Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion
Read And Recommended
Morgan wrote: "Did either of you read her Inheritance Trilogy? I just bought the entire series this weekend. "This was my first book by her but it definitely will not be my last!! On the list for
The Obelisk Gate but I'd bet I buy it before it becomes available at the library. Probably a 2017 read. I do have The Killing Moon and would like to get to that next year as well.
Greetings! I Just finished a book called Youngblood, written by John Oliver Killens. This was his first novel and was written in 1954. The story is about a family who lives in Georgia at the turn of the century (1900) and follows their lives through the Great Depression. Hadn't heard of this author prior to reading his name in a book so I thought I'd read at least one of his writings. As a result I will be reading at least two more of his novels.
Some may find the subject matter depressing ( poverty, racism, dashed dreams) but for me the underlying message of the importance love of family is the central theme that made this book enjoyable for me. The author's writing style is also quite engaging, as I felt like I was there with the characters as I read the book.
If/when anyone reads Everfair I hope you post about it here. I'm really intrigued, but my budget for new books is about the equivalent of "one new hardcover, maybe" for the next few months and my library doesn't have it. It sounds really interesting though.
I'm reading The Wangs vs. the World and I searched but did not find a post in the group about anyone else reading it, which surprised me. Maybe I'm searching wrong. Anyway I'm finding it interesting and worthy of my time for the way it deliberately bends or breaks cultural stereotypes.
Mod
I'm just getting in from picking up that book (The Wangs). Glad to hear you're enjoying it.
poingu wrote: "If/when anyone reads Everfair I hope you post about it here. I'm really intrigued, but my budget for new books is about the equivalent of "one new hardcover, maybe" for the next few..."I am hoping to get to Everfair before the end of the year - it is already on my kindle. I have read the author's shorter fiction and enjoyed it.
Jewell wrote: "Greetings! I Just finished a book called Youngblood, written by John Oliver Killens. This was his first novel and was written in 1954. The story is about a family who lives in Georgia at the turn o..."Glad you enjoyed reading Youngblood and are going to read a couple more of his books.
That is a name from the past and I remembered reading a couple of his books and others from the Black Arts Movement.
I loved Youngblood. It's an classic. I enjoyed all of John Oliver Killens work.
Two excellent books that I've read are The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks and Jubilee by Margaret Walker. I gave both books 5 stars. The immortal life was such a good read I recently bought an additional hard cover at a book sale so my paperback can be a loner. EVERYONE should read this book. I'm a nurse and future nurse practitioner (Lord willing) and this book was very enlightening. I've heard that this book will be turned into a movie in 2017 on HBO and Oprah will be playing the daughter. I hope Jubliee will be a movie in the future.
Tender&Delicate wrote: "Two excellent books that I've read are The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks and Jubilee by Margaret Walker. I gave both books 5 stars. The immortal life was such a good read I recently bought an ad..."I'm looking forward to reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" -- just requested it from the library.
poingu wrote: "If/when anyone reads Everfair I hope you post about it here. I'm really intrigued, but my budget for new books is about the equivalent of "one new hardcover, maybe" for the next few..."I've requested it from the library -- they said they would consider buying it, but I don't know when, but I'm definitely planning on reading this book. The concept and characters sound fascinating.
Here's the link to the list of most anticipated 2017 books by authors of African descent:https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Carol wrote: "Here's the link to the list of most anticipated 2017 books by authors of African descent:https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1......"
Thanks, Carol! I'm excited to see a new novel by Jesmyn Ward on the list!
Wilhelmina wrote: "Carol wrote: "Here's the link to the list of most anticipated 2017 books by authors of African descent:https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1......"
I am, too. Also Black Moses: A Novel by Alain Mabanckou looks quite intriguing.
There are a number of books on that list that I want to check out.
Jewell (this is you)560 books | 120 friends
Recently read a book called The Strivers' Row Spy. This is the debut novel for author, Jason Overstreet. Book takes place in 1920's Harlem during the time when Garvey and DuBois were establishing themselves as leaders of the African American communities across the country (UNIA and NAACP). The main character has recently graduated from college and is hired by a young Jedgar Hoover ( lilly Tomlins name for J. Edgar) to gather intelligence on the two. As the story progresses Main Character becomes a double agent. This decision has huge consequences for him. Although the book is considered a work of fiction, I might also consider it to be a work of historical fiction. Many names and places mentioned are real; found myself looking up names of people and other organizations to verify whether they had existed... those that I looked up did. If you like historical espionage this might be a book for you. Also, a book club discussion questions are included at the end of the story.
Carol wrote: "Here's the link to the list of most anticipated 2017 books by authors of African descent:https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1......"
Thanks for sharing this list.
Quite a few books that I am interested in.
