#BookReview: BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Who Are You?

Find out who you really are and accept this person. What else can you do?

The writing opens with a poem by Richard Wright from which the title of the book is lifted, this quickly sets the tone of Coates' part letter, part memoir to his son. Poetry imbued with passion; there is a delicate duality, a double consciousness as Coates moves chronologically from a teenager in Baltimore, to a student at Howard (The Mecca), into a career as a writer, and lastly as a father. Between the World and Me explores and listens for the subtext: facts, feelings, values and opinions on the meaning and value of black bodies. The narrative lives between his story and history. An important voice, effectively communicating a point of view many share considering the current state of these United of States where black American lives are being numbered, a devaluation.

“I have spent much of my studies searching for the right question by which I might fully understand the breach between the world and me.”

There are no grand antidotes on overcoming or defeating racial prejudice, Coates views race itself as a restatement and retrenchment of the problem. I appreciate this approach as it charges us not with saving the Souls of Black Folks but remembering who we are-who are you?, to survive … to stay woke.

I read this twice, purchased an electronic version for my Kindle and purchased a hard copy for the collection, goals. I love this book, I would rate it five stars for the way Coates writes from his soul on that merit alone. Between the World and Me should be required reading.

176 p.
Published: July 2015

Today's post was written by Brian Tramuel. Brian lives with his wife Michelle, their children Geneva and Brian, and their cocker spaniel, Maestro, in the Queen City of Charlotte. He talks about money at RetirementSavvy.net and life at Tramuel.com..

#BookReview: Count on Me: Tales of Sisterhoods and Fierce Friendships by Las Comadres Para Las Americas

The concept of friendship that goes beyond everyday acquaintances is nothing new.  Count On Me serves to remind us of those friendships that are so strong and so important that the only word that can define them is comadre.  Told in twelve narratives, Count On Me highlights the friendships between co-workers, neighbors, confidants and complete strangers.

In Carolina De Robertis' narrative, Every Day of Her Life, we see her and others step in to complete the book of a classmate turned comadre who died before she had a chance to finish her novel.  Though completing someone else's work can be a tremendous amount of work, the deceased Leila taught Carolina and those around her so much about living and loving that they felt the need to complete her love letter to her home country of Lebanon.

In Crocodiles and Plovers, Lorraine Lopez describes her symbiotic relationship with Judith Ortiz Cofer, the mentor she initially rejected, who would eventually push her to recognize her own talent as a writer.  In return, Lorraine drives Judith around and offers her conversation or silence, depending on what she needs.

Comadrazgo fosters mutual benefit, not dependency.

My favorite narrative comes from Esmeralda Santiago in the form of Las Comais, in which she speaks of the relationship between her mother and her comadres.  From dona Zena, the praying comai, and comai Ana, the teller of dirty jokes, to dona Lola, the midwife, Esmeralda's mother was surrounded by her closest confidantes.  I think I was so moved by this story because it reminded me of my mother and what she calls her O and Ds, oldest and dearest friends.

My mother has known Barbara, Elena and Deidre since junior high.  They attended high school and college together and pledged the same sorority.  Growing up, they were a constant presence in my life.  Even today as retired grandmothers, they still hang tight, getting together for birthdays, holidays and no reason in particular to share a meal and catch up on what's going on.  A few years ago we threw a surprise birthday party for my mother.  Her O and Ds helped out by telling her they were going out to dinner and bringing her to the venue.  Another friend was miffed because I left her out of the planning and proudly told me, "I'm one of your mother's oldest and dearest friends."  I'm sure I may have appeared rude when I told her, "You may be one of her friends, but you're not one of her oldest and dearest."  Simply put, she was not a comadre.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone that has ever experienced the comfort that comes in knowing you have a comadre that will stand by you through thick and thin, love you when you're wrong, applaud you when you're right and glow with happiness in celebration of your accomplishments.

272pp
Published: September 2012
Disclaimer: Copy of book provided by publisher, opinions are my own.

Theme: You Gotta Be by Des'ree

#BookReview: Guest Post: Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention - Manning Marable

Today's guest post is from Sarah Lake of Sarah So Sincere.

I was in elementary school in the late 1980s and early 1990s at the height of Malcolm X’s rebirth in our consciousness. I had an over sized “X” t-shirt and would steal my older cousin’s red, black and green Africa medallion to complete the outfit. I eventually found a copy of The Autobiography of Malcolm X in my house and read it so, in 1992, when Spike Lee’s biopic came out, my 9-year-old self was fully prepped. 

