Summer Reading: What Are You Reading This July??

 Talk about the laziest Sunday ever. I woke up at noon, sprawled into my cozy little reading corner in my room and opened up a few books (I have a very nasty habit of reading more than one book at a time...), ate some shrimp, and listened to some hyper chill music. Oh yea, I also watched the Poverty, Inc. documentary in bed -- quite an eye-opening piece about the evils of what we have come to know as the poverty industry. To be a bit more specific it’s basically about the detriments of so much foreign aid pouring into localized, third-world communities. Very interesting and I highly recommend!!

Anyway, I wanted this post to be about the books I’ve chosen to read on this lazy little Sunday and why I hope that people will join me in these works’ discussion and analysis!!

Maybe I’m starting a book club..?? Not so sure, but I love to evoke quality, collective discussion and talking about these books is the perfect way!! So, here they are... 

1. White Trash by Nancy Isenberg

This book is about the history of white poverty in America. Initially, I was hesitant to even open this book as I thought it was some type of white propaganda-y piece concocted in the name of caucasian pride. Well, after reading the first few chapters, it is anything but!! Rather than praising or glorifying whiteness, it reiterates the angst within the poor white community in the United States. With incredible research and references, the book is not only insightful, it is informative, brilliant, and well-written. It exquisitely dissects the hierarchy of class within America, explaining everything from a modern and historical context. It dispels every myth about poverty in the United States and White Trash is definitely worth your time, money, and attention!

2.Your Beauty Mark by Dita Von Teese

Now, you wanna know how to become a sex-symbol?? This book has it all, from what to wear on sexy nights out to what perfume scent you should rock on your nights in. It includes exercise, wellness, and diet tips as well as advice on the perfect placement of a beauty mark you’d pencil-in with eyeliner. Referencing starlets from Hollywood’s Golden Age and citing her own influences and creative inspirations, Dita Von Teese wins in this glorious machination of glamour, poise, and erotica.

3. Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

Now this book hit shelves circa 2001, and it’s quite old, but it still holds relevance today in the quest to end poverty. It details the journalistic endeavor of Barbara Ehrenreich when she poses as a woman living in poverty in the United States. Yes, she goes undercover as a lady living just slightly below the poverty line and recants experiences of survivorship, feelings of worthlessness, and overall despondency. As someone who has had a year-long encounter with poverty, I definitely view this work as a breath of fresh air. She definitely feels the sting of being poor, and recognizes that it is almost an impossibility to lift one’s self out of such a circumstance of destitution once you’ve fallen in. Definitely recommend!!