👶👶👶👶👶: Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants, George W. Bush

Somehow, I never posted my review of this book on Goodreads back in June, so although some of the info isn't relevant right now, the importance of this book cannot be overstated...

June 20, 2021:

🇸🇾🇻🇪Happy World Refugee Day🇵🇰🇦🇫! On June 20th of every year, World Refugee Day spotlights the bravery and strength of men, women, and children forced to flee their homes in the midst of war and oppression.

This year, the UN decided on the theme: "Together we heal, learn, and shine."

I knew just the perfect book to highlight for this special day! Recently I had the privilege of attending a virtual event hosted by Houston's own Blue Willow Bookshop, as they invited Former President George W. Bush; I was so impressed with his views on immigration and refugees. The book he has compiled is a testament to the beauty of diversity in our country, to the joy of living in a nation that can support those most in need, and to the realization of the contributions so many of these amazing people have made to our society.

🎨This literal work of art is brimming with his lovely paintings and beautiful stories of immigrants, many of whom were refugees, who have made such a positive difference in our America. The stories brought tears to my eyes. Being the daughter of Portuguese immigrants, married to a man who is the grandson of Polish and Irish immigrants, I am acutely aware of the importance of remembering where we came from and what these United States are the product of: hard work and determination from countless immigrants and refugees. Let us not forget our roots and our obligation to our fellow human beings.

"The words E. Plurubus Unum - Latin for "Out of Many, One" refers to our country's makeup of many states and many backgrounds. It is a nod to one of our greatest strengths - our unique ability to absorb people from different backgrounds and cultures into one nation under God." -George W. Bush

I chose to share a black and white photo with a splash of color for this post because I want to highlight the fact that decisions regarding refugees and immigrants are not just simply black and white. They are multi-faceted, as are the people, and they deserve our attention and careful consideration.

Thank you, Mr. President, for shining a light on the beauty of our diverse nation and for sparking this much-needed conversation.

Read: 6/20/2021

👶👶👶👶👶: Voices from the Pandemic: Americans Tell Their Stories of Crisis, Courage and Resilience, by Eli Saslow

Eli Saslow is unmatched when it comes to conveying human emotion. I was blown away with his work in 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑂𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑑, and his latest, 𝑽𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 is no exception. This masterpiece was all at once raw and empathetic, gut-wrenching and resilient. He shares the human experience like no other. I just couldn't put this book down. Each of the stories of personal experience throughout the pandemic were so compelling, especially because they're part of our shared journey.

I'll admit, I shed a few tears, but I relished every bit of it. I'm the type that has to go through the emotions to heal, and this book was so incredibly cathartic. Whether you're still struggling with all that Covid has changed in our lives, unsure of where you stand with it all, or just feeling gratitude for all that you've learned from the experience, I highly recommend this collection of stories. They will move you and give you a deeper understanding of what we have endured as a nation. And what a book to share with future generations...

Anne at Penguin Random House, I just cannot thank you enough for reaching out to me with this advanced reader's copy. It is truly one of my most treasured reads of 2021.

Read 9/26