After repeatedly reading the autobiography and viewing the movie over the years, the legend of Malcolm X was firmly ingrained in my mind. To me, he was indeed, “our shining black prince,” our dignity and honor incarnate, a martyr who laid down his life for righteousness. New insights into the life of my hero through Manning Marable’s Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention was overdue and highly anticipated. Marable’s reputation as a premier historian and this being his life’s work made the anticipation greater. “Oh, man. This is going to be good,” I thought when I cracked open the hardcover. 

Marable makes his goal abundantly clear in the prologue: he’s on a myth busting mission. Finding discrepancies in The Autobiography, Marable’s goal is to expose the truth. Using myth busting as a foundation for this work proves itself problematic throughout this book. There are times when Marable not only contradicts Malcolm’s assertions about the details of his life but also contradicts first hand accounts from Malcolm’s own family. Other times, Marable’s allegations are not supported by any evidence in the text and you are left to make a decision: do I take Manning Marable’s word for it or not? 

These instances do not make up the bulk of the book but they do coincide with the more salacious revelations in the text. These instances, though off-putting, would not deter me from recommending this book to one and all. Marable does a phenomenal job of putting the events of Malcolm’s life into context. Malcolm’s black nationalism and patriarchal attitudes did not develop in a vacuum. Examining his background and the various movements of the day, allow the reader to go deeper into Malcolm’s thought process and motives. In this way, Malcolm becomes less of a myth and more of a man. 

This book is invaluable for its insight into Malcolm’s relationship with the Nation of Islam. His total dedication to Elijah Muhammed is downright scary at times and puts into perspective how much the split from the NOI affected him. Marable does a great job of detailing the inner workings of the NOI. I found myself both enthralled and disgusted by the cult. Stories of their organized thuggery and the fact that Malcolm was not the first person killed for crossing them were a surprise to me. 

Another invaluable aspect of this book is the detailed account of Malcolm’s travels to Africa and the Middle East. Malcolm’s reception as a dignitary everywhere he went in these regions floored me in its contrast to his treatment in Europe and the U.S. His relationship with the orthodox Muslim world and how it lead, in part, to his demise was another fascinating new detail.

Some people have charged that Marable did “the man’s” bidding in attempting to disparage Malcolm’s legacy but I came away from this book with his legacy and my love for him very much intact. Marable, having died shortly before the release of this book, is not here to defend his scholarship but I thank him for this work. Despite my misgivings about some of the allegations, this book is a shining testament of Malcolm’s depth, complexity and dedication to growth, not only for himself but also for us. 

The Warmth of Other Suns lecture, Isabel Wilkerson

I've been reading The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson for months.  It's an intriguing story, but I always seem to put it down in favor of fiction.  After attending Wilkerson's lecture at the Missouri History Museum today, I'm encouraged to keep reading.  Check out a few excerpts from today's lecture. (Note: Please excuse the picture quality, I videoed from my phone.)

Here's My Summer Reading List, What's On Yours?

Occasionally I get questions from the Twitterverse about what books are must reads.  My must read won't be everyone else's must read, but with a gentle nudge from the Twitterati, I'm giving you the list of what I'm reading this summer.  I'll also throw in a few "already reads" that I've enjoyed and think you will to.  I'm behind on my 144 books in 12 months challenge and my African Diaspora challenge, so I'll be reading at least 12 books a month, if not more.  Look for my list of books on the 1st of each month.

2010 Summer Reading List (June)

Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of An American People by Helen Zia

32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter

Sima's Undergarments for Women by Ilana Stanger-Ross

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama

The Sport of the Gods by Paul Laurence Dunbar

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin

Colorblind by Precious Williams

Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, DC by Jesse J. Holland

A Taste of Honey: Stories by Jabari Asim

Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black by Gregory Howard Williams

Persian Girls: A Memoir by Nahid Rachlin

Under the Dome by Stephen King

Already Reads

Laugh Out Loud Hilarious

Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

the Broke Diaries by Angela Nissel

Mossy Creek by Deborah Smith

Honey Hush: An Anthology of African American Woman's Humor by Daryl Cumber Dance

Contemporary Lit

Children of the Waters by Carleen Brice

Glorious by Bernice McFadden

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

I Been in Sorrow's Kitchen and Licked Out All the Pots by Susan Straight

Historical Fiction/Memoirs

The Black Rose: The Dramatic Story of Madam C.J. Walker, America's First Black Female Millionaire by Tananarive Due

Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Russka: The Novel of Russia by Edward Rutherfurd

Non-fiction

What to Say and How to Say it: Models, Speeches and Letters for All Occasions by David Belson

Why Black People Tend to Shout: Cold Facts and Wry Views from a Black Man's World by Ralph Wiley

Cool Pose: The Dilemmas of Black Manhood in America by Richard Majors

When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: My Life as a Hip Hop Feminist by Joan Morgan

Straight Up, No Chaser: How I Became A Grown-Up Black Woman by Jill Nelson

Have you started drafting your summer reading list? What's on it? What one book do you have to read this summer?

#BookReview: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot

Imagine having something taken from you without your knowledge.  Now imagine that what was taken becomes one of the most valuable discoveries in science, you still don't know about it and others profit from it without your knowledge.  This is the story of Henrietta Lacks and her descendants.

Authored by Rebecca Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, is the true story of a poor, black woman from Clover, Virginia who finds herself with cancer.  Upon her arrival at Johns Hopkins University, the doctors remove sections of her tumors for further study, without her knowledge.  In today's world, this would not happen without consent.  In the 1950s, not only could this happen, it frequently did.

Like most hospitals, Johns Hopkins also served as a research center and doctors had been trying to grow immortal human cells.  The growth of them would allow scientists to experiment with somewhat of a human entity without actually experimenting on a living being.  While the growing of cells had been tried numerous times, it had always failed.  And then along came Henrietta Lacks.  Scientists found that not only would the cells from her cancerous tumors grow, they grew rapidly and could be transported globally without dying.  The university and its researchers shipped vials of Mrs. Lacks cells all around the world so that other researchers could use them in various projects.

While all of this happened, the Lacks family was clueless as to what was happening.  The Lacks' children were without a mother and Day Lacks was without a wife.  In reading the book, you'll find that each child had their own personal issues.  Whether those were a result of being born poor and black in the south or being raised without their mother are judgements that you'll have to make for yourself.  What was understandable was their healthy fear of doctors and whites, especially in light of their experiences with them.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is one that will cause you to question the morals and ethics of the medical field and be thankful for an author brave enough to do the research and tell this story.  She put a lot of time and effort into making sure the story has been told properly and for that, we should all be thankful.

To date, the HeLa cells continue to be sold and used in research around the world .

What did you like about the book?
Although the book deals with a fair amount of medical terminology, the author does not overwhelm the average reader with them.

What did you dislike about the book?
Nothing


What could the author do to improve this book?
I can't think of a thing.

369pp
Published February 2010

Theme: Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police

#BookReview: the big book of SOUL: The Ultimate Guide to the African American Spirit - Stephanie Rose Bird

Though I was hesitant to drift into such unknown territory for me, I was pleasantly surprised by the big book of SOUL.  Covering everything from African American spirituality to hoodoo and holism, author Stephanie Bird presents the reader with plenty of food for thought.

Whether you're a practicer of holistic medicine or not , you'll find the natural remedies and receipes detailed within fascinating.  The author discusses preventative holistic treatments, as well as external treatments for the beautification of the face and body. The underlying message throughout the book is living well through natural means is very possible and is something that everyone can, and should, explore.

272pp
Published February 2010

#BookReview: Crossings: A White Man's Journey into Black America - Walt Harrington

I don't even know where to start with this book. As a black person, this has to have been one of the most difficult books I've come across. Make no mistake about it, the author writes well, but his subject matter left a bad taste in my mouth.

Crossings: A White Man's Journey into Black America is a compilation of interviews Walt Harrington did in the early 90s with black Americans across the country. You might ask what drove him to do this. Are you ready for this? No really, are you ready? Though he is married to a black woman and has biracial children, he doesn't really know black people. Propelled by a racist joke he overhears at the dentist, he sets out on a quest to visit black people across America in hopes that he might better understand his children. Really, dude? I mean, really!

I can't tell you how many times I put this book down, walked away and cussed about it, but I will tell you that it took me over a month to read it. In that same month I read at least five other books while this one sat on the floor mocking me. So what angered me so much about this book? Let me count the ways.

