Play Book Tag discussion

Can't resist throwing out these wonderful read for recommendations:
Go Tell It on the Mountain--James Baldwin
A Mercy--Toni Morrison (this was 5 stars; 7 others of hers rated 4 stars, the point being you can't go wrong with her books)
A Lesson Before Dying--Ernest Gaines
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother--James McBride
The Good Lord Bird--James McBride
Another Brooklyn--Jacqueline Woodson
Sing Unburied Sing--Jesmyn Ward
TransAtlantic--Colum McCann (1/3 is about Frederick Douglass's trip to Ireland)
Little Green--Walter Mosley

Hope to read:
In My Father's House--Ernest Gaines
Americanah--Chimamanda Adichie
Mumbo Jumbo--Ishmael Reed
The Confessions of Nat Turner--William Styron
Middle Passage--Charles Johnson

Joi wrote: "Anita wrote: "Henrietta Lacks is really compelling reading . . .if you like non-fiction. Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird before?."

I've been more into non-fiction the past two years than ever ..."

I read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time this year. It will be at the top of my top ten list this year.

Everyone's been recommending To Kill a Mockingbird and I completely agree. Read it three times during three different stages of my life (childhood, teenager, adult), and it was amazing every time.

I also highly recommend A Lesson Before Dying. There's one particular chapter at the end of the book, I won't spoil it but wow. Just wow.

As for my reads, I'm going to try to read one of the following:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Souls of Black Folk
The Secret Life of Bees
Homegoing

I anyone is interested in middle school literature (or a quick read) I recommend:

Ghost - Jason Reynolds (my daughter who is a reluctant reader who only wants to read about characters "like" her loved this one despite it being about an African American boy in the inner city)

Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson (memoir in verse)

The Crossover - Kwame Alexander (novel in verse)

Michael wrote: "Can't resist throwing out these wonderful read for recommendations:
Go Tell It on the Mountain--James Baldwin
A Mercy--Toni Morrison (this was 5 stars; 7 others of hers rated 4 stars, the point bei..."

Does A Mercy have magical realism elements, Michael? Trying to find the right Toni Morrison to read. Five stars from you sounds very good, and clearly you've read a lot of her books. But I'm afraid to start with a book with MR in it.

I'm planning to read the Color Purple for this month, finally. I have been refusing to see the movie until I've read it.

As for recommendations, you can't go wrong with either of Barack Obama's books, Dreams of my Father and the Audacity of Hope. And on the other end of the historical spectrum, Uncle Tom's Cabin is a great, eye-opening account of slavery in the American South pre-Civil War. I also highly recommend anything by Frederick Douglass.

Jason wrote: "Anita:

In regards to your comment about there being so many good choice....The thing I love about books is that they are endless. The thing that overwhelms me about books is that they are endless..."

Ha ha, I hear you about the endless choices! My TBR is over 500, and I'm trying desperately to whittle that down. Story of my life.

I also try to use Overdrive a lot. I'm sure the Color Purple will be available. My library is meh, so oftentimes I have to buy when I'd prefer to borrow!

Tessa (FutureAuthor23) wrote: "Dang I was really hoping for disturbing! This will be my first time participating here and I was really excited for that topic.

I would highly recommend The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks or Ki..."

Welcome, Tessa!!! Love that you wanted "disturbing" too - - that was my choice, but I don't get a vote as an administrator. There's a few of us here for whom that was a top choice. However, I hope you'll have fun reading with us anyway! The Mothers is on my TBR. Can't wait to hear your thoughts . . .and I second both of your recommendations!

annapi wrote: "My recommendation would be anything by Christopher Paul Curtis. He writes children's/YA books so they would be quick reads, and he is a wonderful writer. "

Yes! I second this. Great way to get an "extra" read in past what you were planning! They're easy to read in a day :)

Nicole D. wrote: "I have been on an African American tear lately so I feel like I could recommend about 1500 books.

I feel like everybody should read
The Autobiography of Malcolm X

[book:Invisible M..."

