Second Quarter 2009 African American Reading Challenge
By APOOO • Mar 29th, 2009 • Category: Second Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge •
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Coming Soon…the APOOO Second Quarter 2009 African American Reading Challenge. Get on your mark, get set, GO! Starting April 1st, we will begin the Second Quarter Challenge. So think about what 13 books you want to read from April 1st – June 30th and prepare to read and cross them off over the next 13 week period.
Come on out and join us! With a little help, encouragement and competition from fellow readers, you can read books from your list and work your t0-read-pile down.
Second Quarter challenge will work the same way as the First Quarter challenge (if it’s not broken…don’t fix it…lol). CLICK HERE for instructions/directions regarding the First Quarter challenge.
NOTE: First Quarter Reading Challenge will end on at midnight, Tuesday (3/31). The final update, Week 13, will be posted on Wednesday. Stop by Wednesday and let us know how you did. If you finished at least 13 books and you participated in the Challenge you will receive a personalized bookmark. If you read all 13 books on YOUR LIST you will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate. Look forward to seeing how well you did on Wednesday.
As for me, I’m off to start book 13…I’m going to do this!
UPDATE: I finished ALL the books on my list…and yes it was a CHALLENGE…but it’s very rewarding to know that I did it, I did it…hehe.
Still working on my Second Quarter Reading List…but so far the following books made the list:
African American Heiress by Angela Marcano
The After Wife by Lexi Davis
Hand of God by Kotanya Kimbrough
New Kind of Bliss by Bettye Griffin
The Road is Short but Wide by J. California Cooper
Rush Home Road by Lori Lansen
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
The Shack by William Young
Sisters and Husbands by Connie Briscoe
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I finished well over 13 books. I am hoping to be done with one of my challenge books by Tuesday, we shall see. I will wait until Wednesday to list the ones I finished and the ones that I didn’t and what I will be reading for the second quarter. I am going to do things a tadbit differently.
Jennifer C´s last blog post..Blind Desire
I am done, I will post my new challenge books later this week…
BLESSINGS!
angelia
Angelia´s last blog post..Dreaming in Color…
I would love to join the second quarter book challenge at Apooo. I can’t say I would finish thirteen books. I would, at least, like to give it a doggone try.
Tea´s last blog post..Autumn Street by Lois Lowry
Finished the 13th book on my list on Friday. Read 29 books in total for the quarter. Looking forward to the 2nd quarter challenge.
PatriciaW´s last blog post..Just Plodding Along in My WIP
Oksy so I read 16 books but half were not on my original list. I’m going to really take some time and think about this 2nd quarter challenge. I know there will always be new and different books since we are reviewing, but I want to at least have 13 books that I know for SURE I will read!
)
I am finishing up my 22nd or 23rd book. I have 13 books alone for my April list which, of course, I will not get to all. Will send that later.
Dera Williams´s last blog post..A Time to Weep, a Time to Heal
I finished all my books on my challenge 13 list. I only subsituted one book.
I did not read all of my challenge books, but I did complete 13.
Lashonda Silver´s last blog post..Finer Womanhood Week & Month
I’m ready to join for 2nd quarter!
I completed all of the 13 books on my list. I’m looking forward to the next challenge. I have been working on a list for about a week now.
OK, I concede! It looks like I am not going to finish my challenge. I did read 14 books, but only 10 were on my original list! So now, I’m going to get my list ready for the second challenge.
For the first quarter I completed 32 books. I was able to complete my challenge reads, but I too substituted one of the books. I am looking forward to the second quarter.
Nardsbaby´s last blog post..Nardsbaby gave 4 stars to: The Sweetest Taboo
I completed 13 books the first quarter.Some were on my list and some I changed at the last minute.I’m gonna do the 2nd challenge but I wanna get my books in order this time without having to switch books at the last minute so when I come up with my book choices that I will stick with I will be back and post them.
Okay, unfortunately I did not complete the 13 books I orignally listed for the 1st reading challege but I did manage to read a total of 33 books.
