River Woman, River Demon

April 2, 2023March 30, 2025 / Brienna / Leave a comment

River Woman, River Demon by Jennifer Givhan is a captivating novel that takes readers on a journey into the world of Hoodoo, a spiritual practice that blends African and Native American traditions.

The novel is a fun, fast-paced, and engaging story, with unexpected twists and turns in the mystery that kept me guessing. Givhan does an excellent job of weaving together the various threads of the story, including the supernatural elements of Hoodoo, the complex relationships between the characters, and Eva’s dark past. I immediately found myself fully immersed in the world of River Woman, River Demon, and eager to uncover the truth behind the murder.

One of the novel’s unique aspects was the portrayal of Hoodoo. Givhan brings this spiritual practice to life with vivid descriptions of rituals, spells, and the various tools and ingredients used in its practice. This inclusion of Hoodoo adds a layer of mystique to the story and offers a unique perspective on spirituality and the supernatural, which is rarely explored in mainstream fiction.

Eva, the main character, has a complicated past. The novel delves deep into her psyche, exploring her fears, desires, and regrets. I wish Eva had been more body-positive towards herself; Her constant mental judgements of herself and her weight became tiresome and detracted from the story. However, I see how this is all part of Eva’s struggle to love herself. Due to this and her past trauma, she also struggles to love her children and husband and accept their love for her.

The river that runs through the novel is both a symbol of life and death and a recurring motif that ties the different threads of the narrative together. As the story unfolds, unlocking the mysteries of the murders is the key to setting Eva free.

Overall, River Woman, River Demon is a well-written, engaging novel that combines elements of mystery, supernaturalism, and social commentary in a compelling way. Givhan’s portrayal of Eva and her world is authentic and deeply moving and will keep readers attentive until the final page.

10 Hard: When Your Fitness Goals Have Commitment Issues!

April 1, 2023March 30, 2025 / Brienna / Leave a comment

I first heard about the 75 Hard challenge from some of my co-workers, when we were discussing New Year’s resolutions. More recently, I found out that two of my friends have been doing a modified version of the challenge, which they are calling 75 Soft. 😎

This challenge has been on mind for a while now. It’s not a fitness challenge, per se, but claims to be a mental toughness challenge. I have hesitated from starting the challenge for various reasons, which I’ll share in a moment.

So what exactly is the 75 Hard challenge? The challenge is to complete each of the following tasks for 75 days. Miss any one of them, and start back on day 1.

Follow a diet. Any diet of your own choosing, as long as it’s aimed at physical improvement. No cheat meals allowed!
No alcohol.
Complete two 45-minute workouts, at least one outdoors.
Drink 1 gallon of water.
Read 10 pages of a book.
Take a progress picture.

Some of these sound really easy, at least for me. Read 10 pages of a book? No problem, I pretty much already do that 90% or more of the time already. Taking a progress picture also seems pretty easy, with a little help from my iPhone and a daily reminder.

The challenging ones, for me, are giving up alcohol, drinking a gallon of water (some days I literally drink 0 water), and the workouts.

It’s been MUCH rainier than usual here in California, and while I don’t mind exercising outside, I do not see myself going from 3 or 4 workouts per week to 14 and also doing half of those outside while it’s cold and raining.

Another issue is that I travel a lot, and those travel days seem like they’d be problematic. I’m flying from California to Athens soon, and it’s about 20 hours of travel time. I could try working out during my layout or on the plane, but neither of those options is appealing (or outside). I’m certainly not going to be drinking a gallon of water while flying internationally, or in the mood to exercise when I land. I also hate flying, and usually have a gin & tonic (or two) before getting on a plane.

As you can see, I have a lot of excuses as to why I can’t do this challenge. I found my friends inspiring though. They lowered the water to half a gallon, and made some other modifications. They don’t feel like they’re cheating by not doing to challenge to the letter, so why should I feel stuck with either failing or not starting (which is worse than failing)?

