WOW!!!! This book has everything! Stop what you are doing and go read this.
In Angie Cruz How Not To Drown in a Glass of Water we meet Cara Romero wWOW!!!! This book has everything! Stop what you are doing and go read this.
In Angie Cruz How Not To Drown in a Glass of Water we meet Cara Romero who is originally from the Dominican Republic, she's been living in NYC for decades after leaving DR and her abusive husband. She's hit a bit of rough patch with the great recession so she's now job hunting. In order to find a job she must go through an agency, Cara turns the agency interview into a therapy session that we get to listen (read) in.
Angie Cruz was showing off when she made the character Cara, this book is phenomenal, talk about a character you want to see win!...more
This is my second book by Bolu Babalola, I read Love in Colour and while I didn't enjoy it I did see a lot of promise from the author. Added to thatThis is my second book by Bolu Babalola, I read Love in Colour and while I didn't enjoy it I did see a lot of promise from the author. Added to that, I love her twitter and tik tok presence so when I got a full novel from her, I could not wait to read it.
Honestly, this read like a YA novel. The characters do not behave as if they are in university. The novel was entirely too long with secondary plots that didnt contribute to the plot. The friend from high school... what was that even about. If you love romance, I would say go for it, but expect it to read like a YA. ...more
Let me tell you, this book will be on every list come 2023. I truly cannot believe this is a debut nov BLOWN AWAY! What an unforgettable debut novel!
Let me tell you, this book will be on every list come 2023. I truly cannot believe this is a debut novel, it is well written, filled with characters you cannot help but cheer for, who are going through relatable things. I cannot recommend Rootless enough.
Rootless opens with Sam reaching home and not finding his wife Efe. Their bank account is missing $1,300, their daughter is crying and Efe is not picking up her phone. Sam feels totally blind sighted, where is Efe? Where did the money go? Why isn’t Efe’s sister picking up? How does one disappear?
Efe and her sister were sent to the UK from Ghana to live with her Aunty for a better life. Efe and her sister thrived somewhat in the UK but they missed home. Efe wasn’t sure where her place is in the world but she knew she wanted to leave an impact. She met Sam while in high school and they stay connected while in University. Through a series of events, they got together later in life, got married and everything was going great, until Efe accidentally got pregnant.
Efe struggled through her first pregnancy, she went through it because Sam left her no choice. Motherhood was hard for Efe, so much so her parents came from Ghana to take her child from her. After three years, Efe and Sam are finally happy, back into a groove, and enjoying their marriage and being a parent. That is until Efe disappears.
A truly heart breaking novel about motherhood, tradition, marriage, regret, love, family and what it means to lose yourself for others. The author covered the theme in such a layered and brilliant way. It is one of those books you read and you can feel your heart constricting, because while you don’t want the book to end, you need to find out what happens. A truly brilliant book that EVERYONE will love!...more
Before there was An American Marriage there was Silver Sparrow . I am shaking myself for taking so long to read Silver Sparrow because it is truly Before there was An American Marriage there was Silver Sparrow . I am shaking myself for taking so long to read Silver Sparrow because it is truly so good.
The book opens a daughter saying, “My father, James Witherspoon is a bigamist,”. With an opening like this, you KNOW the book is about to be lit. Set in Atlanta during the 1980s we meet James Witherspoon, a Black man with two families- one he claims publicly and the other is a secret. Yes, we all know a James Witherspoon. The novel separated into two points of views, one from each daughter. We hear from the daughter who is secret, how they became and secret, how finding out about her sister impacts how she sees her father, her relationship with her mother and how she navigates the world.
The second part of the book is told from the perspective of the daughter who James claims publicly. She is not aware of his second family, but with such a small neighbourhood, they are bound to meet. What will happen when they do? Who will James claim?
Listen, Tayari Jones is an expect storyteller- but we all know this from An American Marriage. I love how she writes about difficult topics but make them so nuanced and layered. She does an excellent job of telling us how James became a bigamist and how his actions will affect so many lives. Things like this are never just black and white and I think that is the lesson Jones wants us to come away with.
Read this if you love books about family dynamics! ...more
If you are a budding author, I cannot recommend this book enough!
The book features a huge cross-section of authors who share their unique experiencesIf you are a budding author, I cannot recommend this book enough!
The book features a huge cross-section of authors who share their unique experiences on being a writer of colour. More than that through, they walk you through different elements of storytelling from their perspectives. We read about:
Origin Stories, Structure, Authenticity, Humor, Character, Trauma, Translation, Queerness, Telling vs. Showing, Inactive Protagonist, Crime Fiction, Violence, Art and Activism, Second Person.. etc. If you are a budding writer, I recommend diving into this book. I particularly loved Tiphanie Yanique’s exploration of Historical Fiction, she said, “all fiction really is (should be) historical and I could not agree more. Budding writers, read this! ...more
This book explores grief and what it is like to grieve in such a nuanced way.