2ND Quarter Reading Challenge Books
1. Thirsty-Mike Sanders
2. Wrongfully Mine-Isadore Johnson
3. Disciplined-Allison Hobbs
4. Push Comes To Shove-Oasis
5. Ruthless Dictator-Rumont Tekay
6. Uncrossing Her Legs-T.D. Patterson
7. Glory-Deborah Jones
8. The Raw Essentials Of Human Sexuality-D.V. Bernard
9. Obsessed-Delilah Devlin
10. Auctioned-Kimberly Kaye Terry
11. Butta Cuttz-Arlene Brathwaite ( smile Jennifer)
12. Wild Innocence-Moody Holliday
13. Officer Down-Mo Shines
1. Married Strangers by Dwan Abrams
2. The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams
3. Red Light, Green Light by Margaret Johnson-Hodge
4. Serving Justice by Jacqueline Moore
5. Sticks & Stones by Eric Pete
6. A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott
7. The People Next Door by Bettye Griffin
8. How To Bake A Cupcake by H.L. Sweatte
9. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
10. Living Right on Wrong Street by Titua Pollard
11. Secret Daughter by June Cross
12. Holy Seduction by Jessica Robinson
13. Finding Joy in Pain by Roslyn Wyche-Hamilton
Myself and another RLR member will be doing the challenge. I think the hard part it coming up with a list, especially since i am library user.
Okay, I’m going to try to do this, but I can’t tell you what I’m going to read ahead of time. How can you do this? I never know how I’m going to feel. But, 13 books – that’s my goal. My first book I started today, Bernice McFadden’s The Warmest December.
Okay so here’s my 2nd Quarter Reading Challenge list…LOL
1. Lovers & Liars by Teri Denine
2. Murder on The Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
3. Scratchies by Frankie Nicole
4. Suicide Diaries by Ebonee Monique
5. The List by Sherri Lewis
6. The Other Side Of Paradise Staceyann Chin
7. Cinnamon Girl Blues by Wilma Brockington
8. A Heart’s Journey: To Quench a Thirsty Soul by Janice N Adams
9. Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
10. Red Light Green Light by Margaret Johnson Hodge
11. Diary of an Ugly Duckling by Karyn Langhorne
12. This Is What I Signed Up For by Jerald Howard
13. One Prayer Away by Sherri Lewis
I missed the last challenge and almost this one. Thanks to VCM for posting on facebook. I’m signing up and wil add to my blog. I need to make me a list, I’m going to dig into my huge piles of books I wanted to read but haven’t.
Thanks for the motiviation.
LaShaunda´s last blog post..NO YELLING
Leona- you are so funny. Also Uncrossing Her Legs by T.D. Patterson is really good. I read it while she was writing it.
Jennifer C´s last blog post..Tasteless Cookies
Alright to make sure that I finish this time around I am doing this differently. Let’s hope it works ot.
1. Til Debt Do Us Part by Michelle Larks (started this morning)
2. A Reflection of Me:An Anthology
3. The List by Sheri Lewis (carryover from 1st Quarter)
4. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me by Gwyneth Bolton (carryover from 1st Quarter)
5. Finding Your Faith by Stephanie Perry Moore
6. Believing In Hope by Stephanie Perry Moore
7. The Someday List by Stacey Hawkins Adams (carryover from 1st Quarter)
8. Bring On The Blessings by Beverly Jenkins (carryover from 1st Quarter)
9. Red Light Green Light by Margaret Johnson Hodge
10, Slow Burn by Ebony Farashuu
11. Home Wrecker by Dwayne S. Joseph
12. The Cooling Board by Tamara Angela Grant
13. A Special Summer by Victoria Wells
Jennifer C´s last blog post..Tasteless Cookies
Here are my 2nd Quarter Challenge Books.
This is also a secondary challenge to myself as i promised myself I need to read some of my unread black romance series books. These are not the only books I will be reading during this time period ut my other reading will show up in my monthly reading list.