Enter 10 Hard. My birthday is coming up, and I’ll be celebrating with a drink. That doesn’t mean I can’t fit in 10 days of the challenge first. I may, or may not do another 10 Hard immediately after my birthday, as there’s exactly 10 days between my birthday and the next time I have to be on a plane.

In case you’re curious, I’m shooting for meeting the challenge as specified, but I will consider it a success if I drink 64 oz of water per day. That’s a HUGE improvement for me! For the diet portion, I’m giving up all caffeine and drinks with added sugar, not ordering takeout or delivery, and doing intermittent fasting (no food from 8pm to 10am). And lastly, for the workouts, I’ll be doing a variety of things like yoga, walking the dogs, playing Audio Trip on the Quest 2, and strength training with my personal trainer. Hopefully the weather will stay nice over the next 10 days. One unfortunate twist that I discovered today that VR headsets don’t really function outside. That would have helped with the outdoor workouts, so instead I will probably do my yoga outside.

I won’t be sharing my progress photos, but I will share other updates on the challenge.

For day 1:

Diet: Huel Strawberry Shortcake protein shake with Ripple protein milk for lunch, some black olives for a snack, and a homemade pizza for dinner. ✅

Exercise: I ran 5km, took the dogs for a long walk, and attempted to play Audio Trip outside. ✅

Water: 64 oz so far, gotta see how much more I can take today, it’s already getting late. ✅

Reading: Leí mas de diez páginas en español. ✅

Progress pic: ✅

Celebrating Women’s History: N.K. Jemisin

March 31, 2023March 30, 2025 / Brienna / Leave a comment

I originally wrote and published this article for work. It is part of a collaboration between Cocoamattic (our Black Employee Resource Group) and The Women of Automattic (our women’s ERG) to celebrate Black women in history.

N.K. Jemisin is a groundbreaking author in the science fiction and fantasy genre, and her contributions to literature make her an important figure to highlight during Women’s History Month. From the imaginative mythology of The Inheritance Trilogy to the apocalyptical world of her Broken Earth series, Jemisin is a powerful storyteller and world-creator.

Jemisin’s achievements in the literary world are impressive, to say the least. She is the first Black person to win The Hugo Award for Best Novel and made history as the first author to win three years in a row and as the first author to win for all three novels in a trilogy. These accomplishments highlight her exceptional talent and her impact on the genre.

“The Most Celebrated Science Fiction And Fantasy Writer of Her Generation.”
The New York Times

Jemisin’s writing has been praised for its originality, depth, and complexity, and she has been credited with expanding the possibilities of science fiction and fantasy. She has also mentored many other writers, particularly those from underrepresented groups, and has helped create a more welcoming and inclusive community within the genre.

Jemisin has been an outspoken advocate for diversity in literature, both in terms of the representation of characters and the voices of authors. She has criticized the tendency in science fiction and fantasy to rely on a narrow range of tropes and stereotypes and has called for more stories that reflect the full range of human experiences.

As one of my favorite authors, she is a personal inspiration to me. If you haven’t read her work, I highly recommend starting with her novelette, Emergency Skin. This short yet impactful piece perfectly introduces Jemisin’s style and perspective, featuring her trademark vivid descriptions and thought-provoking themes. If you’re looking for something longer, my personal favorite is The Inheritance Trilogy.

Wolfsong by TJ Klune

March 28, 2023March 30, 2025 / Brienna / Leave a comment

Wolfsong by TJ Klune is a captivating novel that explores the themes of identity, love, loss, and acceptance through the eyes of Ox, a young man with a speech impediment who has always felt like an outsider in his small town. The story follows Ox as he becomes entangled in the world of werewolves and magic, and as he grows older, he realizes that his fate is tied to the fate of his pack, and he must fight to protect those he loves from the dangers that lurk in the shadows.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Wolfsong, although I felt it wasn’t as strong as some of Klune’s other works, such as The House in the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door. That being said, the unique take on the werewolf mythology that Klune presents in this novel is refreshing, and the world-building is well-executed.

In conclusion, I would recommend Wolfsong to readers who enjoy YA and LGBTQIA+ fiction and to those who appreciate complex themes and character arcs. I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.