Your summer reading list!
HAPPY TUESDAY!
Over the weekend, I checked out the Toni Morrison documentary, The Pieces I Am and it was great. I learned so much about Toni from this documentary that I never knew before.
I never knew much about Toni's life as I came to Toni through my stepmom's copy of Jazz. I didn't know she had kids, and that she was an editor. This documentary shined so much light on Toni and how important she is for our culture.
Also, can I just say she has the most adorable voice in the world. I also loved hearing about some things that triggered some of her books like the story of Beloved also Song of Solomon.
Now let's go to the listens and reads for the week:
LISTENS FOR THE WEEK:
Since I'm kind of going with a theme here, I decided to scrap what I've listened to this week which has been: Sasha Keable still, Lucky Daye's album still, and Jemele Hill's Spotify playlist "Black Girl Magic," for a few good podcasts listens around books.
Do you have any that you enjoy? Let me know!
Call Your Girlfriend's "Spring Books 2019": If you've read this newsletter for a while, you shouldn't be shocked to see this podcast listed. I stan for Ann and Aminatou. I really enjoyed this episode and added a few of the suggestions to my book list including Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Party (no I haven't read her other books yet but plan to soon).
Bad on Paper's "The Idea of You Book Club + Emotional Support Group": I found this episode and the conversation around the book The Idea of You. The way Grace and Becca talked about the book let me know that it needs to be on my radar.
The Librarian Is In's "Glory Edim is Just Getting Started": I love the community Well Read Black Girl, cultivated by Glory Edim. I attempted to go to their conference last year but no one told me that Greyhound didn't have trains (welp, this may have been a ditsy comment). Nonetheless, this conversation with Glory was great. They talked about storytelling, things that can unite everyone, and the potential downfalls with suggesting books to people.
Super Soul Conversation's "Elizabeth Gilbert: The Whole Human Experience": I've been following Elizabeth for a while, and although I loved Eat, Pray, Love, I found that much of her other work was somewhat lackluster for me. Nonetheless, when I heard City of Girls was coming out, I added to my planner and waited for months. A sad thing did happen however, I got the book from the library, and the audiobook from Libby at the same time and didn't read either--will put back on hold. Nonetheless (apparently my favorite expression this week) this episode was pretty good.
MY SUMMER READING LIST:
This summer, with the help of my library card I've been doing a lot of reading.
Some of my favorite reads this summer so far have been:
No One Tells You This by Glynnis MacNichol
Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth by Josh Levin
Books I read this summer that I was so/so on:
Let Love Have The Last Word by Common
More Than Enough by Elaine Weltwroth
Dear Sugars by Cheryl Strayed
Reserved at the Library and never read - will have to reserve again:
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Educated by Tara Westover
Currently reading/finishing (book club this weeked) Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams -- will give you a review next week. When I finish this book, I already have two books in queue: The Farm by Joanne Ramos and Creative confidence: Unleashing the creative potential within us all by David Kelley and Thomas Kelley.
If you want to read along with me, holla at a playa.
Also, if you want to follow my reading journey, follow my book Instagram @hellareading.
What are you reading right now? Nonetheless, here are my reads from the week: