Book Review: Somebody's Daughter

Ashley Ford's memoir Somebody's Daughter is a tour de force as she reckons with the complicated realities of life and the nuance found in relationships.

There is her incarcerated father, one whom she loves unconditionally and yet later has to come to terms with the crimes that led to his imprisonment; a mother who provides but struggles to show affection and support, and an early relationship that left her vulnerable.

While not everyone may have firsthand experience of the accounts Ford vividly relays, she writes in such a way that I couldn't help drawing parallels to my own family. Themes of separation, hardship, and yet finding hope and perseverance shine through the pages. One can't help but be heartbroken when Ford is wronged by the teacher, for instance, or cheer when she finds acceptance and success. Somebody's Daughter is relatable for its transparency and the truth within the pages, as Ford succinctly shares a nugget like, "Kids can always tell the difference between adults who want to empower them and adults who want to overpower them."

The audiobook, read by the author, is expertly done. We fully understand that "moving forward required going back," and we are grateful that Ford was willing to share her journey with us.

Somebody's Daughter releases June 1.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)   

Book Review: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer is a rich guide, filled with personality and humor. Instead of feeling like Comer is condemning me for not being there yet, it read as an encouragement, an invitation to join him in these practices, as Comer once was stretched and stressed and overwhelmed and has now found a welcome balance.

Whether influenced by my time of life or the pandemic, this book resonated with me. Comer offers recommendations for how to resist the culture's pull for more, for busyness. Through discussing four practices (silence and solitude; sabbath; simplicity; slowing), Comer offers a rich read that had me marking up the pages. Practical suggestions that challenge and convict me had me pausing and reflecting.

One intentional act I instituted recently was to give up showers as much as possible, replacing them with bathing. I draw a piping hot bath, disconnect from doom scrolling, temporarily withdraw from my family, and take a book or magazine with me. I have determined this is a valuable, worthy indulgence, meaningful for my mental health. With the summer ahead, I have intentionally orchestrated a light work schedule, so as to allow wide swaths of time that have not yet been earmarked. I see value in the opportunity to slow down, to be more present in the moment, to delight in time outdoors. While I didn't necessarily take those steps as a direct correlation to this book, this book helps provide support for the pause, for the quieting from the daily rush, for allowing me to acknowledge how this has been a taxing season and how such a practice, of living an unhurried life, can reap dividends. I highly recommend this book for those who are feeling like it's all too much and are seeking ways to be revived and restored.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)