1. The Summer at American Beach – Janice Sims
2. Defying Desire – A. C. Arthur
3. Soul Caress – Kim Shaw
4. The Foreigner’s Caress – Kim Shaw
5. No One But You – Michelle Monkou
6. Gamble on Love – Michelle Monkou
7. Only in Paradise – Michelle Monkou
8. Sweet Surrender – Michelle Monkou
9. Here and Now – Michelle Monkou
10. Straight to the Heart – Michelle Monkou
11. Just About Sex – Ann Christopher
12. Sweeter Than Revenge – Ann Christopher
13. Road to Surrender – Ann Christopher
Second Quarter Challenge Books
Strapped by Al-Saadiq Banks
Suicide Diaries by Ebonee Monique
Secrets, Sins & Shameful Lies by DeiIra Smith-Collard
Wrongfully Mine by Isadore Johnson
From Incarceration to Incorporation by JM Benjamin and Randy Kearse
South Side Hustler by Rich McLaughlin
Single Husbands by Honey B
Kissing the Man Next Door by Devon Vaughn Archer
Tempation.com by SB Redd
Glory by Deborah Jones
The Ultimate No No by Tamika Newhouse
Thug 2 a Man by C-Note
Tall, Dark…Westmoreland by Brenda Jackson
Ms. Toni´s last blog post..Ms Toni gave 5 stars to: Fast Lane
Second Quarter Challenge Books
Naughty 2 My Way Or The Highway by Brenda Hampton
From A Thug 2 A Man by C-Note
Love Lost Da Game R. Trent Rose
Mistress Me by Venesha
Money, Sex & Murda by Real Live
Murder On The Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
Shameless Hoodwives by Mink & Diamond
Single Husbands by Honey B
Something Like Beautiful by Asha Bandele
Strapped by Al-Saadiq Banks
The Tommy Good Story II by Leondrei Prince
The Hood Life by Mink & Diamond
Wrongfully Mine by Isadore Johnson
Nardsbaby´s last blog post..Nardsbaby gave 4 stars to: The Sweetest Taboo
I think I have my list down now. I hope all the books are released on time.
1. The After Wife – Lexi Davis
2. Naughty – Rochelle Alers
3. Property – Vakerie Martin
4. First Comes Love – Shana Burton
5. Too Much of a Good Thing – JJ Murray
6. Life is Short but Wide – J California Cooper
7. Fledging- Octiavia Butler
8. Sag Harbor – Colson Whitson
9. Up at the College – Andrea Michelle Bowen
10. A New Kind of bliss – Bettye Griffin
11. Sisters and Husbands – Connie Briscoe
12. Snapped Tracy Brown
13. The Good Stuff – Michelle Stimpson
1. Sandella’s Soldier by Sabrina McAfee
2. The Lotus Blossom Chronicles: Book 3 by Kelley Nyrae and Mandessa Selby
3. One in a Million by Barbara Keaton
4. The Lotus Blossom Chronicles: Book 2 by JM Jeffries and Dyanne Davis
5. Suite Nothings by JM Jeffries
6. Love Takes Time by Adrianne Byrd
7. Sex and the Single Braddock by Robyn Amos
8. Second Chance Baby by AC Arthur
9. The Object of his Protection by Brenda Jackson
10. Nobody But You by Francis Ray
11. Slow Burn by Brenda Jackson
12. Unfinished Business by Brenda Jackson
13. The Midnight Hour by Brenda Jackson
Lashonda Silver´s last blog post..Finer Womanhood Week & Month
2Q09 Reading Challenge
1. The King’s Rifle – Biyi Bandele
2. Sag Harbor – Colson Whitehead
3. Lost River – David Fulmer
4. Rush Home Road – Lori Lansens
5. Mudbound – Hillary Jordan
6. Beulah Hill – William Hufferman
7. Ella Minnow Pea – Mark Dunn
8. Shadow Valley – Stephen Barnes
9. Lover Man – Geneva Holiday
10. Black Water Rising – Attica Locke
11. Quakertown – Lee Martin
12. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man – Steve Harvey
13. The Color of Lightning – Paulette Jiles
2nd Quarter Challenge
1. In The NIght of the Heat
2. In My Bedroom
3. The Shack
4. Rhythms of Grace
5. The Friday Night Knitting Club
6. Can I Get A Witness
7. A Preacher’s Passion
8. Going Down South
9. Dying for Revenge
10. Belle
11. Josephine
12. Everybody In teh Church Ain’t Saved
13. Preacherman Blues
14. The Soloist
15. A Mercy
i will have to post my list a little later once i see what books i want to get through
Okay . . . I’m joining the challenge this quarter. Will post my list tomorrow since this is going to be a very busy day for me. By the way . . . how do I post my picture like everyone else!!!!!!!!
Karen
This is the beginning of my list: Will post others when I get home…
1 Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
2 Where Did You Sleep Last Night by Danzy Senna
3 Life is Short but Wide by J California Cooper
4 The Long Fall by Walter Mosley
5 The Shack by William Young
6 A Fortunate Age by Joan Rakoff
7 Fledging by Octavia Butler
8 Finding Joy in Pain by Roslyn Wyche-Hamilton
9 Sisters and Husbands by Connie Briscoe
Angelia´s last blog post..Hiding in Plain Sight…
As usual I don’ have many books to read for the 2nd challenge.
