Sunday Salon, APOOO October 5th, 2008
By APOOO • Oct 5th, 2008 • Category: Sunday Salon •
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Hello good peoples and welcome to another week with APOOO.
First, I would like to say that today is my 17th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
Yippee to hubby and me!
Here’s a toast to the REST OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER.
For our anniversary, I gave him tickets to the Eagles vs. Redskins game today. Has anyone ever been to an Eagles game? All I will say is the Eagles fans have got to be some of the worstrowdiest fans ever. So much so, that they have a police station right at the stadium. No need to wonder why…lol.
Haven’t decided what I want yet for my anniversary…actually lots of things but right now is not the time to spend, spend, spend…but to save, save, save! Later this week we will go out to dinner and probably take the kids with us…lol. Actually…we’re due for a DATE NIGHT minus KIDS…so that’s what I will plan. 
Okay…on to books. This month I promised myself that I was going to get my reading groove on and so far I’ve been true to my word. Last week, I read the following books:
Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke–CLICK HERE for thoughts. Bottom line, this book didn’t get much better for me and the ending…seemed rushed and was very disappointing. On a positive note, Clarke did show me a side of Georgetown (Washington, DC) which I was not aware of. RATING 3.5/5.0 stars
You Gotta Sin to Get Saved by J.D. Mason–CLICK HERE for details. RATING 4.0 stars
Of Blood and Sorrow by Valerie Wilson Wesley–Review to come.
Gather Together In My Name by Tracy Price-Thompson–Has anyone else read this book? I’ve been a fan of Price-Thompson for years. As such, I own every book she has written. My favorite is still A Woman’s Worth…that’s in a category all by itself and will go down in history as only one of a few WOW books for me. Although Gather Together is a different read; Price-Thompson still attempts to write outside of the box by giving us an emotionally charged plot with characters we love, hate, sympathize with and despise. I liked Gather Together because it moved fast and once I started it–I read it in one sitting. I wanted to know why the characters did what they did. Although I’m not sure I understood Della, Shug or Shyne’s motivation. Della seemed to be filled with loathes of self-hate, but it was never explained why. (e.g. How are you going to hate your sons dating black women, intelligent, successful black women, but, instead get puffed up when they bring home low-life, crackhead white girls that even white men don’t want!) I wanted a little more backstory on Della. I know she was ‘touched’ but I did not understand what made her that way. It was more than her husband’s sudden death, which left her a widow at an early age, one wonders what happened during her childhood.
Shug…the DNA doesn’t lie and from early on the reader was given a glympse of his personality and his rage. He was a bad seed from age 7…that one tragic night…but his mom/Della was too busy hatin’ on Shyne that she couldn’t see how evil or jealous that Shug was. Oh and the ending with Shug…just dayum cowardly! Why didn’t he do something before Shyne was executed.
Shyne I guess he believed he was doing the right thing by dying for something that he didn’t do…but hmmm he took love and loyalty to the extreme…then again he was a triplet so I guess his actions were to be expected. Although I wondered why he gave an exit speech…was it just to condemn everyone else? What was his motive?
Speaking of Janet, Shug messed ova her so badly that she didn’t care if an innocent man went to the death chambers…all that mattered was that Shyne was Shug’s brother…and she figured by giving him the death penalty she would hurt Shug as much as he had hurt her.
Price-Thompson signature trademarks were present in Gather Together–the rawness, darkness, grittiness and vivid portrayal of actions/scenes. She has a good handle on bringing a story to life and is definitely a SHOW rather than tell author. The telling of the three year-old who was sodomized and raped will probably be forever etched in my mind. It was truly a sic scene and not for the faint of heart. The intense explosion of Rashawn/Shug kicking Janet’s arze was another graphic incident. Okay…so can someone explain to me how Shug knocked boots with Janet, kicked her arze, fathered a child with her and then to see her in court, as the prosecuting DA for his brother’s case, he did not recognize the woman? What did I miss…I didn’t understand that at all. Did anyone else?
