Home is Within You: A Memoir of Recovery & Redemption

 Home is Within You: A Memoir of Recovery & Redemption, Nadia Davis, 2023

 

This is the story of one person's journey from addiction, discrimination and mental health struggles to healing and redemption.

 

A native of Southern California, the author was the youngest of seven children. All of her siblings looked European, while she looked Hispanic (Mom was German, while Dad was Hispanic and Native American). She received the "usual" anti-Hispanic discrimination while growing up. She also got it from other Hispanics, who felt that her last name, Davis, was not Hispanic enough.

 

On a whim, she applied to UCLA (instead of going to a less-expensive state school), and they said Yes. She got interested in Sociology and Criminal Justice, with an emphasis on helping others. Davis got involved in a lawsuit that forced the local school to provide tests in Spanish, and not, automatically, put Hispanic students in the "slow" class.

 

As life went on, and after getting her law degree, the author battled addiction, a serious auto accident, public shaming and more than enough personal trauma for any one person. She also shows how she got through each of these "storms," and came out the other end recovered and healed.

 

This is a very inspirational book. No matter what personal trauma has been in your life, the author has probably been there. It is very much recommended for everyone.

Home Is Within You

 Home is Within You: A Memoir of Recovery & Redemption, Nadia Davis, 2023

 

This is the story of one person's journey from addiction, discrimination and mental health struggles to healing and redemption.

 

A native of Southern California, the author was the youngest of seven children. All of her siblings looked European, while she looked Hispanic (Mom was German, while Dad was Hispanic and Native American). She received the "usual" anti-Hispanic discrimination while growing up. She also got it from other Hispanics, who felt that her last name, Davis, was not Hispanic enough.

 

On a whim, she applied to UCLA (instead of going to a less-expensive state school), and they said Yes. She got interested in Sociology and Criminal Justice, with an emphasis on helping others. Davis got involved in a lawsuit that forced the local school district to provide tests in Spanish, and not, automatically, put Hispanic students in the "slow" class.

 

As life went on, and after getting her law degree, the author battled addiction, a serious auto accident, public shaming and more than enough personal trauma for any one person. She also shows how she got through each of these "storms," and came out the other end recovered and healed.

 

This is a very inspirational book. No matter what personal trauma has been in your life, the author has probably been there. It is very much recommended for everyone.

The Appointed Hour

The Appointed Hour, Susanne Davis, Cornerstone Press, 2017

This group of connected stories shines a spotlight on rural America.

A woman walks into a tattoo shop, wanting a large tattoo across her chest for a less-than-intelligent reason. The male tattoo artist reluctantly fulfills her wish. A few years later, when the artist has his own shop, the same woman wants another tattoo. This time he says no; the art outweighs the money.

A local handyman, who has acquired the nickname Useless John, goes to a woman's house to install a hardwood floor in her kitchen. She just happens to look exactly his wife who died several years previously. He was driving when there was a bad auto accident.

A descendant of the Mayflower attempts to deal with a monument to an ancestor. A woman with post-traumatic stress disorder finds a group of other women to help her regain her voice. There is a story about dealing with HIV. An actress in the 1950's who got to kiss Elvis Presley on screen decided, in later years, to become a nun. She is now known as Mother Agnes.

These stories take place in Connecticut, but they could take place anywhere. Individually, these stories are excellent. Put them together, and this collection nears the level of Amazing. It is extremely highly recommended.