The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison is my first, but far from last, Morrison book. I am making a point this year to read more modern classics from authors like Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, and James Baldwin. The Bluest Eye can be summed up on one word: heartbreaking. It can also be summed up in a phrase: Pecola is still among us and this still happens. It is easy to reflect on a story of a tragic young girl and think, this doesn't happen anymore, but sadly it does. We often tu

Now this is the kind of romance novel I like. One where the love story sneaks up on you unexpectedly. And a love triangle or enemies turned lovers story doesn't hurt either. Writers & Lovers by Lily King came on my radar last year when it was a Book of the Month choice. Not only is the cover breathtaking, but Lily King's writing is as well. I loved how witty and smart her writing is, coupled with the character development she nailed in this book. Writers & Lovers is perfect i

I received Kindred in The Feminist Book Club book box subscription. I had heard of this book, but I credit FBC for getting it in my hands and encouraging me to read it. I am so glad I did, because I am officially an Octavia Butler fan and cannot wait to read more from her. The fact that Kindred was written over 40 years ago, yet feels timely, is a true testament to Octavia Butler's writing. It is truly remarkable for a book to be able to stand the test of time. Synopsis: Set

One of my favorite things to do is find a good deal. I love everything about it. The excitement of finding not only what you were searching for, but also at an incredible price. I am one of those people where if you compliment me on something, I will almost always respond with, "Thanks, I got it at XYZ on sale." I wear my sale finds like a badge of honor and proudly shine it for display. I have my own mini library forming in my home, but many of the books I own I paid pennies

Who knew a book club full of 1990's housewives could be so entertaining. I owe #bookstagram for bringing The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix to my attention. I had seen a few rave reviews, so I added it to my library hold list. Bored housewives who form a morbid book club and read things like The Stranger Beside Me and Helter Skelter, then suspect one of their new neighbors is a vampire? Sounds weird, so sign me up! Synopsis: Patricia Campbell

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour is a sharp witted, satirical novel that is absolutely brilliant. Askaripour brings you into the story and slaps you over the head with a story coated in overt racism and white supremacy. Black Buck is full of metaphors and innuendos that drive the story home, including the meaning behind the title. Darren "Buck" Vender is an intelligent, young Black man who manages a Starbucks and does so quite well. One morning, a regular coffee patron offers h

This book blew me away. It is stunning, intimate and heartbreaking, with elements of religion and science that forced me to reflect on my own life. Dare I say that I loved Transcendent Kingdom more than Homegoing? (By just a fraction of a hair.) Yaa Gyasi is a literary genius and I truly believe her books are modern day classics. Synopsis: Gifty is far from precocious girl as she tries to navigate the world within the confines of her religious upbringing and desire to seek an

This book has to be one of the most polarizing books that has been published lately. I had to get my hands on Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam as soon as I read the synopsis and started reading the buzz. This literary prose is polarizing and will leave you with many unanswered questions, but that is precisely what the author wants. This book makes you FEEL. It makes you think, and it makes you question your existence. I listened to Leave the World Behind on audio and I h

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann is a brilliant work of investigative journalism covering a brutal, jaw dropping part of history that the US has swept under the rug and erased from history. In the 1920’s, the Osage Nation lived on a remote area of Oklahoma. They were forced off their original tribal land and made to live on what the colonizers thought was barren, useless, hilly land. Low and behold, it was rich with oil, and soon the Osage Nation became some of the w