Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

Columbus wrote: "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 [..."

I hope someone takes you up on [book:Brother|36672820].
I was very pleasantly surprised by the skillful writing and plot.
This book had a wallop of a punch and said so much in under 200 pages.

Columbus wrote: "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 [..."

I'd be up for a buddy read of Brother, but can't start it until the end of next week.

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

Brother by David Chariandy
[book:The Syndica..."

Carol, i’ll be glad to hold off til then.

Beverly would you be so kind to set us up.

Thanks!

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

Brother by David Chariandy
[bo..."

Fantastic! I am very much looking forward to tackling this one, and my library copy is sitting on my bedside table. (With 30 of its closest friends, of course .....)

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

Brother by [author:David Char..."

Same here, Carol. I heard amazing things about this book/author and glad Beverly endorsed it too. Will next Friday the 14th (yikes fri 14th!) work for you? I can start anytime.

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

Brother by [aut..."

Yes, that’s perfect. Thanks.

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

Brother by David Chariandy
[book:The Syndica..."

Great timing - my library copy of Brother is sitting on my shelf! Friday the 14th works for me too!

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

Brother by David Chariandy
[..."

Great, Nadine!

Do you both know when your copy is due back? I was thinking about setting a schedule like 20-30 pages or so a day max so it’ll be like a true read-a-long. However, that may not be doable if your copy is due back early.

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

Brother by [author:David Char..."

I shall not disclose the due date. I ignore it and I'll return it when we're finished. :) Your plan would work great for me and I would enjoy the discussion more if it's as-we-read rather than at the end looking back.

Carol wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Anyone for a buddy read with a set number of pages read per day? Sooner rather than later if possible:

Brother by [..."

Hahaha, ok

May I join in on Brother by David Chariandy? I heard wonderful things about this book, and as a fellow Canadian, I try to support Canadian authors whenever I can.

Lata wrote: "May I join in on Brother by David Chariandy? I heard wonderful things about this book, and as a fellow Canadian, I try to support Canadian authors whenever I can."

Please do join us, Lata...

Where are you from? I visited Windsor, Ontario frequently in the 70’s and 80’s from living across the river in Detroit....I also been to Toronto several times (where Brother is set). I just spoke with a friend about traveling to Montreal next year. He loves it and talks about how cosmopolitan it is.

I live west of Toronto in a smallish city called Milton. I haven’t been to Scarborough, where “Brother” is situated, for many years (the provincial government amalgamated Scarborough with TO a while back.)
I haven’t been to Detroit in many years, either, but remember visiting and enjoying it.
I’m actually originally from the US, but haven’t lived there for most of my life.

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

Brother by [author:David Char..."

I renewed my library copy, so I've got 3 more weeks. A slow read-along is fine - it looks like the chapters can easily fall within a 20-30 page read a day. I'm ready to start whenever everyone else is :)

Who’s prepared to start reading Brother Friday?

I’m currently reading non-fiction which I’m not likely to finish by Friday. But, that’s perfect because it will give me something else to read since we’re trying to stay within the reading parameters and read the book together in a classic read-along . Every other day beginning Friday I’ll give the book page number, maybe 30-50 pages at a clip - I need to look at the book and decide a good ending spot.

This type of read-a-long would work great for a tome. Something like a Lorraine Hansberry biography or the Norton Anthology of African American literature.

I can start Brother either this weekend or early next week.

Columbus wrote: "Who’s prepared to start reading Brother Friday?

I’m currently reading non-fiction which I’m not likely to finish by Friday. But, that’s perfect because it will give me something e..."

I have set up the discussion thread for Brother.

Columbus wrote: "Who’s prepared to start reading Brother Friday?

Me!

Columbus wrote: "Who’s prepared to start reading Brother Friday?

I’m currently reading non-fiction which I’m not likely to finish by Friday. But, that’s perfect because it will give me something e..."

*raises hand*

Is anyone interested in a buddy read of In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne? I bought it, so can wait to begin any time in October.

This Guardian review no doubt includes what the spoiler-averse would deem spoilers, but offers a good flavor for this long-listed debut.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Carol wrote: "Is anyone interested in a buddy read of In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne?I bought it, so can wait to begin any time in October.

This Guardian review n..."

Carol -

I am interested in doing a buddy read for In Our Mad and Furious City.

Since this book is not yet published in the US - I will get from Book Depository which will take a couple of weeks.

Beverly wrote: "Carol wrote: "Is anyone interested in a buddy read of In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne?I bought it, so can wait to begin any time in October.

This Gua..."

Excellent. That’s about how long mine took, yes. When yours arrives, we can align on a start date.

Carol wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Carol wrote: "Is anyone interested in a buddy read of In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne?I bought it, so can wait to begin any time in Oct..."

Hi Carol -

My copy of In Our Mad and Furious City has arrived.

Let me know when you want to start reading and I will set up a discussion thread.

Beverly wrote: "Carol wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Carol wrote: "Is anyone interested in a buddy read of In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne?I bought it, so can wait to begin a..."

Excellent. I was looking at my copy across the room just last night. Monday?

Carol wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Carol wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Carol wrote: "Is anyone interested in a buddy read of In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne?I bought it, so can..."

Monday is fine!