My list will be:
1. Bring on the Blessings
2. Tutoba Black Shango Queen
3. Wizard of Crow (?)
I will add more to th elist as I receive more books
I didn’t do the first challenge but I will attempt to do this one. Here are my 13 in no particular order.
1. Chosen by Patricia Haley
2. In the night of the heat by Blair Underwood
3. The company we keep by Mary Monroe
4. Too much of a good thing by JJ Murray
5. The ancestors by LA Banks
6. My best friend and my man by Cydney Rax
7. Single husbands by Honey B.
8. Single mama’s got more drama by Kayla Perrin
9. The best of everything by Kimberla Lawson Roby
10. What doesn’t kill you by Virginia DeBerry
11. Naughty by Rochelle Alers
12. Just after sunset by Stephen King
13. That devil’s no friend of mine by JD Mason
These are my Second Quarter Challenge Books, in no particular order:
1. Shameless Hoodwives by Meesha Mink and Denesha Diamond
2. This Fire Down In My Soul by JD Mason
3. The Bishop’s Daughter by Tiffany L. Warren
4. Once Upon A Project by Bettye Griffin
5. Bring On The Blessing by Beverly Jenkins
6. Nobody But You by Francis Ray
7. Bad Girls Burn Slow by Pam Ward
8. In The Company of My Sistahs by Angie Daniels
9. I Know I’ve Been Changed by Reshonda Tate Billingsley
10. The List by Sherri Lewis
11. Double Crossed by Darien Lee
12. Every Woman Needs A Wife by Naleighna Kai
13. Sinful by Victor McGlothin
Alternate/Replacement Book: Up Pops the Devil by Angela Benson
Hey Ladies…
Congratulaions on completeing the first challenge. Here is my list for the second Quarter.. Like Beverly, I need to clean up some romance novels from my shelf.
Dying for Revenge – EJD (carry over from 1st challenge)
The Shack – Wm Young
Property – V. Martin
Red Light, Green Light – M. Johnson Hodge
Sag Harbor – C. Whitson
Unforgetable – A Byrd
Beautiful Ones – A. Byrd
Feel the Fire – A. Byrd
Essence of Desire – B. Jackson
True Love – B. Jackson
Secret Love – B. Jackson
A Preacher’s Passion – L. Lovey
Life is Short but Wide -JC Cooper
[...] you’re a reader, you’ve got to join the readers at APOOO in the APOOO Second Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge. If my plate wasn’t on overload, I’d join. For all, all I can do is [...]
My 2nd Quarter List:
1. Almost Single by Advaita Kala — Just started this one yesterday.
2. Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon
3. God Only Knows by Xavier Knight
4. According to their Deeds by Paul Robertson
5. Mom’s the Word by Marilynn Griffith
6. Ulterior Motives by Mark Olson
7. What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy
8. Breath by Lisa Tawn Bergren
9. A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman
10. You Made Me Feel Like Dancing by Allison Bottke
11. A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanna Gist
12. A New Kind of Bliss by Bettye Griffin
13. Going Down South by Bonnie Glover
PatriciaW´s last blog post..Featured Book: Sticks and Stones by Ace Collins
UPDATE!!!!!!!!! I put the wrong title for my last book! Sherri didn’t even write that one! LOL!!
Okay so here’s my 2nd Quarter Reading Challenge list…LOL
1. Lovers & Liars by Teri Denine
2. Murder on The Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
3. Scratchies by Frankie Nicole
4. Suicide Diaries by Ebonee Monique
5. The List by Sherri Lewis
6. The Other Side Of Paradise Staceyann Chin
7. Cinnamon Girl Blues by Wilma Brockington
8. A Heart’s Journey: To Quench a Thirsty Soul by Janice N Adams
9. Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
10. Red Light Green Light by Margaret Johnson Hodge
11. Diary of an Ugly Duckling by Karyn Langhorne
12. This Is What I Signed Up For by Jerald Howard
13. My Soul Cries Out by Sherri Lewis
MY 2ND QUARTER CHALLENGE BOOKS *reading them in no particular order*
1.THE HOOD LIFE-Meesha Mink & De’Nesha Diamond
2.PLAYING DIRTY-Kiki Swinson
3.TWO’S ENOUGH THREE’S A CROWD-Brenda M Hampton
4.WHERE THERE’S SMOKE-Terra Little
5.BLACK & UGLY AS EVER-T Styles
6.STAINED COTTON-Quentin Carter
7.BETRAYED-David Givens
8.THE PINK PALACE-Marlon McCaulsky
9.THE SKI MASK WAY-Randy Thompson
10.A ROSE AMONG THORNS-Jimmy DaSaint
11.DOWN LOW,DOUBLE LIFE-Darrin Lowery
12.WE BELONG TOGETHER-Barbara Grovner
13.SUMMER’S DISTANT ECHOES-James I-God Morris
I have blogged my Second Quarter 2009 Challenge Reading List.
