Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House Book Review

It’s normal for journalists and historians to write about a particular politician or about a particular Presidential administration. But that normally takes place years later and is usually written about in hindsight. The number of books about you know who while he is still in power says something his Presidency.

The latest book to add to the list is Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House. Written by former The Apprentice contestant and White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, the book is part confessional and part memoir. She starts off by giving the reader a brief overview of her childhood and life before meeting you know who.  The rest of the book concentrates on her brief stint working in the White House, revealing behind the scenes facts that the average American would not have normal access to.

Depending on the reader’s perspective, Mrs. Newman is either a disgruntled ex-employee who is using her fame to smear her former boss or she has found the moral conviction to reveal the truth. Either way, the book is an eye-opening insight into our current Presidential administration.

I recommend it.

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Jamel Myles Is Dead Because Of Bullies

Bullying in school is unfortunately, for many students, part and parcel of the education experience for many students.

Jamel Myles should be joining his peers for a new school year. Instead, he lies in his grave. He killed himself last week after experiencing an entire school year in which he and his older sister were constantly bullied. According to his mother, Leia Pierce, the administration did nothing to stop the bullying, especially after her son came out to her over the summer.

The boy’s grandmother, Jacque Miller, disagree’s with her daughter.

“The statement that it takes a village to raise a child is true,” she said. “And the village is broken.”

I agree with both statements. While the administration played it’s part, I believe that our overall culture had a hand in the unnecessary suicide of a young boy. Many members of the LGBTQ community experience bullying, regardless of whether they are in the close or out of the closet. There is also, from my perspective, a permissive attitude of parents and teachers that bullying in school is normal and part of the educational experience. It shouldn’t be, but it is. We should be teaching our children and ourselves to at least respect others, even if they are different or if we disagree with them.

Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to bring Jamel Myles back to life. But, we can honor his memory and the memory of too many who have taken their lives due to bullying by teaching our children and ourselves to respect others.

RIP James Myles. May your memory be a blessing.

Do Writers Write To Be Read Or Do Writers Write For The Sake Of Writing?

For many writers, the goal is to become a professional writer in whatever genre or format they write in. But the reality is, that for every writer who has that successful career, there are many for whom writing is a side project or an unfulfilled dream.

In the new movie The Wife, (based on the book of the same name by Meg Wolitzer), Joan Castleman (Annie Starke) is an undergrad in the late 1950’s. Her professional goal is to become a writer. When she meets Elaine Mozell (Elizabeth McGovern) at an alumni event, they have a discussion about being a writer and writing. Elaine has been published, but her book only resides in the alumni library. Joan insists that writers write for the sake of writing. Elaine responds that writers write to be read.

The conversation begins at 1:16.

From my perspective, both arguments are valid. Sometimes, you write for the sake of it. You write just to get it down, regardless of quality. But, at the same time, the goal for all writers is to see their name in print, whether that is on a byline or under the title of a book.

Charlotte Bronte once said the following:

 “I’m just going to write because I cannot help it”

I’m a firm believer in that whether we write to be published or write for sake of writing, it is the act of writing that matters.

Readers, what do you think? Do you write to be published or do you write just for the sake of writing? I would love to know your thoughts.