So much chaos in this book, I don’t know where to start….
When I picked up this book, I thought it was supposed to be a memoir about Ira Mathur’s lif So much chaos in this book, I don’t know where to start….
When I picked up this book, I thought it was supposed to be a memoir about Ira Mathur’s life. I was so intrigued to find out more about how she left India with her parents and ended up in Tobago and all the various things that would have gone in place to make that happen. There aren’t a lot of literature (I find) written from an Indian person whose families weren’t indentured laborer but decided to leave Indian to start a new life in Tobago.
Let me tell you what I enjoyed about this book – reading about Ira’ family, specifically her Grandmother, mother and sister. Yes, she gave us a raw look at the family drama, the fights and unpleasant things that took placed behind closed doors. I loved reading about their life in India and how they ended up in Tobago. I felt that part of the book was truly interesting. Yes, I felt there were so many unanswered question family wise- why didn’t she get along with her sister? What’s up with her parents currently? How did they afford to send her to colleges? Her brother’s family. Then again, there is only so much you can fit in a memoir.
Here is what I didn’t like… how the book felt like a 200 page name drop of “I spent a weekend with Derek Walcott and he looked at my manuscript” honestly….that part was confounding. Why did it feel like 20% of the book was a biography of Derek Walcott’s life and his beef with VS Naipaul? Also I didn’t need the BTS of your manuscript critique- I wish the story focused more on Ira and her family and her journey.
Also her relationship with her husband it was… for lack of a better word… WEIRD. I felt there was an under current of being abusive but the author did not come right out and say it. I felt his family seem like they would throw her out any time she steps out of line. Also, I wanted her to talk more about her career because she fact that her husband was well off but she was told she needed to work… man….
I finished this book having more questions than answers. As far as memoirs go, I really wish it was tighter and edited better.
WHY WAS THERE SO MUCH INCLUSION OF DEREK WALCOTT?!!!!! ...more
An exceptional collection of short stories that will leave you breathless.
Friends, I am still unable to put into words how profoundly moving this entAn exceptional collection of short stories that will leave you breathless.
Friends, I am still unable to put into words how profoundly moving this entire collection is. Chimeka Garricks is a master storyteller who deserves to be read widely. I need to see more people talking about this book that left me speechless.
A BROKEN PEOPLE’S PLAYLIST is a collection of twelve stories from song. At the start of each story the author lets you know the song inspiration, which I think is truly unique. Of the twelve stories my favorites are: LOST STARS HURT SONG FOR SOMEONE I’D DIE WITHOUT YOU BEAUTIFUL WAR RIVER DESPERADO Yes, I am aware I kinda just rewrote the entire tracklist (I mean list of stories) but that is to show how many of these stories were actual bangers!
Each story covers themes of love, lost, regret, heat-break, redemption and desire. From the musician who is faithful and will do everything except get married, to the childhood friends turn lovers who reunites after years of playing around, to the man who cheats on his wife and having to deal with the consequences, to the guy who calls the girl on a her wedding day and tells her not to get married. All of the characters are layered, deeply flawed, beautifully human and you cannot help with fall in love with them.
Here's how I know Garricks is a master storyteller, they are able to write a robust story in less than ten pages and I did not once think, “I want more..”. Each story could stand on their own, each character gave me just enough.
Friends, if this book is not on your list of books to read, I need you to change that. Chimeka Garricks is a master storyteller, how is it possible for him to convey so much with so little pages. I cannot recommend this collection enough.
Here’s a quote I truly love: “My mother was so proud of her temper that she wore frowns like medals of honours”...more
It took two stopovers and nineteen hours of total flying time for me to become Black
Son of Elsewhere is Elamin Abdelmahmoud memoir told in pieces ab It took two stopovers and nineteen hours of total flying time for me to become Black
Son of Elsewhere is Elamin Abdelmahmoud memoir told in pieces about leaving behind his live in Sudan to live in Canada. We read of his father leaving because of prosecution to find refugee in Switzerland but got turned away so he made it to Canada to then send for him and his mother. We get a raw look at how Elamin went from living in Sudan to trying to fit into life in Canada.