Apparently Mr. Harrington believes that being poor and being black are synonymous and seems to go out of his way to find interview subjects that are not only poor and black, they're happy about it. From the small town he visits in Mississippi to the trailer parks of Tennessee, his cast of characters are one step, if that, removed from sharecropping. Yes, I know the history of the South. Yes, I know that poverty still exists. What I refuse to believe is that he couldn't find one person in his section covering that region that wasn't poor.

I believe the author intentionally skewed facts to portray African Americans in a bad light. For example, his section about the Midwest touched on East St. Louis, a city blighted by white flight and a loss of industry. The one that stuck out most to me was that teachers there only made $ 10,000. I'd be very interested in knowing where he came across that data. As a resident of the metropolitan St. Louis region (and the daughter of a former East St. Louis School District administrator), I'm well aware that even fresh out of college teachers in the district made a minimum of $ 35,000 in the early 90s. How do I know? When I was fresh out of college in the early 90s looking for a job, I considered teaching in the district. Had the author bothered to really do research, he would have learned that teachers in the district are the highest paid in St. Clair County, have more advanced degrees than any other district in the county, and that the average salary of a district employee with advanced degrees range from $ 50,000 to $ 95,000.

Of all the people Mr. Harrington met along his 25,000 mile journey, I was able to count on one hand the number of "success" stories he met along the way. Success in this case is defined as an elevation in socioeconomic status. So then readers are led to believe that being middle class and above is not the norm and that working to rise above poverty is not necessarily a goal that is achievable, nor is it a goal worth trying to reach.

The author is quick to discount his black wife as non-representative of the norms of black America. Why? Because she is an army brat and, as such, was raised overseas and across the states so her ability to adapt to any situation, to approach life logically,to not be jaded by the "real black experience" is the exception to the rule.

So you ask, why did I force myself to read the book if I disliked it so much? I kept reading in hopes that somewhere along the line the author would have an a-ha moment. I hoped that at some point a light bulb would go off. Unfortunately, it did not. I almost shudder to think about how his skewed views of black people affect his children.

466 pp

Published September 1999

A book is a gift you can open again & again - Garrison Keillor

A few weeks ago I issued a call to Twitter, Facebook and blog friends asking for book suggestions to give as presents to the readers (and those that need to be encouraged to read) in our lives. The response was overwhelming. I've compiled a list of suggested books below and comments from those that suggested them.

I also promised a $ 25 Amazon.com gift card. For her passionate and lengthy list of books, particularly in a genre that is sometimes overlooked by adults, the winner is Ari aka Miss Attitude. Ari blogs over at Reading in Color and is always in the know about the latest and greatest lit for young adults. Congrats Ari!

Youth

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt & David Small

Mean, old Gar-face abuses his poor little animals so much so that the only place they can find solace is underneath the house. The story deals with animal mistreatment, but also teaches friendship can be found in the unlikeliest of places - in this case among a dog and a cat. This is a great book to read aloud or with an older child perhaps 2nd grade or above.

Testing the Ice by Sharon Robinson & Kadir Nelson

Written by Sharon Robinson - Jackie Robinson's daughter - this is a wonderful tale of history, hope, faith and love. It was a welcome addition to our family library and an even greater addition to my kids' school library - as we purchased an additional. copy to donate. Another favorite for the 2nd grade and above.

The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden

Ivy, Holly, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones all have one Christmas wish. Ivy, an orphan, wishes for a real home and sets out in search of the grandmother she's sure she can find. Holly, a doll, wishes for a child to bring her to life. And the Joneses wish more than anything for a son or daughter to share their holiday. Can all three wishes come true?

Young Adult

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

A YA urban fantasy book about a high school girl who draws the unwanted notice of a faerie prince. I think that'd be a great choice for an older teen/20s reluctant girl reader.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

It's about a girl who lies. A lot. It's suspenseful and keeps you guessing. I loved it.

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

It's about a multiracial sarcastic smart athletic guy who decides to make a bunch of misfits popular. For guys especially I recommend ..A poignant, hysterical read.

I also recommend anything by Walter Dean Mosley.

A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott

For all the historical fiction/fantasy readers. About a girl from 21st Brooklyn's time travel to the Civil War Brooklyn. Amazing.

Flygirl by Sherri Smith

Ida Mae Jones dreams of flight. Her daddy was a pilot and being black didn't stop him from fulfilling his dreams. But her daddy's gone now, and being a woman, and being black, are two strikes against her.

