Today is the release of my dear, sista friend, Amena Brown’s book, “How to Fix a Broken Record: Thoughts on Vinyl Records, Awkward Relationships, and Learning to be Myself.” Find out more and get your copy today!
Why I picked up this book:
I had the honor of being on Amena’s endorsement team. This is what I wrote about the book:
Amena Brown is the Issa Rae of the Christian market. This is a clever, honest, witty book that I am glad to share with my mentees.
Amena risked sharing her life and broken records with us, and I believe it is a risk that will pay off both for her and for those who read.
Who Should Read How to Fix a Broken Record:
As I read through this book, I was particularly captivated by the honestly and wit that Amena used to share her own story. She talks about identity, finding her own voice, having faith and dealing with disappointment, trusting God even when things don’t work out, growing into womanhood, and making the decision to choose purpose and calling, and not just a job and a paycheck. Basically, she addresses things that we all deal with. We are all broken. In sharing and confronting our brokenness, we can find healing.
What’s in Store for You:
By her passion, gift, and trade, Amena is a poet and spoken word artist. She has her way with words. So, this is an enjoyable book and easy to read. It is organized into seven sections:
Love and Be Yourself
Dating
Marriage
Lessons in Adulting
Ctl+Atl+Surrender
Home
Searching for the Groove
The chapters are very short, so the reader doesn’t get overwhelmed. She a great story teller so in some ways is feels like reading a fiction book. That’s a good thing for people who are seeking material for their books clubs or just looking for something to kick back and read over the holidays.
She is honest about what life is like being an awkward (her words, not mine), black, female with big feet. She is honest about being a prodigy of divorced parents, relationships gone right or wrong, and the hurt of having a childless home. She is honest about eating great food—she welcomes all the carbs, listening to liberating music, and She is honest about God and the church.
My personal take-aways?
I love this book, particularly because when I first read it, I was going through some hard things, and I didn’t need any heavier reading in that moment. I needed to listen to healing music, and I needed to laugh with my friends. Both in real life and through this book, Amena has been that type of friend. She calls me to rest, to reflect, to celebrate, to laugh out loud, and to say “yes” to eating all the donuts.
As I read, I also thought that this book is really about coming into womanhood, affirming your identity, trusting God and trusting in the person he created, owning your voice, story, and experience, and truly committing to live. It is a book of celebration.
I could not wait to share it with one of my mentees who needs to hear the voice of someone who was a 28-year-old virgin. She needs to know that her life is not over, that God has not abandoned, that he still cares and is paying attention to every aspect of your life even when she doesn’t understand.
To the uncertainties plaguing anyone who is asking whether or not they are alone in this big world, Amena offers a comforting “Me too.”
Quotable:
“Love it a lot like rain. When it’s dangerous, it can destroy things. But when it’s right, it can make everything around it grow.” – Amena Brown
“A healthy marriage is a life of two imperfect, wounded people walking with God as he heals their woundedness and shows them his love through their love—and sometimes through their lack of love. God is with you. He will teach you everything you need to know.” – Amena Brown
“Saying yes isn’t about being a good person. Saying yes is about people, places, things, opportunities that deserve it and will appreciate it. Yes costs me something, and this is a cost I should weigh carefully.” – Amena Brown
Tweetable:
“There is no rock bottom, no personal disaster, no amount of utter failure where Jesus doesn’t walk with us.” @amenabee
“I’m still learning that letting go is the way to freedom..Surrendering means admitting to myself and to God that I need help.” @amenabee
“Sometimes God is the great leader in the ministry of your disappointment.” @amenabee
“Saying yes reminds me to be honored when I receive a yes and to feel the good weight of it when I give one.” @amenabee
Next Up on this Topic:
“The Dream of You: Let Go of Broken Identities and Live the Life You were Made for” by Jo Saxton (coming in January 2018)!
Here’s your chance to be a winner! Purchase the book before the end of this week, and comment below with your confirmation number. This is on your honor. I will randomly select someone to receive a free gift from Amena and myself, will notify you this weekend!
© Natasha Sistrunk Robinson 2017
A SISTA'S JOURNEY 