The book opens with Cassandra who is twelve and her brother Wayne who isThis book explores grief and what it is like to grieve in such a nuanced way.
The book opens with Cassandra who is twelve and her brother Wayne who is seven heading to the beach to play. They do this regularly, just a normal day- until Wayne goes for a swim and his body is never found. Cassandra remembers trying to save him and a guy in a windbreaker assisting but the story just did not add up. With no body, and Cassandra not able to clearly let her parents what happened, her mother clings to the belief that Wayne is still alive. Her mother then starts an organization called Vigil with the hopes of keeping Wayne alive.
As Cassandra grows up, she lives with the ghost of her brother, she sees him everywhere and it shatters her world. She then meets a man who claims to be Wayne- but is this real?
He taught me that grief doesn’t choose its timing well; you never know when it’ll grip your neck.
I thoroughly enjoyed how the author portrayed grief and showcase how everyone grieves differently and that grief is never linear. I think sometimes we expect persons to “Get over it” after a certain time but this book showcases the opposite. I did think that the book lagged a little in getting to the point but overall, I enjoyed it. ...more
Afterlives explores a part of history I haven't read a lot about in literature. In this book we read the German colonial troops in East Africa. We r Afterlives explores a part of history I haven't read a lot about in literature. In this book we read the German colonial troops in East Africa. We read about how they were colonized and how that impacted the persons living there at the time.
I think if you are not familiar with the atrocities the German Troops did to the persons living there, I highly recommend you read this book. ...more
Historical fiction set in Ghana and America with a dash of magic! Sign me up.
It is 1960s in Ghana and Bernadette wakes up beside her fiancé Melvin, tHistorical fiction set in Ghana and America with a dash of magic! Sign me up.
It is 1960s in Ghana and Bernadette wakes up beside her fiancé Melvin, they are wanted in America and decided to flee and seek asylum. While on a road trip in Alabama Melvin got in an altercation with some white men, that became deadly and now he must leave, Bernadette decides to go with him to Accra. With little time and not a well thought out plan, Melvin suggested Ghana because he went to school with the country’s current president, Kwame Nkrumah, who is currently in hiding after numerous assassination attempts. The president owes Melvin for saving his life so all Melvin has to do is get to him… this proves to be difficult.
Disguised as a pastor with his wife doing a missionary trip Melvin and Bernadette meets a well know musician, Kwesi Kwayson who is on his way to play for the president. Things align themselves and they all decide to travel together to see the president. What started off as a great plan turns to chaos when another attempt is made on the president’s life, the FBI is in Ghana looking for the couple who are on the run, a coup is being planned and Bernadette is falling for the musicians. Yes- chaos!
Honestly, this one was a hit for me, it felt like the author was on vibes- he threw in history, adventure, mythology, magic, couple on the run and one set of drama! I loved reading about the history of Ghana, and learning about what happened before and after colonialism. For me, I enjoyed reading about Melvin and Bernadette love story and how that played out.
If you like adventure with a lot of history. This is it! ...more
One thing about Elizabeth Strout, she’s gonna make the pandemic interesting!
In Lucy By The Sea we meet a older divorced couple, both their partnersOne thing about Elizabeth Strout, she’s gonna make the pandemic interesting!
In Lucy By The Sea we meet a older divorced couple, both their partners are no longer in the picture. The book opens with Lucy’s ex-husband telling her its best for her to move out of the city because things are not looking good with covid pandemic. Lucy leaves her life in Manhattan, thinking it will only be a few weeks by the sea in Maine, only for the pandemic to set in and they are stuck there away from their family and support network. Lucy must now navigate the pandemic and living in very close proximity to her ex-husband William… what could possibly go wrong.
I have read so many of Elizabeth Strout’s books and I am always blown away by how she is able to impart knowledge and empathy in a few sentences. She pains such vivid pictures and relationships with her words and you feel like you are immersed in their world and what they have going on. If you are looking for a heartwarming read, look no further....more
If this book was a show- it would be Girls, if this book was a person it would be Lena Dunham. The girls that get it, get A lot of teeth… zero bite
If this book was a show- it would be Girls, if this book was a person it would be Lena Dunham. The girls that get it, get it, the girls that don't don't
This read like a very subpar first draft of My Year Of Rest and Relaxation if I am being honest. In Acts of Service we meet a Eve, twentysomething New Yorker who works as a barista until she decides to get a “real job” or call her father to beg for her inheritance. Eve is in a long-time relationship with her girlfriend. One night out of boredom Eve decides to upload her nudes to a website where Olivia messages on the nudes asking her to meet with her. Out of curiosity and in search for some excitement she meets up with Olivia who begs her to meet with Nathan so they can have a threesome. Excitement Eve wants, that she gets as she tries to understand the dynamics between Nathan and Oliva and how her being with them may change that.
