Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion
Read And Recommended
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Phyllis | Mocha Drop
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Feb 20, 2019 11:08AM
Great recap! I enjoyed both of these offerings for all the reasons you mentioned.
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I really enjoyed Percival Everett's novel "Erasure." I'm not sure I realized he's a poet as well!
Sarah wrote: "I really enjoyed Percival Everett's novel "Erasure." I'm not sure I realized he's a poet as well!"Erasure was the first monthly book discussion title for this group!
Mod
I'm reading Season of the Shadow by Cameroonian author Léonora Miano. This book was translated from the French just last year. It reimagines the experiences of one village at the dawn of The Atlantic Slave Trade--from inside a Neo-colonial society on the brink of the terror to come.It's an incredibly empathetic take. I've personally not read this story before from the perspective of those left behind.
Columbus wrote: "I must say The Last Thing You Surrender the new novel by Leonard Pitts Jr. is absolutely amazing. It’s exactly 500 pages of powerful storytelling and has replaced F..."Yes, Leonard Pitts Jr. is an amazing storyteller.
I hope to get to his latest soon!
BTW - While I enjoy his books, I think my favorite is Before I Forget.
Lark wrote: "I'm reading Season of the Shadow by Cameroonian author Léonora Miano. This book was translated from the French just last year. It reimagines the experiences of one v..."Lark -
Thanks for letting us know about this book.
I am adding to my tbr list!
I am reading THE LAST THING YOU SURRENDER. Wow. Fantastic read. My book group loved BEFORE I FORGET. Pitts was in Austin at the end of February. He talked about . . .YOU SURRENDER. As with GRANT PARK you feel as if you are there. This could be difficult for some, but it is worth reading.
Mod
Pitts was in Austin at the end of February. He talked about . . .YOU SURRENDER. As with GRANT ..."
Peggy, yes, at times this is really brutal, vicious and extremely cruel and I had to check the cover to make sure it was really a Pitts novel. The book might be too much for some but I hate giving trigger warnings to book readers. I just do.....But I thought it was really an amazing book. Let me know what your finsl thoughts are on it.
I know that speculative fiction isn't everyone's cup of tea, but some of the stories in How Long 'til Black Future Month? were outstanding and I would definitely classify the writing as literary. I think out of any fantasy writer that I read right now, Jemisin satisfies both my love of fantasy and my love of literary fiction.
Hi LFPC group!I came because Bev's email reminded us of this list, and you have covered most of my recommendations, but I'm currently reading Toni Morrison's essays & speeches The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations and while it's all (mostly) gathered up from elsewhere, the urgency of NOW is on every single page. I haven't looked up any of them yet to see if she significantly changed the verbiage, but if not, damn - Toni clearly possesses more than literary greatness. She may be psychic! Honestly, the essays and speeches in this book are pretty vital, and I've found myself slowing down to savor the thoughts. Great read.
See you all next month for Halsey street, which I meant to read ages ago and didn't.
Columbus wrote: "Peggy wrote: "I am reading THE LAST THING YOU SURRENDER. Wow. Fantastic read. My book group loved BEFORE I FORGET. Pitts was in Austin at the end of February. He talked about . . .YOU SURRENDER. ..."
I finished THE LAST THING YOU SURRENDER. I enjoyed it. While very brutal (it has World War II as the backdrop), I found it encouraging. Part of me wants to play the who would you cast in certain roles for the movie version.
I asked Pitts about his next work. He said he would take a year off (more likely touring for THE LAST THING. . .) then start on his next book.
Mod
Pitts was in Austin at the end of February. He talked about . ...."
Yes, I thought the violence and brutality was necessary considering the book is centered around the war and racism in the south during the 40’s. That being said, the lynching (not a spoiler, it’s on the book jacket) and certain battle scenes really rattled me and forced me to put the book down for a while before returning to it later. Just harrowing! If I had an issue with the book it’s that periods of it were a bit sentimental and didn’t quite jibe with the rest of the book. That didn’t prevent me however from giving it 5 stars. I still need to read GRANT PARK & BEFORE I FORGET, too.
You aven't read BEFORE I FORGET!!! WE loved it in book cub. My mother passed it around to several of her friends.When Pitts was here in February, a woman drove in from San Antonio (about 90 miles away). I don't know if she had someone with her or not. But when she asked her question, she mentioned how her group liked BEFORE I FORGET.