Agree on the Malcolm X book

I'm seconding NR's rec of The Hate U Give. It's a must read

So many great recommendations. I'm going to go with one of the following 4 books that I own - hoping to clean up the TBR:

Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison

Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Sellout - Paul Beatty
(I tried it once, I wasn't in the right frame of mind - maybe I will get to it this time)

Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation -Octavia E. Butler adapted by Damian Duffy and John Jennings

Anita wrote: "Does A Mercy have magical realism elements, Michael? Trying to find the right Toni Morrison to read. ..."

Most her books will have spiritual elements, though usually just dreams and ghosts. Bluest Eye and Beloved stand out for going beyond that. Unlike recent historical or contemporary periods, "A Mercy", harks to 17th century colonial period when slavery for blacks was little different from some settlers treatment of Indians and indentured servants from Europe (the links I use in my list are to my reviews). If you want a realistic and inspiring story closer to our period, maybe The Song of Solomon would serve you, set in mid-20th century.

Ladyslott wrote: "So many great recommendations. I'm going to go with one of the following 4 books that I own - hoping to clean up the TBR:

Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison

[book:Between th..."

Between the World and Me was great. If you have the option, listen to it on audio. The author narrating it was powerful.

I also own The Sellout.....maybe a third book if I can get that far (though I haven't officially posted my choices yet!)

Nicole R wrote: .Between the World and Me was great. If you have the option, listen to it on audio. The author narrating it was powerful."

I have the Kindle book, I'm sure I bought it on a sale or promotion since I rarely buy books, almost all my books come from the library or my Audible subscription. I have The Sellout on audio, will probably give that a go.

I've been listening to Jane Eyre from Audible for the past week - loving this edition read by Thandie Newton. I've seen the movie with Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles (the perfect Rochester) more times then I can count and you would think I find the book repetitive but not the case! Taking up all my "reading" time of late.

My number one nonfiction book I'd recommend (because I read it fairly recently and it was very good) is The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. For fiction, well, some of the things I'd recommend have already been put out there.

I think I'll read, Passing but might also read Miles: The Autobiography since I heard this was very good by a GR reading friend whose husband teaches jazz saxophone at Berklee (met her once IRL).

Just thought of another Four Spirits - I loved it

I think I will try to read The Hate U Give as the book for November if I get a chance. Otherwise, I'll choose The Help.

I'd recommend To Kill a Mockingbird. It's the only book I've read on the first 5 pages.

I will start with the easy part: I recommend The Hate U Give, especially if you are looking for something that is completely timely without being nonfiction. Also, the audio is good if that is your thing.

Now, the hard part: what to read, what to read. I am overwhelmed by options!

Do I want to go contemporary classic and door-stopper with Roots: The Saga of an American Family?

Do I want to go new release with Underground Airlines?

Do I want to double down on my Fall Flurry November/Veterans Day read and go with Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War?

Oooo, do I want a good nonfiction fix with Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America? Or maybe The Lynching: The Epic Courtroom Battle That Brought Down the Klan?

There is always Americanah, which continues to stare at me from my coffee table. In fact, it is sitting right on top of The Sellout.

YOU GUYS! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?!?!?

I've actually recently read a lot that fits this tag....and i would recommend all of them depending on your mood: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Underground Railroad and especially Underground Airlines.

I've loved all the books I've read by N.K. Jemisin (fantasy), so I might read another by her. I also picked up another book by Nnedi Okorafor, after reading her novella for the space opera tag.

I also have Homegoing and Mudbound (which I think would do double duty for high Notes).

I am going to listen to Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, since he reads it.

I will read The Hate You Give and The Parable of the Sower. I've already pulled The Watsons Go To Birmingham to read w/ my son this month so that will fit in quite nicely, too.

I recommend anything by Toni Morrison, Zadie Smith, or Octavia Butler.

"Henrietta Lacks" and "12 Years a Slave" are the ones I want to knock off my TBR for this tag.

If anyone hasn't yet read it, I recommend The Underground Railroad . Though how it won the Arthur C Clarke, I have no idea - the Pulitzer, fine, but it was such a long bow to make it fit the science fiction genre.

I agree Kate! I had no idea it won the Arthur C Clarke award. How ridiculous! The sci fi community must have been up in arms!

