There's nothing more dangerous than devouring a book and suddenly finding yourself begrudgingly glaring at the stack of "to-read" books because you know few of them will leave you wishing the story didn't have to end. I'm in that place where I know I will miss Boady narrating his life in the rural Ozark hills and I loathe the hole finishing Nothing More Dangerous has left behind.
When I saw the title of Reni Eddo-Lodge's latest work, I couldn't pass it by. Seriously! How much more poignant, jarring, could a title be without using any profanity? The title Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Racecouldn't be more intriguing for someone like me who no longer comments on threads with any hint of racial bias. I made the mistake of commenting on one of my Goodreads friends review of a book about the war on police, and next thing I know some white dude insinuated that I was ignorant or in a position to ignore all the government has done for low-income neighborhoods.
It was ok. That's what my two-star rating is.
I began Newt Gingrich's Trump's America in an effort to understand what President Trumps appeal is. A little more than 50% in I had to give up. It is true that Gingrich writes this in an approachable, precise, and captivating manner but I couldn't help but feel like this America that in some aspects, this "Make America Great Again" never existed. Or at least it never existed for people like me... or my parents... or grandparents.
What the truth sounds like, and is for me as I sit here and write this review is that I don't know how to review books such as this. Part of me wants to offer a review that strictly focuses on the writing. That (cowardly) part wants to remain neutral in all works that are social hot topics such as politics and race. I don't want to take a side. As reviewer, I feel it's a duty of sorts not to take a side. But another part, a bigger part of me knows I can't be honest and not share my opinions on the subject matter. The issues Michael Eric Dyson addresses in What Truth Sounds Like are happening all around whether or not I pick a side or engage in the conversation.
The first Goodreads giveaway I ever won was Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin and since, she's firmly cemented on my "must-read" list whenever she has a new book out. Upon hearing from Netgalley I'd been approved for her latest All We Ever Wanted, I did the requisite hooray dance I usually do, and moved her to the top of the to-read list. Emily Giffin doesn't disappoint, once again.
Where should I begin with One House Over by Mary Monroe? Based on the star rating I've given, there's obviously somewhere to start... It's just whether it should be with the good or the bad.So let's just start at the beginning...
The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat was captivating from page one. We're introduced to our narrator whose story begins on an undisclosed island where it's clear she and her father might be outcasts of sorts. This unnamed island has become home to the narrator and her father along with other Ethiopians that believed in Ayale.
The Boat People by Sharon Bala might best be reviewed after tonight's State of the Union address... The Boat People tells the story of immigration from three different viewpoints... VERY different viewpoints. There's no denying the political message behind this read, but instead of focusing there, I'll begin with a good ol' simple review.
Since this is not my first roll in the hay with Mr. Walter Mosley's writing I expected exactly what I got. What I got was a gritty, police procedural of an ex-detective, Joe King Oliver, making his way in life as a Private Investigator on the mean streets of Brooklyn. Let's refer to him as King from now on.
To say that I was just plain ol' excited to see on Netgalley that John Hart had new material, then have the good fortune of being given the opportunity to read and review that new treasure would be a gross understatement. The Hush was calling my name for a while but I wanted to read it closer to the release date and especially when I had the time to dive in. I've had the pleasure of being acquainted with Hart's work and I can honestly say I've never been let down... until now... but only kinda, sorta, if that makes sense.
I was stuck between giving Tyler Perry's Higher Is Waiting a 3-star rating but I took a breath, listened to what I think he's referring to as the voice of God and had to be honest with my heart and self and give it a 4-star rating. I tend to rate books on emotion rather than what Book-snobs might because the world is full of authors. Some share amazing stories that stay with us until we die, encased in the perfect prose, while introducing us to remarkable characters who we long to share a beer with. And there are others who write in an uncomplicated manner, with forgettable characters yet, the ride they take us on is thrilling. Allowing us an escape from the humdrum of what we know as life.
Where do I begin when reviewing We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates? I don't think... actually... I know I don't have the words to express how impressive this collection of articles is. I'm reminded of Zoolander 2 when Zoolander says he literally does not have the vocabulary to respond. I am in that moment. For those thinking what an idiot I am for throwing Zoolander into a review of Coates, who is a stunning writer, is absolutely correct. So...
