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The LIST–2011 Reading List

APOOO — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:42:08 +0000

Happy 2K11..may it be better than 2K10 and a more enjoyable reading experience for those who didn’t get to read as many books as they would have liked during the last year.

As with every year, I’ve perused the upcoming 2011 African American releases (and books by those from other ethnicities) and created a list of books that I want to read during 2011. Hmmm…my list is very light. There’s a few new releases currently out…and more to come as the year progresses…but so far not very many are calling my name. :(

My reading taste has changed so much over the last 10 years…when books by African-American authors began to appear on the scene in masses. Recently I was telling a fellow book lover, that back then I was so excited to have so many choices to choose from that I bought almost evvery title I came across. But, that has changed significantly over the last few years as I’ve become more conscious regarding how I spend my discretionary dollars (hey authors don’t judge me…it’s called the economy, salary freeze, child in college…and more African American titles becoming accessible at my public library) and my reading taste leans more toward literary and historical fiction…neither genres are very plentiful when it comes to the African-American sector.

Anyway, after searching high and low, listed below are a few titles that made my short list:

A Good Man is Hard to Find by ReShonda Tate Billingsley–March 2011 release; I had the pleasure to read an ARC and posted a review earlier regarding this title. Fans of ReShonda’s who enjoy reading books outside of the Christian fiction genre should give this book a chance.

Black Orchid Blues by Persia Walker–murder, deception and betrayal…sounds interesting and I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them.

Catfish Alley by Lynne Bryant–A moving debut novel about female friendship, endurance, and hope in the South.

Harlem is Nowhere by Sharifa Rhodes Pitts–At a crucial moment in Harlem’s history, as gentrification encroaches, Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts untangles the myth and meaning of Harlem’s legacy.

If Sons, Then Heirs by Lorene Cary–The one-line description sounds interesting–A compelling, unforgettable narrative about love, honor and the hard choices we make to survive. Hopefully I can get this one from the library to see if it lives up to the premise. Don’t really want to buy it…at least without hearing from a fellow book lover whether or not it’s a superb read…read one of Cary’s books in the past and don’t recall enjoying it very much but that was 10 years ago and I’m hoping her writing has improved and my maturity level has grown as well. :)

Just Wanna Testify by Pearl Cleage–Cleage is an author that I started reading when her first novel came out over 10 years ago and I’m still following her. I like her writing style, and storylines about Blue and the folks in the West End. Have no idea what the upcoming release is about but it’s Cleage so I know I will give it a chance.

Love, Honor and Betray by Kimberla Lawson Roby –Already read and APOOO reviewer Donnica Copeland wrote a review for this one; if you follow the Rev. Curtis Black series then you will definitely want to pick this one up.

Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela–Lyrics Alley is the evocative story of an affluent Sudanese family shaken by the shifting powers in their country and the near-tragedy that threatens the legacy they’ve built for decades.

The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna–The Memory of Love is a towering tale of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. It is the story of four lives colliding; a story about friendship, about understanding, absolution and the indelible effects of the past; about journeys and dreams and loss, and about the very nature of love.

Money Can’t Buy Love by Connie Briscoe–comes out in June just in time for dropping in the beach bag and taking it along to the beach. What’s summer without an EPO (for entertainment purposes only), and a good guilty pleasure read. Sometimes it’s okay to read a book that doesn’t require one to think too long or too hard.

Silver Sparrows by Tayari Jones–hmmm they changed the title of this book…it used to be Silver Girl…but despite the name change this sounds like it’s going to be one good book. Check out this one-line description and decide for yourself--With the opening line of Silver Sparrow, “My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist,” author Tayari Jones unveils a breathtaking story about a man’s deception, a family’s complicity, and two teenage girls caught in the middle.)

The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obrehct (not by an African-American author but it sounds interesting and given that my list was so short I included it…lol.) Weaving a brilliant latticework of family legend, loss, and love, Téa Obreht, the youngest of The New Yorker’s twenty best American fiction writers under forty, has spun a timeless novel that will establish her as one of the most vibrant, original authors of her generation.

So what 2011 African-American book titles (or books about people from the African Diaspora) have you read and/or are planning to read?

Share your list in the comments section.

The LIST–2011 Reading List is a post from: APOOO

Home Wrecker by Dwayne Joseph

APOOO — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:59:39 +0000

Tune in to APOOO Books Blog Talk Radio Show To Hear Dwayne Joseph

Discuss His Latest Release with the Members of APOOO BookClub

LOCATION: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ycoleman

Home Wrecker by Dwayne Joseph is a post from: APOOO

Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes

APOOO — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:01:54 +0000

Tune in to APOOO Books Blog Talk Radio Show To Hear Jewell Parker Rhodes

Discuss Her Latest Release with the Members of APOOO BookClub

DATE: August 17, 2008

TIME: 6:00 PM EST

LOCATION: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ycoleman

Call-in Number: 347-838-9511

Tune in to the APOOO Books Radio Show, Sunday, August 17th, 2008 at 6:00 PM EST to listen to Jewell Parker Rhodes discuss her latest release, Yellow Moon, with host, Yasmin Coleman, and the APOOO Books listeners.

Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a post from: APOOO

Dance Into Destiny by Sherri Lewis

APOOO — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:01:59 +0000

Tune in to APOOO Books Blog Talk Radio To Hear Sherri Lewis

Discuss Her Latest Release with the Members of APOOO BookClub

DATE: August 10, 2008

TIME: 6:00 PM EST

LOCATION: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ycoleman

Call-in Number: 347-838-8511

Tune in to the APOOO Books Radio Show, Sunday, August 10th, 2008 at 6:00 PM EST to listen to Sherri Lewis discuss her latest release, Dance Into Destiny, with host, Yasmin Coleman, and the APOOO Books listeners.

Dance Into Destiny by Sherri Lewis is a post from: APOOO

From Dawn to Dusk by Niambi Brown Davis

APOOO — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:32:06 +0000

Tune in to APOOO Books Blog Talk Radio To Hear Niambi Brown Davis

Discuss Her Debut Novel with the Members of APOOO BookClub

DATE: July 27, 2008

TIME: 6:00 PM EST

LOCATION: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ycoleman

Call-in Number: 347-838-85ll

Tune in to the APOOO Books Radio Show, Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 6:00 PM EST to listen to Niambi Brown Davis discuss her debut novel, From Dusk to Dawn, with host, Yasmin Coleman, and the APOOO Books listeners.

From Dawn to Dusk by Niambi Brown Davis is a post from: APOOO

Carleen Brice, Author of “Orange Mint and Honey”

APOOO — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:17:57 +0000

Carleen Brice, Author of “Orange Mint and Honey” is a post from: APOOO

AGAINST ALL ODDS BOOK TOUR/From Dusk to Dawn by Niambi Davis

APOOO — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:36:26 +0000

AGAINST ALL ODDS BOOK TOUR/From Dusk to Dawn by Niambi Davis is a post from: APOOO

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The LIST–2011 Reading List

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