Read And Recommended Showing 401-450 of 1,067

[Lynn]

I am a big mystery/thriller fan, and I just finished reading Black Pulp by Tommy Hancock. It was really refreshing to have Black pulp fiction heroes, and the stories were not always based in the 1940s. If you want enjoyable stories, and you are a mystery/thriller fan, then this is for you.

[Lynn]

I am also reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I find the theme of nu shu, the secret ancient language of Chinese women very interesting. I love how Lisa See writes anyway, and I appreciate how much care and research she does to keep her historical fiction accurate and immediate.

[Lindor]

Lynn wrote: "I am also reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I find the theme of nu shu, the secret ancient language of Chinese women very interesting. I love how Lisa See writes anyway, and I app..."

That's one of my faves. Very unique plot.

[Beverly]

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

• I am not much of a poetry reader but over the past couple of years I have reading a couple of poetry a year to increase my awareness and knowledge of poetry. I have always appreciated the form of poetry – to be able to say so much so poignantly in a gathering of a couple of words – what a skill. And in this regard Claudia Rankine succeeds brilliantly.
• I was also drawn to this book because of the format – there is a well blended mix of poetry, vignettes, and images. This format worked well for me because it helped to emphasize the points on how pervasive racism is on a day-to-day basis for Black citizens – some intentional, some just thoughtless, some just ignorant to the hurt and stress it puts on others.

Here is a link a podcast where the author reads one of her poems and discusses the reason/issues for this book.

http://www.ttbook.org/book/our-minds-...

[Andre(Read-A-Lot)]

Beverly wrote: "Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

• I am not much of a poetry reader but over the past couple of years I have reading a couple of poetry a year to incre..."
Thanks for the link Beverly. I will put this one on my list. Although I prefer listening to, rather than reading poetry, after hearing the podcast, it seems that her poetry may work as well as on the page as it does on the speaker. Thanks!

[Nafeesa]

Hazel wrote: "It's on my list, jo. Lorde is referred to in some of that criticism you sent me.

I'm reading Elif Shafak's The Bastard of Istanbul now. Not quite my cup of tea, but some might like it..."

I must concur on the lilith's brood. I just finished reading that Masterpiece.

[[deleted user]]

Andre wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

• I am not much of a poetry reader but over the past couple of years I have reading a couple of poetry..."

I'll throw in another recommendation for Citizen, too. It was one of the first poetry collections I've read in a long time, but it was absolutely incredible. This may be something mentioned in the podcast, but it's been heartbreaking to see how the book has been updated in each edition: http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2...

[Lark]

Disgruntled by Asali Solomon. Wonderful! Just out this month.

[Monica]

Just finished Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King. Excellent book. Written more like a novel than a history book a look at the too recent, brutal past and a story of the hard work and of the NAACP and other civil rights leaders down in the deep south (specifically Florida). This book won the Pulitzer prize. Interesting and enlightening.

[Beverly]

Monica wrote: "Just finished Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King. Excellent book. Written more like a novel tha..."

Glad you enjoyed. This is one of my all-time favorite books!

I have found myself enjoying non-fiction stories written by journalists as it does give the reading a novel-like feel.

[Beverly]

Poingu wrote: "Disgruntled by Asali Solomon. Wonderful! Just out this month."

I have this book on my shelf - I have about two more books to read before I get to this one.

[Beverly]

This will be one of my top reads for 2015 - yes, I know it is only February. :)



Jam on the Vine: A Novel by LaShonda Katrice Barnett

Just loved the storyline, the characters, the writing.
In the words of the author - "with Jam I did want to tell a historical tale that I had not encountered in literature published in the last 80 years or so—a ­bildungsroman of an early 20th-century black woman intellectual whose life was full of ambition, adventure, and love. It was also important for me to feature a functional, loving African American family living in the harrowing era of Jim Crow. The black press has always intrigued me, owing to its revered status in my own family. I thought building a story around a black newspaper was a wonderful way to get at the question: How did African American people thrive after the failure of Reconstruction?"

The book has its own wonderful website:
http://www.jamonthevine.com/

[Wilhelmina]

I am really looking forward to both Jam on the Vine: A Novel and Disgruntled.

[Lark]

Welcome to Braggsville and Delicious Foods have both been mentioned earlier in this discussion but now that I've read both I'd like to "upvote" them--wow, both amazing, if harrowing reads from 2015.

[Lark]

I just finished reading Oreo by Fran Ross, published 1974. So far it's my favorite read of the year. Fran Ross is a true original, writing before her time. Here is a link to an article about Fran Ross that was published in the New Yorker last month:

http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...

[[deleted user]]

I just finished I Shall Not Be Moved: Poems I Shall Not Be Moved by Maya Angelou. It's a poetry book.

[Holly]

Salvage the Bones is perhaps the most sorely-overlooked NBA winner in recent history. Devastating and hopeful.

[Mostly on Storygraph]

I realize I am very late to the game, but I recently read Natasha Trethewey's Domestic Work from cover to cover and then started over to read it again. I attended a reading of hers recently where she read from that book, Thrall: Poems (which I just bought), and Native Guard. Simply incredible.

[ColumbusReads]

Please, please, please read The Fishermen...there, I'm done

Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Karen Michele]

I'm really excited to read that one!

[ColumbusReads]

Karen Michele wrote: "I'm really excited to read that one!"

Oh, you should. The writing is incredible!

[Karen Michele]

My library is usually pretty well stocked, but it doesn't have this one, so I think I will buy it soon!

[Jan]

Columbus wrote: "Please, please, please read The Fishermen...there, I'm done

I second that. It is soooo good!!

[Beverly]

Columbus wrote: "Please, please, please read The Fishermen...there, I'm done

Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I agree that this book has elegant language and I often found myself wrapped up in the language (which I like).