I just read Grant Park by Leonard Pitts Jr.. I would definitely recommend it, even more this year than when it was published last year. Did anyone else read it and enjoy it?
Wilhelmina wrote: "I just read Grant Park by Leonard Pitts Jr.. I would definitely recommend it, even more this year than when it was published last year. Did anyone else read it and ..."Yes, I enjoyed it very much but then I have enjoyed all of Pitts' novels. Definitely has his finger on the pulse on timely issues and is a wonderful storyteller and writer.
Reading The sun is also a star and I love it!!!
Beverly wrote: "Wilhelmina wrote: "I just read Grant Park by Leonard Pitts Jr.. I would definitely recommend it, even more this year than when it was published last year. Did anyon..."I have enjoyed all of his books also and was glad to see that he's working on a new one.
Complete The Last Leaf Of Harlem, a collection of stories written by author of The Wedding, Dorothy West. I enjoyed this collection of her short stories. Lionel C. Bascom was the editor. He did an incredible amount of research in putting this collection together, all of which is spelled out in the Introduction to the book as well as a biographical history of Miss West and a chronology of her writings. Dorothy West was a prolific writer who took you into the lives of those she wrote about. She wrote across ethnicities, as many of her stories are not about African Americans. Common situations, issues, and concerns of all people resonate clearly throughout her short stories. I enjoyed The Last Leaf Of Harlem and just maybe Bascom, or some other person will find more of her works and put them into another collection as well.
Wilhelmina wrote: "Carol wrote: "Here's the link to the list of most anticipated 2017 books by authors of African descent:https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1......"
Great list! Have marked several "to Read" Thanks for posting.
For those who enjoy mysteries and crime fiction, I would like to recommend Rachel Howzell Hall 's series featuring LAPD Homicide Detective Elouise Norton. We haven't had a great new mystery series featuring an African American woman protagonist for a while. I have read all three books in this series - Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, and Trail of Echoes - and I really enjoyed them. I had a minute of hesitation about recommending them here because they are definitely genre fiction, but they are very well written and the characters are well developed. I'm looking forward to the next in the series, City of Saviors, due out in August.
Recommending and it is not even published yet! :)Marlon James Announces His Dark Star Trilogy, Which Aims to Be an ‘African Game of Thrones’
The man who brought the world the Booker Prize–winning A Brief History of Seven Killings is going hard into fantasy. In 2015, Marlon James said that he planned to “geek the fuck out” on a series that would serve as an “African Game of Thrones.” Now, it seems that James's work has started to come to fruition. James's The Dark Star Trilogy, published by Penguin Random House's Riverhead Books, will play out across three installments: Black Leopard, Red Wolf; Moon Witch, Night Devil; and then The Boy and the Dark Star. The official description reads:
Three characters — the Tracker, the Moon Witch, and the Boy — are locked in a dungeon in the castle of a dying king, awaiting torture and trial for the death of a child. They were three of eight mercenaries who had been hired to find the child; the search, expected to take two months, took nine years. In the end, five of the eight mercenaries, as well as the child, were dead.
What happened? Where did their stories begin? And how did each story end? These are the questions Marlon James poses in the Dark Star Trilogy, three novels set amid African legend and his own fertile imagination – an African Game of Thrones. From royal intrigue to thrilling and dangerous voyages, and complete with pirates, queens, witches, shape-shifters and monsters, these novels are part fantasy, part myth and part detective story – all from the author of the Man Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings.
Really, you had us at "Moon Witch," and then again at "shape-shifters and monsters," and then again at "pirates." Give us this trilogy now!
Wilhelmina wrote: "For those who enjoy mysteries and crime fiction, I would like to recommend Rachel Howzell Hall 's series featuring LAPD Homicide Detective Elouise Norton. We haven't had a great new..."Is it is a wonderful series!!!
Beverly wrote: "Recommending and it is not even published yet! :)Marlon James Announces His Dark Star Trilogy, Which Aims to Be an ‘African Game of Thrones’
The man who brought the world the Booker Prize–winnin..."
I am SO looking forward to this new venture from Marlon James!
I am currently reading book#2 'The Obelisk Gate of The Broken Earth series by N.K. Jemisin. The series is in the scifi genre. I typically am not a scifi book follower but after a recommendation to read book 1 'The Fifth Season' I became hooked on Ms Jemisin's books. Given today's political climate I found book 1 to be an escape into another 'world' and picked up The Obelisk Gate right away. Both books are not only gripping, the characters are well described and developed to fit a fantasy world filled with environmental perils, sophisticated relationships, sorrow, love, and diversity. I can't wait to see what transpires as I read through book 2 and await book 3 sometime next year. I would say that Ms. Jemisin follows alongside Octavia Butler when it comes to African American female scifi authors.
konami wrote: "I am currently reading book#2 'The Obelisk Gate of The Broken Earth series by N.K. Jemisin. The series is in the scifi genre. I typically am not a scifi book follower but after a recommendation to ..."I'm a Jemisin fan too. Since you enjoyed The Fifth Season/Obelisk Gate I recommend picking up The Dreamblood Duology too, it's just as good.
konami wrote: "I am currently reading book#2 'The Obelisk Gate of The Broken Earth series by N.K. Jemisin. The series is in the scifi genre. I typically am not a scifi book follower but after a recommendation to ..."I love all of her books. Can't wait for the third book in the Broken Earth trilogy, The Stone Sky, to come out in August!
