A Close Up on a Writer Who Reads
Title: Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul Author: James McBride Pages: 256 Rating: 4.75/5 This was not a book on my ever-growing list of books to read. I would not call myself a James Brown fan. I know him, of course. I bet most of my generation can name… Continue reading Book Review — Kill ‘Em and Leave
Title: Dune Author: Frank Herbert Pages: 863 Rating: 3.95/5 'A world is supported by four things... the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous and the valor of the brave. But all of these are as nothing..." She closed her fingers into a fist. "...without a ruler who… Continue reading Book Review – Dune
Title: The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir Author: Jenifer Lewis Pages: 336 Rating: 5/5 Caring for a newborn can make reading (and blogging) difficult. So when my college roommate Dawn offered to gift me a free book on Audible, I readily accepted. I also knew just what I wanted to listen to -… Continue reading Book Review – Wisdom From The Mother of Black Hollywood
Title: Pet Sematary Author: Stephen King Pages: 395 Rating: 3.7/5 I've mentioned this before: my grandma says Pet Sematary, published in 1983, was so scary that she put it down halfway through and didn't pick up another book by Stephen King until Mr. Mercedes, which debuted in 2014. A fan of King myself, I can't… Continue reading Book Review – How Scary is Pet Sematary?
Title: Five Carat Soul Author: James McBride Pages: 308 Rating - 5/5 'See, God favors the righteous. He favors us with words!.... Words, boy! Not a pistol or knife or cannon lingering in the whole bunch! Just words, passed from one ear to the next! Oh, yes, I wish I was lettered. Them..… Continue reading Book Review – Five-Carat Soul
Title: Children of Blood and Bone Author: Tomi Adeyemi Pages: 525 Rating: 4.0/5 *mild spoilers below* When Children of Blood and Bone first debuted, literary friends gushed that here was a new series to fill the void left by the Harry Potter series conclusion. I scoffed, certain that nothing could fill that soft ache -- the magic of Harry… Continue reading Book Review – Children of Blood and Bone4
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
"'There are monkeys among white people as well as black, when you come to that,' coolly remarked Bass. 'I know some white men that use arguments no sensible monkey would. But let that pass. These niggers are human beings. If they don't know as much as their masters, who fault is it? They are not… Continue reading Over a Month Spent on “12 Years…”
We’re all at least somewhat aware of the stigma of being a Black man in America. The suspicion and sometimes fear many people have for the Black man. The belief that Black men don’t stay around to help the family. The notion that successful Black men prefer white women. Then there’s the deadbeat dad, the… Continue reading Celebrating the Ordinary Black Man
Inside the Ink 