http://derarwilliams.blogspot.com/2009/04/second-quarter-2009-reading-challenge.html
Dera Williams´s last blog post..Second Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge
Okay, not only did I not post a list, I did not read the 12 books I had in mind to read. However, I remain determined to meet the challenge. So, here is my list for the 2nd Quarter:
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
Leaving Cecil Street by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Donovan’s Double Trouble by Monalisa DeGross (children’s)
Run, Jeremiah Run by Mabel Elizabeth Singletary (children’s)
Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs The Space Mission Adventure by Sharon Draper (children’s)
Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs Stars and Sparks on Stage by Sharon Draper (children’s)
God Only Knows by Xavier Knight
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins
Something Like Beautiful One Single Mother’s Daughter by Ashe Bandele
The Devil’s No Friend of Mine by JD Mason
Bird by Zetta Elliott (children’s)
1. Never Enough- Miasha (currently reading)
2.Queen B***h- Deja King
3. C.R.E.A.M- Solomon Jones
4. Whatever Gets You Through the Night- Teri Denine
5. When Souls Mate- Joylynn Jossel
6. Think Like a Man, Act Like a Lady- Steve Harvey
7. The Devils No Friend of Mine- JD Mason
8. Queen Bee- Mark Anthony
9. Red Light Green Light- Margarey Johnson Hodge
10. Up to No Good- Carl Weber
11. Single Husbands- HoneyB
12. Trophy Wife- Ashley & Jaquavis
13. Sleeping With the Enemy- Wahida Clark & Kiki Swinson
In no particular order. I will try to stick to my list this time around, unlike I did in the last quarter.
I’m excited! Here goes:
1. Michelle, by Liz Mundy
2. A Letter to My Sisters and Looking thru the Fence, by Voncele Savage (support a new author!!)
3. Life is Short, But Wide, by J. California Cooper
4. Something Like Beautiful, by Asha Bandele
5. The Devils No Friend of Mine, by J. D. Mason
6. What Doesn’t Kill You, by authors DeBerry and Grant
7. Red Light, Green Light, by Margaret Hodge-Johnson
8. Lets Talk about Pep, by Sandy Denton
9. Pay Back, by Solomon Jones
10. A Mercy, by Toni Morrison
11. Color Me Butterfly, by L. Y. Marlow
12. Lyon’s Den, by Kendra Norman-Bellamy
13. Sins of the Father, by Angela Benson
http://www.booksandbeignetsbookclub.com/apps/blog/
I am so excited to participate in this
1. God Dont Like Ugly by Mary Monroe ( book club selection)
2. So You call Yourself a Man by Carl Weber ( book club selection)
3. A Whole Lotta love Francis Ray et al. ( book club selection )
4. Push by Sapphire
5. The Shack by William P Young
6. Sisters and Husbands by Connie Briscoe ( not released til 6/2009)
7. Daughter by Asha Bendele
8. Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera
9. June in Winter by Patricia Anne Phillips
10. Company We keep by Mary Monroe
11. Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson
12. God Only Knows by Xavier Knight
I am really going to try and get these read a few will be easy because I have to read them for the book club I belong to The rest are from some readers on Apooo and some are from other websites
Hello Blu and thanks for joining us! I’ve read a lot of the books on your list (# 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12) and look forward to hearing your thoughts after you finish them.
Ok folks..Im in it to win it..LOL Here is my list that I am going to stick to and also read all my books of the month(s) WHEW..
