Welcome to the Bookish and Black Newsletter!
Hey Bookworms,
I am so excited to be launching this newsletter. As I said before, I am really excited to connect with my fellow readers on another level.
I read as a way to destress and it will come as no surprise the past two years while I was getting my masters, I read more than I had since I was a teenager. I went from reading about 30-40 books a year to over 100 books. I graduated into a pandemic, and have only continued this trend. For me reading is a chance to escape, to learn, to rest my mind from the realities of the world. If I can tell you about just one book that may do that for you, then I’ll be happy.
September reading so far:
I just finished I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown on audiobook. This is Brown’s memoir on being Black in America. Her journey to coming to love her Blackness and learning to navigate life in America. Her parents purposefully gave her a name that would on paper look like a white man, allowing her to get a foot in the door, but Austin gives us an account of what happens once she got in the room. Her account of learning to love her Blackness as she made her way through majority white schools, offices, and churches will leave you, if you are Black, reflecting in your own experiences, and if you aren’t, hopefully continuing to open your eyes to the many ways racism shapes the Black American experience. 4.5 Stars
You Had Me At Hola, which was the romance we all need. It was steamy, had realistic characters, and the representation I wish all books would have. My only issue is I felt that things were wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly at the end, but that is a common issue with romance. Since this is my book club pick for September, I’ll save my thoughts for the end of the month discussion. 4.5 Stars
Take the Lead, which is Alexis Daria’s first novel. After You Had Me At Hola, I was craving more romance and more from this author. This story follows Gina, a dancer on The Dance Off (a Dancing With The Stars-esque show). She is paired with reality star Stone Nielson, who stars on Living Wild, an Alaskan Wilderness show. Despite the fact that neither is looking for romance, the two soon grow close- but secrets and fears threaten to pull them apart. I also loved this story- it was a quick read and followed a similar format to You Had Me At Hola. I liked the setting on a dance competition reality show and was definitely pulling for the Gina and Stone to find love and deal with their personal issues. 4.5 stars
And that’s it…we are halfway through September and I haven’t been reading much at all, but that’s okay! I am hoping to pick up a book this week that I am really inspired and excited by. Here is what I am considering reading:
Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham: I actually intend to finish this one this week because I checked it out from the library and it is due in just a few days. This story follows “four siblings over the course of two decades in Nigeria as they search for agency, love, and meaning in a society rife with hypocrisy”.
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin: I’ve been wanting to return to this series for weeks now, ever since I read The Fifth Season in July. I know that this series is a work of art but Jemisin also built such a deeply complicated and beautiful world that I do not want to return to it at half steam. It deserves your full attention because she will suck you in and I know if I cannot dedicate my full brain, I will miss so much.
Things I enjoyed over the past week:
I love The Stacks Podcast and last week’s episode featured one of my favorite bookstagrammer’s, Lupita Aquino. I saved the episode for a time when I really had nothing to do and could enjoy it (rather than listening to it in the background of another task) and I was not disappointed. Traci and Lupita had such an easy conversation, and I loved learning more about Lupita’s start to Bookstagram, how she and other bookstagrammers shined awareness on the fiasco that is AD, and so much more.
19 Books We’re Excited to Read This Fall This fall preview from Vulture of upcoming releases- so many good books coming out this fall. I am particularly excited for Memorial by Bryan Washington and Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda.
Here is another list of anticipated fall releases, this time from The Everygirl.
What It’s Really Like To Be Single During COVID I am married and have not been alone for more then 2-3 hours since March so this was a really interesting read for me.
I loved this post from Cup of Jo. So many great responses in the comments.
If you are like me and you are still (still!!!) having trouble adjusting to work from home life, maybe this article from The Everygirl on tips from someone who has worked from home for years will help.
Thank you everyone for being a part of Bookish and Black. I hope you enjoyed what will hopefully be the first of many newsletters.
See you back here soon,
Sarah