Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

@Gabriella, I doubt I'll be able to join on May 13th, but would love to read Birds of Opulence and will try to jump in about a week later, with luck.

Gabriella wrote: "Hi y'all!

Would be possible to start a buddy reads thread for The Birds of Opulence? Alana and I are interested in starting this on Sunday, May 13th.

Anyone else is welcome to jo..."

Great!
I will set up the discussion thread for you in few.

Gabriella wrote: "Hi y'all!

Would be possible to start a buddy reads thread for The Birds of Opulence? Alana and I are interested in starting this on Sunday, May 13th.

Anyone else is welcome to jo..."

The discussion thread is set up!

Carol wrote: "@Gabriella, I doubt I'll be able to join on May 13th, but would love to read Birds of Opulence and will try to jump in about a week later, with luck."

I also will try to jump in as time permits.

Ella wrote: "Aubrey wrote: "I'd be happy to wait, Ella, and no, I haven't been part of the 1001 group for some time now. I found it rather limiting."

Hey Aubrey,

Funny you say that about the 1001 group. I jus..."

Sorry for not responding, Ella. Now that it's May, I'm ready when you are.

Aubrey wrote: "Ella wrote: "Aubrey wrote: "Sorry for not responding, Ella. Now that it's May, I'm ready when you are. "

I'm ready and thrilled you're going to read with me, Aubrey, just because I'm going to need some hand-holding, and the pressure will be good too.

How would you like to divide it up? I'm feeling intimidated (I don't know a lot about anything in these books, and I know less about poetry.) I've got my notebook, actual book and dictionary out and ready.

What if we started with the prefaces & introductions then divided the other 25 chapters up into smaller chunks? The book itself doesn't start until page 99, so I'm thinking the introductory stuff is important (and I am going to read it in hopes that it helps me.)

Let me know, and I will start my reading tonight. (I guess we'll need a thread too.)

If anyone is reading this - Aubrey and I would love a thread for Journey to the West (anonymous ancient text, translated by Anthony C. Yu)

Ella wrote: "Aubrey wrote: "Ella wrote: "Aubrey wrote: "Sorry for not responding, Ella. Now that it's May, I'm ready when you are. "

I'm ready and thrilled you're going to read with me, Aubrey, just because I'..."

I will set up a discussion thread for Monkey: The Journey to the West where you can post the reading schedule and your discussions/thoughts.

Ella wrote: "Aubrey wrote: "Ella wrote: "Aubrey wrote: "Sorry for not responding, Ella. Now that it's May, I'm ready when you are. "

I'm ready and thrilled you're going to read with me, Aubrey, just because I'..."

Your discussion thread has been set up.
I look forward to reading your comments.

Anyone want to start a buddy read for They Both Die at the End ?

Ella wrote: "Aubrey wrote: "Ella wrote: "Aubrey wrote: "Sorry for not responding, Ella. Now that it's May, I'm ready when you are. "

I'm ready and thrilled you're going to read with me, Aubrey, just because I'..."

I'll go ahead and respond to you in the created chat, Ella, so as to not clog up this board.

In the "Long-reads, essay, & others" thread several of us have expressed an interest to do a buddy read for Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston.

Is a Mid-June start date doable?

Also Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" is available on Hoopla if your library is a subscriber.

Thoughts?

It’s my local clubs August BOM, so count me in

Me too! I’ve already exhausted my yearly book purchase set-aside but will make an exception for this one if the library copy is not available.

Beverly wrote: "In the "Long-reads, essay, & others" thread several of us have expressed an interest to do a buddy read for Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by [author:Zora Neale Hurst..."

I'm on a very long list of people waiting for this at my library, but would love to take part in this whenever I get the book. :-)

I'm in for Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"! I will probably purchase it (I'm #32 in line at library with 5 copies).

Beverly wrote: "In the "Long-reads, essay, & others" thread several of us have expressed an interest to do a buddy read for Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by [author:Zora Neale Hurst..."

Based on the long library wait for holds - should we push the begin date to the beginning of July???

Beverly, how about July 1st?

My library just contacted me to let me know my copy of Barracoon just arrived. I’ll return it and try and get it closer to the buddy read. Wish me luck!

Yikes, Columbus, that's pretty risky to return it! If you guys want to do the buddy read in June, that's fine with me. Like Monica, I'm 30 something on my library's list, but you never know ...

just met with a friend who listened to it on the way from L.A. to S.F. and said the narration is magnificent so I will be going full audio for this one and using me downpour credit

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

Here’s 3 memoirs receiving a massive amount of attention lately. If anyone would like to BR with me, let me know. Two of them I own and the other hopefully is still awaiting my pickup from the library. Hopefully, fingers crossed....

Own The Terrible
Own How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays
Library No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America

Well, two memoirs and one essay.

Hey Columbus: I recently read No Ashes, and would love to discuss it more with you! My copy of The Terrible is “in transit” to my library...will be glad to hop in on a BR on either memoir.