Nicole, I find it curious about what is keeping you from Americanah. Funny we all have books like that, that are on our lists and sitting atop our piles, but for some reason they keep dropping down the list. Something else gets grabbed. I think my version of that is Beartown. Just curious, because this tag is so exciting for you with choices. Perhaps for me, it's because I've had such a good reading year, but I can't afford another five stars in 2017. And I still have left this year to read Autumn, and The Hate U Give.

Amy wrote: "Nicole, I find it curious about what is keeping you from Americanah. Funny we all have books like that, that are on our lists and sitting atop our piles, but for some reason they keep dropping down..."

I have it in print and not on audio so that is definitely one factor. With two science conferences in the next 6 weeks, my brother making a last minute trip out for Thanksgiving, and law school finals starting December 1, I just will not be prioritizing time to sit down and read this month.

Also, as much as people rave about it (and I have a strong suspicion that I would be one of those people) there is just nothing in the book description that really jumps out and grabs me. So, it takes extra for me to build up and read it.

Jason wrote: "My first month participating.

I want to read
The Color Purple
Their Eyes Were Watching God
The Secret Life of Bees
Hidden Figures

I recommend:
The Help (If there is anyone who hasnt read it yet)..."

Asolutely recomend The secret Life of Bees and The Color Purple.

Amy wrote: "Of course! Yes I recommend Americanah - which just might be in my top 10 for this year. It'll at least be 11 or 12"

Me Too!!

Nicole R wrote: "there is just nothing in the book description that really jumps out and grabs me.

That is something that will keep me from reading. The other is something that i choose to avoid.

I know there are so many here that love dark and disturbing and I love a certain kind of disturbing, but the du Maurier Rebecca kind of gothic, or the bad female, Gone Girl, doesn't thrill me and just seems so done and predictable.

Maybe I'l pick up one and say "hmm...this is refreshing and different." And start reading them again. But again I read Rebecca in the early 70's and a bunch of others by Du Maurier and really liked them but, I always thought they were low brow, so was surprised to find all this time later how highly rated they are.

I did enjoy them when I read them.

I hope to read both of these books this month: Beyond The Messy Truth by Van Jones and The House of Unexpected Sisters
(No. 1 Detective Agency #18) by Alexander McCall Smith.

Sushicat wrote: "As for a recommendation - if there’s somebody out there who hasn’t read it yet: The Color Purple"

I'm going to read this one - I guess I'm one of the few......

For recommendations, I would recommend:

The Help - for anyone who hasn't read it yet
Small Great Things - for those who like Picoult's style of writing

As for my choices, I'm going with one of these:

Silver Sparrow
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
The House Girl
What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day

I keep turning up exciting prospects on my shelves for this tag that have not been mentioned:

Amistad--Pesci
Middle Passage--Johnson
If Beale Street Could Talk--Baldwin
The Mothers--Bennett
Breath, Eyes, Memory--Danticat
Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin--Hampton Sides

I agree with so many of these recommendations, especially The Color Purple, Kindred, Henrietta Lacks, and pretty much anything by Toni Morrison.

I'm going to recommend one I haven't seen in these comments: The Chaneysville Incident, by David Bradley. It's not the easiest read. It's long, sometimes slow and confusing, and I gave up on it the first time I tried it (as a teen.) But I tried again when I was a little older and was so rewarded. It all comes together in the end for an impact that feels literally stunning. It has haunted me all my life. I've reread it several times.

For Anita: my top favorite Toni Morrison book is Song of Solomon. Although "favorite" is such an inadequate word for a book so intense and shocking . . .

I would like to read Sally Hemmings by Barbara Chase-Riboud, if I can get it in time. I thought it was biography, but turns out it is historical fiction, instead. And out of date. I do know that DNA testing has proven that Thomas Jefferson was indeed the father of at least one of her children. But I suspect that fits with the story in the book. It might be a good read in any case - it was in my TBR list.

Meanwhile, I'll see if our tiny library has a Toni Morrison book I haven't read yet. Or one I might want to reread.

After much consideration, I've decided to read Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horwitz. If time permits, I may also try to read as many plays as I can from August Wilson's The Century Cycle.

Joi wrote: "Anita wrote: "Henrietta Lacks is really compelling reading . . .if you like non-fiction. Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird before?."

I've been more into non-fiction the past two years than ever ..."

I love that you said "redonkulously!" LOL! I'm totally using that word... ;)