I truly enjoyed Elamin recounting his experiences, I definitely found myself crying in certain areas, especially reading about his parents and what they did to provide for him. I loved that the author included history and the 401 highway to tie the memoir all together. A truly solid read....more
Get ready for a heart-warming, adventurous read between a mother and daughter…
In Kereen Getten’s second book, If You Read This we meet Brie who l Get ready for a heart-warming, adventurous read between a mother and daughter…
In Kereen Getten’s second book, If You Read This we meet Brie who lost her mother to an illness over three years ago. Brie is about to celebrate her twelfth birthday and birthdays are generally had because of how much she misses her mother and would want to have her there. While Brie does have the strong support of her friends, aunts, uncle, father and grandparents she truly misses her mother.
As part of her twelfth birthday celebrations, Brie is given a surprise from her mother- a box filled with letters that leads to a treasure hunt. The treasure being, Brie finding her mother’s special place. Brie gets to hear from her mother through the letters, uncover family secrets and learn more about who she is becoming as a young adult. What secret is her father keeping from her, what will her mother’s secret place be like? Brie finds this all out when she reads each letter.
I am generally not a middle grade reader but I always enjoy Kereen Getten’s writing, because it feels so innocent and heart-warming- also I love the fact that it is set in the Caribbean. I am a huge fan of mother daughter themes and I felt the author did a great job of exploring grief in a middle grader who lost her mother. I also love how much of an adventurer the mother was and how she raised Brie to be brave.
If you are looking for a heart-warming read, filled with adventure- I cannot recommend this book enough! A solid #ReadCaribbean pick!...more
More books told from the perspective of persons over 60 please!
I absolutely love Elizabeth Strout’s writing and her ability to write about everythin More books told from the perspective of persons over 60 please!
I absolutely love Elizabeth Strout’s writing and her ability to write about everything and nothing. It take a special kind of writer to keep you interested when if feels like nothing is happen. Oh, William!” is about Lucy Barton and her ex-husband, William. Lucy recently lost her husband and is still grieving, added t o that William’s younger wife for years finally left him. William must now navigate life alone, a lot is being thrown his way, including finding out some major family secrets.
I gobbled this book up- it was unpretentious, charming and had you rooting for Lucy and William in so many ways. I love reading books about characters who are still going through it even in their 60s. Strout is able to introduce so many things and it is well crafted.
Truly a charming read that you won’t want to end....more
Going in I knew this book wouldn't be groundbreaking literature but I read the premise and it sounded like something that would make for a great beachGoing in I knew this book wouldn't be groundbreaking literature but I read the premise and it sounded like something that would make for a great beach/mindless read. I guess you can say the book achieve it's purpose....more
Very strong storytelling elements…. But faltered at the end
In C.J. Washington’s debut novel we meet two women who are grieving in different ways an Very strong storytelling elements…. But faltered at the end
In C.J. Washington’s debut novel we meet two women who are grieving in different ways and both their husband not being able to assist. Amanda recently had a miscarriage- she knows she is not pregnant- yet her body and brain tells her otherwise, she is diagnosed with a rare, mysterious condition called pseudocyesis. This is where her body shows she is pregnant, she feels pregnant but is not pregnant. It is hard for Amanda to go through this, and she is unable to connect with her husband who recently found God starts believing they are having a faith pregnancy. Amanda turns to a neuroscientist Patrick for help with her condition….. but maybe Patrick is a little too helpful.
Patrick recently went through a traumatic experience and so did his wife, Marissa. Marissa is a brilliant mathematician who is throwing herself into her work, her goal- to use maths to help people speak with the dead… yeah… wild.
What happens when Patrick and Amanda gets too close? Will Marissa solve for X?
Y’all, let me say this book is WILD A.F in some areas but what I will say is that it started out strong. The author has a way of drawing you in that you must find out what happens next. He does a great job with telling a strong that keeps you engaged and it is only when you are half way through that you think, “WAIT… WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?”
I definitely think the premise was solid, but I felt the ending was entirely all over the place- this book would have benefitted from a strong editor who is able to expertly pull all the strings together. I am not saying I wanted a neatly tied up story but this was just just… too all over the place.
Do I recommend this one… I do… I think it was an enjoyable read, just the ending fell flat....more
Unsettled Ground opens with the sudden death of Dot, mother of 51-year-old twins- Jeanie and Julius. With the passing of their mother, Jeanie and Ju Unsettled Ground opens with the sudden death of Dot, mother of 51-year-old twins- Jeanie and Julius. With the passing of their mother, Jeanie and Julius must now assume some level of responsibilities for their lives… at 51 years old. Before the death of their mother, they lived happily- yes always on the brink of poverty but managing to farm and provide food for themselves regularly. With the death of their mom, they are now in debt, unable to bury her and told that the cottage they have been living in rent free for years, they must now leave.