For those familiar with Ta-Nahisi Coates are reintroduced to the ideas or experiences he had before writing said article during the eight years of Obama's presidency. For the rest of us, you need to read this and become acquainted with his brilliance. I put myself in the "rest of us" category because I was unaware he existed. In hindsight, I feel like I deprived myself for many years so it's imperative that I right this wrong and absorb all the Coates I can.
Gloria Naylor, author of The Women of Brewster Place, grants the world another chance to read why she's considered a literary champion. When I began reading Naylor's Linden Hills I was not familiar with her works nor had any inclination to be. Oh how foolish I have been all these years. I didn't realize until the last word that I missed her voice.
I know it's wrong what I'm going to say but I don't care. I've come to the point that I am just happy to have made it through. Similarly to the brave slaves that are introduced in The Underground Railroad, my journey through this novel was treacherous, exhausting, and necessary. I know, I know, I gave the novel a 4-star rating. And every star is deserved, I just can't ignore that it took so much out of me to keep going on my journey to freedom to read another book by way of making it to the end of this one.
Where do I begin with Jodi Picoult's Small Great Things? This novel totally had me glued from page one. I am often swept away into Picoult's writing and I expect nothing less than the best. Picoult delivers everything and more in this interesting and often revealing look into race matters after a black nurse is accused of murdering a white baby.
Where do I begin with this review? I guess from the beginning.
Forty Acres is the debut political thriller by Dwayne Alexander Smith composed of a plot I never saw coming. Off the high of winning a civil rights case, Martin Grey is ready to live the good life. The latest verdict is set to bring the small civil rights practice he shares with his good friend Glen, into the limelight and some serious cash flow.
Seemingly out of the blue, Martin is approached by Damon Darell, who happens to also be opposing counsel in the trial that has made his career. Damon encourages Martin to spend some time with him as he introduces him to a group of other successful black men.
This is where the plot to Forty Acres becomes interesting... and I admit...a little uncomfortable. Damon and his group of cronies are members to a secret society headed by Dr Kasim. Their intent is to reinstate slavery but only for white people. They insistForty Acres is their way of honoring their ancestors.
Maybe it's all the "black noise" I hear in my ears or whatever but this was wildly insane to me. I couldn't get past my discomfort for a long time. It made reading the first half a bit of a struggle for me. I don't want to give anything away but I'm sure some of their points can leave room for much discussion.
Once Martin is drawn into their sick fantasy, it becomes frighteningly clear that he does not agree with their beliefs which my also place him in harms way. There's no way a secret such as Forty Acres can be revealed without ensuring it's secret is safe, by all means necessary.
Smith's Forty Acres is a riveting story of a man who's faced with determining what his beliefs mean to him and if he's willing to risk his life for them. Martin is such an awesome character that deserved so much more development, but because this is a thriller, thin characters are to be expected. There were many moments I thought that the plot was predictable and then Smith would take it in a whole different direction.
The one huge gripe I had with Forty Acres is the end and the countdown. That's a cheap tool used in movies and not a book. Sorry!!! Just had to call it out.