Dubbed, “might be the most thought-provoking book you read all year…” it s a very big claim because I had a lot more questions than thoughts. The book rambles on, Eve becomes obsessed with Nathan, honestly, this is basically a second draft of Fifty Shades of Grey if we all are being honest and if you think otherwise you are lying to yourself.
The writer tries so hard to make this more than what it is- a very poorly written book that tries to make you think about sex, power and sexuality. I really wish the editors went back to the drawing board with this one because a very strong re-write and this may have been good....more
Beautiful Country is a memoir of Qian Wang's experience as a child coming to living in the USA undocumented. We read of the struggles to learn the lanBeautiful Country is a memoir of Qian Wang's experience as a child coming to living in the USA undocumented. We read of the struggles to learn the language, be a part of a community and having to parent her parent. A very interesting read....more
Truly an unforgettable read that explores father-daughter relationship
Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell opens with Circus Palmer, a forty- Truly an unforgettable read that explores father-daughter relationship
Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell opens with Circus Palmer, a forty-year-old ladies man and trumpet player finding out that one of his long time woman, and the one he loves the most-Maggie, is expecting their child. Circus does what he does best, he left her, not wanting to be tied down. Circus feels betrayed as he currently has a teenage daughter who doesn’t take care of, and for Maggie to “allow” something like this to happen to him again, he just cannot reconcile it.
Koko, is Circus daughter, turning a teenager, she’s got a lot of questions that only Circus can answer but he is not around. We get a look at how she feels about her father and his absence and how that impacts her.
Throughout the book we are introduced to a series of women who tells of their experiences with Circus Palmer. Being a travelling musician means there are so many towns, cities and women he’s met over the years that he’s formed relationships with. Some of these women take it for what it is, others still think he will settle down… with them.
Laura Warrell did a superb job with tell the story of Circus Palmer. I love that he wasn’t a cliché musicians who had a child in every town, not considering how his actions impacts others. There was so much nuance and care to the Circus, the women he’s hurt and his daughter. It is not often you pick up a book and read about a mother who left her child in the care of her “dead beat” ex-husband. I love seeing his character arc.
This is truly a delightful read with so much to explore! ...more
One thing about me, I love a book with an amazing title.
In We All Want Impossible Things we meet Edi who is currently in hospice care after battlingOne thing about me, I love a book with an amazing title.
In We All Want Impossible Things we meet Edi who is currently in hospice care after battling a terminal disease. Ashely is Edi's best friend and the one who is taking care of her while she is in hospice. We are taken into their friendship, how they are grieving what is currently happening, all while navigating life.
As much as this is a very sad book, there were some hilarious moments. I love that there was so much humanity in this book. ...more
Atmospheric, immersive, un-put-down-able, truly impressive storytelling from a Caribbean voice you will want to hear from again…and again….
Hungry G Atmospheric, immersive, un-put-down-able, truly impressive storytelling from a Caribbean voice you will want to hear from again…and again….
Hungry Ghosts opens with four boys doing a blood pact that will make them brothers for the rest of their lives. Do they know what this pact means? How will it impact their individual lives? That is exactly what we find out in this book.
Set on the island of Trinidad and Tobago in the 1940s we are taken to the Barrack, a community that lives in poverty, no running water barely able to make ends meet but proud people. Overlooking Barrack is the Changoor Farm where Marlee and her husband, Dalton lives in a big house that is taken care of by three men. Dalton is known by the community to have a lot money but no one knows where it comes from. Marlee, lives in the house and hardly interacts with anyone from the community so rumours are made up about her. One day Marlee wakes up and her husband is nowhere to be found. She starts getting messages and death threats. In an effort to protect herself, she hires one of the men from the Barrack to be a guard at the house until her husband “comes back home”. Hans, the new watchman for Marlee is faced with a lot of choices- take the job in order to make enough to get his family out of the Barrack, or continue to live simple life… his choice leads to immeasurable consequences.
A corbeau will always be a corbeau, hated by the world that it will eventually eat… Kevin Jared Hosein is an expert storyteller, how he is able to tell nuanced story rich with history, and explores classism, racism, religion, traditions, jealousy, love and violence is truly magical. Hungry Ghost is rich in atmosphere, you feel like you are transported to Barrack and immersed into the lives of the people there. You get so invested in how the story will go and that all goes back to Hosein’s writing. The writing in this book is absolutely impeccable, the characters’ stories are told with care and deeply tender. You feel for each character and you recognize that they are each going through so much and I loved that the author made them characters we could relate to.