Julius who sometimes finds odd jobs must now worry about how to provide for him and his sister who barely leaves the home. Jeanie, who left school early because of an undiagnosed illness did not learn to read and was heavily dependent on her mother… she must now try to venture out into the world at age 51.
There is a deep sadness that runs through this book and creeps into your spirit and leaves you feeling unsettled the entire time. Claire Fuller is a master as conveying atmosphere, and I felt a deep dread and sadness for these twins for the entire time. Yes, there were parts that I found unrealistic; I just could not wrap my mind around 51 years who didn’t have some semblance of the world around them. I mean… yes there are some people who live off the grid but… yeah.
Honestly, this wasn’t my favourite Clarie Fuller book, it felt a bit monotonous, sad, and all around depressing. It was devoid of hope and just SAD…. But also well written.
I would say, pass on this if you aren’t feeling cheerful, this will not help. ...more
I finished reading this book and when I was done, my first thought was, "a weh mi just read?!". I decided to wait for awhile before writing my review I finished reading this book and when I was done, my first thought was, "a weh mi just read?!". I decided to wait for awhile before writing my review to see if I was too close or needed the book to sit with me.
Can this author write? Definitely! Did this book feel overly written? At times. Could it have benefitted from a stronger editor? Most definitely! Did I understand everything I read? I need someone to talk to, to understand what I missed Will I read something else by this author? Oh for sure!
Honestly, the parts that were really good- were flawless, the parts that weren't so great, really were not great. I felt the book tried too hard and got lost in the sauce.
I am not even sure who I can recommend this book to.... ...more
You are going to laugh, cry, get enraged and fall madly in love with Ronke, Simi and Boo! This book is not just a pretty cover! It is engaging , trulyYou are going to laugh, cry, get enraged and fall madly in love with Ronke, Simi and Boo! This book is not just a pretty cover! It is engaging , truly unputdownable you wont want to leave your new friend behind!
I am a little annoyed that the publishers choose to compare these amazing ladies to those other characters because I feel like I relate more to them than four white women living in New York City… but I digress. In Wahala we meet three Nigerian women Ronke, Boo, and Simi who are all living in London. They all met while in University and bonded because of their Nigerian background. Years later and their friendships are strong as ever even though they are all in different stages of their lives.
Ronke is still searching for her happily ever after and thinks she’s found it with Kayode who can be a bit sketchy, added to that, her friends don’t really like him but he’s been showing up and doing better- that counts for something right? On the outside Boo seems to have everything going for her, a wonderful husband, rambunctious daughter and a job she gets to go into when she feels like. Even with all of this, she still feels unfulfilled and like something is missing. Simi is that friend who just seems to shine- you can never catch her faltering…but what happens when the shine wears off and she let her hair down?
Simi introduces her two friend to her long time childhood friend Isobel… Isobel swoops in and charms everyone excluding Boo… Boo thinks something is “off” about her, but everyone tells her she is being ridiculous… will they see what Boo is talking about before it’s too late?
Y’all I LOVED this one. I ate is up! I truly enjoyed being in the lives of these three women- they felt real and truly relatable. I could pinpoint exactly which friend was who and that is what I exactly why I was enamored with this book. The writing is fresh, engaging and I could not get enough of the pop references.
Nikki May does a great job of showcasing Black Women and friendship in a way that was not overdone and eye-rolling and I want more persons to experience this. Truly an experience you won’t forget!...more
It’s been a year since Pamela and Ebere best friend, Janet Uzor died and while Pamela is trying to move oRefreshing and exhilarating at the same time!
It’s been a year since Pamela and Ebere best friend, Janet Uzor died and while Pamela is trying to move on from it, her friend Ebere just won’t deal with. Ebere is convinced that Janet was murdered and her death was not an accidental drowning because she is an expert swimmer. Through her investigation, Ebere also deduced that Janet’s death was not a one off situation, there is actually a serial killer amongst them. While Ebere’s got “proof” no one seems to believe her, not even her friend Pamela who she thought would listen to her.
