A Polite Introduction and Deaths in the Family

If you are anything like me, when you hear that an author has passed away, your first impulse is to get your hands on everything they have ever written. Is this an accurate description of you, if so, come-in and stay awhile because there is a lot to discuss.

This week has seen two authors leave us and though, I did not know them personally, both have items upon my bookshelves and a hand in my becoming me.

The work of bell hooks came to me by way of a friend who said

"As much as you read, I can't believe bell isn't on your radar, here."

I remember looking at the book "Ani't I A Woman black women and feminism thinking to myself it's cool she knows Sojourner's poem. In the same thought there was a kernel of worry because I was not a feminist. I mean, Aretha's words in the song "Respect" are encoded in me, but as long as those words were met, then I saw nothing wrong with building a family.

Almost immediately after opening her book I realized my definition of the word feminism was too small and bell helped me to expand it. Expansion was bell's mission. Getting us out of the boxes society likes to put us in and giving us permission to reach for more while teaching us to cherish it. Without ever meeting her she grew me, and I am grateful.

I am also grateful to Anne Rice, who handed me and millions of readers her box of darkness told through the eyes of the Vampire Lestat. Honestly, I was too young when her words wove their spell, but it was my first understanding of what a book crush meant and deeper than that, it was my first taste of a villain being more than pure evil. Being human involves a kaleidoscope of emotions and personalities.

Both of these ladies taught me that and I pray they rest well now that their journeys are done.