Feeling My Shelf

First, take a deep breath. If you are going through any of the same emotions as me, you need it. We have been in Quarantine for 4 weeks now, 3 more days and it will be 5. What a crazy time!! The first week I felt like superwoman, I read everyday, worked out, ate healthy, watched tv, spent time with my hubby and dog, it felt like a staycation, but at this point I need out. 

(SN: I hope you enjoyed my pun, “Feeling My Shelf”, feeling my bookshelf…. you get it? Haha)

My Utah book collection - can not wait to add these to my home collection!

I am sure I am not the only one who feels like they have run out of ideas. I stopped reading the second week, just because I felt like I should be doing something more productive with my time. Not that reading isn’t productive, I just wanted to think business while I had the time to connect with people. I have picked up reading again and wanted to share some of my most recent reads. Most of the titles I share on this list have been published in the last 5 years. I hope you find a title that captures your attention! 

(SN: All of the books I have linked are on sale right now on Amazon!! Just click the title and it will take you right to it)

Little Fires Everywhere - Celeste Ng

This book was a great read and now has a series on HULU with Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. I must say Reese Witherspoon was perfectly casted for this show. Two families, two completely different worlds basically collide and so much chaos comes out of it. The book starts off with a house being burned down and the rest leads up to who was responsible. This was a great read and very easy to follow. If you are a fan of suspenseful reads, this is definitely a read for you! 

What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker - Damon Young 

The title really drags you in doesn’t it? Haha. I picked this up at the airport, where I actually get most of my books from. This book was written by writer Damon Young. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of VerySmartBrothas. He also is a columnist for GQ. 

What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker is funny and relatable! The book opens up with how Damon grew up waiting for someone to call him the N word. His parents had a great “N word” altercation, his sister, and his friends, so he wanted to have that moment as well. For some Black men, this is a real dilemma. This is most likely the only time someone can punch someone for saying one word. Anyways, the story goes on about how he felt that no one would call him the N word, because since he went to a nice school, and was somewhat of a nerd, no one even looked at him as a Black kid. I won’t ruin the whole chapter, but it was definitely interesting. If you want to know what most Black people think and how Damon handles existing while Black, with a funny twist to it, this is a read for you.

Let Love Have The Last Word - Common 

Anytime a Hip-Hop artist publishes a book, I get it. The representation of Black authors is always a big thing in February but other months people are just like eh, whatever. When a Hip-Hop artist publishes a book it shows how positive and educational Hip-Hop can be, which if you know me, that is basically my mission in life, to educate people on the positive influence of Hip Hop. Plus I LOVE Common, so I had to get his book.

Let Love Have The Last Word, really digs deep into how Common has loved in the past and how he has grown in his friendships, relationships with women, his relationship with his daughter, and sexual abuse that he experienced as a child. I feel that the way that I have experienced love has shaped me into the woman that I am today and honestly has complicated things along the way. Also, it was interesting reading this book as a woman because here is a black man being transparent about love and his mistakes. It felt like a very honest read and I really enjoyed it. The book is very easy to follow, which if you haven’t noticed, is a must for me. If you are wanting to dig deeper with love, you should read this book. 

Between The World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates

Reread this title, just because I needed it. The late Toni Morrison stated that it was a required reading and I totally agree with her. Between the World and Me is a letter from Ta-Nehisi Coates to his adolescent son. He explains his experience as a Black man in America and honestly, try not to shed a few tears while reading. This book was published a few years back and came at a really good time. We were seeing so many black children falling victim to our corrupt system and trying to explain that to a child is so difficult. I think this book is good for anyone to read, but especially parents to Black children. We think that certain situations won’t happen to our kids but it only takes one incident for them to look at us in confusion, like why did this happen to me, just for the simple answer to be, because you are Black. Read this! 

The Woman in the Window - A.J. Finn 

MY FAVORITE BOOK!!!! This is by far one of the best pieces of literature I have read in a while. Soon to be a motion picture, so you have to read it now. I loved the way this book was written and the suspense that carried on throughout the entire book. Basically the main character Anna Fox, witnesses something through her window, and no one knows if she really saw it or not. Not the best description, because I don’t want to give anything away!! 

Other titles I have read recently: 

Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest - Hanif Abdurraqib (currently reading)

Stories Friday Black - Nana Kwame & Adjei-Brenyah 

Dead Precedents; How Hip-Hop Defines the Future - Roy Christopher 

Never Tell - Lisa Gardner (currently reading)