The talented Rupi Kaur does it again. Indian-Canadian poet and artist Rupi Kaur has a beautiful way of breaking up her books that flows effortlessly and it's truly amazing how each poem speaks right to your damn soul.

Desperation leads Hal to temptation when she receives an invitation to the funeral and will reading of Mrs. Westaway. She goes with intentions of lying her way into a fortune and ends up finding family and murder after her mother's death. 

The highly acclaimed, provocative New York Times bestseller—a personal, eloquently-argued essay, adapted from the much-admired TEDx talk of the same name—from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, award-winning author of Americanah. 

A smart, pointed, and ultimately inspirational read from one of our most beloved funny folk. In a perfect world... We’d get to hang out with Amy Poehler, watching dumb movies, listening to music, and swapping tales about our coworkers and difficult childhoods.

Firstly I have to say that this book should be read in every elementary school, it teaches such incredible lessons. It was a completely eye-opening book for a white woman like myself.

Over the last year I've tried add books to my shelves that will better educate me on social issues. I found knowledge in self-help books, poetry books, essay books and most surprisingly a teen novel. Below are just five of those books that I think everyone should have on their shelves. 

I would like to start off by saying I read this book over about 8 hours. An "easy read" doesn't seem like the proper term but I guess it is also classified as a young adult novel and I'd like to think my reading skill is above that...

Okay, so, first of all this book is one of the most quotable books I have ever read. I loved every second of it. The layers that Jodi Picoult has created with this book are flawless. You get the POV for four characters plus a short story written by one of the characters sprinkled on top. I am going to say that like The Pact this book took me to a dark place. 

Usually I go to the book store with a purpose, I know what I want to get and I get it. In the past year or so I have allowed myself to browse more and I have come across a couple gems by accident. "The Painted Girls" by Cathy Marie Buchanan is definitely one of them. I am only about half way through but I needed to write about it. Now I'm not saying you need to be a ballet dancer to understand this book but at times it certainly helps. Even I had trouble visualizing the dance combinations and steps written on the pages before me. However, understanding these steps are not imperative to understanding the story.

It has been such a long time since I have been this into a book. Maybe because I feel so passionate about the topic of Racism and how I hate it so much. If it made a difference to me what colour people's skin was I wouldn't have made friends with so many beautiful people or learned about so many amazing cultures or places. 

For those of you who loved the fun loving characters of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants books by Ann Brashares you will enjoy Sisterhood Everlasting. The characters have aged 10 years and a lot has changed. Life goes on and people grow apart due to the challenges and changes of life. This book was incredible. The the girls of the sisterhood began to separate in the fourth book as the girls struggled to stay in touch with each other through busy lives and long distances. 

American singer-songwriter Elley Duhé was born in Alabama and raised in Mississippi. She gets her musical flair from her musician father and uncles who are present in the New Orleans music scene.

From Queensland, Australia is indie pop singer-songwriter Amy Shark. Previously Shark released her debut EP Night Thinker with hit single "Adore". She recently released her first full-length album Love Monster featuring lead single "I Said Hi".

New, new but not new. Beyoncé and Jay Z have joined forces for their new album EVERYTHING IS LOVE. The album addresses racism in America, their relationship woes and GRAMMY snubs. This is the album the world has been waiting for since the initial OTR tour.

Cardi B. You've heard of her, she needs no introduction! During the 2017 MTV VMA's she made a statement about Colin Kaepernick before intro-ing a musical guest Leaving an impression on so many. Following her on social media you gain access into her life and learn about what made her who she is.

A stunning and effortless sounding voice in Phoebe Bridgers. This indie-pop powerhouse grew up in Pasadena, California and attended a prestigious Los Angeles County High School for the Arts to study music.

German-Canadian singer-songwriter Alice Merton was born in Frankfurt to German mother and Irish father. Merton's family moved often but much of her adolescence was spent in Ontario, Canada.

Shorter list this year but we’ve got the goods don't worry. Taylor Swift claps back at Kim Kardashian with her latest album Reputation, HAIM has us dancing all day with their new album Something to Tell You and Ed Sheeran is at it AGAIN with his pop hits.

Short and sweet for 2016 hope you like it. Again, this is not a "best of 2016" these are just MY favourite songs from 2016. Enjoy!

I feel like I post about this guy every day of my life. Hahaha today I won't say much, if you're interested you can read more about him here, here and here. Sneaky bugger dropped Unmake last Friday, the one below is my favourite "Race To The Bottom".