When America enters the war with Germany and Japan, the Army creates the WASP, the Women's Airforce Service Pilots—and Ida suddenly sees a way to fly as well as do something significant to help her brother stationed in the Pacific. But even the WASP won't accept her as a black woman, forcing Ida Mae to make a difficult choice of "passing," of pretending to be white to be accepted into the program. Hiding one's racial heritage, denying one's family, denying one's self is a heavy burden. And while Ida Mae chases her dream, she must also decide who it is she really wants to be.

Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis

Octavia and Tali are dreading the road trip their parents are forcing them to take with their grandmother over the summer. After all, Mare isn’t your typical grandmother. She drives a red sports car, wears stiletto shoes, flippy wigs, and push-up bras, and insists that she’s too young to be called Grandma. But somewhere on the road, Octavia and Tali discover there’s more to Mare than what you see. She was once a willful teenager who escaped her less-than-perfect life in the deep South and lied about her age to join the African American battalion of the Women’s Army Corps during World War II.

She's So Money by Cherry Cheva

Maya has always been the good girl. Camden is the popular jock with a bigger ego than brain. Maya never thought there'd be a reason for them to, like, interact. But when the biggest mistake of her life lands her in need of a seriously devious plan, she discovers Camden isn't as dumb as he looks. And now that Maya's playing the bad girl (lying, cheating, swindling, and, um, shopping), she might as well do it right and flirt with the bad boy. . . .

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can hear--part of the autism-like impairment no doctor has been able to identify--and he's always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. But the summer after his junior year, his father demands that Marcelo work in his law firm's mailroom in order to experience "the real world." There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm.

The Making of Dr. Truelove by Derrick Barnes (for guys it's very funny, very hormone-driven!).

Diego is a sixteen-year-old boy with a problem. He loves his girlfriend, Roxy. And when they suddenly break up due to Diego's own insecurity issues, the boy is crushed. However will he win Shorty back?

On the trusty advice of his (crazy) best friend, Diego invents an alter ego known as Dr. Truelove. A sex and relationship e-columnist, Truelove is smooth where Diego is gawky, skilled where Diego is clueless. Truelove is, quite clearly, the way back into Roxy's heart. Or so it seems.

Lip Gloss Chronicles series: The Ultimate Test and Splitsville by Sheila M. Goss

The Lip Gloss Chronicles explores the life of three sassy and hip urban high school freshmen who are high on fashion and magnets for drama. Britney Franklin, Jasmine McNeil, and Sierra Sanchez, daughters of Dallas, Texas socialites met in their private grammar school, and now they are ready to tackle their freshman year in a new public high school as a team.

Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife -- between desire and danger.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl which just came out a few days ago. It was an amazing paranormal read and about as long as one of the Twilight books.

Donut Days by Lara Zielin. It was a great story about families, church, and friendship.

International Fiction

The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

About a group of slave women in Jamaica plotting their escape.

Cereus Blooms at Night by Shani Mootoo

Essentially a gothic multigeneration family saga

The New Moon's Arms by Nalo Hopkinson

A book about a woman going through menopause who is forced to reexamine her life and values after realizing mermaids are real. Trust me, it's handled wonderfully.

Non-fiction

Complications and Better by Atul Gawande's medical essays (the latter has slightly more interesting topics)

anything by Oliver Sacks (my favourite is his memoir of loving chemistry as a boy called Uncle Tungsten)

Red, White, and Drunk All Over by Natalie McClean

For foodies: a wonderful book about wine-not at all pretentious and McClean's love for it shines through.

Fiction - Adults

Children of the Waters by Carleen Brice

Still reeling from divorce and feeling estranged from her teenage son, Trish Taylor is in the midst of salvaging the remnants of her life when she uncovers a shocking secret: her sister is alive. For years Trish believed that her mother and infant sister had died in a car accident. But the truth is that her mother fatally overdosed and that Trish’s grandparents put the baby girl up for adoption because her father was black.

After years of drawing on the strength of her black ancestors, Billie Cousins is shocked to discover that she was adopted. Just as surprising, after finally overcoming a series of health struggles, she is pregnant–a dream come true for Billie but a nightmare for her sweetie, Nick, and for her mother, both determined to protect Billie from anything that may disrupt her well-being.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women:

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town...

Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling.