I really savored The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. I so loved The Mothers, and knew I didn't want TVH to come to an end. I dream of re-reading a few books - The Mothers, The Course of Love - but I have so many new books to get to that I just can't "justify" re-reading. I just finished my graduate degree and am finally starting my career, so maybe I'll have more time to power through books now. Like you, TV and film is also a great, fun, and important escape for me, and it is in constant competition with reading!
I am your mirror! I devoured Morrison (but not Sula!) and have never read Octavia Butler! I am usually to ashamed to tell other Black queer folks that I haven't read Butler for fear that BOTH my cards will be revoked. I too have shelves full of books "to read" and several that I've started again and again but never can commit to. I wonder if there's a theme to those I cannot seem to fall into? Or vice versa? Anyway, thank you for helping me feel less guilty!
I love to being in company with Black women writers/readers who aren't afraid to talk about their real relationships to READING Toni Morrison. I was put directly in the fire because I took a graduate level Toni Morrison seminar as an undergrad...always trying to prove some shit to myself! smdh. Her books beat my ass but trying to write essays about them was even harder because....who the fuck am I to comment on her themes. And I choose Paradise at that! UGH! My friend's mom says Toni writes too much weird sex shit for her and that sends me every time I think about it! But in all that, I feel she's still showing us how to write how you write and be ok with it. No matter how simplistic or complex your work is. We deserve to tell our stories exactly how they come out of us. I will also say, I'm waiting to read Sister Outsider for some reason. I've read Zami (a few times at this point) and that book literally changed something in me. So I'm waiting to be unearthed like that again in my 40s. My 40s will be dedicated to doing a deep dive into the Lorde. I've also read Their Eyes Were Watching God more times than I can count at this point. That's my book!
I scream ALOUD “too much weird sex shit,” the TRAUMA OF IT ALL! i congratulate teen amber for going hard in that seminar bc i know the expectations of the black intellectual. Your take-away is right too - she wrote what she wanted and to WHOM she wanted so that we could do the same. Thanks so much for this Amber and I’m excited for our 40+ feminist book club.
I’m right there with you, Tia🙂. A book really has to enthrall me within the first few pages or it’ll go straight to my TBR pile lol. Recently though, I made the commitment to turn on my do not disturb and read for a few minutes daily and so far that’s been helping me tackle my stack of books I’ve let pile high in the hopes of reading them at some point. I’m currently reading “Allegedly” by Tiffany Jackson and I’m enjoying it so far. Toni Morrison’s “Sula” is included in my TBR list, as well as Angela Davis’ “Women, Race & Class.” I’m looking forward to both of those.
I have that same impulse, but now since being forced to read so many things I might put down (thanks grad school) I’ve learned that some books DO get better if they don’t have an opening that doesn’t grab you. I’m going to check out Allegedly! Hope you and hubby and baby are good! Xox
I didn’t know about the critical reception of God Bless the Child... and now I want to read it! Lol. I’ve read some of Toni’s interviews which have been for me really useful as a means to peak into her craft & personality.
I really savored The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. I so loved The Mothers, and knew I didn't want TVH to come to an end. I dream of re-reading a few books - The Mothers, The Course of Love - but I have so many new books to get to that I just can't "justify" re-reading. I just finished my graduate degree and am finally starting my career, so maybe I'll have more time to power through books now. Like you, TV and film is also a great, fun, and important escape for me, and it is in constant competition with reading!
I am your mirror! I devoured Morrison (but not Sula!) and have never read Octavia Butler! I am usually to ashamed to tell other Black queer folks that I haven't read Butler for fear that BOTH my cards will be revoked. I too have shelves full of books "to read" and several that I've started again and again but never can commit to. I wonder if there's a theme to those I cannot seem to fall into? Or vice versa? Anyway, thank you for helping me feel less guilty!
Kiyra! Shame-is-a-motherfucker! I’m curious now and I’m going to look for connections between other texts that stop me dead in my tracks. Thanks! 🖤
I love to being in company with Black women writers/readers who aren't afraid to talk about their real relationships to READING Toni Morrison. I was put directly in the fire because I took a graduate level Toni Morrison seminar as an undergrad...always trying to prove some shit to myself! smdh. Her books beat my ass but trying to write essays about them was even harder because....who the fuck am I to comment on her themes. And I choose Paradise at that! UGH! My friend's mom says Toni writes too much weird sex shit for her and that sends me every time I think about it! But in all that, I feel she's still showing us how to write how you write and be ok with it. No matter how simplistic or complex your work is. We deserve to tell our stories exactly how they come out of us. I will also say, I'm waiting to read Sister Outsider for some reason. I've read Zami (a few times at this point) and that book literally changed something in me. So I'm waiting to be unearthed like that again in my 40s. My 40s will be dedicated to doing a deep dive into the Lorde. I've also read Their Eyes Were Watching God more times than I can count at this point. That's my book!
I scream ALOUD “too much weird sex shit,” the TRAUMA OF IT ALL! i congratulate teen amber for going hard in that seminar bc i know the expectations of the black intellectual. Your take-away is right too - she wrote what she wanted and to WHOM she wanted so that we could do the same. Thanks so much for this Amber and I’m excited for our 40+ feminist book club.
I’m right there with you, Tia🙂. A book really has to enthrall me within the first few pages or it’ll go straight to my TBR pile lol. Recently though, I made the commitment to turn on my do not disturb and read for a few minutes daily and so far that’s been helping me tackle my stack of books I’ve let pile high in the hopes of reading them at some point. I’m currently reading “Allegedly” by Tiffany Jackson and I’m enjoying it so far. Toni Morrison’s “Sula” is included in my TBR list, as well as Angela Davis’ “Women, Race & Class.” I’m looking forward to both of those.
I have that same impulse, but now since being forced to read so many things I might put down (thanks grad school) I’ve learned that some books DO get better if they don’t have an opening that doesn’t grab you. I’m going to check out Allegedly! Hope you and hubby and baby are good! Xox
I didn’t know about the critical reception of God Bless the Child... and now I want to read it! Lol. I’ve read some of Toni’s interviews which have been for me really useful as a means to peak into her craft & personality.