shelia’s dream seems within reach when her agent tells her about a part in a movie. The only caveat, she would have to be topless. Not wanting to disappoint her grandmother, she declines. She eventually reconsiders and meets the producer, Gregory Livingston III. He’s rich, handsome, and blows her away. She gets the part and his heart. However, when the movie wraps there’s a screening and the images on the screen are not what she remembers filming.  These images send her into a tailspin and I can’t tell too much more, or I’ll give away the story. I wrote “Dancing Her Dreams Away” almost a year ago. A lot of readers who had read my debut novel “Daughter Denied” wanted me to write the sequel to that novel. I set out to do so, but it just wasn’t jiving. I wasn’t feeling it. Then I  took some time to pray and meditate and to think about something that was really close to my heart, and I remembered twenty-five years ago when I was pursuing acting, and I needed a night job, so I could audition during the day. I got a job in a dance hall. It’s called taxi-dancing and was popular in the twenties and thirties. It’s where men pay by the minute to talk and dance with girls. I worked there for a minute, and like Shelia, I was driven to become famous. Deep down, like Shelia, I was trying to fill a hole within that was there because of the abuse I had suffered as a child.

(Pg.59) Who do you hope or want to connect with by writing this book? 

(A.T.)  I want to connect with women who missed out on that first love, the love of a father. Every young girl needs to experience unconditional love from a man, and that first man should be her father. It provides a young girl with a foundation and a sense of self-worth. When you don’t have it, like the cliché, you look for love in all the wrong places. I want these women to know that they don’t have to look for love and fulfillment in bad relationships, alcohol, drugs, gambling, or validation from others. I want them to know that they have intrinsic value.

(Pg.59)  Who was your favorite character?

(A.T.)  My favorite character is Shelia because she reminds me of myself twenty-five years ago.

(Pg.59)  Will there be additional books in this series or likeness?

(A.T.)  I’m not sure. Possibly. It has to come from within. I have started writing a third novel titled “Love in the Nick of Nine” about a twenty-nine year old woman determined to meet and fall in love with “The One” before she turns thirty and she’ll be thirty in nine months.

Now on to you:

(Pg.59)  What inspired you to become an author? 

(A.T.)  As a child, I loved reading, and I always wanted to write a book about a young girl who grows up in a dysfunctional home and through sheer determination and the grace of God, she overcomes her background and becomes successful. I wrote that novel. It’s called “Daughter Denied.” It’s my debut novel. I wrote it in 1999, but it wasn’t published until 2008. After that, I was hooked.

(Pg.59)  Where do you draw your inspiration to write?  (Certain place, environment, people??)

(A.T.)  My inspiration is from within. I have a ton of stories percolating inside me dying to get out. LOL!

(Pg.59)  Did you have moments of writers block? If so, how do you handle it?

(A.T.)   Writing comes very easily to me. I have never experienced writers block.

(Pg.59)  What advice do you have for upcoming writers, authors, editors?  (Something you wish someone would have told you).

(A.T.)  Believe in your work and be passionate about it. However, be open to constructive criticism and if that means brushing up on your craft, be willing to do so. I had to go back to the drawing board (brush up on the craft of writing) on my second novel and I’m glad I did. It ended up being a much better book.

(Pg.59)  What one thing would you like people to know about you?

(A.T.)  That I am more grateful then they would ever know when they buy my book and when they give me positive feedback.

(Pg.59)  How can people follow your work and get in contact with you?

(A.T.)  They can go the “Dancing Her Dreams Away” website. http://www.dancingherdreamsaway.com/ and I can be reached via email at Alrethat@aol.com. I also can be reached via the following links:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1010659574
http://www.twitter.com/dancingherdream
http://www.myspace.com/dancingherdreamsaway

Thank you so much for allowing us to speak with you!

Book Give Away!! (Deadline 8/8)

Pg.59 Book Club is excited to announce our book give away! Read more below...

Dancing Her Dreams Away

by:

Alretha Thomas

(Provided by Amazon)

Shelia King, a fun-loving grandma’s girl, needs to keep her days open for auditions in the hope of landing a role that will catapult her to stardom. With the threat of eviction looming, she scrambles to find a night job and convinces the owner of a hostess club to hire her. Now she’s a dance-partner-for-hire by night and struggling thespian by day. When her agent pitches a topless role, fearing her grandmother’s disapproval, Shelia declines. But after setbacks and considerable thought, she agrees to meet the producer. Gregory Livingston III is rich, suave, ridiculously fine, and the panacea for Shelia’s career woes. At first sight she shapes plans to win the role and his heart. She gets both and works hard to give an Oscar worthy performance. However, when the movie wraps, nothing can prepare her for the startling revelations about Greg’s past and the aftermath of a dream gone awry. See the Trailer below...