Back to Character Development–Who was Dera (very unusual name…I only know one Dera…just like I don’t know that many Yasmin’s…and if I ever see my name in a story I will immediately know whether the author is friend or foe…lol)….this character was introduced very briefly in one chapter…as a very minor secondary character…and then we never heard from her again. Why da hail was she even in the book?
Overall, I enjoyed Gather Together in My Name. There were loose ends, characters not developed as well as I would have liked, and early on it was revealed who the killer was…but none of those concerns took away from me quickly turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. Price Thompson is a skilled storyteller and she has a way of pulling readers in by giving us colorful characters, emotionally-charged situations, taboo subject matters and multiple plot twists and turns. I recommend Gather Together to Price-Thompson fans who are more concerned about a good story, rather than attention to details(e.g. how can someone recognize the sex of a fetus that is only three months old; that’s not even a fetus…it’s a blood clot), and lots of drama to hold their attention until the last page is turned. Also, I believe urban/street fiction fans will enjoy Gather Together in My Name.
Since I had such a good reading week last week…I’m going to attempt to do the same thing this week. Here’s the books on list…wish me luck!
And I hope to receive these books this week…
If not…here’s what up next from the Nightstand list:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What books did you read last week?
What books do you want/plan to read this week?
SHARE YOUR LIST.
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APOOO is a book club and an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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I didn’t read anything las week except my own writing (lol); but I did pick up Going Down South. I enjoy stories set in that era, and I’m looking forward to this one.
I see Song Yet Sung on your list; many of us have discussed Oprah’s picks. I don’t know how that one got past her…
17 years…. CONGRATULATIONS Yas and Hubby!!!! <3 That is so beautiful.
Last week was a slow reading week for me. I think it’s because I really didn’t like the book I got weighed down with. ‘Girl Talk’ by Shereen McKellar.
I am currently reading ‘Another Woman’s Husband’ by Angel Mechelle. Only reason I haven’t finished is because the kids have been home for the last two weeks and we’ve been on movie central. School is back in session beginning tomorrow. At the library on Friday, I picked up ‘Every Woman Needs A Wife’ by Naleighna Kai.
‘Can I Get A Witness?’ Is a great read.
Nardsbaby´s last blog post..OOSA Online Book Club gave 4 stars to: Preacherman Blues
Happy Anniversary! Congrats!!
marie´s last blog post..Sunday Salon
Happy Anniversary Yas,
I enjoyed reading “Gather Together in my Name” although as you mentioned I would have liked to know why the mom was so crazy and could not see who the real “Bad Seed” was…
The ending was not what I expected, for some reason I thought Shyne would come clean and tell them the truth instead of protecting his brother in the name of love…
But overall I loved the book and this week I am going to read “The House at Sugar Beach”
Congratulations Apooo. Not long until the 20!
Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last week I read The Nanny Murders by Merry Jones, Not Just the Levees Broke by Phyllis Montana LeBlanc. This week I’m reading Obsession by Kayla Perrin, The Million Dollar Deception by RM Johnson, Casnegra & In the Night of the Heat by Blair Underwood. I’m also listening to Girls Most Likely by Sheila Williams.
Thanks for the anniversary wishes…today I feel like I will be married to this man forever…although as an elderly lady once said…
LOL
Crystal…why have your kids been home the last two weeks…how old are they?
Zephanie looking forward to discussing House at Sugar Beach with you.
Sharon I love Shelia Williams writing style…my favorite book is Dancing on the Edge of the Roof but I also really enjoyed Girls Most Likely.
The book Song yet sung sounds like a really interesting book. Look forward to reading your review. Oh and congrats on your wedding anniversay! =)
Kathy´s last blog post..The Sunday Salon
Happy Anniversay Yas! Hope you have many more to come.
I enjoyed Gather Together In My Name. It was my local bookclub pick for September. We had some of the same thoughts you had. Like how did Shug not recognize Janet. We also figured that since he and Shayne were identical twins ( the triplets, two were identical twins and they the otherone.) the DNA would have been the same, so it did not matter whose was tested. Most of us also figured out they had the wrong person due to the scars. We liked the neighbor who realzed the mother was not wrapped too tight and took care of Shyne cause mom would not. We also did not understand Janet’s intense dislike of black women but embraced the crackhead girlfirend.
