It is well known in my circles that I read (a lot!) for fun and I am a huge library fan. (Books are expensive). I read about a book a week or more if work is not super busy. I always have friends to ask me what are the best books to read, so I decided for the first time to compose a summer book review for all of the books that I have read, as well as my fall reading list. Would you like to hear it, here it goes! For the most part my interests in books are often fiction, historical fiction, biography and autobiographies especially involving people of color or people from other countries. I love hearing good stories about life whether true, mostly true, or not true at all. Hopefully you get something from my picks that will lead you to pick up a book.
Summer Book Reading List:
1. Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters
This novel is the alternate history to if the civil war didn't happen and there was still slavery in the modern times in 4 states (Louisana, Mississippi, Alabama and Carolina - both North and South). It was a great story, Victor the main character is immediately untrustworthy and the author has quite the imagination. I wish there were a bit more historical aspects for example, Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr, only get a paragraph in the book, then they move on. There was a part of the book that seemed sensationalize for a book to movie, due to the way Victor escapes slavery. (No spoilers). GREAT READ 7 out of 10!
2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This Young Adult novel definitely had some big adult problems. If you turn on the tv in your house, you will likely see some of the conflict that Starr has to go through. Starr is straddling being the only black girl at a private school and living in a poor black neighborhood, when her friend was killed by a policeman with her as the only witness. I love how the author make its possible to explain what it means when it is one of your friends that you have grown up with and how to deal with those feelings. I couldn't put it down and it was longgg. I really, really enjoyed the story and think everyone should read it regardless of their backgrounds and ages. WONDERFUL 10 out of 10!
3. Fate And Furies by Lauren Groff
This is the story of Lotto and Mathilde, young newlyweds that have to figure out how to adult. It was initially interesting as I am always looking for ways to adult and their story seemed so different than mine. This book starting getting long and I wondered what was the point until all of the sudden, the meaning of everything changed and you recognize the importance of perspective. Good read 6 out of 10.
4. I Am Not Your Negro based on a documentary by Raoul Peck
I wanted to watch this documentary badly, but I was in the middle of packing and moving into my house so unfortunately, I missed it because it was in the theaters for long. This book didn't have a lot of what the movie was about and was a short book with lots of pictures, but from what I learned it made me made to watch the documentary even more! Skip the book and watch the documentary or use it as a supplement.
5. Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
Difficult Women was a number of short stories I read as part of my book club (yes I started a mini-book club). From the first story, I was amazed at how deeply I felt for the sisters in the stories, I kept turning the pages because I had to figure out what was happening in the story, as soon as I learned I was beyond stunned, I cried immediately, I felt overwhelmed just like the sisters and I need someone else to go through what I just read. READ THIS! It is so filled with feelings and the things that happen to women- good or bad- that lead them to have to make decisions based on those feelings. GREAT "difficult" READ 10 out of 10.
6. Hunger by Roxane Gay
After reading "Difficult Women" I had to read her autobiography "Hunger" about her life and her ongoing struggles with weight, hunger, self love and being violated at a young age by someone that she trusted. I was amazed to see many of the short stories in "Difficult Women" came from her real life and it made it so much harder to read. I wasn't able to finish this book. It was tragic, sad, and I felt so empathetic to her and how she has been able to continue to be a survivor in her trauma.
7. All of The Ugly And Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
This is a book that I just couldn't put down. Easy to read, but oh so confusing on where I should have feelings- good, bad, or ugly. It is the story of Wavy - who tugged on my heart and made me hate someone who thought what she was doing was right and made me like a someone who had the right intentions and wrong actions. It is set to a background of absolute bedlam. READ THIS. Note: Not appropriate for young people as it has a lot of behaviors. Great Read 8 out of 10.
8. The Blackbirds by Eric Jerome Dickey
I am a lover of Eric Jerome Dickey books from way back in the 90's. All of his books are so good at tapping into the inner struggle of the mind. This is the story of 4 beautiful, young ladies living in Cali. Though you can read it as a single story, but if you have been part of the Eric Jerome Dickey ride then it is so exciting to see how stories have intertwined and people have grown. Great, pleasant summer read filled with strong Black women and their stories. 8 out of 10.
9. The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
A Black female writer tells the story of the Turner Family headed by a man named Cha-Cha and him seeing a haint (ghost). It was easy to read, lots of characters, told the stories of big families. I really enjoyed the thought that went into the backstories and history of the Turner family and how they got to this part in life. Good read 6 out of 10.
10. I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart give us the behind the seasons to his real life and the struggles to get to the top. You learn about his incredible work ethic and you can hear his hilarious voice talking about the true stories that you hear about in his stand-up. Good read 6 out of 10.
11. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
After seeing the amazing pictures from Ava DuVernay's Disney version in A Wrinkle In Time, I couldn't believe that I hadn't read it before in school. This was a wonderful, young adult read about the story of Meg who went with her younger brother and friend to save her father who was on a different planet through a time warp called a tessaract with help from witches and aliens. I really appreciate how a bunch of outsiders that don't fit in are the heros of the stories and the kids are the ones saving the adults. Loved it 10 out of 10 and bought a copy for my goddaughter.
12. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Another young adult read that I learned about actually two ways after reading another Nicola Yoon's book (referenced in number 13) and of course the movie starring Amandla Steinberg. Pleasant read about her girl who had an illness and couldn't leave her house. Had a wonderful twist in the end and a cute teenage love story. Good read 7 out of 10.
13. The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
This was the cutest story about interracial love between a Black- science/fact-loving teenager from Jamaica, and a Korean boy who is a romantic poet. They fall in love immediately set to the streets of New York, with only one big problem -- Natasha's family is being deported that evening. I enjoyed reading the chapters from different point of views and you can't help rooting for this love to win despite all of the many obstacles. Another great young adult read 10 out of 10!
14. You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson
I saw this cover at Busboys and Poets and put it on my list after hearing more about the "Two Dope Girls" podcast. I read about a chapter, I realized that I am not young and cool and so I wasn't able to relate her and the number of times she said totes in first chapter. I did enjoy the incredible Jessica James on Netflix (her co-dope girl). "I couldn't relate" Read 1 out of 10.
15. The Shack by William P. Young
I have actually reserved this in the library and each time I just let it sit in tabletop until it was time to go back to library. Knowing that it has a lot of sadness in it, I just can't bring myself to opening the book especially because it's summer and I don't want to cry and be sad. Maybe as a fall read, anyone want to weigh in? Do I definitely need to read it?
16. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This book was such a cute little coming of age story that had it's very serious moments. You will enjoy reading about grumpy old Ove and the people in his life that just won't leave him alone. He is as meticulous and a plan follower as me and maybe just as grumpy :) This was translated from Swedish. Must Read! 9 out of 10.
17. What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons
What we lose is a fiction story about a South African- African American woman who loses her mother young. It doesn't feel fiction, though. The book reads as excerpts and pieces because Thandi can even bare to make the reading coherent because of all of the hurt and pain she goes through. Good Read 7 out of 10.
Fall Book Reading List:
1. The Girl by Emma Cline
2. Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou
3. Exit West bt Mohsin Hamid
4. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
5. Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
6. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
7. The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti
8. There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce by Morgan Parker
9. The Amateur by Andy Merrifield
10. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Bonus! Best books I've read or reread this year!
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Swing Time By Zadie Smith
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Summer Book Reading List:
This novel is the alternate history to if the civil war didn't happen and there was still slavery in the modern times in 4 states (Louisana, Mississippi, Alabama and Carolina - both North and South). It was a great story, Victor the main character is immediately untrustworthy and the author has quite the imagination. I wish there were a bit more historical aspects for example, Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr, only get a paragraph in the book, then they move on. There was a part of the book that seemed sensationalize for a book to movie, due to the way Victor escapes slavery. (No spoilers). GREAT READ 7 out of 10!
2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This Young Adult novel definitely had some big adult problems. If you turn on the tv in your house, you will likely see some of the conflict that Starr has to go through. Starr is straddling being the only black girl at a private school and living in a poor black neighborhood, when her friend was killed by a policeman with her as the only witness. I love how the author make its possible to explain what it means when it is one of your friends that you have grown up with and how to deal with those feelings. I couldn't put it down and it was longgg. I really, really enjoyed the story and think everyone should read it regardless of their backgrounds and ages. WONDERFUL 10 out of 10!
3. Fate And Furies by Lauren Groff
This is the story of Lotto and Mathilde, young newlyweds that have to figure out how to adult. It was initially interesting as I am always looking for ways to adult and their story seemed so different than mine. This book starting getting long and I wondered what was the point until all of the sudden, the meaning of everything changed and you recognize the importance of perspective. Good read 6 out of 10.
4. I Am Not Your Negro based on a documentary by Raoul Peck
I wanted to watch this documentary badly, but I was in the middle of packing and moving into my house so unfortunately, I missed it because it was in the theaters for long. This book didn't have a lot of what the movie was about and was a short book with lots of pictures, but from what I learned it made me made to watch the documentary even more! Skip the book and watch the documentary or use it as a supplement.
5. Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
Difficult Women was a number of short stories I read as part of my book club (yes I started a mini-book club). From the first story, I was amazed at how deeply I felt for the sisters in the stories, I kept turning the pages because I had to figure out what was happening in the story, as soon as I learned I was beyond stunned, I cried immediately, I felt overwhelmed just like the sisters and I need someone else to go through what I just read. READ THIS! It is so filled with feelings and the things that happen to women- good or bad- that lead them to have to make decisions based on those feelings. GREAT "difficult" READ 10 out of 10.
6. Hunger by Roxane Gay
After reading "Difficult Women" I had to read her autobiography "Hunger" about her life and her ongoing struggles with weight, hunger, self love and being violated at a young age by someone that she trusted. I was amazed to see many of the short stories in "Difficult Women" came from her real life and it made it so much harder to read. I wasn't able to finish this book. It was tragic, sad, and I felt so empathetic to her and how she has been able to continue to be a survivor in her trauma.
7. All of The Ugly And Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
This is a book that I just couldn't put down. Easy to read, but oh so confusing on where I should have feelings- good, bad, or ugly. It is the story of Wavy - who tugged on my heart and made me hate someone who thought what she was doing was right and made me like a someone who had the right intentions and wrong actions. It is set to a background of absolute bedlam. READ THIS. Note: Not appropriate for young people as it has a lot of behaviors. Great Read 8 out of 10.
8. The Blackbirds by Eric Jerome Dickey
I am a lover of Eric Jerome Dickey books from way back in the 90's. All of his books are so good at tapping into the inner struggle of the mind. This is the story of 4 beautiful, young ladies living in Cali. Though you can read it as a single story, but if you have been part of the Eric Jerome Dickey ride then it is so exciting to see how stories have intertwined and people have grown. Great, pleasant summer read filled with strong Black women and their stories. 8 out of 10.
9. The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
A Black female writer tells the story of the Turner Family headed by a man named Cha-Cha and him seeing a haint (ghost). It was easy to read, lots of characters, told the stories of big families. I really enjoyed the thought that went into the backstories and history of the Turner family and how they got to this part in life. Good read 6 out of 10.
10. I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart give us the behind the seasons to his real life and the struggles to get to the top. You learn about his incredible work ethic and you can hear his hilarious voice talking about the true stories that you hear about in his stand-up. Good read 6 out of 10.
11. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
After seeing the amazing pictures from Ava DuVernay's Disney version in A Wrinkle In Time, I couldn't believe that I hadn't read it before in school. This was a wonderful, young adult read about the story of Meg who went with her younger brother and friend to save her father who was on a different planet through a time warp called a tessaract with help from witches and aliens. I really appreciate how a bunch of outsiders that don't fit in are the heros of the stories and the kids are the ones saving the adults. Loved it 10 out of 10 and bought a copy for my goddaughter.
12. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Another young adult read that I learned about actually two ways after reading another Nicola Yoon's book (referenced in number 13) and of course the movie starring Amandla Steinberg. Pleasant read about her girl who had an illness and couldn't leave her house. Had a wonderful twist in the end and a cute teenage love story. Good read 7 out of 10.
13. The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
This was the cutest story about interracial love between a Black- science/fact-loving teenager from Jamaica, and a Korean boy who is a romantic poet. They fall in love immediately set to the streets of New York, with only one big problem -- Natasha's family is being deported that evening. I enjoyed reading the chapters from different point of views and you can't help rooting for this love to win despite all of the many obstacles. Another great young adult read 10 out of 10!
14. You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson
I saw this cover at Busboys and Poets and put it on my list after hearing more about the "Two Dope Girls" podcast. I read about a chapter, I realized that I am not young and cool and so I wasn't able to relate her and the number of times she said totes in first chapter. I did enjoy the incredible Jessica James on Netflix (her co-dope girl). "I couldn't relate" Read 1 out of 10.
15. The Shack by William P. Young
I have actually reserved this in the library and each time I just let it sit in tabletop until it was time to go back to library. Knowing that it has a lot of sadness in it, I just can't bring myself to opening the book especially because it's summer and I don't want to cry and be sad. Maybe as a fall read, anyone want to weigh in? Do I definitely need to read it?
16. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This book was such a cute little coming of age story that had it's very serious moments. You will enjoy reading about grumpy old Ove and the people in his life that just won't leave him alone. He is as meticulous and a plan follower as me and maybe just as grumpy :) This was translated from Swedish. Must Read! 9 out of 10.
17. What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons
What we lose is a fiction story about a South African- African American woman who loses her mother young. It doesn't feel fiction, though. The book reads as excerpts and pieces because Thandi can even bare to make the reading coherent because of all of the hurt and pain she goes through. Good Read 7 out of 10.
Fall Book Reading List:
1. The Girl by Emma Cline
2. Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou
3. Exit West bt Mohsin Hamid
4. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
5. Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
6. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
7. The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti
8. There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce by Morgan Parker
9. The Amateur by Andy Merrifield
10. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Bonus! Best books I've read or reread this year!
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Swing Time By Zadie Smith
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
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