What I Read in 2019 | To Be Black and Loved
I experienced a lot of life changes in 2019. And reading, honestly helped to carry me through the last year of the decade. It’s been a while since I’ve made a blog post, but felt that it was only right to share the books that served as literary blankets through a turbulent 365 days -- with a few reviews.
I Can't Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I've Put My Faith in Beyoncé
By Michael Arceneaux
'I Can't Date Jesus' is a hilarious collection of essays, that give me every reason to love being a gay black man. In every single essay -- from those about tragic first dates and one-night stands, religion, and coming out to family members, Michael Arceneaux is quick-witted and provides endless food for thought. Just based on the book title, I knew that this would be a great read. And based on the fact that it took just one evening and a few glasses of wine for me to breeze through it's 238 pages -- I was correct. 10/10 would recommend to all members of the Hive, and queer men and women in need of a pick-me-up. Writers like Michael Arceneaux are necessary in today's world.
An American Marriage
By Tayari Jones
'An American Marriage' is a fantastic read. Tayari Jones crafted a novel that feels like you're watching the most intense soap-opera. You don't know what characters to like or dislike, but can identify in different ways with each – and the emotions that they are feeling. I was able to breeze through this book on a late night, and it was really impossible to put down. Its only fault is the ending, which felt a bit odd compared to the intensity of the rest of the novel. This would be great to read with a group of friends, or a book club. Would definitely recommend grabbing a bottle of wine to enjoy with this one.
Sing, Unburied, Sing
By Jesmyn Ward
‘Sing, Unburied Sing’ is beautiful, and heartbreaking. I found myself wanting to reach into the pages and hug Jojo. I wanted to scream at Leonie for not taking care of her children. I wanted to have a conversation with Pop and Mam, taking in all of their stories of years past - and Mam's knowledge of nature. I wanted to punch Michael when he had the audacity to put his hands on Kayla. And I wish I had the power to let Richie's soul rest. Following in the tradition of great black women storytellers, Jesmyn Ward crafted a story that feels like a modern companion text to Beloved. It was impossible to put down.
No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America
By Darnell Moore
The Hate U Give
By Angie Thomas
(See my full review of ‘The Hate U Give’ novel and film adaption)
Beloved
By Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison was a magician with words. This novel was a journey. The trauma and pain that existed in the lives of Baby Suggs, Sethe, Paul D, and even Beloved were felt with every turn of the page - and you take the journey to discover the freedom and love needed to piece together what has been broken through the chains of chattel slavery, with them. A work like this takes time to make it through, but it was worth it in the end.
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"
By Zora Neale Hurston
The stories that Zora Neale Hurston was able to gather from Oluale Kossola (Cudjo Lewis) are invaluable. "Barracoon" offers a look into the life of a survivor of the last slave ship brought to America. The beauty of Zora Neale Hurston's work lies in her unwavering push to give raw, unedited and unfiltered African-American dialect a place in the literary canon. This is Cudjo Lewis' voice in all it's glory. A man who carried first hand accounts of his life in the place of our ancestors, and how everything was taken away from him. His tales reflecting the strength of the oral tradition. You can feel his pain as he talks about everything from being sold by his own people, to watching his children die and eventually his own wife —"Den I jus lak I come from de Afficky soil". It's difficult to even put into your own words the power that his story holds, and Zora did not attempt to. Her interviews allowed his voice to shine with few interjections. Cudjo Lewis' story, and the stories of the millions that crossed the Atlantic are necessary and deserve to be read, even 80+ years after they were recorded. Alice Walker's foreword was able to sum up the impact of Cudjo's story in a way that only she can— "Life inexhaustible, goes on. And we do too. Carrying our wounds and our medicines as we go".
The Bluest Eye
By Toni Morrison
On my quest to dive into Toni Morrison's work after her passing, I knew that The Bluest Eye was at the top of the list. This novel, in its 224 pages, is able to tackle all aspects of black identity. Toni Morrison truly was a magician in her ability to craft that cause you to examine society and your place within it.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
By Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Children of Blood and Bone
By Tomi Adeyemi