Ultimately, Forty Acres by Dwayne ALexander Smith was quite a read. It forces readers to question their own morals and what they'd live or die for. I won't forget this novel and am even now questioning the absurdity of the thinking in some characters. Thanks Dwanye Alexander Smith for such a thought-provoking read. Fans of political thrillers will have to read this stunning debut. The point isn't that this novel is not likely or possible, it's the fact that someone out their wishes it is. ****
Copy provided by Simon & Schuster via Netgalley
Moving Day is a suspenseful thriller about two men who refuse to claim defeat. Almost immediately Stanley Peke thinks there's something wrong with his moving men. He was certain that they arrived a day early to pack up his life. As each item leaves the safety of the house he's shared with his wife for 40+ years, Stanley Peake figures his increasingly unreliable memory is to blame for how he's managed to screw up his moving dates. After spending a night in an empty huge house with his wife, he wakes to a morning quite different from its predecessor.Stanley opens the door to the true moving men. The (true) moving men reveal to him that his initial recollection of the moving date was accurate and that he's been the victim of a crime. At the age of 72, Stanley finds all the proof of his wealth and accomplishment has been taken right from under his nose. He's unwillingly been forced into the role of being a victim. That's a title he refuses... no matter what.Unable to resolve his new-found status in life, Stanley decides he is no one's victim, and has escaped threats greater than the present situation, goes on a mission that should result in him getting back all his things. Things... plain ol' perishable items.I sometimes find it hard to accept that my car is a perishable item. It defines who I am at some moments. After years of driving a car that was embarrassing, at best, having a car that was a current model meant the world to me. Like Stanley, and his nemesis Nick, I figured that item defined who I was/am. I could never be content with the memories provided driving my hamster car with the sunroof open and the music blaring. Any threat to my car was/is a threat to me.Jonathan Stone introduces readers to two men who are hellbent on proving there's no such thing as surrender. Stanley follows Nick, by clever means, in order to get back his possessions. The only problem is that Stanley never took into account that once Nick got ahold of those items, he felt a certain entitlement to them. Nick travels the states making victims of wealthy older citizens by posing as a moving man who's been hired to oversee the safe travel of their personal effects. He has made a victim of many unsuspecting elderly citizens he feel doesn't deserve their proofs of life because he's had the bad fortune of being raised without. Nick is scum. Very intelligent scum.Moving Day forces readers to consider the lengths they will go for their "trophies". Stanley came from a world of nothing, similarly to Nick, yet overcame his obstacles to accumulate a wealth that made chasing these items pointless. It's all about the mere audacity. We hear it in politics all the time. How dare the poor think that they are entitled to healthcare, food, or housing provided by the ones who work hard, all but forgetting how it felt to wonder where their next meal would come from. Too much?Basically, Jonathan Stone provides readers with a great cat and mouse thriller that begs either character to scream checkmate. Stanley is one of the best "old persons" I've read about in a long time. I mean, this guy is the senior citizens Rambo. Stone allows us a view into his past by making that past an antagonist as formidable as Nick, the thief, is. I loved Stanley.I don't have many, if any, gripes with this novel. Moving Day is fast-paced, engaging, and fun. Jonathan Stone forced me to consider whether or not the perishables I accumulate really define who I am. What lengths would I go to in order to prove that my worth can be measured by the items I accrue? And most importantly, would it be worth proving at all? ****Copy provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley
Karin Slaughter has been one of my favorite authors for some time now. Her Will Trent series has always placed her in a class all her own. Her gritty, descriptive, suspenseful crime novels make her a force to be reckoned with so it's no surprise that Cop Town, the first standalone novel, is as good as it is.Maggie Lawson and Kate Murphy take center stage as two female officers for the Atlanta Police Department. Maggie comes from a family that eats, breathes, and dies by the blue. Although no one in her family is happy she's on the force, she can take care of her own. Her brother Jimmy, and uncle Terry, are on the force as well. They give her as much of a hard time as all the other animals... I mean men in blue.Kate Murphy is the rookie officer who is barely managing her first day on the job when she partners up with Maggie. Kate decides to serve after her husband dies in Vietnam. At first she seems lost and unsure of herself, but eventually she discovers what she's made of. Both women are investigating the death of Jimmy Lawson's partner Don Mosley. Someone has declared it open season on the APD. There have been seemingly random murders of officers while on duty which has turned the whole Atlanta Police Department on its head. They are out for blood and will not let this murderer have their day in court. Maggie and Kate begin to investigate the latest murder of Don Mosley and begin piecing together the evidence and witness accounts. There is enough proving that Maggie's brother is hiding something and the murders may not have been so random after all. Cop Town takes place during the 70s. Racism, homophobia, sexism and classism seems to permeate its way into the minds of every character. In some way, in some form, one person or another is faced with dealing with their own prejudices or ones thrown at them. Kate and Maggie battle not only the elements on the tough streets, but are constantly needing to prove themselves to their male counterparts. Kate is sexually harassed at least once every hour or so. I can't imagine what it was like for women who paved the way for current female police officers. Judging from this book they had a tough row to hoe.Karin Slaughter writes a damn-good police procedural. She provides readers with great characters who have such depth I'd love to see them in future novels. (Please...maybe?) Both women trudge through the mud and find a whole lot more on the other side. I really enjoyed this journey with Maggie and Kate. Cop Town is a must read for all of Slaughter's fans. And for those living under a rock and haven't yet been acquainted her novels, make Cop Town your first. ****
Copy provided by Random House Publishing Group via Netgalley
The Prodigal Son is drama from the beginning. DRAMA!!!!! For those aware of Kimberla Lawson Roby's Reverend Curtis Black series, it comes as no surprise that this latest addition continues with the trend.The Prodigal Son follows the lives of Matthew and Dillion. Both are connected only by the blood they share courtesy of their promiscuous father Rev. Black... and that's about all they share. Matthew seems like a genuinely nice guy who's between a rock and a hard place. He's torn between loyalty to his wife after his mother attempts to break up their "happy" home, and the people who raised him. Matthew hasn't spoken to his parents since Charlotte told DCFS that his wife, Racquel, was abusive towards their infant son causing a brief period where they were not even able to see their child outside of protective custody. Like I said... DRAMA!!!Dillon on the other hand is Rev. Black's first born. He's also the only one of the Black's who was raised outside of the luxury afforded a mega-pastor. Dillon is bitter, vindictive, conniving, and explosive. I haven't come across a character I've detested more in a long time. The only problem I have with him (besides all the above mentioned flaws) is that I feel bad for him. He just wants his father's love and attention. After being ignored your whole life from someone who makes up 50% of your DNA, being a little crazy is the least of your worries.On to the writing. This novel, The Prodigal Son is written simply. It's not the highest form of literature but honestly, I could care less how philosophical a book is so long as it grabs my attention. Roby grabbed my attention and never let go. It's a great beach read when you need your fill of craziness.The Prodigal Son reminds me of the days of my youth. I was raised in my family's church, although small, it had it's drama. I am often reminded of how contradicting church folk can be. Roby cautions that no matter what church, the size of its congregation, or the "righteousness" of the saints, there is no human walking on Earth that is perfect. Certainly not any of the characters in this book. Characters who all seem to have an ulterior motive. In conclusion, although I haven't read any of the preceding novels in this series, I don't feel like I've missed much. She sets the stage well and recaps the previous novels in a way that makes me only want to move forward. Fans of the Rev. Curtis Black series will love this latest installment. ****Copy provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley
Wow!!!Ruby by Cynthia Bond is a profound debut novel featuring two beautiful, yet battered souls. On one hand we have Ruby. Evident from page one she comes off as a woman who has seen better days. People of Liberty watch her as she begs Miss P for food. She's no longer the beauty she once was, but still Ephram Jennings only sees her through loving eyes.Ephram Jennings has loved Ruby since they were children and has never stopped. After seeing her fall so far from glory, Ephram decides to save her. He doesn't so much as want to remake her, but to make her whole again. And in the process, he will be made whole as well.Cynthia Bond offers readers two unforgettable, unbreakable characters whose story I won't soon forget. Ephram stole my heart from page one with his wish to only be noticed. Besides his overbearing sister, Celia, no one else notices this simple man. Except maybe to make fun of him for taking an interest in Liberty's Ruby.What is most true to form is the setting Bond has created. Liberty, a small, unassuming town that is riddled with secrets, and folklore... maybe even some haints, and is full of gossip. This southern town has seen it's share of crazies and is sure that Ruby is on the way to making her way into that prestigious hall of fame that Ephram's mother did decades earlier. Each character presented in this novel served a purpose. I love that there were no words, actions, or scenes that didn't matter. Ruby is often full of suspense, mystery, intrigue, and hope. There were no good opportunities to stop reading. In the moments when I had to come back to my own world, Ruby and Ephram weren't far from my mind. Their spirits lingered, similarly to Ruby's own ghosts. I can go on and on about this book. I can mention how vivid, provocative, haunting, and gripping Ruby is, but my words could not do this novel justice. Ruby stands on its own and invites readers to believe there is love, and redemption in us all. Thank you Cynthia Bond for inviting me on the journey through the lives of Ruby, Ephram, and the citizens in Liberty. Ruby is a wonderful debut novel that will remain in the minds of readers long after the last page is turned. ****Copy provided by Crown Publishing via Netgalley