BEFORE I FORGET differs from FREEMAN, GRANT PARK and THE LAST THING YOU SURRENDER in that there is not the pronounced historical aspect.
I look forward to your thoughts on BEFORE I FORGET.
Chigozie Obioma’s AN ORCHESTRA OF MINORITIES, narrated by Chukwudi Iwuji. Awesome! Tragic! Powerful! Brilliant! In other words, I loved it, I was awed by its excellence. And the author is speaking at our library on Monday. As you probably suspect, am eagerly looking forward to hearing him discuss his work.
I have the novel on my TBR list. May have to move it up! Glad you enjoyed it!
Nnedi Okorafor’s BINTI, narrated by Robin Miles. I enjoyed this sci-fi novella so much that I plan to read the rest of the trilogy. I found it helpful to read some background information on the Himba people of Namibia and Angola beforehand as well as this group’s discussion thread. Robin Miles, as usual, did an excellent job with the narration.
Katrisa wrote: "I know that speculative fiction isn't everyone's cup of tea, but some of the stories in How Long 'til Black Future Month? were outstanding..."I loved this collection, and sometimes I can be picky with short story collections. I thought it all stayed at a high bar and it isn't all speculative fiction. Also there's a great introduction that endeared me to the author. There's regular old historical fiction, romance, dystopia and of course there are some speculative fiction stories too. In all, I felt like this is one of the strongest collections I've read in a little while. I really enjoyed this collection.
Then Mary wrote: "Chigozie Obioma’s AN ORCHESTRA OF MINORITIES, narrated by Chukwudi Iwuji. ..."
Yeah, this one is so good, I started off with a library book and went out to order my own copy so I could mark it up. I'm glad to hear the audio is good. I wondered while I was reading it how an audio would do b/c it's a deep book, so that's great to hear.
Recently finished Survival Math: Notes on an All-American Family Definitely worth reading, but left me with mixed (and strong) emotions. I wish I had read it with a group - much to unpack. My review
Is BLF Press on the group's radar? They have a new and a forthcoming book that both are on my TBR list: Black From the Future: A Collection of Black Speculative Writing and God's Will and Other Lies
A Death in Harlem: A Novel by Karla Holloway is set during the Harlem Renaissance. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Michelle wrote: "In West Mills
by De'Shawn Charles Winslowhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Thanks for sharing your review.
I am about 50% finished with In West Mills and so enjoying!!!
Has anyone read Queenie yet? I know some of you have and lots of us marked it as "to read." I just got the notice from my library that this was in, and while I was marking it to read, I noticed a review that disturbed me enough to make me question whether I want to read it:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Anyone have thoughts on the book or the review or the issues contained therein?
Mod
I just got the notice from my library that this was in, and while I was marking it to r..."
I’ve had the ebook (galley) of this for like forever. When I finally decided to read it I checked Goodreads, saw this review and immediately passed on it. I don’t always let a review influence my decision but I did with this one.
Columbus wrote: "Ella wrote: "Has anyone read Queenie yet? I know some of you have and lots of us marked it as "to read." I just got the notice from my library that this was in, and while I was ma..."
Thanks, Columbus. Yeah - normally a bad review wouldn't pull me up at all, but this one really hits spots I'm not sure I want to read about, at least not right now. Maybe I'll hold it for a few days and see if my attitude changes. Maybe someone will tell me I should read it. I'm just overwhelmed with books I really do want to read. I thought Queenie might turn out to be one of them, but now I am less enthused to be sure.
I tried reading Queenie, but I didn't like (or finish) it, but I didn't write a review and I don't remember what I disliked about it.
Review of Queenie coming. It is a difficult read, not because of challenging prose, but the content of the book is a tough digest. This one is definitely not for everyone, not very cheerful, and the question is why create such a disturbed and disturbing protagonist?
Mod
Looking forward to it, Andre.
Andre wrote: "Review of Queenie coming. It is a difficult read, not because of challenging prose, but the content of the book is a tough digest. This one is definitely not for everyone, not very cheerful, and th..."Columbus wrote: "Looking forward to it, Andre. "
Yes, me too. Thanks everyone for helping me make a decision about whether or not to read one book. (A bit silly of me to complicate it this much, huh?)
Ok, I agree mostly with the review cited. But, I’m interested in the why, that’s what is vexing me.