Is anyone interested in reading A Deeper Love Inside: The Porsche Santiaga Story by Sister Souljah
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

If so, please let me know

@columbus, get ready to laugh

Anyone interested in a buddy read of A Dead Djinn in Cairo , a 46 page sci-if story that takes place in 1912 Egypt. By P. Djèlí Clark. I don’t have any particular sense of urgency but would like to read it in Nov-Dec.

Carol wrote: "@columbus, get ready to laugh

Anyone interested in a buddy read of A Dead Djinn in Cairo , a 46 page sci-if story that takes place in 1912 Egypt. By [author:P. Djèlí Clark|15117586..."

Me! I just bought it for 99 cents on Amazon.

Nadine wrote: "Carol wrote: "@columbus, get ready to laugh

Anyone interested in a buddy read of A Dead Djinn in Cairo , a 46 page sci-if story that takes place in 1912 Egypt. By P. Djèlí ..."</i>

Me three!

Nov - Dec time frame sounds good.

I am also anxious to the read the author's novella - [book:The Black God's Drums

I can support this. Count me in.

Carol wrote: "@columbus, get ready to laugh

Anyone interested in a buddy read of A Dead Djinn in Cairo , a 46 page sci-if story that takes place in 1912 Egypt. By [author:P. Djèlí Clark|15117586..."

Carol, I watched a video for Dead Djinn/Black God’s Drum last week and was transfixed! What kind of afrofuturistic, steampunk, speculative trickery did Okorafor throw on us?!...might be working!

Beverly wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Carol wrote: "@columbus, get ready to laugh

Anyone interested in a buddy read of A Dead Djinn in Cairo , a 46 page sci-if story that takes place in 1912 Egypt. By [a..."

That looks really great, too. I agree.

Mocha Girl wrote: "I can support this. Count me in."

Excellent!

Maybe November 18? When works best for you all?

Columbus wrote: "Carol wrote: "@columbus, get ready to laugh

Anyone interested in a buddy read of A Dead Djinn in Cairo , a 46 page sci-if story that takes place in 1912 Egypt. By [author:P. Djèlí ..."

I like that explanation! I am so intrigued, even if ultimately I am not the ideal reader for what these gifted authors are creating. And this one hit me in my sweet spot with an historic Egyptian setting.

Beverly, I'm in for P. Djéli Clark's Dead djinn and for Black Drums.

Or was it Carol who started that conversation about Dead Djinn? Sorry if I got things mixed up, but I still want to,read both the short and the novella (Dead Djinn and the Black Drums).

Lata wrote: "Or was it Carol who started that conversation about Dead Djinn? Sorry if I got things mixed up, but I still want to,read both the short and the novella (Dead Djinn and the Black Drums)."

It’s all good, lata — glad you’re up for both!

Carol wrote: " Maybe November 18? When works best for you all?"

Nov 18 works for me!

November 18 sounds good for me for the Clark stories, Carol.

I'm reading now, so I'll be ready whenever the date is decided.

Mocha Girl wrote: "I'm reading now, so I'll be ready whenever the date is decided."

If you want to kick off the discussion earlier, here’s the link to our discussion thread. I’d love to read your thoughts on it whenever you care to share!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

If anyone would like to buddy read either,

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon or,

Let It Bang: A Young Black Man’s Reluctant Odyssey into Guns by R.J. Young let me know.

They are both non-fiction, relatively short and from what I’ve been told both riveting and at times pretty provocative.

Maybe Nov 1-3 start date.

I recently read Heavy; I didn't take notes, but I should be able to chime in based on memory and highlighted passages

I started Heavy: An American Memoir last night and all I can say at this point is wow!

I also have Let It Bang: A Young Black Man’s Reluctant Odyssey into Guns on tbr list and have read excerpts but not sure if can fit it in November.

Wow! was my early reaction to Heavy also. Smile!

Yes, I see Heavy is a Carnegie finalist AND this morning Publishers Weekly bestowed it with one of the Top Ten books of the year. I just received Let It Bang in the mail yesterday. Looks fantastic as well.

https://best-books.publishersweekly.c...

Columbus wrote: "Yes, I see Heavy is a Carnegie finalist AND this morning Publishers Weekly bestowed it with one of the Top Ten books of the year. I just received Let It Bang in the mail yesterday. Looks fantastic ..."

Perhaps you can use your influence to get Heavy into an upcoming group discussion poll. Hint. Hint.

Carol wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Yes, I see Heavy is a Carnegie finalist AND this morning Publishers Weekly bestowed it with one of the Top Ten books of the year. I just received Let It Bang in the mail yesterday...."

Carol, I’m afraid my influence to get “Heavy” on a poll carries no “weight”....as you can see, subtlety is clearly not my greatest asset. Haha.

Columbus wrote: "Carol wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Yes, I see Heavy is a Carnegie finalist AND this morning Publishers Weekly bestowed it with one of the Top Ten books of the year. I just received Let It Bang in the m..."

Damn. I guess we need to revert to sending William anonymous boxes of chocolate and whiskey...

Anyone up for a buddy read of Ann Petry's The Street? Petry was the first black woman writer with book sales -- for this novel, her debut! - topping a million copies.

It's 448 pages or so, across editions, so probably makes the most sense to read in January and not between now and years' end, at least for me.

If you're on the fence, here's a link to todays's NYT article penned by Tayari Jones, and also linked by Columbus on the long-reads thread.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/10/bo...