I enjoyed both Reshonda’s book, whick I know you will read in one sitting, like I did and I also enjoyed Pearl Cleage.
I am reading and enjoying In The Night of the Heat. I feel like I am right there in the middle of each scene. Right now I feel like I am in rural Mercy, Florida. One thing that Blair Underwood does well, like EJD he can really put you in the place.
Lisa pull out your copy of Gather Together…it’s a quick read.
Jnette…I liked the neighbor also if not for her I can only imagine how worse off Shyne would have been.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, My Dear(Always Loved that Song)!
I need to get a copy of Gather Together in My Name.
Pearl Cleage’s latest is a good one I read that one some weeks ago. Blood Colony was good.
I Have a copy of In The Night of the Heat on the desk but have not had time to start reading. I have a novel called Black, White and Red All Over- its a crime novel about an editor murdered in the middle of the newsroom. And I have a copy of the nonfiction piece called Black Pain by Terrie Williams about depression in the Black community.
Eventually when I am able to squeeze some time between trying to fatten the paycheck as a newspaper correspondent/prep for the Indianapolis “Unflappable” booksigning next week and finish what I believe strongly will be the last three chapters of the fiction piece I am working on…I will read something by someone.
Happy Anniversary Yas…
You will enjoy both Billingsley and Cleage’s books…
Last week was a busy one for me…conference time but I did manage to read two romance books:
Beyond Desire by Gwynne Forster and Just Desserts by Brenda Jackson…Loved them both
This week I plan to read:
Not In My Family by several contributing authors Rev. Butts~Hill Harper~Jesse Jackson Jr~Patti Labelle and many more,,,also reading Home Wrecker by Dwayne S. Joseph
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!
Wendy´s last blog post..Sunday Salon – October 5, 2008
Happy anniversary, Yasmin. Here’s to many, many more years!
What books did you read last week? A Sticky Situation by Kiki Swinson
What books do you want/plan to read this week? Need to finish A Sticky Situation and a manuscript.
I will buy a copy of Gather this week.
Correction on the title of the crime novel. It’s called, Black, White and Dead All Over.
Yasmin,
my children go to school year round. So the school year began in July for them. They were out for two weeks this time, normally it’s in ten weeks out three weeks.
Nardsbaby´s last blog post..OOSA Online Book Club gave 4 stars to: Preacherman Blues
Hey Crystal…gotcha…understand now.
Happy Anniversary to you and your husband.
I have not read “Gathe Together in My Name” but about four me have recommended it to me in the past couple of days. so I guess I will be pickng it up.
I have read “Song Yet Sung” and “The House on Sugar Beach”. Song Yet Sung is one of my top reads for the year.
Happy Anniversary! What a beautiful photo! I hope to get to The House at Sugar Beach before the year is out. It looks like it will be an amazing story. I meant to get so much more reading done than I did this past week. I hope to remedy that this week. I hope you have a great week!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY…HOW LOVELY AND BLESSED!
Smooches!
angelia
Angelia´s last blog post..Paying it Forward!
Happy Anniversary! I read one book last week; well two if you count my text book. The Secret Life of Bees had me all emotional. I hope to get more than one done this week.
Jennifer C.´s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #9-The Name Game
Happy 17th Yasmin! (We did 17 in August.)
Last week I read A Gentleman’s Offer by Dara Girard and House of Secrets by Viola M. Walker (totally breaking my vow not to read).
This week I’m reading Single Sashimi by Camy Tang.
PatriciaW´s last blog post..Trudging Through My WIP
Happy Anniversary to you and your husband!
Shelia´s last blog post..The Zen of Sarcasm
The last two books I read were Blood Colony by Tanananrive Due and the second book in the Kimani Press Braddock series.
Up next in my pile is Sinful Too by Victor McGlothin. It’s for work but it’ll be a pleasure to read it because I usually like all of his books.
Shelia´s last blog post..The Zen of Sarcasm
Congratulations Yasmin and Rick.. Beautiful Wedding Picture…
Congrats on your anniversary. I’ve added Gather Together in My Name to my must have list.