But I think you liked the book a little more than I did.
I found execution of the storyline a little lacking, if that was done a little better then this would have definitely been a wow book for me. But it was the writing that had me turning the pages.

I will definitely will read future books by this author.

[ColumbusReads]

Jan wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Please, please, please read The Fishermen...there, I'm done

I second that. It is soooo good!!"

It is...I found several reviewers vowing to read it again believing they would enjoy it even more the second time around. I gave it a 4.5 but could've easily given it a 5. Just hard to believe this is a young, first time novelist.

[Beverly]

Columbus wrote: "Jan wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Please, please, please read The Fishermen...there, I'm done

I second that. It is soooo good!!"

It is...I found several reviewers vowing to read it aga..."

Overall this has been a very good year for AOC across different genres. Lots of debut authors and established authors giving us a very good choice of diverse storylines.

[William]

Didn't quite know where to post this..but since I've read five of these and can recommend them...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/b...

[Beverly]

William wrote: "Didn't quite know where to post this..but since I've read five of these and can recommend them...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/b......"

Which five have you read?

I have only read 3 of them with one on my tbr list.

[William]

Beverly wrote: "William wrote: "Didn't quite know where to post this..but since I've read five of these and can recommend them...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/b......"

Russell, Cisneros, Adichi, Diaz, and Coates.

[Wilhelmina]

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 one of the best ever. Can't wait for the sequel!

[Beverly]

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 one of the best ev..."

I also enjoy her work and my friends that have read Fifth Season think it is her best yet which is high praise.

I was trying to save to read for my next plane ride but may have to bump it up.

[T.L.]

Hello everybody, my name is T.L. Wilmore and I am an independent author from Dallas, Texas. I just recently released my debut book Inner City Blues. Inner City Blues is an entertaining, emotional, fictional story based on real-life situations that many families face living in low-income areas in large metropolitan cities such as: Chicago, Detroit, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas and so many more.

My goal of writing this book was to bring awareness to many issues that I believe should get more attention and provide resources to those who may need it or know someone else that does. The characters in this story encounter drugs, abuse, bullying, poverty, addiction, lack of education, lack of guidance, and neglect. I hope this book inspires readers to make positive changes not only in their lives but the lives of others.

[Thomas]

You all must read my new Book, RISEN: The accession and devolution of Yahweh Ben Yahweh: Miami's Urban Chronicles Volume 1. It comes out on January 1, 2016.

[Louise]

I'm looking for recommendations for multi-generational epic novels set in Africa. Does anyone have any? thank you.

[Lark]

Louise wrote: "I'm looking for recommendations for multi-generational epic novels set in Africa. Does anyone have any? thank you."

Dust
Cry, the Beloved Country
The Poisonwood Bible

[Beverly]

poingu wrote: "Louise wrote: "I'm looking for recommendations for multi-generational epic novels set in Africa. Does anyone have any? thank you."

Dust
Cry, the Beloved Country
T..."</i>

I would also add the following:

[book:Half of a Yellow Sun
The In-Between World of Vikram Lall
Segu
The Children of Segu

[Rebecca]

Good recommends for Black History Month 2016?

[Judy]

'.Destined to witness '

[Mostly on Storygraph]

Rebecca wrote: "Good recommends for Black History Month 2016?"

Non-fiction: Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Fire Next Time

Fiction: Infants of the Spring, Poems On Various Subjects, Religious And MoralThe Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano Gustavus Vassa, the African

[B. P.]

Louise wrote: "I'm looking for recommendations for multi-generational epic novels set in Africa. Does anyone have any? thank you."

Oh do I have a book: Homegoing. My thoughts on it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Louise]

Funny that you should mention this Ken. I have it on hold at the library and they just sent me an email this morning to let me know my copy is available.

[B. P.]

Read it immediately! Definitely one of the fiction books of the year.

[Beverly]

I have recently read the following books that will be among my top reads for 2016.

The first two are non-fiction:
The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race - Jesmyn Ward Editor
Everyone of the contributions is excellent!
A must read for all!

The Lynching: The Epic Courtroom Battle That Brought Down the Klan by Laurence Leamer.
Great narrative non-fiction - written in the vein of Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America except this time the spotlight is on Mobile, Alabama and the events take place in the very recent past.

The next two books I would like to recommend are fiction:
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue.
Great debut - great characterization and wonderful storytelling.
IMHO (in my humble opinion) another book that definitely lives up to all the buzz it has been receiving.
This is the second Cameroonian author that I have read this year and both books though quite different are excellent.

Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John.
Another excellent debut that takes place in NW Nigeria - a place we do not see written about in fiction - a compelling story of a young boy trying to make sense of the political and religious discords in his life.

[Carol]

Beverly wrote: "I have recently read the following books that will be among my top reads for 2016.

The first two are non-fiction:
The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race - [author:J..."

Thanks for sharing these, Beverly. I hadn't heard of the last one anywhere, and the first three move up my TBR (where they otherwise languished undistinguishable from other options) based on your recommendation.

[Tiffona]

Thanks for sharing. I've added them to my to read list. I will get to one after I finish Homegoing.

[Monica]

Just finished Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn, Another excellent book this year principally about how family issues continue to thrive despite all efforts to overcome them. I listened to the audio version which was excellent and for me helpful with the patois. Highly recommended.

[Monica]

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 one of the best ev..."

I just finished this today and it was sooo good!! Highly recommended

[Wilhelmina]

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..."

Read the sequel, Monica! The Obelisk Gate is just as good. I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy!

[[deleted user]]

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..."

Did either of you read her Inheritance Trilogy? I just bought the entire series this weekend.

[Wilhelmina]

Morgan wrote: "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..."

Yep. Loved it. In my opinion, she hasn't written a book yet that is less than excellent.