I'm looking forward to starting The Fifth Season by Jemisin. I am reading The Inheritance Trilogy now. I absolutely love her writing style.
I've only read some of her short stories so far, and I love her writing style, too.
Beverly wrote: "Wilhelmina wrote: "For those who enjoy mysteries and crime fiction, I would like to recommend Rachel Howzell Hall 's series featuring LAPD Homicide Detective Elouise Norton. We have..."Thanks for the suggestion. Will put this author on my list of to read...
I just finished reading Unburnable by Marie-Elena John and it was such a gripping tale! I'm eager to discuss with someone.
Just finished Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan. This was a debut novel and I thought it was fascinating. A family saga revolving around the 50 years of civil unrest in Taiwan. Though not perfect, it was a great read that gave me a flavor of being an "other" from a different culture than I generally read. Highly recommended!
Monica wrote: "Just finished Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan. This was a debut novel and I thought it was fascinating. A family saga revolving around the 50 years of civil unrest ..."Good to hear you enjoyed it. This is on my TBR, and I'm looking forward to reading it.
An Unrestored Woman by Shobha Rao. Can't even describe how impressed I was with this book. I reviewed it on Goodreads here
Shannon wrote: "An Unrestored Woman by Shobha Rao. Can't even describe how impressed I was with this book. I reviewed it on Goodreads here"Good to know, I have scheduled to read this book in a couple of months for an immigrant/refugee theme read.
For a debut collection, I found it excellent.
I just finished reading A Cry Among Men by C. Erskine Brown. Wow!!! I am so blown away. This is a must-read. The author paints such a beautiful picture of an African American family and a successful marriage....Then he shatters that picture by showing how one moment can change the core of a person and affect everything and everyone. Check this out.
Thanks for the recommendations, Shannon and Melvin. I love discovering new authors.
Monica wrote: "Wilhelmina wrote: "I just finished N.K. Jemisin book, The Fifth Season. I have loved every book that she has written. If you like speculative fiction at all, she is..."I too really liked The Fifth Season
I just finished Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and absolutely loved it! I feel like I'm in mourning because it's over.
A Cry Among Men by C. Erskine Brown
This book is AMAZING!!!! It's such a well-written book that will have you on the edge of your seat. The author paints such a beautiful picture of a successful Black business man and his successful wife and child. The story then takes a gripping turn and shatters that image with such a shocking twist…..I will tell you, if you decide to read this book, you will be in for a treat. I commend the author for being bold enough to tackle such a difficult subject. Happy Reading.
Erica wrote: "I just finished Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and absolutely loved it! I feel like I'm in mourning because it's over."Really enjoyed it - the chapters seemed to skip over/thru/about/within decades of history, and each episode was so poignant and well crafted!
Elliott wrote: "Erica wrote: "I just finished Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and absolutely loved it! I feel like I'm in mourning because it's over."Really enjoyed it - the chapters seemed to skip over/thru/about/within ..."
I can't wait to read this one. I'm hearing great things....
Purple Hibiscus - was very well written but I was cringing in a lot of parts and was very uncomfortable with the graphic nature of some of what went down in the book. The ending was a bit of a let down for me, but I would recommend this for everyone.
A Place Near the Front
is a compelling tale of a young Trinidadian who jumps ship in New York and makes his way into the U.S. Army in order to obtain citizenship and remain in America. He becomes a member of the 369th Infantry Regiment— the famous “Harlem Hellfighters”—at a time when segregation was rampant. Written in first person, it's a study of what life was like for an American black soldier in the early 1900’s.
is a compelling tale of a young Trinidadian who jumps ship in New York and makes his way into the U.S. Army in order to obtain citizenship and remain in America. He becomes a member of the 369th Infantry Regiment— the famous “Harlem Hellfighters”—at a time when segregation was rampant. Written in first person, it's a study of what life was like for an American black soldier in the early 1900’s.
Literary Fiction by People of Color
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I enjoy N. K. Jemisin writing and her worldbuilding and I think she gets better with each series.
I will admit that I like my fantasy on the darker/noirish side so while I read The Interitance Trilogy, I enjoyed the Dreamblood Duology and the Broken Earth Trilogy more.