What’s it about? This memoir tackles some tough subject matter. Saeed Jones is a gay, African-American man who was raised in Texas by a single mother. Mr. Jones memoir is an honest, frank look back at his life. He does not sugar coat his story- so be ready when you pick up his book. What did it make me think about? I have often thought that this may be the best time in history to come out as a gay man. However, after reading this book, I am not saying that anymore. Saeed Jones makes you understand how truly difficult it is to be black and gay in America- even today. "You never forget your first "faggot'. Because the memory, in its way, makes you. It becomes the spine for the body of anxieties and insecurities that will follow, something to hang all that meat on. Before you were scrawny; now you're scrawny because you're a faggot. Before you were just bookish; now you're bookish because you're a faggot. Soon, bullies won't even have to say the word. Nor will friends, as they start to sit at different lunch tables without explanation. There will already be a voice in your head whispering 'faggot' for them." Should I read it? Saeed Jones is an award winning poet and the way he uses language is just beautiful. "Just as some cultures have a hundred words for 'snow', there should be a hundred words in our language for all the ways a black boy can lie awake at night." I found this one of the most compelling memoirs I have ever read. It is raw, honest, and sometimes more graphic than readers might be comfortable with. I urge you to read this book anyway. Maybe it will change the way you look at someone that is different from yourself. Quote- "However many masks we invent and deploy, in the end, we cannot control what other people see when they look at us." If you liked this try- On Earth We're Breifly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong My Brother Moochie by Issac J. Bailey All Over But the Shouting by Rick Bragg Fire Shut up In My Bones by Charles M. Blow 9 1/2 stars |
0 Comments
A Real Simple “Five Books That Won’t Disappoint” A Bustle “28 New Books Out In August 2019 To Add To Your End-Of-Summer Reading List” A Refinery29 “The Books Of 2019 We Can't Wait To Read (So Far)” A Mindbodygreen “5 Books You Won't Be Able To Put Down This August” A Hello Giggles “The 10 Best New Books to Read in August” A Get Literary “Favorite New August 2019 Fiction” An InStyle “14 Books to Read This August” A New York Post “Best Books of the Week” A Vogue “10 New Books to Read This Summer” An Elle “The 16 Best Books of 2019 (So Far)” A Marie Claire “The Best Fiction Books by Women This Year” A Good Housekeeping “50 Best Books of 2019 to Add to Your Reading List” The Other's Gold by Elizabeth Ames
335 pages What’s it about? Four college freshman arrive at an exclusive liberal arts college and immediately become the best of friends. This is the story of how that friendship grows over the next 15 years. What did it make me think about? "Really?"- that's what I kept thinking.... To me the plot was overly dramatic and not very plausible. At times it was preachy and at times it was downright silly. I was very excited to be done with these women's lives. Should I read it? I would not recommend this one- but I may be alone in this. This book has received lots of good press. I was disappointed though.... Quote- "How they became friends was no great mystery, but how they remained so, braising their lives together eye their shared college quarters, transcended the usual alchemy of optimism and obligation that kept friendships intact, kept people from fading into other categories: old friend, college friend, just someone I once knew." If you liked this try- Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li The Nest by Cynthia D''Aprix Sweeney Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler 4 stars
|
next upfavorites from 2020some favorites of the last decadebest of winter 2020best of summer/fall 2019best of winter/spring 2019best of summer/ fall 2018best of winter/spring 2017-18best of spring/summer 2017best of winter
|
best of summer 2014
last spring favorites
on my nightstand
edge of your seat
guest reviews
and the mountains echoed
the bully pulpit
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
― Charles William Eliot
ratings
3 to 4- I found some aspect of this book redeeming but would not recommend it.
5 to 6- I really enjoyed something about this book (characters, plot, meaning etc.) but it was uneven. Some aspects were stronger than others.
7 to 8- It was a good book. I liked lots of aspects of this book. I would recommend it.
9 to 10- I was sorry to turn the last page. I highly recommend this book!