Tag recent reads

Quitting Time: Nights Like This by Ashleynicole

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Synopsis:

Itā€™s raining, itā€™s pouringā€“ Wait, nobodyā€™s snoring. Theyā€™re in the bed, or on the couch, or maybe the counterā€¦ and will definitely have a good morning.

After five years, Aleigha has walked out of her job. But then her ex-boss gets stuck at her house because of the weather, and thunder wonā€™t be the only thing clapping.

Review:

This is the second book in The Nights This series. This story follows Aleigha and her ex boss Brent. Brent is a supreme asshole and treats Aleigha like shit while at work.

Aleigha had enough and quit her job so she wouldn’t have to deal with Brent anymore. On a rainy night Brent and Aleigha worked out their issues and sexual frustrations. 

This was a good story and I enjoyed the sex scenes. Now I know why Brent is a dick in the workplace, all because he wanted Aleigha.

Rating: 5 ā­ā­ā­ā­ā­

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

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Synopsis:

This is your country, this is your world, this is your body, and you must find some way to live within the all of it.ā€

In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nationā€™s history and current crisis. Americans have built an empire on the idea of ā€œrace,ā€ a falsehood that damages us all but falls most heavily on the bodies of black women and menā€”bodies exploited through slavery and segregation, and, today, threatened, locked up, and murdered out of all proportion. What is it like to inhabit a black body and find a way to live within it? And how can we all honestly reckon with this fraught history and free ourselves from its burden?
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Between the World and Me is Ta-Nehisi Coatesā€™s attempt to answer these questions in a letter to his adolescent son. Coates shares with his sonā€”and readersā€”the story of his awakening to the truth about his place in the world through a series of revelatory experiences, from Howard University to Civil War battlefields, from the South Side of Chicago to Paris, from his childhood home to the living rooms of mothers whose childrenā€™s lives were taken as American plunder. Beautifully woven from personal narrative, reimagined history, and fresh, emotionally charged reportage, Between the World and Me clearly illuminates the past, bracingly confronts our present, and offers a transcendent vision for a way forward.


Review:


Between the world and me is very well written. It’s a letter written to the author son. In this letter the author talks about growing up in the hood of Baltimore Maryland and seeing kids his age with guns. He also talked about the injustice system against black people in America.Ā 


In this letter the author also talked about how hard it is being black in America and how life is rigged for a lot of black men. Reading this made me think about about my own son and how having this talk is very important.Ā 


This letter set the stage for young black American kids to learn and understand that being born black is a automatic crime and there’s really nothing to do about it. But I plan toĀ  instill this same knowledge to my son that you are black first before anything else.Ā 


Be proud of who you are yet live life definely. I enjoyed the writing this was also an emotional read for me because everything stated in this letter is true. Definitely a 5 ā­ star read and I’ll will be re reading this again soon.

Rating: 5 ā­ā­ā­ā­ā­

We Time By Moon Bey Book Review

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Synopsis:

Lover, secretary, caretaker, kiss craver; Darryl has worked hard to be the kind of man women sing about in love songs. His friends have always warned him against treating chicks like wives without a ring. But to Darryl, his loyalty should be as intense as his love. He vows never to give his lady a reason to doubt him.

Things were no different when he got with Monae. Darryl became so obsessed with her potential that he ignored her using his kindness as a crutch. His friends quickly noticed Darryl’s forgiving heart gave Monae the security to do as she pleased. After all, she was always welcomed home with open arms.

Forced to spend more quality time as a couple than usual, Darryl faces truths he can no longer ignore and secrets Monae can no longer hide.

Will Darryl double down on his beliefs and continue to ride for Monae as one’s partner does? Can he manage to go against his nature and send Monae packing? Only a little we time will tell.

Book Review:

This was a different kind of story. Darryl I understand he is a sweet guy and cares for Monae but he is getting treated crap. Monae is wrong for being around other men and not even trying to hide it from Darryl.

