I Got Out Of The House Today

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.”-Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

One of the more common signs of depression is how easy it is to stay home and do nothing.

The weather in New York City for the past few days has been frigid. Walking outside is akin to walking into an icebox. No amount of layers can protect against the freezing temperature.

I could have stayed in today after completing some minor errands. It would have been easy to say that the weather makes for an excuse for staying in.

But I knew I couldn’t stay home. I couldn’t let the depression win. Not today at least.

It took a lot for me to get out after completing my errands. More than I expected. But I did it. I know that my depression will never go away. But if I have the courage and strength to fight against it, then maybe one day, it will not have the stranglehold it does on my life.

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Of Beast and Beauty Book Review

Beauty And The Beast is a story that has been told many times in many different ways over the years. The question is, how does a writer distinguish their version from the previous versions?

In Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, Isra is the last living member of the royal family. Blinded from a young age, she knows that at some point in near future, she will have to sacrifice herself for her city and her people. Gem is from the desert people known as Monstrous. For an untold number of generations, Isra’s people, known as the Smooth Skins, have fought with the Monstrous people. But Monstrous are dying of starvation. To save his people, Gem steals an enchanted rose from Isra’s garden. Captured before he can escape, he becomes a prisoner.

Isra is curious about him and asks for his help. Their relationship begins to change from Queen and prisoner to something more. Not only will their relationship forever change the course of their lives, it will change everything that Isra was taught to believe.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so engrossing that I had to finish it before going to bed. Ms. Jay blends politics, social issues, myth, science fiction and the traditional Beauty and The Beast narrative into a novel that is engrossing, extremely readable and extremely enjoyable.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.