Pamela is dealing with a lot, she lives with her father, her month left her a long time ago and the death of her best friend really did a number on her. She’s been having nightmares and one day she woke up to a mysterious note written in blood saying she will be killed next. With the notes frequency increasing she’s got not choice but to believe Ebere that there is a serial killer and there is strong urgency to solve this mystery, or she could be next.
I inhaled this book, I felt like I spent a day in the world of Pamela and Ebere and I just HAD to know what happened. I LOVED the twist, and I truly did not see it coming because… there were only two pages left in the book.
If you are looking for a fast paced read that will grip you, WHAT HAPPENED TO JANET UZOR is it! ...more
Some people neither day or night. Some people not set-out point or destination, some people is the journey…
One thing you should know, Marlon James knoSome people neither day or night. Some people not set-out point or destination, some people is the journey…
One thing you should know, Marlon James knows how to tell a story and he does just that in Moon Witch, Spider King . Unlike the first installment in the Dark Star Trilogy, this book, I found flowed a lot better and I felt I could understand (for the most part) what was happening.
When we first met Sogolon we did not know a lot about her back story, why she is the way she is and how she ended up being that person. With this book we journey from her childhood to adulthood and everything in between. I enjoyed being immersed in Sogolon’s story, which was well told!
I received an ARC so I didn’t get to see the map of the world, that kinda threw me off sometimes but outside of that James did an amazing job of world building. I wished we stayed more in the city that floated at night and was grounded during the days.
I am not a big fantasy reader but Sogolon’s story is a truly one to be read! I can see a lot of people enjoying this one! ...more
This book was very high on my list, a debut novel written by an author from Puerto Rico…. Sign me up! In Olga I guess I wanted more from this one….
This book was very high on my list, a debut novel written by an author from Puerto Rico…. Sign me up! In Olga Dies Dreaming we meet Olga who is a wedding planner living in Manhattan and is the go too for celebrities and A-Listers planning their wedding. Olga’s got it all, top of her game, a go getter, owner of her business but still feels like she isn’t exactly where she should be. She is constantly reminded of this by her mother…
Her brother Prieto is a congressman who spent his career representing the Latinx community while fighting for the rights of his fellow countryman in Puerto Rico. Prieto is a bit of a people pleaser and has a dark secret that is currently being used against him.
Both Olga and Prieto have not seen their mother since she left to be a part of the movement to free Puerto Rico. Her presence is still felt by her children as she sends them letters letting them know how proud or disappointed she is in them depending on what they are doing. With a major hurricane hitting in Puerto Rico, their mother reached out, is this good or bad news for them?
Honestly, I wanted to LOVE this books and while it’s got some great moments- particularly the first four chapters, I felt the author was trying to do entirely too much. The mother writing letters to her children she left behind felt a bit heavy handed and not organic. While I LOVED the history lesson on Puerto Rico, I felt it could have been incorporated without feeling so forced. I really could have done without the mother character- I’m not sure why I have such a strong reaction to her but I do!
Overall, I just felt the book dragged in certain areas and tried to do too much. Will a read something else from this author… well of course! ...more
Updated January 28, 2023 Re-read for book club and YASSSSS!!!!
This is going to be a 2022 favorite for sure!
Neruda on the Park explores the age old Updated January 28, 2023 Re-read for book club and YASSSSS!!!!
This is going to be a 2022 favorite for sure!
Neruda on the Park explores the age old question of “where is home”, is it a place? What is it? Home, she told herself, could be a place, a person, a feeling, at times, a profession, the end result of a long pursuit. A fluid thing, for sure, but precious.
I absolutely loved reading this book and I think a lot of people will enjoy it as well. In Neruda on the pack we meet the Guerreros, they have spent majority of their lives in Nothar Park, home to mostly Dominicans in New York. One day they wake up to see demolition taking place and a new condo being built. You know that this means… the neighbourhood is about to change.
Eusebia who came from the Dominican Republic with her husband Vladimir wants to fight the development, protect the people she’s come to know and love. Their daughter Luz, a budding attorney finds there are some benefits to the neighbourhood changing, it means she doesn’t have to go all the way into the City to do hot yoga (yay). Vladimir on the other hand, wants to take the payout and leave for his home in the Dominican Republic and retire there. A lot of people will be affected, some will have to leave home, to find their true home.