Women like this make it hard for the good women out here. Monae plays too many games and she really doesn’t care how Darryl feels. Which is wild because she claims she still loves him.

Darryl is very weak it’s nothing nice about a weak man. He should had not tried as hard to keep Monae around instead just left her. The ending is what got me though. Darryl is not strong and he shouldn’t had took Monae back.

Rating: 3ā­ā­ā­

Say Her Name By Zetta Elliott | Book Review

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Synopsis:
For ages 12 and up. Inspired by the #SayHerName campaign launched by the African American Policy Forum, these poems pay tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists insisting that Black Lives Matter. Elliott engages poets from the past two centuries to create a chorus of voices celebrating the creativity, resilience, and courage of Black women and girls.

This collection features 49 powerful poems, four of which are tribute poems inspired by the works of Lucille Clifton, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Phillis Wheatley.

This collection aims to move every listener to reflect, respondā€”and act.


Review:

5 Stars

For ages 12 and up. Inspired by the #SayHerName campaign launched by the African American Policy Forum, these poems pay tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists insisting that Black Lives Matter. Elliott engages poets from the past two centuries to create a chorus of voices celebrating the creativity, resilience, and courage of Black women and girls.

This collection features 49 powerful poems, four of which are tribute poems inspired by the works of Lucille Clifton, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Phillis Wheatley.

This collection aims to move every listener to reflect, respondā€”and act.


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Over Time By Moon Bey | Book Review

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Synopsis:
A wise man once said unrequited love is like cyanide in a styrofoam cup. For the first time in almost two decades, Natasha is ready to kick her most deep-rooted habit.

Natasha became infatuated with Arielle the second she learned what love was. Always eager to please, Natasha knew Arielle would have no choice but to become hers.



Review:

4 StarsĀ 

Over Time was something and it was so real too. This is about Natasha having feeling for Arielle, but Arielle seems take Natasha for granted and she seems like she doesn’t care. Arielle believes she can have her ass kissed by Natasha and Natasha will always be there.Ā 


Natasha is pretty much over being treated like trash and wants more from a friendship and relationship. I’m kinda salty with how Natasha handles situations. She hurt Grey to once again be with Arielle. It’s like it’s a game no one knows what they want.


Moon Bey doesn’t disappoint I enjoy her writing and she has become a favorite of mines. Great story.


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Zikora By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Book Review

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Synopsis:Ā 

THE EMOTIONAL STORMS WEATHERED BY A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER YIELD A PROFOUND NEW UNDERSTANDING IN A MOVING SHORT STORY BY THE BESTSELLING, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF ‘AMERICANAH’ AND ‘WE SHOULD ALL BE FEMINISTS’.

When Zikora, a DC lawyer from Nigeria, tells her equally high-powered lover that she’s pregnant, he abandons her. But it’s Zikora’s demanding, self-possessed mother, in town for the birth, who makes Zikora feel like a lonely little girl all over again. Shunned by the speed with which her ideal life fell apart, Zikora turns to reflecting on her mother’s painful past and struggle for dignity. Preparing for motherhood, Zikora begins to see more clearly what her own mother wants for her, for her new baby, and for herself.


Review:

4 StarsĀ 

Zikora is a strong well written short story. Chimamanda always does an amazing job with story telling. This story is about a Nigerian woman living in Washington DC and works as a lawyer. She gets pregnant by a man she with and he leaves her. Zikora has to navigate being pregnant by herself, the pain, being sick the uncertainty of having a father less child.


Once Zikora gives birth she’s very protective of her child but still has hope that the man who got her pregnant will be there for her and her baby. The guy doesn’t want nothing to do with Zikora or the child. And it’s set in her mind that her child will have to go through what she went through not having one parent around when a child needs two parents.


I enjoyed this quick short story it definitely helped me and my reading slump. Zikora does give me a lot to think about.