2009 Second Quarter Apooo Reading Challenge
Girls Most Likely Shelia Williams
Tears On A Sunday Afternoon Michael Presley
Now Is The Time To Open Your Heart Alice Walker
On The Line Donna Hill
What’s Real Daaimah S. Poole
Joy Victoria Christopher Murray
When He Hollers, Let Him Go Teresa McCLain-Watson
The Price Of Forever Joel McIver
Reckless Eye Balling Ishmal Reed
A Deeper Blue Lee Hayes
Godchild Michael Baptiste
Turnaround Jimmy Hurd
Gotham Diaries Tonya Lewis Lee &
Crystal McCrary Anthony
Not on the list that I have already read:
Married Strangers Dawn Abrams 3
Forever My Lady Jeff Rivera 3
The Red Tent Anita Diamant 3 I know some of the ladies of Apooo read this one
and it seems to me I heard them say they liked..wellllll I couldnt wait to put it down. YIKES
Linda
Karen..about that pic..for some reason..my pic wont show here..::sigh::
Linda
Linda, lol about the Red Tent…some books just aren’t for everybody…hehe. Now about the Married Strangers…what didn’t click for this one?
Okay I finished God Dont Like Ugly by Mary Monroe, it was a choice for my bookclub, The Black Butterflies Book Club. I have read this book before but years ago and it still delivered. This is one of the best coming of age stories every written. Annette and Rhoda are quite a pair as best friends growing up in the 50′s and 60′s of Ohio. The characters in this book are people you can pick out in any family. If you have not read this book, you are missing out because Ms. Monroe also has sequels, God Still dont like Ugly, God Dont Play, and coming out Fall 2009 God Ain’t Blind. Ms Monroe hit it out the ball park with this one. If you can pick up any of her books please do so, you will not regret it. My recommendations are the God series and my personal favorite, Gonna Lay Down My Burdens. Super Read!!!
I also finished PUSH by Sapphire. A very good book, had me in tears towards the end. I was well aware of what the book was about, but I was not ready for the RAWNESS of this book. I knew the story and about all the characters, but it was still a little too real for me. I was so engulfed in Precious and her accomplishments. It left alot of unanswered questions, but you know after I thought about it a bit more, I didnt want to know any more than what the author gave me. She left me where she should have with this story.
I am working on THE SHACK now and am halfway through with it as well. So really working on my list here ladies. Good Luck on your lists as well.
I will close all my messages here with the same closer I use in my bookclub.
Butterfly Kisses
And you know what I am going to put some of the books I see you guys reading on my next quarters list, hoping I finish this round since is my first time But hey April 9, and already on my 3rd book, not too snazzy I would say.
Butterfly Kisses ladies
I finished one book on my list, Michelle by Liz Mundy. It was “good”, but it wasn’t what I thought. To explain, it did not grab my attention early on. Don’t you hate this? We are avid readers and are willing to give books a chance — even when we are struggling. We don’t give up. We put it down, we pick it back up again, we put it down, we move on to the next book, we go back and pick the book up again. I ended up doing this. To be honest, I enjoyed the Essence edition with Michelle Obama and her Mom on the front cover versus the book.
Yasmine — thank you so much for helping me with “mother/daughter” books! My book club will have a theme, “Celebrating Mothers & Daughters” and Yasmine was gracious enough to help me decide on a good book. She took me back with “Mama Day” by Gloria Naylor. Do you all remember this book? My goodness! This is one of my favorite books of all time! I digress! If I continue I will end up writing you all a novel! lol! The Reading Challenge Rocks!! Thanks Apooo!!!
Something else I would like to say – regardless of the economy and what is going on. Many of us are going through so much right now — our friends and family are also affected. Despite all of this, we have not given up our love for reading! Isn’t that awesome? The Reading Challenge is something positive and to be honest, with everything else going on in the world, it is so refreshing to escape to this site or escape inside of a book just to get away from it all at times. Okay…I digress again. I will get off my soap box. I thought about this today because yet another one of my close sistahs lost her job. And despite it all, we were laughing and talking on the phone yesterday about our favorite pastime — our love of reading.
Hey Sonya thanks for the positive reinforcement…and yes reading has always been a good escapism for me!
Hey Sonya glad I could be of service…so what book did your club decide to read? And I heard other folks talk about Michelle by Liz Mundy…many folks thought it was just an okay read.
Hey Blu and thanks for sharing your thoughts on GDLU and PUSH…I read both of them and really enjoyed them when I read them…and yes PUSH was very raw and up, close and personal…in our faces! Glad to hear you’re working on your list…I have a long weekend this week so I hope to put a dent in mine.