A well crafted tale about gentrification, agency, mother-daughter relationship and what it means to call a place home. The author does a great job of telling a well thought out story, and I loved that she told the story from the POV of the Luz and Eusebia. We get a deeper look into their motivation and how they justify their action. This is a such a great story about community, how coming together with one goal can lead to a victory.
A well done story that I want everyone to read!...more
In No Light To Land On we meet Sama a young, married, pregnant Syrian woman heading to the airport to m Get ready to have your heart shatter… wow!
In No Light To Land On we meet Sama a young, married, pregnant Syrian woman heading to the airport to meet her husband Hadi, a Syrian who was granted refugee status in the US. Hadi went back home for a short trip and when he landed, he was told about the Muslim Travel Ban. He no longer had refugee status, he must go back “home” but where is home? Sama goes into labour not hearing from her husband or knowing what is happening.
Told from the perspective of Hadi and Sama we get their back story, how they both ended up in the US and how they fell in love. The narration goes between present and past so as a reader you are full immersed into how both characters are dealing with the current situation.
The author pulled on your heart strings the entire time. You will finish this book with tears running down your face! An impactful and important read! ...more
When the author uses this quote to start a book, prepared to be ruined, They said you came looking for me. I didn't drown; I was the water"- Jo NketiWhen the author uses this quote to start a book, prepared to be ruined, They said you came looking for me. I didn't drown; I was the water"- Jo Nketiah Also...the the title was a dead giveaway.
This book is being marketed as a mash up of Transcendent Kingdom and A Man Called Over and I think its doing the book a disserve, I think this Open Water and Transcendent Kingdom had a baby... The Selfless Act of Breathing would be the child. This is my way of saying... it's a beautiful child that you MUST READ!
This is such a beautiful debut, Bola has a way with words where they get under your skin, and stay there. I was so moved by how the author handled Michael story, it was nuanced, fresh, engaging, and truly beautiful, I think everyone should read this book.
We meet Michael, a young teacher at a high school in London. He is loved by his students, his co-worker enjoys his company, his best friend loves him, he still lives with his mother and can barely save enough after he gets paid. While he is doing was well as can be, for a long time he's felt like he doesn't have the will to go on. He continues to push through those feelings- even when his mother brings home the pastor and asks for his blessing for them to get married. After a traumatic experience, things finally pushes him to leave it all behind... and that's where the story starts, with these lines, "I quit my job; I am taking my life savings, $9,021, and when it runs out, I am going to kill myself."
With an opener like that, prepare for the unexpected. To leave London, head to LA and all over the USA... but what happens when the life savings runs out? Well... read to find out.
I cannot wait to read what Bola writes next. Loneliness is a topic I feel we don't talk a lot about and Bola did it with heart and nuance. Michael experience is so layered, being a Black teacher in London, from Immigrant parents, being raised by his mother who expects so much of him, including going to church regularly. I really did not want the book to end. What a beautiful read.
Below are some of of the quotes from the book I absolutely LOVED!
We fight to be seen, for the world to know that we are here, only for us to be forgotten, to be invisible once again.
Have you ever loved, knowing it would end, but giving your whole heart regardless?
She loved books in a different way than I; they brought her back into the world but helped me escape.
The thing about losing love is makes you feel like you can never love again, like you are not worthy.
It reminds him of the Caribbean restaurants in Dalston or Tottenham High Road, and how there's always something endearing about the way the servers behind the counter never smile at you, or the way they tell you, "we nuh ave that," and yet you keep coming back because you love it.
Loneliness is being there for everyone, everyone, in the hope that someone will be there for you. But no one ever is. You are the sun, lighting the world of another, while setting yourself on fire.
And above all, it is love, that spark of bright light, that dazzling flame, ephemeral or eternal, may it find us, may it be us, the will that carries us forward, the bond that brings us back, from beyond this lonely feeling to healing; the selfless act of breathing.
As many as 180 children are said to go missing in India every day. Do you read that? 180 children are said to go missing in India EVERY DAY.
What an As many as 180 children are said to go missing in India every day. Do you read that? 180 children are said to go missing in India EVERY DAY.
What an important but thoroughly engaging and entertaining read. This is what atmospheric feels like. Deepa Anappara knows how to weave a story that is well written, has a character voice that feels like he is speaking directly to you. I loved how she was able to write about an important, harsh reality while not making it trauma porn.
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