I don't know if it's been suggested before, but I just listened to Heavy on audio and was very enthralled with his story and how he tells it. It got a rare 5 from me. Heavy: An American Memoir
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It is one of my favorite books this year too. The last line of my brief notes here "Kiese Laymon, who never fails to shake me up and move me." And that's true - the guy seems incapable of writing from anything beyond an incredibly honest place.
Beverly wrote: "Michelle wrote: "In West Mills by De'Shawn Charles Winslowhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Did you finish it yet Beverly? What are your thoughts?
Finished reading The Travelers. If you can get past trying to organize the large cast of characters I think you will enjoy this book.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Michelle wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Michelle wrote: "In West Mills by De'Shawn Charles Winslowhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Yes, I did finish In West Mills and really enjoyed.
I hope to finalize my thoughts on this book shortly.
It was a delightful refreshing read for me that hit the spot.
While I definitely appreciated the author's writing style and will be reading more by this author.
June has been a very good reading month for me with a number of 4 stars and 5 stars books.
The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins
Lanny by Max Porter
Ladysitting: My Year with Nana at the End of Her Century by Lorene Cary
And I am about half-way through Patsy by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn which looks like it will also join my June Best Reads
Frankie Langton was great! And I just picked up Patsy.
Ella wrote: "It is one of my favorite books this year too. The last line of my brief notes here "Kiese Laymon, who never fails to shake me up and move me." And that's true - the guy seems incapable of writing f..."And it's those honest places I value the most. :) He's very eloquent and real.
Andre wrote: "Ok, I agree mostly with the review cited. But, I’m interested in the why, that’s what is vexing me."I keep looking at the book, which I've not started (dunno if I will) and wondering the same thing. It's one thing to write a flawed character, they're great b/c they're real, but these particular flaws with no resolution (at least from the reviews) is confusing to me also. If I don't start the book by the end of the weekend, it's going back to the library.
Wilhelmina wrote: "I thought that we might like to have a folder in which we could talk about books we've read recently by authors of color (other than the monthly discussion book) that we would recommend to others. ..."Hey I have tried this option in the past for those of us who are readers, and participate in the book group, but also are authors whom would love to recommend others to read. Please share the link for authors to share their recommendation(s).
I just read Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn and then picked up her first book Here Comes the Sun - both are exceptionally well-written and worth reading as there are so few good books with queer women of color at the center of their stories (by a queer woc) and these stories are so good. I liked Patsy much more but found both reads page turners with characters and places sticking in my mind afterwards.
Great news about writer P. Djéli Clark: https://www.tor.com/2019/07/08/announ...I've been a fan of this writer since I read his fantastic short story A Dead Djinn in Cairo (My review).
He has two other novellas out already,
and
, with more published work coming. I am so excited!
Lata wrote: "Great news about writer P. Djéli Clark: https://www.tor.com/2019/07/08/announ...I've been a fan of this writer since I read his fantastic short st..."
I'm a big fan too, Lata. My favorite so far is Black God's Drums. Part of what I like about his novellas is that the length perfectly suits the stories. So the idea of a novel makes me a little nervous - but still excited :)
Lata wrote: "Great news about writer P. Djéli Clark: https://www.tor.com/2019/07/08/announ...I've been a fan of this writer since I read his fantastic short st..."
This is wonderful news and I look forward to his future work - I was wondering when he would be publishing a novel (my favorite format).
One of my favorites is his short story = "The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington" which won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story and was nominated for the Hugo Award Best Short Story.
If you have not read this amazing story here is the link:
https://firesidefiction.com/the-secre...
That was a well-deserved Nebula for Clark's recent short about the nine teeth.
Sarah Evan wrote: "I just read Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn and then picked up her first book Here Comes the Sun - both are exceptionally well-written and worth reading as there are so few good books with queer women ..."Thanks for this heads up. I read Here Comes the Sun and liked it quite a bit. (I read it for a book club, but apparently not this group...) I didn't realize this was available, so thanks much!
I just came across this interesting article on the Smithsonian site: A Lost Work by Langston Hughes Examines the Harsh Life on the Chain Gang.
I'm recommending one well-written genre novella and one more literary novel."The Ballad of Black Tom" by Victor LaValle was excellent, and a quick read. It's a retelling of an old HP Lovecraft tale from the viewpoint of a powerful white man's black servant.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I'm also recommending "Claire of the Sea Light" by Edwidge Danticat. Everything I've read by her has been worth recommending!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
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