I Read: Remembering Whitney

Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped by Cissy Houston

I picked this up figuring that if I was going to read a book about Whitney Houston, who better to have written it than her mother. I should have realized by the subtitle of this that the book would really be more about Cissy's relationship than about Whitney. I've always had that impression of Cissy Houston anyway - that she's really more interested in how the world affects her than anything else. 

It's kind of a mutual biography - of both Cissy and Whitney. It is interesting to read how Cissy got where she was and became who she is, as well as knowing how that framed her relationship with her kids. She's led a very musically influential life even without being Whitney Houston's mother, and I would imagine that she often gets overlooked because of that fact. 

I Read: This is the Fire

This is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism by Don Lemon

I wasn't sure what to expect from this. I watch Don Lemon on CNN regularly (way more regularly than I ought to really, and way, way more regularly since the pandemic and other issues in the US over the past year.)  But I'm not always completely sure that I enjoy watching. 

The show is smart, intelligent, but sometimes it's over my head. Sometimes it feels like that's intentional - that the point is to make everything seem so intelligent that it has to be true. I was afraid that would be the case with this book as well. 

But I was also excited for the book's release. My mom and I both have been looking forward to it, because Don Lemon speaks so clearly and carefully. It's not that his language isn't passionate about the topic - he definitely is - it's just that it's also always so rational. Logical. Which the world, and especially the US, haven't had a lot of lately. 

I Read: The Boy in the Black Suit

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds

I finished up my Black History Month reading with this one. It's been sitting on my shelf for a while and is a winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards in 2016. It doesn't feel like there's anything specifically "black" about this book - it could be any teen going through a rough period due to circumstances. Culturally the novel is black-American but that doesn't stop it from being relatable to anyone. The feelings are the thing. And so many people go through what Matt does. 

If you're looking for a simple read with some complicated emotions, this is for you. 

#24-2021

I Read: A Promised Land

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

I'm not sure I can really add to the conversation about this book. Obama has written several books previously, and we know he's a great speaker. He's thoughtful and perceptive. And so is this book. It's long but engaging. It's interesting to get the small backstories on major events and to hear the perspective of events as they happened inside the situation. 

I'm sure I'm not alone in awaiting the second half of this memoir to hear the most recent events in Obama's presidency. 

#23-2021

I Read: The Color Purple

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

This one has been sitting on my shelf for a while waiting for me to read it. I'm not sure what took me so long because, despite the content, it's not a difficult book to read. The content is unpleasant in a lot of spots, but the story is great and written in a unique way that asks a lot of the questions the reader might have. 

I was coming into it completely blind - I haven't even seen the movie because *sigh* Oprah - so I didn't have any expectations except that I did expect it to be a long haul. And it definitely wasn't that. 

Written in a series of "letters", and in a vernacular of the time and culture, Walker took advantage of the reader's senses, and probably stereotypes in order to create a scene that told the story as well as the words on the page. I'm disappointed that I hadn't read this sooner, and I may have to go in search of the movie at this point.

#22-2021

I Read: Concrete Rose

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

It took me a long time to read "The Hate U Give" but when I did I was absolutely a fan of Angie Thomas.  So when I came across this new one, which gives us some back story to Starr's existence I was definitely going to read it. 

I love the way that Thomas creates a character out of the words she uses and the way she puts them together. She doesn't just create the characters but the story is its own character. That might not make sense to anyone but me, but I hope it does. 

She's very good at making the reader feel for the people in the story. Even those of us who really don't (can't?) relate to the specifics of the story. I don't have any similar experiences, but it doesn't matter - she guides us through and is very clear in her descriptions. Adding this book, and Angie Thomas to my favourites list immediately. 

#20-2021

I Read: Dear Martin

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

I don't really even know where to start talking about Dear Martin. It's poignant, especially currently, but it's not hard to read, which makes it easier to spend time thinking about. 

The fact that there's no shock to the events of this book, that I read it just taking it as if it was completely logical pains me. The world should not work the way it does in this book.  But I can't deny that it does. I may not be the target audience, nor do I relate personally to any of the events in the book, but it's very clear that this is based in truth. 

I Read: The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

 The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian by W. Kamau Bell

I know W. Kamau Bell from his television series, United Shades of America on CNN. I consider it one of my favourite television programs. If you haven't seen it, please do: Sundays at 10:00pm. Currently in its third season. 

If you have seen the show, you know that Bell is funny, but also blunt and knowledgeable in a lot of situations that you wouldn't necessarily expect him to put himself in. The CNN description of the show is "'United Shades of America' follows comedian and political provocateur W. Kamau Bell as he explores communities across America to understand the unique challenges they face." The book is really no different.

I Read: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I don't know what I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. It's unique, and profound, and simple but complicated and really so easy to follow and understand that everyone should read it to get a little bit of perspective. 

This is not fiction, Maya Angelou did not make this up. It was her life. She's sharing her experiences. She led an amazing life and managed to spin extreme situations into something that elevated her and motivated her without being bitter or angry about anything. She learned from her experience and chose to share those experiences with others to expand other people's knowledge. 

The version I read has an introduction written by Oprah - another voice with similar experiences to Angelou. While my own experiences are not at all similar, the way that each of them expressed their feeling and experience makes it easy to relate to. To understand why they chose their paths, and to admire their willingness to share those experiences.

If you haven't already, read this. It's the beginning of the story of a remarkable woman. 

#59-2020

I Read: Slay

Slay by Brittany Morris

I really, really enjoyed this book. I'm not even sure what made me pick it up, but it's a really well thought out story, with lessons and realizations peppered seamlessly in. 

The first couple of chapters took me a little bit to get into. I wasn't sure where it was going, and I felt out of place which made my reading a little slow. I'm not a gamer; I don't know that world at all. But there was something about the character of Kiera that made me want to know what story she was telling.

I Read: The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Reading Toni Morrison has been on my list of things to accomplish for quite a while. I'll admit that I picked this up because I was prompted by the various calls to diversify the voices of those we read. I didn't know why Morrison to read so I actually have three, including this one, which was the earliest of the three I picked up.

I was intrigued by the synopsis description of this one and had heard it touted as highly influential by a lot of those who spoke of it. I tend not to rely too heavily on other people's opinions because writing/reading is so subjective, but given the number of people saying it was a great novel, I decided to pick it up. 

I Read: On The Come Up

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas really seems to have a knack for creating characters. Ones that make you feel something, even in situations you relate to.

This was Thomas' second novel, and while not as acclaimed as The Hate U Give, is still poignant and dramatic. It's not a sequel, but it is set in the same community, and there are references to events of The Hate U Give in On the Come Up. (There's also a reference to On the Come Up's lead character in The Hate U Give if you were able to remember it. - The advantage of reading them consecutively.)