APOOO » Monday Musings

Musing Mondays, Book Recommendations

APOOO — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:47:06 +0000

How often do you recommend books to others, and who do you recommend them to? Do you only recommend books to your “reading friends” or to anyone you think might find the book interesting? What does it take for a book to make it to your ‘recommendation’ list?

I recommend books on a regular basis to book club members and fellow bibliophiles. Just recommended several books within the last few minutes.

I recommend books primarily to fellow book lovers…but I have been known to add my two cents to conservations I’ve overheard in book stores…hehe.

For a book to make it to my recommendation list…it must go against the status quo…it needs to be UNIQUE, CREATIVELY CRAFTED and well-written. The editing must be superb (an error here or there is acceptable but if I start counting them…hmmm your book won’t be recommended), the plot must be visible and trackable, the characters must be developed, the pacing must be fluid, and the point of views should be stable (and not all over the place). Books that I recommend are those which made an impression on me, that I can’t stop thinking about, and that will be on my mind long after I close the last page.

Here’s my 2008 African American Book Recommendations List(hope to have several more before the end of the year; while all books might not have been by an African American author they all included African American characters):

How Did I Get So Busy by Valorie Burton
Once Upon a Project by Bettye Griffin
Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon
Slow Burn by Ebony Farashuu
Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice
Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Run by Ann Patchett
You Gotta Sin to Get Saved by JD Mason
Going Down South by Bonnie Glover-
Song Yet Sung by James McBride
Cross Country by James Patterson
House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper
Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
God Gave Me Some Bad Advice by Byron Harmon
The Naked Truth by Marvelyn Brown
Sinful Too by Victor McGlothin
Book of Lies by Brad Metzer
The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent
Testimony by Anita Shreve
Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels-Young
Something Like Beautiful by asha bandele
The Some Day List by Stacy Hawkins Adams
Red Light Green Light by Margaret Johnson Hodge
Too Much of a Good Thing by JJ Murray

DISCUSSION QUESTION

So what books made your 2008 Recommended Reads List?

Musing Mondays, Book Recommendations is a post from: APOOO

Musing Mondays, Reading on the Run

APOOO — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:03:01 +0000

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about reading on the go…

I always like to have a book with me at all times – call it a nerdy grown-up security blanket – and rarely do I leave the house without slipping one into my bag (even if I KNOW I’m not going to have a chance to read it).–Just One More Page

Do you take a book with you?–Yes, a book is always nearby no matter where I am–at the post office, at a game, at work, in the car, in my personal library, I always have a book.

Do you take whatever book you’re currently reading, or do you have a special on-the-go book? I generally take an on-the-go-book. I don’t usually take hard cover books out of the house, so if I’m reading one of those then I definitely have an on-the-go-book.

And do you have a preference for a these types of book (paperback, hardback; short stories; poetry etc)? If I’m out of the house, I will take any genre but if it’s a hardcover I will leave it at home.

Musing Mondays, Reading on the Run is a post from: APOOO

Musing Mondays, November 17, 2008

APOOO — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:13:32 +0000

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is a short meme:

WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire Zebnik

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING, and WHAT DID YOU THINK OF IT? Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. Reminded me of the DaVinci Code except it was set in the US. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others who like books based on historical fiction themes…oh yeah and this one was also centered around the maker of ‘is it a bird…is it a plane…It’s SUPERMAN…lol.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL READ NEXT? Sweetsmoke by David Fuller…hope to start it after the Dancing With the Stars this evening (PS…Don’t Forget We’ll Be Here at 8PM EST blogging about DWTS).

WILL YOU READ ANY HOLIDAY-THEMED BOOKS SOON? Nope…not unless it’s a children’s book and I’m reading to a child. I can’t think of any holiday-themed books I want to read. Any recommendations?

Musing Mondays, November 17, 2008 is a post from: APOOO

Musing Mondays, Boys and Reading

APOOO — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:19:31 +0000

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about boys and reading…

Do you know of any young boys who do not like to read?

Response: I have a son and I’m fortunate that since the day he learned how to read he’s always enjoyed reading. He’s now 16 and reads Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek, the daily newspaper in addition to novels(primarily Harry Potter, sci-fi, and classics) and tons of non-fiction books.

Why do you think boys so often don’t?

Response: Because they have other interests…sports, video games, outdoor activities and reading a book might be too much like school/learning for them.

What can we do to encourage them to read more?

Response: Talk to them and discover/find out what they enjoy reading. If it’s graphic or comic books…encourage them to read them. Hopefully by starting there they will be encouraged to stretch and read outside of their zone one day.

Musing Mondays, Boys and Reading is a post from: APOOO

Musing Mondays With APOOO, October 27th, 2008

APOOO — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:25:09 +0000

Todays MUSING MONDAYS post is a question from “Scobberlotch” who asks:

How has the economy impacted your book buying? Do you think it’ll change the reading and book-buying habits of the country? Will it increase your library visits? Will it make you wait for the paperback edition instead of buying the hardcover?

