Athena Arkansas

I've been building on my consistency and structure at the gym, so I'm chalking up the lack of consistency in reading to the balancing of the scales of my life - as only a true libra could. It can be hard to be a beast in the gym and a beast in bed (where I usually read before sleep). Shoutout to my community book club for being the only reason I did finish a book in February - Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng . Celeste Ng wrote Little Fires Everywhere. A tv show I very much enjoyed, but a book I never read. As such, my excitement for a dramatic read was pretty high. Immediately it became clear to me - this is not a book I would have chosen to read in the year 2025 with ding dong Donald as the President. I barely classify this as 'dystopian' - as the current climate in America as it relates to diversity is tenuous and becoming more dangerous for those being "othered" whether they be immigrants or non-white. This book did inspire me to find ways to create a ...

 Yes, only one book. HAHAH But by that one statistic from Washington Post I am already doing more than half the people will do the whole year. Also have you seen the  literary statistics  for '24? We must do better.  My reading goal this year: 12 non-fiction books. Last year I read 45 books and most of them I would never recommend to anyone. In order to try and avoid another year of unremarkable reads I chose enrichment.  I want to learn more about history, courage, feminism, science, paranormal activities, political power, while staying in my usual fiction worlds (looking at you Robin Hobb). I do already have a list of the 12 non-fiction books I want to read which I compiled by discussions with friends, my own interests, and what I've picked up from used bookstores. First on my list was  Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado .  I have seen the movie Alive and it was so inspiring to me that I NEEDED to read the book, plus I bought it for my coworker's...

 The past nine days of this new presidency has been very heavy for me and I imagine a high number of other people as well. Each day is a barrage of new information straight from the President in the form of executive orders that may or not take effect (or be lawful). Here are some of the things I am doing to manage stress during this unsettled time: 1. Limiting the amount of news coverage I am consuming. I set boundaries for myself on Tiktok (LMAO ok, yes this is one of my news sources) i.e. time limit and bedtime. One of my best friend's recommended Heather Cox Richardson's daily updates and I find this to be an easily consumable news source for me devoid of inciting language.  Daily Update from Heather 2. Working out daily. I just hit a new PR on my hip thrust 235lbs BABY! Finding ways to be embodied daily is really grounding for me and I highly recommend lifting heavy. Increase in confidence and overall badass vibes are practically guaranteed. Let me know if anyone is inter...

I wasn't as dedicated to reading in March. Honestly, I'm trying to think of what I was dedicated to in March and nothing is really coming to mind. I did make it to the library and picked up a few books to try out. 2 out 3 ain't bad, but this was my weakest month for reading thus far. Untamed State : Roxane Gay is an INCREDIBLE WRITER!! I loved this book!! I devoured it within two days. My love for reading was reawakened by this book. Within the first two pages she was kidnapped and I was left in SHOCK and I had to restart the book to be prepared. My heart really aches after reading the book. A woman is always in some of kind of cage or men are attempting to contain or abuse a woman in some way that they are unaware. After her kidnapping the book tackles the privilege men have when it comes to their own safety and the ignorance they have for how their actions are perceived by women. This book is brutal and not for the faint of heart, but through the brutality the absolute ...

For the month of February I wanted to celebrate Black History Month by choosing books that were written by black authors. I typically don't pay any attention to an author (unless she's Sarah Dessen because I am a super stan), so finding books by author is a new thing to me. Luckily, we live in the age of Buzzfeed and list internet, so I was able to scour several "you must read" lists and find some books with plots that drew me in. As always, from reading I hope to be entertained and potentially learn something or see into a different part of the world that I wouldn't be able to on my own. I'm a brown girl, so I'm not ignorant to the fact that race impacts your life more at different times than at others based on geographic location, how brown I'm looking, etc... In most books written by white authors, race isn't really addressed in the book because it isn't as heavy in their lives. In a book written by a black author the struggles of race are...

HAPPY 2018!! One of my New Year's Resolutions was to keep an account of my opinions on the books I read in 2018. I love to read and my attempt was one book a week for the year. I am a part of a book club with a few of gal pals, which would have been my fourth book, but I didn't get to it. Here are the three books I did read and what I thought of them! I'm always looking for something new to read so PLEASE RECOMMEND something to me! xoxo Athena  Emerald Mazes   My friend from high school wrote this book (I know, like what have you been doing since high school?). Number 1, I bought this book as soon as Matthew published it on Amazon, but I'm a traditional bitch and prefer a hard copy book over anything electronic. So, that's why this is just being read by me because one of the P.E.A.K. Bees Christmas presents was a hard copy of Emerald Mazes! (Thanks Kel!). I started this book on the plane back from my Christmas visit home, I read it for the e...

Hey y'all! i.e. my mom and Susie. People call me Athena, Thenie, Miss A, Thee Thee, or Goddess of All that is Great and Good. Maybe, the last one not so many people actually say out loud, but they are definitely thinking it! There is plenty to do at the raw age of twenty. I've come to realize the beauty of life is found through exploration, so I am taking my expedition to the inter web. Nestled in the mountains of North Carolina is a beautiful Cherokee Indian Reservation where I spent the most wonderful 17 years of my life before I traveled across the great United States to a different kind of mountains in Provo, Utah. Caught by the lure of Brigham Young University I have spent the last three years attending classes and making friends to stroll in and out of my life, but no matter what they are quality friends. Some friends will ride three hours one-way on a train to get  Zaxby's, because you and your other friend from the south said it was good....