(We had the pleasure of interviewing  Ms. Thomas and will be sharing her interview with you soon!)

We are giving away a copy of this book to one lucky follower!  To enter to win please email us @ pg.59bookclub@gmail.com by 8/8/11.  The winner will be announced and contacted by 8/15/11.  Good luck!!

Motivational Monday "Die Bad Habits, Die!"

Happy Monday Everyone!

We are all coming off our weekend and we hope that you all had a wonderful one!  Today's motivation is brought to you (us) by Joel Osteen. 

Encourage your good habits and starve those bad ones!  There is much research that holds that you can break a habit in six weeks and create a new one (positive I hope) after doing it for 21days.  Despite the way you choose to look at it, you can change!  You can drop those bad habits that hold you back from being your best self and replace them with good ones.  With determination and discipline I encourage you (us) to take charge of bad habits and look forward to the positive benefits of the good ones.  We can do it!!

Enjoy your day!

Tasha

July Book Selection: "Getting to Happy" by Terry McMillan

Greetings and Happy Monday everyone!  We hope that it is has been a pleasant one thus far.  We would like to thank everyone who joined us this past Saturday at our book club meeting and participated in our online discussion.  Many thanks to our host for doing such a great job!  We were able to test our live broadcast feature in this last meeting and hope to have it available so you can participate in the discussions live!

Now, for our next book...

Our July book selection is Terry McMillan's newest release Getting to Happy.  As you might know, this is the sequel to her famous book Waiting to Exhale. We discussed this book a little earlier in the year when it was first released.  Check it out here. Purchase your copy early and join in on our next book discussion!

Talk of the Town Tuesday: 50 Cent's new anti-bullying book, "Playground"

Today's "Talk" comes from our rapper friend "50 Cent" who has decided to write a book for teenagers titled Playground.

*hold reaction* 

Curtis Jackson ("50 Cent") draws upon his personal experiences and shares with us in first person about the journey of a bully to redemption. Playground is anticipated to be released in January 2012.

*begin reaction here*

Hmmm.... I have many many thoughts surrounding this topic, however, my mom once told me, "If you don't have nothing nice to say...."  I will just end with this, who better to write a book about bullying than a bully? 

What are your thoughts?

Talk of the Town Tuesday: The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring by Sugar Ray Leonard

Greetings!

Today's "Talk" is brought to us by the great boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard. If you have not already heard by now, the former boxer has a new book out titled, The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring, where he shares with his readers many of his struggles that he was forced to deal with, including being sexually abused as a young teenage fighter.

Excerpt from Amazon.com:

Sugar Ray Leonard's brutally honest and uplifting memoir reveals in intimate detail for the first time the complex man behind the boxer. The Olympic hero, multichampionship winner, and beloved athlete waged his own personal battle with depression, rage, addiction, and greed. The Big Fight takes readers behind the scenes of a notoriously corrupt sport and chronicles the evolution of a champion, as Leonard prepares for the greatest fights of his life-against Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, and Wilfred Benitez. At the same time Leonard fearlessly reveals his own contradictions and compulsions, his infidelity, and alcohol and cocaine abuse.
With honesty, humor, and hard-won perspective, Leonard comes to terms with both triumph and struggle-and presents a gripping portrait of remarkable strength, courage, and resilience, both in and out of the ring.

 

Well, I have not read many books by former athletes and I am not sure how I feel about this one.  But I am curious to why he decides now to reveal this information about his past....  According to a recent radio interview he states that revealing this information allowed him to free himself.  Which I  understand. However, there are a few that do not believe that his accusation hold merit.  (click here)  What are your thoughts?  Leave us comments below. Thanks!

Atlanta Welcomes Sister Souljah!!

Sister Souljah Fans listen up!  Sister Souljah will be in the Atlanta Meto Area this week promoting her new book Midnight and the Meaning of Love. 

Come out and join her on the following dates:

Photo Credit:
http://www.sistersouljah.com/

June 14, 2011

Medu BookStore

2841 Greenbrier Pkwy

Atlanta, GA 

6pm-8pm

June 15, 2011

Caribou Coffee

3261 Peachtree Rd

Atlanta, GA

Hosted by Pasha

6pm
Click here for additional tour dates!

June Book Club Selection

We would like to thank those who came out on Saturday to our book club meeting and those who participated in the facebook discussion!! 

Ok, It's the beginning of the month (sorta) and our host for June has selected: "The Upper Room" by Mary Monroe.

Synopsis by Publisher's Weekly

Originally published in 1985, Mary Monroe's engaging debut novel, The Upper Room, features Ruby Montgomery, an obese, indomitable character who steals her best friend's baby daughter and flees to rural Florida, where she establishes herself as an almost mythical figure. The dialogue and setting are reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston, but the story has a bizarre, violent edge … la Stephen King. Fantastic and exaggerated, the novel may seem dated in its descriptions of race and sex, but it is a candid portrayal of the cold-blooded yet fascinating Mama Ruby.

Let's get reading and join in our book club discussion at the end of the month.

Happy Reading!

Follow Friday #9

Greetings and Happy Friday Everyone. We Made It!!
It's that time again!  Time to make new friends and find new blogs to follow. 

So, head on over to Parajunkie's View for the details for this Friday's Follow.  We would like to Congratulate today's feature: Back Seat Reader! Question Time:What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen? (Both of which could be terrifying.)
Huh?? (LOL) Let's see.....  Lots and lots of food and water.  Supplies to reinforce the windows and doors.  Guns and ammo *blank stare*How are you going to prepare?? Leave your comments below.  Thanks and have a great weekend!  

Day of Remembrance....



Photo Credit: blog.ewm.com



Pg.59 Book Club would like to say THANK YOU,

 to the men and women who gave their lives to serve and protect our country. 

We salute you!

Talk of the Town Tuesday "Share your Suggestions!!"

Do you have a book that you would love for us to check out? 

We would love to see your suggestions for Talk of the Town Tuesday!! Please send your suggestions to:

pg.59bookclub@gmail.com

Thanks!

Photo Credit: edublogs.misd.net

Motivational Monday "Habits"



Photo Credit: tomboythatwearsmakeup.com



We all have them.  Good and bad habits.  They both are apart of who we are and sometimes they help us and other times they limit our growth and progress.  I encourage you (us) to feed the good habits however, those bad ones–starve them to death! Whether it is bad spending, bad eating, or holding grudges, if you are willing to be uncomfortable to allow change to occur, then you can break bad habits. Getting past the initial pain of change will be hard however, you will enjoy the fruit that you yield from it (better credit, healthy weight loss, and/or better relationships).  Let us encourage each other to break those unpleasant bad habits while embracing the good ones.  Have a blessed day and wonderful week!!

Tasha

Talk of the Town Tuesday: "Transparent" by Don Lemon

 

Photo Credit:
 yartedo.com



Recently, CNN Newsroom anchor Don Lemon decided to reveal one of the most intimate details of his life in an interview with MSNBC–he's gay.  Lemon also shares the reasons for "coming out" and why he has decided to do so now at this point in his life.  In his new book, Transparent, he discusses his career as a journalist but also shares with his readers things of a more personal nature, such as growing up without his father and being sexually abused as a child.  However, Lemon explains how he used those very experiences to become the successful  and fearless person you see today. 

Well, alrighty then...  I have always enjoyed watching Don Lemon on CNN.  His book will be available next month for purchase.  Hmmm, is it just me or is it rather timely that he discloses his sexual preference and his book release at the same time?  Not trying to start no trouble, just an observation...  Enjoy!



Motivational Monday "Become a Better You"

Good morning!

Photo Credit: philebrity.com

'Tis Monday morning again and the work week has officially started for us M-F/ 9-5 people.  And I would like to encourage you today to "become a better you".  Change does not come easy for many of us (especially the longer you live). And often times we resist it instead of embracing it (I'm referring to positive change).  Yes, you will be walking into new unknown territory, but don't allow fear to deter you.  Stay confident that the change that you are experiencing will make the "old you" better.  Let us encourage each other and step into the unknown together and become better moms, dads, parents, daughters, sons, friends, lovers (you get the point) and  become the better people that we know that we possess inside. 

Have a wonder-FILLED day and blessed week!

Tasha