Band of Sisters: A Novel Book Review

One of the changes that was brought about during World War I was how women were perceived. While many kept the home fires burning, some went into the belly of the beast.

Band of Sisters: A Novel, but Lauren Willig, was published in 2021. It is based on the true story of the Smith College Relief Unit (SCRU). A recent graduate of Smith College, Kate Moran is one of the few alumni who does not come from the 1%. Born in Brooklyn to a working-class family, a scholarship paid for her education.

While the war rages on in Europe, Kate is too busy to join her former classmates in assisting French civilians whose lives have been turned upside down. After another girl drops out, Kate’s best friend Emmeline Van Alden convinces her to sign up. Kate and the other Smithies step onto the European continent armed with supplies and an idea of what they will be doing. That idea is quickly dismantled as reality steps in.

The Smithies know what their task is. But can they do it while fighting battles both within and without?

Thoroughly researched and well-written, Willig tells the story of American women who gave up everything to serve humanity and their country. They could have rolled bandages, knitted socks, or used their platform to raise money for the troops. Instead, they got their hands dirty. In doing so, the Smithies made an important step forward for gender equality and should be hailed as the heroines they are.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Band of Sisters: A Novel is available wherever books are sold.

Flashback Friday: (Cars 2006)

Growth comes from hardship and challenges. How we respond may dictate the rest of our lives.

In the 2006 animated Disney film, Cars, Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is a hotshot racecar on top of the world. While traveling to his next race, Lightning finds himself stranded in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

Doc Hudson (voiced by the late Paul Newman) is not impressed with the newcomer. Sally Carrera (voiced by Bonnie Hunt) owns the local hotel. Through Both Doc and Sally, Lightning learns that winning is not everything.

I liked Cars. It is a lesson wrapped up in a narrative that appeals to both children and adults. Humility and appreciating the people who surround and love you is in my experience, more important than being at the top.

When it comes to Sally’s arc, I have mixed feelings. I appreciate how her character teaches Lightning about putting someone else first. She is not just the “love interest”. Sally wants to return Radiator Springs to its former glory. But how she becomes his better half is not as smooth as it could be. And as usual, male voices outnumber female voices.

Do I recommend it? I am leaning toward yes.

Cars is available for streaming on DisneyPlus.

Auto Racing Animation GIF by Disney Pixar - Find & Share on GIPHY

I Vote Because It Is a Responsibility and a Right That I Can Never Take For Granted

Daily writing prompt
Do you vote in political elections?
View all responses

I vote because democracy cannot and should not be taken for granted. I vote because my right to enter the ballot box is just over a century old and still being questioned.

Voting Womens Suffrage GIF by US National Archives - Find & Share on GIPHY

Throwback Thursday: The Swan (2004)

One of the pleasures and perils of reality television is that it plays on our greatest weaknesses. Whether it is a need for money, drama, love, attention, or approval, the producers behind these shows have a knack for understanding human nature.

In the 2004 reality show, The Swan, each episode follows two women as they go through a complete physical and emotional makeover over three months. Whichever of the contestants is deemed to be “more attractive” moves to the final beauty contest at the end of the season. The winner is crowned as “The Swan”.

This program was the lowest of the low. It preyed upon both the audience’s and participant’s insecurities. Not only that, it used the idea that a woman’s physical appearance is everything and determines the course of her life.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely not.

Love Marriage Book Review

Love is a leap. So is marriage. The only thing we can do is take the chance and hope that we will land on our feet.

Love Marriage, by Monica Ali, was published in 2022. Yasmin Ghorami and Joe Sangster are engaged. Living in London, they come from two different worlds. Yasmin is a junior doctor and the daughter of Indian immigrants. Joe is also a junior doctor and has a mother who is a famous feminist. Though it appears that it is smooth sailing ahead, there are storms on the horizon that could put a stop to the nuptials.

I wanted to like this book. Ali sets up the story with plenty of conflict and interesting characters. But underneath all of that was nothingness. I was bored quickly and had to put it down.

Do I recommend it? No.

Love Marriage is available wherever books are sold.

Alexa Ilacad Love GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Republican Fuckery XXXXIIII: The Ridiculous Presidential Immunity Case and Kristi Noem Coldly Killed Her Pets

For nearly more than 200 years, the political and legislative safeguards that our Founding Fathers put into place have kept our democracy on course. Do I trust that these barriers will continue to hold for the next 200 years? No.

Last week, the question of whether or not POTUS has complete immunity was put before SCOTUS. The former guy thinks that the President should be above the law. The questions that I think hit home (asked by the three liberal female justices, FYI) are the following:

“If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military to assassinate him, is that within his official acts to which he has immunity?”

“How about if the president orders the military to stage a coup?”

“I’m trying to understand what the disincentive is from turning the Oval Office into the seat of criminal activity in this country,” Jackson said. “If the potential for criminal liability is taken off the table, wouldn’t there be a significant risk future presidents would be emboldened to commit crimes in office?”

Obviously, whoever is in this position has certain advantages while in office due to their responsibilities. But at the end of the day, they are still an ordinary citizen and subject to the same laws as the average person on the street.

On a similar note, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated in a forthcoming book that she killed her dog and a goat while on family property. She claims that the dog was misbehaving and a danger to be around.

There are so many organizations that could have taken both animals until they could have been rehomed. There was no reason to kill them. But then again, why should I expect anything less from these people?

At this point, I firmly believe that if we are to survive as a nation, we must put country over party.

P.S. Did you see Biden’s speech at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend? A political leader who can laugh at themselves while presenting policy to improve the nation is one that I can get behind.

Jewish Students are Being Barred From Campus Due to Their Faith

A college degree is both a necessity and a privilege. Without that diploma, the doors to certain careers will likely never open. However, not everyone has the income to send themselves or their child to a university.

Eli Tsives is a young man attending UCLA. Instead of attending class as he would on any normal day, he was prevented from walking across from campus. Why? Because of the star of David hanging from his neck. This is, unfortunately, nothing new.

This is more than protest and disagreement with the choices of a particular government. This is antisemitism.

The history of my people is thousands of years old. We don’t forget those who persecute us. We will remember.