Reading List: May 05, 2012

BohoMamma’s recommendations for the best longform articles we’ve happened upon across the web.

“Heavenly Father” is a must, if you love to read; “Ann Hitler Tempest” makes good points about our exaltation of motherhood, without the actual support for the job; and, “The Girls Next Door” offers a sad and provocative look into the lives of young girls who have been caught up in the growing sex trafficking issue in the U.S.

“Heavenly Father!” “I love you all!” “I love everyone!” “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” “I love all of you!” by Luke Dittrich of Esquire Magazine.

Nominated as one of the best magazine features of 2011 by National Magazine Awards, this is probably one of the top two of my favorite long form reads this year. The story centers on a group of strangers who survived the Joplin Tornado in the freezer of a convenience store. This is a well thought out and organized article, which provides insight into personality, fear and bravery. The article delivers drama in its finest form.

Michelle Goldberg on the Ann Romney Hitler Tempest by Michelle Goldberg of Newsweek/The Daily Beast.

Michelle Goldberg, a writer for The Daily Beast, appeared on a television show and made a comment about what she felt was conservative propaganda about women’s roles as mothers.

The statement created a bit of a firestorm. I thought Ms. Goldberg’s response was intelligent and well thought out. She writes, “…like most mothers I know, I’d much prefer accessible day care, quality public schools, and affordable health care to a metaphorical crown, however glorious it may be,” in response to the idea that in this country we often extol the benefits of motherhood, without offering support to those same mothers.

Sex Trafficking of Americans: The Girls Next Door by Amy Collins of Vanity Fair Magazine

Sex trafficking is a growing problem in the United States and it is a crime for which most Americans are not familiar. This is an article of the girls who are vulnerable; the story of girls who were used by johns and pimps to service the pleasure of men; the abuse they endured; and, the work being done to stop the practice.

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