Hey y'all! I know, I know. It has been a while but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading. In fact, I've been on somewhat of a roll.  In honor of throwback Thursday, check out some of my favorite past reviews!

A Taste of Honey: Stories by Jabari Asim

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Absolutely spellbinding...before I even begin...READ THIS BOOK. I highly recommend it. This is a set of interwoven stories in which everyone is searching (whether consciously or unconsciously) for that beacon of hope. The characters (and there are a lot of them) were amazing! The stories and the prose were well written and very captivating. I could not put this one down and when I did finish I was overwhelmed with joy. I mean I was smiling from ear to ear after reading this. Asim used humor, sincerity, and poetic language to explore sensitive topics like rape, domestic violence, racism, police brutality, and adolescence (to name a few). It was written so well that at times I forgot that I was reading fiction.
Through the short journey, I found myself becoming attached to the characters. I would like to see this as a mini series or on television. I would also like to teach this in my classroom someday.

Go get it, NOW! (sorry I didn't mean to yell :)



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The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir by Jenifer Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"Ain't nobody promised you a rose garden without nasty thorns!" Let me preface by saying I didnt read this, I listened to it. The audiobook is phenomenal. It is narrated by "The Mother" herself and she left nothing to the imagination. She was very open in this memoir. Her dialogue, her side notes, her comments were real and hilarious. I laughed with her, I shed a few tears. And most of all, I learned a few lessons. If you cannot handle profanity and "in your face" language then dont even attempt it. I highly recommend this memoir.



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Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really rate this about a 4.5. Fast paced thriller/suspense. Police Chief Kate Burkholder struggles with an inner conflict as her small town and police department are reeling from recent serial killer murders.

Overall, it was very well written. I marked off a half star because the characters were not well developed. There was just enough information for one to distinguish among them but not much information to make them multidimensional. I loved the writing; the sentences seemed to reflect the mood with short, successive sentences speeding up the pace to mimic tension, stress, and suspense. It's told mostly from Kate's point of view but does alternate to a 3rd person omniscient.

Readers beware that it does include very graphic descriptions of horrific murders and violent rapes and torture. Not for the faint of heart.

Otherwise, I recommend it.



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OMG! I can't remember the last time I read a book from start to finish in a matter of hours. I couldn't stop reading. I had to know. I knew I wouldn't get any rest. Is this book without flaws? NO, but the fact that it was so engrossing and took over my day, it deserves 5 stars for entertainment.

Insight.
I haven't read Street Lit in over a year. I know it can become stale and redundant but Ashley always brings it. I haven't read a book by her that was lower than a 4 star read.

This book has been quite confusing. I think I'm making some sense of it now. It reminds me of Beloved not the book but the movie. I was lost in the understanding of the spirits until made clear.

"The Cowskin" explained to Martin by Dr. Kasim pg.232

Dr. Kasim nodded grimly. "Overseers used to call that type of whip a cowskin. When it came to torturing our ancestors, the cowskin was the white man's favorite tool. Nothing like the bullwhips you see in the so-called slavery movies. A cowskin is shorter and meatier. And no fancy wrist snap needed, so there was no chance of missing or striking lightly. Every swing found its mark and left its mark. Not just on the black man's flesh but on the black man's spirit. And those scars have been passed down from generation to generation."

I want to share a passage in the book that I believe to be profound.

"Black Noise" told by Dr. Kasim to Martin 

 "Black noise is screams,"the doctor said his voice grim. "The screams of our kidnapped, enslaved, tortured, raped, and murdered ancestors crying out for vengeance."

 Dr. Kasim's sudden intensity caused Martin to draw back, like he was avoiding a blast of heat from a roaring fire. He saw the other men nod in agreement.

 "The screams of our ancestors haunt every black man's soul," Dr. Kasim said, with sorrow in his voice, "a constant reminder that the white man not only conquered our forefathers but robbed them of their humanity. And because of this burden of shame and humiliation, deep down every man of African descent, no matter how rich or powerful, harbors a poisonous seed of doubt that he is truly equal to the white man. Even worse, a fear of the white man."

**Bold words not in book but highlighted by me. pg. 150