This past Wednesday, August 2, would have been James Baldwin's 94th birthday. In honor of that, director Barry Jenkins (most noted for "Moonlight") tweeted a first look trailer for his upcoming adaptation of Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk. I was in 6th grade the first time I read about Tish and Fonny. It is my… Continue reading #BookToMovieTrailer – ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’
Who Is Gregory J. Reed?
Last Friday, The New York Times published the article "Missing Malcolm X Writings, Long A Mystery, Are Sold." Long but fascinating story short: several pages (I believe I read somewhere 3 never-before-seen chapters) of The Autobiography of Malcolm X were sold to the Schomburg Library in New York. The manuscripts come with comments in the margins written by Alex… Continue reading Who Is Gregory J. Reed?
Book Review: A Little Life
Title: A Little Life Author: Hanya Yanagihara Pages: 720 Rating: 4.5/5 *Mild spoiler included below* If you've explored my site recently, you have encountered A Little Life in several of my recent posts (see here and here). I participate in a two-person book club and, at the suggestion of my friend, read A Little Life for the… Continue reading Book Review: A Little Life
The Only Trick of Friendship
"'You won't understand what I mean now, but someday you will: the only trick of friendship, I think, is to find people who are better than you are -- not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving -- and then to appreciate them for what they can teach you, and to… Continue reading The Only Trick of Friendship
#TopTenTuesday – Poolside Reading
So I've stumbled across this thing called a "writing meme" - I can't find a definition or a site that compiles a list of them in one place. But, they are essentially trending writing prompts. The first one I found, while perusing other writerly blogs, was Top Ten Tuesdays, hosted by That Artsy Reader… Continue reading #TopTenTuesday – Poolside Reading
Wanted: A Deeper Dive Into The Success of Kate Spade
"I think it took people a while. Even my family -- my sister was working at Gucci and actually called me and said, 'We're all pitching in for Mom for Mother's Day to get her a Gucci bag,' and I thought, What?! Are you serious? because they really didn't think it would be much...." - Kate Spade … Continue reading Wanted: A Deeper Dive Into The Success of Kate Spade
Home is Where the… Work Is?
At the start of April, I moved to a new city and began working remotely from home. On the surface, this sounds wonderful. Like a godsend. A blessing. I had hit the jackpot. I was able to retain my job. I no longer need to get up early to prepare for and commute to work.… Continue reading Home is Where the… Work Is?
S O S by Amiri Baraka
S O S By Amiri Baraka Calling black people Calling all black people, man woman child Wherever you are, calling you, urgent, come in Black People, come in, wherever you are, urgent, calling you, calling all black people calling all black people, come in, black people, come on in. - 1966
A Fiction Girl in a Poetry World | Marginalia
Another one of my blogs is up on Columbia College Chicago's Marginalia blog! In an earlier post of mine entitled “Life, Magic, and the MFA,” I mentioned there being think-pieces on how Creative Writing programs may stifle creativity by forcing a growing writer to limit their art to within the self-imposed confines of a label. I also… Continue reading A Fiction Girl in a Poetry World | Marginalia
Don’t Die in the Winter | Marginalia
Another of my blog's is up on Columbia College Chicago's Marginalia blog! In middle school, my mother let me read one of her books on spiritual/faith-based growth entitled Don’t Die in the Winter: Your Season is Coming. I can’t remember everything about it, but have since resonated with the basic gist—keep persevering, pressing through the hardships because better days… Continue reading Don’t Die in the Winter | Marginalia