Okay I finished The Shack and I really liked it. It was a very different book than I am used to reading in the fanciful arena. I love the message and I had heard rumors of a movie. I think would make a great movie.
I loved the imagery of Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. It all fit as a story. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to everyone who has not already read it. It was not a hard read. It kept me very interested and wanting to read it. It was not long and did not drag along either just over 200 pages.
So 3 down and 9 to go
1. God Dont Like Ugly by Mary Monroe ( book club selection)
2. So You call Yourself a Man by Carl Weber ( book club selection)
3. A Whole Lotta love Francis Ray et al. ( book club selection )
4. Push by Sapphire
5. The Shack by William P Young
6. Sisters and Husbands by Connie Briscoe ( not released til 6/2009)
7. Daughter by Asha Bendele
8. Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera
9. June in Winter by Patricia Anne Phillips
10. Company We keep by Mary Monroe
11. Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson
12. God Only Knows by Xavier Knight
Okay 1. 2. 4. and 5 down so far this month.
Okay Just finished So You Call Yourself a Man, Carl Weber has to be one of the best male authors out there, his style of writing is not only unique, but very descriptive and entertaining. I have been a fan of his for years and look forward to all of his books. The characters were very realistic and made realistic decisions, that werent always very good decisions but they made them, which made for an interesting read. Way to Go Carl. Normally Carl writes about men and their issues and this is one of those books, His last few have touchded on women, and they have been pretty good as well. But his forte’ is to write about African American men. He gives a perspective as a man and through his writing, that makes me say sometimes, ” That is why men do some crazy stuff, this is what they are really thinking and why they make certain decisions. No male bashing just some understanding
Hey Yasmine! We decided to go with Color Me Butterfly! Thank you so much for the Mother/Daughter List again. There are quite a few on the list that I need to purchase and read.
Blu – I like Carl Weber too however, I am bad — I have not read any of his books lately for some reason. You are on a roll with your reading! I want to be like you when I grow up.
Whew! What a crazy couple of weeks!
1. Michelle, by Liz Mundy
2. A Letter to My Sisters and Looking thru the Fence, by Voncele Savage (support a new author!!)
3. Life is Short, But Wide, by J. California Cooper
4. Something Like Beautiful, by Asha Bandele
5. The Devils No Friend of Mine, by J. D. Mason
6. What Doesn’t Kill You, by authors DeBerry and Grant
7. Red Light, Green Light, by Margaret Hodge-Johnson
8. Lets Talk about Pep, by Sandy Denton
9. Pay Back, by Solomon Jones
10. A Mercy, by Toni Morrison
11. Color Me Butterfly, by L. Y. Marlow (May Book Club Selection)
12. Lyon’s Den, by Kendra Norman-Bellamy
13. Sins of the Father, by Angela Benson
I am so behind with reading! So far, I have finished #1, #2, and #11 on my list. Here goes:
Michelle – it was “okay” but I did not like the flow of the book. I don’t know what I expected, but it did not grab my attention and you know what we will do, we will pick it up, put it down again, pick it up. I finally finished and although I know more about our beautiful and classy First Lady, I do know if I would recommend this for a book club read.
A Letter to My Sisters and Looking thru the Fence were both by new author Voncele Savage. Great quotes throughout the book. Again, both books were not what I thought, but they were both very uplifting.
Okay – Color Me Butterfly – wonderful book! I cried, I laughed, I was angry, I was sad, I could truly relate so it was very emotional for me — what a wonderful journey. I had a problem with the entire Isaac thing even until the end (I won’t go into detail). I cannot wait for our book club discussion next month. Sorry I have been MIA lately. It has been crazy the last couple of weeks. A few more weeks to go and this semester will be over! Gotta love higher ed….
I’m trying to hurry up and catch up with the rest of you.
Tea´s last blog post..Some Things I Never Thought I’d Do by Pearl Cleage
I can never catch up with y’all. I just finished my eighth book. I’m not giving up yet. Congratulations to all who have finished. Yippee!!!
Tea´s last blog post..Neecey’s Lullaby
I’m reading “Middle Passage” by Charles Johnson. It’s soooooo good. I might have to look at his other books. I don’t know what will come next. When I finish one book, it’s hard to pick the next book.
Tea´s last blog post..Where Are You? The Middle Passage by Charles Johnson
I want to try. I will be back with my list.