Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in BookClub.
I thought escaping depression would be impossible--but it wasn't
I suffered from severe depression and a crippling lack of confidence for years. Specifically, I had wrapped up all of my identity and self-esteem into just one factor: my academic success. But I wasn't good enough for my own high standards, and eventually, I wasn’t good enough for anyone’s standards. My mental health was just too bad, I couldn’t be productive, and it wasn’t getting better. Eventually, I’d had depression for a solid seven years, and even with strong medication, I was barely able to function. Every success story I had ever read, every news article about someone who used to suffer from depression, featured someone who had only had depression for two or three years at most. For those who’d had depression for longer, the struggle seemed to inevitably last for their entire lives. I truly believed that I would never be even close to mentally healthy.
By Maureen Y. Palmer3 years ago in BookClub
My Literary Doppelganger
Books have been an important part of my life since I can remember. As a child with a disability, I had a fairly isolated upbringing, so I found the companionship I lacked in works of fiction. As such, the list of books that have influenced me is a long one!
By Morgan Rhianna Bland3 years ago in BookClub
The Four Agreements
The book that has changed my life for the better! About two years ago, my life took an unexpected turn. I simply had decided that maybe I wasn't meant to be a famous author. For years, I tormented myself with the thought that maybe I was not good enough.
By Adrianne Kirksey3 years ago in BookClub
The Bible Erata
Art by definition is subjective. The art of writing, and the appreciation of it, not only subjective but visceral in emotional resonance. The unique, extraordinary and sometime revelatory craft of penning words and turning phrases, to ethereal elucidation of the human condition, elevates the art and leisure to a higher purpose and pleasure. I think of those books I have revisited and the author's method's and purpose. Whether with raised fists against conventional form of the novel, such as Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridien with its dearth of punctuation and lack of convention or in epic scope and breadth for a modern tome such Steven King's The Stand, both call to me at regular intervals. Sometimes, I reread the simple, slow and slyly building boil to literal explosive climax of John Irving's "A Prayer For Owen Meany" or Richard Russo's Empire Falls, but every great novel is a chance to learn something of the craft of writing and the the human experience in a simple setting.
By Herman Wilkins3 years ago in BookClub
The Jungle
All human beings have their limits. The labor and civil rights we have in the United States were not freely given by any means. There was no sudden realization that workers deserved safety and pay. This epiphany was borne of violence, inflicted onto the many by the few, and some semblance of autonomy was wrenched back from the hands of those that looked down onto the world and saw no humanity, only beings to exploit. My grandfather used to tell my mother, "No one is born free. Freedom isn't free." As grim a thing as it is to say to a child, history has shown us over and over again that the sentiment rings true.
By S. C. Almanzar3 years ago in BookClub
My Love of Magic
Harry Potter. How to start? I was first introduced to the Wizarding World during Primary school. I can’t remember how old, but I remember reading the series slowly through the years (because it wasn’t my assigned book, so I always had to read the school book first before I could read my own).
By Maddy Haywood3 years ago in BookClub
The Boy Who Lived
I first encountered the world of Harry Potter by eavesdropping on a friend reading the first book to her young daughter. My friend was a good narrator, and her daughter was clearly enthralled. I too got caught up in the overheard snippet of story about a resilient hero, the orphan hailed as "the Boy Who Lived."
By Sonia Heidi Unruh3 years ago in BookClub
The Deep Transformation from "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" by Heather Morris
Picture the scene: the ScotRail train coasting eastwards half-asleep against an early Scottish morning, with the dewy, dreary Western Scotland clashing against the awakening buzz of a clear work-day sky of the Eastern side. I'm sitting around the middle of the train, staring at nothing across the passing-by backdrop of the Scottish lowlands, tears streaming endlessly down my face, with a copy of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris laid across my lap.
By Cameron Smith3 years ago in BookClub
The Joy of Reading: Unlocking Worlds Through Books
Introduction In a world filled with screens and distractions, the simple act of reading remains a timeless source of joy and enrichment. Whether it's an exciting adventure, a thought-provoking mystery, or a heartwarming romance, books have the power to transport us to new realms and expand our horizons. Let's delve into the wonderful world of reading and discover how this age-old activity continues to bring joy to people of all ages.
By Article Pro3 years ago in BookClub