From Dorset, England Fenne Lily exudes musicality. Having been discouraged from watching television as a child music became a big part of her life.

These beauties just announced their tour beginning in October with their new album Signs of Light out on September 9! We may not be getting much new material when they're here in July for Folk Fest but maybe they will sample us some of their new songs... Hinting. 

Troye Sivan is a South African-born Australian singer, songwriter, actor and YouTuber. He has also done quite a bit of acting in the X-Men and Spud franchises.

I had the pleasure of meeting A Tribe Called Red when working at Native Communications Inc. and Rhythm FM. I was fortunate enough to congratulate them on their JUNO win in 2014 for Breakthrough Group of the Year.

I'm just going to leave this here... Mumford & Sons teamed up with Senegalese singer and guitarist, Baaba Maal, born in Podor. He is well known in Africa and is one of Senegal's most famous musicians. He is also well known internationally. 

Indie Folk Musician Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogarde better known as Birdy is a singer/songwriter from Lymington, Hampshire, United Kingdom. 

Lukas Graham is a pop-rock band from Denmark, the band is made up of  Lukas Graham Forchhammer (vocals), Mark "Lovestick" Falgren (drums), Magnus “Magnúm” Larsson (bass) and Kasper Daugaard (keyboard). 

Lissie was introduced to me by yet another cousin of mine, I was gifted her second studio album for my 24th birthday. Elisabeth Corrin Maurus, better known by her stage name Lissie, is a singer-songwriter from Rock Island, Illinois. 

I first heard this beauty, Basia Bulat, when she opened for The Head and the Heart in 2014 at the Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg.

I think it was about 3 or 4 years ago now that my cousin Ryan (I have like 3 cosins that I use as sources for new music) told me about the Lumineers. I listened to "Ho Hey" and that was it, I was hooked. 

Because any other music that drops this year is irrelevant.

I thought I had done a full post on them before, but apparently I just mentioned them in a year end round up, Music of 2014. They deserve more than a mention and anyway my favourite song has changed since then. 

The love of music for Winnipeg roots band, The Bros. Landreth, began when brothers Joey and Dave Landreth attended their father's gigs as children. They recently released their first album with band members Ariel Posen and Ryan Voth. 

I fell in love with Of Monsters And Men back in 2012 when I was checking out bands that were performing at Sasquatch! Festival that year. The song and video for "Little Talks", off of their first studio album My Head is an Animal, was so different and captivating that I needed to know more!

Hey Rosetta! is a seven member indie folk band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The band members include Tim Baker, Josh Ward, Adam Hogan, Phil Maloney, Kinley Dowling, Romesh Thavanathan and Mara Pellerin.

My favourite is when I get to share great bands from my homeland! So today I bring you The Barr Brothers, a folk quartet from Montreal, Quebec.

All the way from the "Big Apple", MisterWives are an indie pop band that formed only last year. Made up of members MandyLee, EtienneBowler, WilliamHehir, Marc Campbell, and JesseBlum.

Daughter is a European indie folk band from England. The band is made up of lead singer and North Londoner Elena Tonra, Swiss-born guitarist Igor Haefeli and drummer Remi Aguilella from France.

This year I decided to do a top 50 of my favourite songs, and yes there are top 50 songs in here so judge me all you want! Now, this is not a "Best of 2014" list it's just a list of songs I enjoyed in 2014 hopefully you find something you like.

THIS GUY! Okay, so I think Dan Mangan wins for most blogged about musician on my blog for sure. I have seen him three times already and just bought tickets to see him under the new moniker, Dan Mangan + Blacksmith.

Phoebe Robinson is a damn force. She’s incredibly funny, honest and LOVES her some Bono. She discusses trials and tribulations of being a black female comedian.

Sword and Scale is an internet radio show and website covering the dark underworld of crime and the criminal justice system’s response to it.  The show and website were launched January 1st, 2014 and feature stories of murder, abduction, rape and even more bizarre forms of crime.

Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams are funny. They're black. They're BFFs. And they host a live comedy show in Brooklyn. Join the 2 Dope Queens, along with their favourite comedians, for stories about sex, romance, race, hair journeys, living in New York, and Billy Joel.

I didn't know what to expect when I started listening to this podcast, obviously, Anna Faris is hilarious (have you seen House Bunny?) but I didn't really realize how over the top hilarious she was.