Category: Writing

Books I Read in 2025

Whenever I travel, if there is time, one of my favorite things to do is to find an independent bookstore and explore the stacks to find what is new. This year, I read my way through dozens of books, having set specific goals for novels, memoir, and other nonfiction. Sometimes I am reading for information, hence the significant number of nonfiction books that I read in a year. At other times, I want a good story and as a writer, I am also drawn in by elements such as structure, pacing, and craft, or how the story is told.

Here are some of the books I read, by category, that you might want to take a look at:

Memoir:

Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa

This book is about a young Native American woman and her life both on and off the reservation. It has personal stories and is well researched such that I came away knowing more about her as a person, her culture, and aspects of being Native American in this country of which I was unaware.

Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden by Camille T. Dungy

Dungy is a poet, so her descriptions of establishing a garden in Colorado come to life with vivid descriptions of her garden and the wildlife that lives there. She also provides context about the history of Black people and their connection to the land.

Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson

I remember going to see Ms. Tyson as a college student; she was a guest speaker at a nearby college. When she walked onto the stage, I will never forget the image – posture impeccable, smile beaming, and she was a wearing winter white outfit which was elegant against her dark brown skin. This was not that long after the TV miniseries Roots mesmerized this nation over the course of several days. I wanted to learn more about her life, career, and how she became the accomplished actress that she was. This memoir did not disappoint.

Other Nonfiction:

How to Retire by Christine Benz

Benz shares practical and actionable advice on how to plan for and navigate a happier retirement.

Less is Liberation – Finding Freedom from a Life of Overwhelm by Christine Platt

Platt describes her healing journey as she understands the role of overwhelm in making her ill. She stresses the importance of being intentional in the choices we make because there are consequences for everything we acquire and take on as obligations.

Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jared Lanier

This book explains the negative impact of social media on individuals and society. I deleted one account last year, but I believe that particularly if you have children or young adults who are active on social media you should read this so you can understand how it is affecting them.

Novel:

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

Despite the efforts of the community to fight, an American oil corporation causes lasting and extensive damage as a result of its greed and lack of concern that drilling has on an African village. 

The Great Mann by Kyra Davis Lurie

This novel, set in a thriving Black community in Los Angeles, has been likened to a retelling of The Great Gatsby. 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

A white writer creates a new identity for herself after stealing the soon-to-be published manuscript of a Chinese American writer that has been very successful.

I love a good book recommendation, let me know what you enjoyed reading last year. Happy reading in 2026!

Celebrating the Season

The holiday season can be as busy or hectic as you’d like, but many of us find ourselves rushing around, cooking, shopping, and decorating the house. This year, after a full and productive November, I have decided to scale things back for the rest of December so I can focus on what matters most – family, friends, and great health.

By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, I had a lot for which I could be grateful. My writing is going well, and I have settled into a daily ritual which begins with me playing You Gotta Be by Des’ree softly in the background. 

Remember, listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

The writing time ends with looking at my word count for the day to see if I have kept the pace I set several months ago. Most days I make my goal, but sometimes I am under the count or have gotten so engrossed that I far exceed what I thought I could do for the day.

Speaking of writing, Phyllis Stone, a friend and roommate from my college days at Notre Dame, just published her first children’s picture book. The book is Oh My, Oh My, Look Up at the Sky and it is about the wonder of the sky, seen through the eyes of children. It would make a great gift for a little one. I also attended a reunion weekend for my dorm at Notre Dame and came away so impressed by the students who live there now. Their sense of community and engagement with the world gives me hope for the future, as being around younger people often does. 

I went to see the movie Wicked: For Good and thoroughly enjoyed it. Some viewers have commented that it differs from the book and the musical, but that is not uncommon when books are made into performances. And like nearly everyone else in the theater, the song that Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Glinda) sing together, called For Good, left me teary-eyed and grateful for anyone who has ever been a true friend or loved me despite my quirks. I have found that real friendship has changed me in ways I could never have imagined. Love can save the day.

At a later date, I will write about Avondale, the community in Cincinnati where I lived as a child. For over a year I worked on a history project funded by the University of Cincinnati that taught me more than I ever knew about this neighborhood. At the end of November, I facilitated a panel discussion between a church community that has been in Avondale since the late 1800s and a group of Avondale leaders and residents. It was fascinating to hear the different experiences of those on the panel; it gave me an opportunity to reflect on what growing up there has meant to me.

Thanksgiving Day was calm, with family and my first attempt at making cranberry sauce. I posted a photo on my Instagram account (@writepausereflect), joking that I would still have the canned sauce available for those who like ridges in their cranberry sauce. We had a nice meal, plenty of leftovers for the next day, and time to talk and share what is going on in our lives.

December might be quieter, and I am looking forward to some travel, more family and friend time, and reading. As the month moves along, I expect more days inside, candles lit, and jazz in the background. I am preparing to winter and looking forward to it.

In peace,

Ramona

The Joy of Writing and Reading for an Audience

Reading stage for HOME, 2025 issue of SJCPL WRITES,
March 29, 2025

Once people find out that I am a writer, the next question is usually “What do you write about?” The truth is, as an essayist, I write about almost anything that intrigues me or makes me want to delve into my thoughts about an experience, person, belief, or issue. With all that is happening in our world, there is never a loss for topics, even if I sometimes I find myself grappling for the right words.

I recently had the pleasure of doing a reading for an essay of mine that was published in the 2025 issue of SJCPL WRITES, a literary journal published by the library. My essay, Morning at Home, is about how a morning ritual with my mother began in my childhood and changed as we both got older. I was joined by a community of several other writers who shared their own stories and poetry. Being part of a literary community is important.

Publication is never a guarantee, just ask most writers, but it is an honor when your work is recognized and appreciated. However, I truly enjoy the chance to do public readings because they allow for an almost immediate connection with the reader or an audience. And the fact that readers take the time to show up, well, I am grateful for that too. For the last few months I have been immersed in a much longer piece than the essays I usually write. I do not know exactly where this writing journey will take me next but I would not trade the time I have to focus on my writing for anything. Thanks for your support as a reader.