The questions above have been asked a lot and I’ve answered them a lot…LOL…but for the sake of this meme I will repeat my answers.

How has the economy impacted your book buying? Slightly…books are one of my favorite guilty pleasures…but thanks to review books and winning books from other blogger contests I really don’t have to buy that many…so the economy has only impacted my purchasing power un poco…but I think more of this might be due to the fact that there just aren’t that many books out that I want to purchase.

Do you think it’ll change the reading and book-buying habits of the country? For avid readers no…and if we look at what happened doing the Great Depression…books actually didn’t take a big dive because guess what…publishers came up with BOOK RETURNS…which some almost 80 years later are still with us! CLICK HERE TO READ Short Stacks article titled Hard Time Lits. Seems when the going gets rough…book buying just keeps on ticking.

Will it increase your library visits?–Yep which actually isn’t a bad thing…I need to check out more books from the library…rather than buying them…esp. since I’m not a book collector.

Will it make you wait for the paperback edition instead of buying the hardcover? Nope…if it’s a book that I really want and the library doesn’t have it…I’ll purchase a copy of it…esp. since many hardcover books at amazon are 30% off; Borders–40% off and Half.com–50% off.

Musing Mondays With APOOO, October 27th, 2008 is a post from: APOOO

Musing Mondays, APOOO October 13, 2008

APOOO — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:17:07 +0000

Today’s MUSING MONDAY asks…

Could you narrow down your reading to a favorite genre and author? Why, or why not?

Hmmm…nope. I read too many books and genres to have ONE favorite genre or author. I like Wally Lamb, Gloria Naylor, Terry McMillian, Tananarive Due, James Patterson, Alex Pate, Kalisha Buckhanon, LA Banks, Shelia Williams and the list goes on. I enjoy reading literary fiction, contemporary fiction, paranormal, sci-fi, mysteries, suspense, thrillers, chick-lit and, of late, historical fiction. For me, maybe it would be easier to ask me what I don’t I like.

What about you? APOOO wants to know do you have a favorite genre or author?

Musing Mondays, APOOO October 13, 2008 is a post from: APOOO

Musing Mondays with APOOO, October 6, 2008

APOOO — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:29:38 +0000

Musing Mondays ask…

How has your reading changed over the years? Have you started reading more meaty books? (Books with more substance) Or, have you gone to more fluff books? Perhaps you’ve just done neither and you’ve always read the same type of thing. If that’s the case, why? Are you willing to step out of your reading ‘comfort zone’ and try something new? What would you recommend to someone who needed to ‘branch out’?

Prior to the new African American Literature Renaissance, which was about 10 years ago, my book options were limited. Once I discovered Terry McMillian, Connie Briscoe, Bebe Moore Campbell, Eric Jerome Dickey and many other authors of the African diaspora, I rarely picked up a book by a non-AfAm authors during the year. When I did it was because a fellow book lover/APOOO sister recommended them. Although, I will admit I’ve read all of the Harry Potter books…does that count for reading outside of the box…lol.

My reading taste has changed over the last 10 years…as I’ve matured and had to multi-task with family, work and personal obligations, I have found that when I sit down to read I don’t want books filled with silly women, stupid men, and drama just for the sake of it. Up until about 2-3 years ago, I really had a nice selection of books by AfAm authors to choose from…so I got diversity and meaty books along the way. Now…I’m coming full circle. Just as I can’t only eat McDonald’s everyday…I can’t only read the current AfAm books that proliferate the market…I NEED MORE. I NEED OPTIONS. I’m tired of Friday Night Specials, Saturday Jooking and Sunday Praise the Lord themes. I miss Bernice McFadden…Alex Pate…and was two thrilled this year to see that Dianne McKinney Whetstone was FINALLY back with a new release. I even welcomed Of Blood and Sorrow by Valerie Wilson Wesley…because it had been that long since she gave us a good mystery. Oh and it’s good to see that Tananarive Due graced us with Blood Colony this year…although I still need to read this one. Other wonderful tales I read this year included Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon, Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice, Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes…and a few other ones…but these stand apart because the themes were different and the books captivated my interest. Oh and definitely include Run by Ann Patchett.

Actually it was this book that made me realize that I’ve come full circle with my reading taste. I still like my AfAm authors…but I don’t like being pigeoned holed in too reading ‘only certain types of books.’ That said, I don’t have to and am willing to give ANY author…regardless of race… a chance…if they write about subjects that pique my interest.

Yes, my reading taste has changed…but I like to believe it’s for the better. In order to be well-rounded, I need to read a little bit of everything, but that little bit needs to be something that I’m interested in reading and it needs to be a quality product. I read all genres…hmmm except for maybe Westerns unless they are written by Guy Johnson…can I say King Tremaine…whew…what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man…hehe.

My reading taste does often reflect my mood…this time of year I tend to want books that are more literary since I’m spending more time inside and don’t mind curling up with a good book for a lengthy amount of time. During the summer, I tend to prefer light, quick, chick-lit reads…more ‘fluffy’ storylines that don’t require me to think a whole lot and that I can read at the beach or in one sitting.

