Book Besties of 2016

Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Graphic Novel Young Adult Short Story Continue reading →

Three for the Price of One

Things have happened. Literary things and I haven’t been sharing them here. You know how you’ll have an experience that’s so good you hold on to it and just roll around in the yumminess of it by yourself? I wish I could use that as my excuse, but I simply haven’t made time to write … Continue reading →

Book Bits: The Ballad of Black Tom

Imagine a strip of medical tape with the adhesive gum on one side. Then a tiny ball of cloth is dropped onto the center of that tape. My library is that ball of cloth in what we call normal time and space. It is affixed to one place, one plane. But then imagine crumpling the … Continue reading →

Five Memoirs for Women’s History Month

I’m the worst when it comes to reading nonfiction, but I’m a little more motivated to read memoirs by Black women. If you’re looking for recommendations, read any of the five books below. I purposely chose books from authors who are still living, along with selecting books I’ve actually read. Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood … Continue reading →

Poetry in Ten: Incorrect Merciful Impulses

Oscar van Gelderen does this thing on Literary Hub where he uses ten quotes to summarize a piece of fiction, similar to a review using the author’s words to give the reader an idea of what the book is about. I love this concept and thought I would try it with a book of poetry. … Continue reading →

Book Bits: Shadowshaper

Nydia, one of the minor charcters in Shadowshaper is an academic librarian at Columbia University. She helps the protaganist, Sierra, with finding information on a former professor in Cultural Anthropology. Intrigued by her query, she gives Sierra her cell phone number to keep in touch if she has follow up questions on her research.   … Continue reading →

Keeping Track of What I Read: January

1. “Resolved: Writing is a Job” by Ann Patchett (Online article). 2. “Broadway Bound: Audra McDonald on Her Childhood Home” by Audra McDonald (Online article). 3. “The Fault Line” by Amanda Miska (Flash fiction). 4. “‘Empire’ Recap: Season 1, Episode 1” by Roxane Gay (Online article). 5. Strange Library by Haruki Murakami (Novella). 6. “Obits and … Continue reading →