Beverly wrote: "In the "Long-reads, essay, & others" thread several of us have expressed an interest to do a buddy read for Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by [author:Zora Neale Hurst..."

I just got Barracoon from the library today. Is there a group reading it still this month?

Gabriella wrote: "Hey Columbus: I recently read No Ashes, and would love to discuss it more with you! My copy of The Terrible is “in transit” to my library...will be glad to hop in on a BR on either memoir."

Hey Gabriella, I’m up for reading any of the three books. I’ll check to see if my copy of Ashes is still being held at the library and you can let me know if TERRIBLE has arrived at your library. Would love to start by Sun/ Mon if possible.

Would July 1st be a good start date for Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" or would that not work for some? My library has 3 copies - all out of course (Kathleen you were right) - but hopefully back soon. But whatever you all decide is fine with me.

I would like to join in on the Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" read. July 1st sounds better than anytime in June.

Whenever is fine, but July is better for me too. I'm still down the list, but calculate I should have it, worst case, no later than the end of July. :-)

I'm fine with a July start date.

You have been reading my mind as I was about to ask about the reading of Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo".

July 1st sounds good.

I will set up the thread later today - in case you want to post an article/information relating to the book.

I hope I can join in - 17 holds on 20 copies at my library seems promising.....

#10 on 2 copies. I probably won’t be able to join by July 1 but please don’t let me hold you up.

Darnell L. Moore

Blurb list:

Janet Mock
bell hooks
Kiese Laymon
Dr. Cornell West
Marc Lamont Hill
Rigoberto González
Jericho Brown

Whoa! I glanced through this book and all I can say is the book will be returned to the library but I will be purchasing it (before reading the prologue, even)

I need this in my life like NOW!

Gabriella, would you be interested in starting a general discussion like Monday?

There are two other contributors to the blurb list that I neglected to mention only because I’m unfamiliar with them:

Imani Perry
dream Hampton

Columbus wrote: "Darnell L. Moore

Blurb list:

Janet Mock
bell hooks
Kiese Laymon
Dr. Cornell West
Marc Lamont Hill
Rigoberto González
Jericho Brown

Whoa! I glanced through this book and all I can say is the book..."

I have only heard great things/buzz about No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America!

This has been a great year for memoirs/essays by authors of color!!

I will set up a discussion thread for this book.

Hey y'all:

Yes, so many great blurbs, and so many great memoirs we get to read!! My copy of The Terrible is ready for pickup, so provided I feel like driving to the library after work, I should be able to start either ASAP!

Oh goodness, my copy of THE TERRIBLE is past due. Was supposed to have arrived by Saturday. Why don’t we start with No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America. We can start with the prologue on Wednesday if that works.
Beverly, can you start a thread, please. Thanks!

Columbus wrote: "Oh goodness, my copy of THE TERRIBLE is past due. Was supposed to have arrived by Saturday. Why don’t we start with No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America. We..."

Done!

Hi -

I hope everyone is having a good reading summer.
There are just so many books that I want to read - so if anyone is interested in a buddy read for one of the books below, please let me know:

Whiskey & Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith
A debut novel about loss, grief, family secrets, and the unexpected sources from which people take solace after unbelievable tragedy.

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan
A deeply moving look inside the Palestinian diaspora.
“Nostalgia is an affliction” a character states in Palestinian-American poet Alyan’s impressive first novel, which tracks the dispersal of four generations of a Palestinian family.

Small Country by Gaël Faye
Faye's debut tells the story of Gabriel, a preteen boy in mid-1990s Burundi when violence from the Rwandan genocide spills over the border.

How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs
Jamaican immigrant and return-migration stories told with unsentimental honesty.

I'm down for How To Love a Jamaican.

Mocha Girl wrote: "I'm down for How To Love a Jamaican."

Great!

I have had good luck with short story collections with year.

When do you want to start?

Anytime, just say when.

Salt Houses and Small Country are both on my to-read list, so I'll participate if a buddy-read group forms. :-)

Mocha Girl wrote: "Anytime, just say when."

I will set up a discussion thread for this book.

Cool! I finished the first story last night. Enjoying so far.

Mocha Girl wrote: "Cool! I finished the first story last night. Enjoying so far."

Great - I will read it tonight.

I want the members of my local book club who are of Jamaican descent to read it and weigh in....so far, no takers. :-(

Joelle wrote: "Salt Houses and Small Country are both on my to-read list, so I'll participate if a buddy-read group forms. :-)"

Joelle -

That is great.

Do you prefer which book we read first?

Beverly wrote: "Joelle -
That is great.
Do you prefer which book we read first?"

Nope, I'm good with either one, whenever. :-)

Anyone for a buddy read with a set number of pages read per day? Sooner rather than later if possible:

Brother by David Chariandy
The Syndicate by Clarence Cooper Jr - discounted ebook
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome middle grade

Let me know.