Books I recommend to those who want to branch out:

Mama Day by Gloria Naylor

Finding Makeba by Alex Pate

The View From Here by Brian Keith Jackson

Sugar by Bernice McFadden

Books by Erica Turnipseed

A Woman’s Worth by Tracy Price-Thompson

Books by Kalisha Buckhanon

Vampire Huntress Series by LA Banks

Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson

Child of God by Lolita Files

Douglass Women by Jewel Parker Rhodes

Dancing on the Edge of the Roof by Shelia Williams–which not as literary as some of the other reads…this is a book about a sistah who’s tired of being sick and tired and fed up and she sets off to find herself without her family…ANY middle-aged woman can relate to this book!

And any of the books I mentioned earlier. Oh and I have a lot more from where they came from…unfortunately most of them are pre-2008 reads or not new releases.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Share your Musing Mondays answers in the comments section.

Musing Mondays with APOOO, October 6, 2008 is a post from: APOOO

MUSING MONDAYS with APOOO, September 29, 2008

APOOO — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:12:30 +0000

Today’s MUSING is just going to be a simple one on reading…

WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?–Seen It All and Done the Rest by Pearl Cleage

WHY ARE YOU READING WHAT YOU’RE READING? PLEASURE? FOR REVIEW? SOMETHING ELSE?–This is a pleasure read and I’m also catching up because it was an APOOO book club read back in the Spring.

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?–Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke…I love that book cover…it’s one of my favorites for 2008!

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BE READING NEXT?–J.D. Mason’s book that came out earlier this year…forgot the title.

WHAT WAS THE BEST BOOK YOU READ THIS MONTH? WHY?–Run by Ann Patchett. CLICK HERE for why.

WHAT WAS THE WORST BOOK YOU READ THIS MONTH? WHY? I didn’t read enough books to have a worst read…lol.

MUSING MONDAYS with APOOO, September 29, 2008 is a post from: APOOO

MUSING MONDAYS with APOOO, September 22, 2008

APOOO — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:12:57 +0000

Welcome to another first day of the work week!

I’ve found another meme. This one is called MUSING MONDAYS and you can read all about it HERE.

This week’s MUSING MONDAYSpost is about something near and dear to many of our hearts–book clubs–and is very apropo in light of APOOOs HEAD OF THE CLASS features.

So here’s the questions…

Do you belong to a book club? Is it online, or face-to-face (F2F)? How long have you been with the group? What have you learned from them? Do you like how the group is run, or what would you make changes to if you could?

Do you belong to a club?–I founded and belong to APOOO BookClub.

Is it online, or face-to-face (F2F)? –APOOO is an online book club but I would love to start a local group. In the past, I belonged to three local book clubs but my life got too crazy and I had to back out of all of them in order to maintain my sanity. Now I’m ready to come back in F2F and am thinking about starting small with several of my sorors. Won’t entertain or flush out this idea until 2009…want to make sure I have the time to do it right.

How long have you been with the group? APOOO is eight years-old. We were started in June 2000.

What have you learned from them?–APOOO has been in existence for over eight years and I’ve learned a lot from my book club family. First and foremost, I’ve discovered so many new authors/books that I would not have if I was flying solo. I have read and discussed books that I normally would not have. I have learned that we don’t all have to agree on a book…but we should all agree to disagree respectfully. Because APOOO has some of the best avid readers found online, we were able to branch out and start a review team. Last year we reviewed over 500 books and are on track to review almost as many this year! Overall, I have gained a better appreciation for reading, reviewing and writing and I have learned how to better operate within the team concept. :)

More importantly than anything, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer eight years ago, after my husband/kids, my APOOO family was the first to know. All of them prayed with me and wished me well and two of them even fasted with me while I was trying to make decisions regarding what treatment I would undergo. The way they came to my rescue then…and many of them continue to do now…is what makes APOOO more than an online/cyber book club to me. Many of these ladies are my family and we have reached out across the miles to meet in person for literary events, book festivals and even vacation. I heart APOOO and a day doesn’t go by that I’m not reaching out to my sistahs online or via phone. There are no book club members like some of these ladies. They are definitely the greatest and the bestest and many I call BFF.

I belong to other online book clubs…but I am partial…none of them give me the satisfaction, joy, elation that APOOO does.

Do you like how the group is run, or what would you make changes to if you could? For the most part, I like how APOOO is run, but I’m always and evolving and would like for the group to evolve with me. With all the new Web 2.0 tools available to online users, I would love to see more members take advantage of these items and follow me into the new Millennium. Slowly…but hopefully surely…I hope I can get members to do so. First step, is getting everyone more familiar with the Web site, its content, its existence and how we can use it more effectively.

All-in-all, I believe that APOOO is one of the best book clubs–online or F2F, and I love all my book club sistahs! Hope to see some of them in Baltimore/DC this weekend and next year at the National Book Club Conference.

MUSING MONDAYS with APOOO, September 22, 2008 is a post from: APOOO

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Musing Mondays, Book Recommendations

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