There is a lot of strong themes happening in the book and generally that is hard for an author to explore each and do it justice but Hosein was able to do it expertly. We had coming-of-age, love, poverty, classism, religion and racism well explored- each leaving you with food for thought. I also loved how truly authentic the book felt- you were taken to the island of Trinidad and Tobago during the 1940s and you feel that through the writing and research done.
In the author’s note he said, “Fifteen years ago, my own stories were set in places I had never visited… The few Trinidadian stories I had written felt painstaking and derivative, embarrassingly littered with footnotes attempting to explain what is a corbeau… I wanted to write a book that not only electrified but was also more than its plotline and its characters- that could be a portal to the Caribbean, even at such a dark time of Trinidadian history.”
I truly cannot recommend this book enough. Please read....more
Re-Read April for a panel discussion I re-read this book for a panel discussion with the author and I am so happy I did because I think I enjoyed it Re-Read April for a panel discussion I re-read this book for a panel discussion with the author and I am so happy I did because I think I enjoyed it a lot more the second time around. If you are looking to read a book that is a love letter to New York, of a girl who is trying to find her creative identity.
I definitely enjoyed this the second time around.
You know that book that you pick up thinking you would love but it just falls short? This is one of them.
In Zainab Takes New York we meet twenty-something-year-old Zainab who recently moves to New York and is working as an intern at an illustration company. Zainab starts hearing voices, at first there were few but then they become three and they do not stop. Zainab doesn't know what to make of this and is unable to pay for therapy because she is not able afford it. We are taken on an adventure as Zainab tries to find herself, explore New York and learn more about herself.
Honestly, this one did not hit the mark for me. The plot felt underdeveloped, the main character was not interesting, and overall the book felt rushed....more
We are taken to this town, specifically to Woolf Academy it is hard to get in and stay in- even for Underwhelming, unrealistic, tone-deaf and bland….
We are taken to this town, specifically to Woolf Academy it is hard to get in and stay in- even for a public school. Rose O’Connell wants what is best for her son, and what is best is getting him into Woolf Academy at any cost- even though she does not have the money, her husband is currently unemployed and her marriage on the rocks. This all changed when she meets the gate keepers of Woolf Academy, Rose wants to get in with the gate keepers- called the Circle. When she finally gets invited into the Circle, nothing could prepare her for what comes next.
Honestly, I felt like I have read this book so many times. It wanted to be like Big Little Lies but the author didn’t have the range. I just felt like the book tried too hard to do and be everything. It does not feel new to me, also the part where this woman offers up her husband to another woman… I just was like… nah….
Interesting premise…. Our white protagonist wakes up to find out his skin has turned dark…
The book opens with Anders, who is a white man, waking up Interesting premise…. Our white protagonist wakes up to find out his skin has turned dark…
The book opens with Anders, who is a white man, waking up to find his skin has turned dark. He is in shock and not sure how to process this. He finally reveals it to a girl he was dating and weeks later, news report starts popping up of white people turning dark. There’s an undercurrent of dread, tension and what is next. Soon his girlfriend, Oona turns dark and they have to decide how to move forward.
Honestly, this is truly a strong premise. This book reminds me a lot of Leave The World Behind the writing and undercurrent of something is about to pop off was constantly there. I’m not sure I got the key take away from the book or what the book was hoping to achieve but I am still thinking about it a lot after finishing it weeks ago. ...more
Believe the hype. This book is everything and so much more. I don't even want to tell you what it is about, just be prepared not to able to put down tBelieve the hype. This book is everything and so much more. I don't even want to tell you what it is about, just be prepared not to able to put down this book once you start reading it. ...more
Prepare to meet characters who will stick with you for a very long time!
Note: This is nothing like Sorrow and Bliss but at it’s core, Meg Mason co Prepare to meet characters who will stick with you for a very long time!
Note: This is nothing like Sorrow and Bliss but at it’s core, Meg Mason continues to write characters who are flawed but you cannot help but love them… and love them, you will. In YOU BE MOTHER we meet Abi who lost her father and sister at a very young age where she lives with her mother who is a hoarder. She doesn’t have a very strong family support, she’s never been in love and felt herself pretty, so it is no wonder she falls in love with Jude who is originally from Australia and came to the UK for university.
After hitting it off, Abi falls pregnant, decides to relocate to Sydney to start a family where Jude would go to school and provide for her and the baby. Nothing could prepare Abi for the loneliness of relocating to a place where she only knows one person. She tries to integrate but it is hard, that is until she meets her next door neighbor Phil. Phil is a widower and all her children lives outside of Sydney. Both women cling to each other… until secrets come to light.
Here is why I will always read Meg Mason… she knows how to write believable situation. She knows how to get you invested into characters and their relationships. I cannot recommend this one enough. ...more
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