Where Is Your Bookmark? (Tootsie Rolls, Spine Poetry & BBHOP - How Books Change Me)

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

I peered through the slats of the blinds covering the glass on my office door and watched the dark, brooding man in the hallway. [opening of The Arrangement]

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

He headed behind the bar and began preparing a drink. "Look, I'm worried about you. The news is so depressing lately. Crime, murders, kidnappings. . . I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you." [excerpt from 56% of The Arrangement]

My initial thoughts: I love the old school-like feel of this novel and the opening line offers a hint of that. I am not too far into M. Ravenel's The Arrangement, but I already like Tootsie. She is good at what she does and can hold her own in a traditionally male dominated profession. I have not yet reached 56% in the novel, but it sounds like things have heated up considerably. The Arrangement comes out  next Tuesday and if what I have read so far is anything to go by, it's going to be good. Note to self: add more Tootsie Rolls to shopping list.

Another case has fallen onto the desk of Tootsie Carter; a female detective armed with a snub-nosed Colt .38, unmatchable wit, and a pocketful of Tootsie Rolls. 

New York City, 1975 

A missing wife. The seedy underbelly of the boxing world. Lace your gloves and ring the bell, PI Tootsie Carter is on the case. When a desperate man stumbles into her office, pleading for help locating his wife, Tootsie launches into the investigation. Following the clues, she uncovers a boxing racketeer with a deadly agenda. Can Tootsie deliver the one-two punch that brings the woman home safe? Or will more bodies fall to the mats? [Goodreads Synopsis]

Does this sound like something you would like? What are you reading right now?

Originally a feature called Last Year I Was Reading created by Maria from ReadingMaria. 

I liked it enough to continue on my own, but have tweaked it

 to feature Five Years Ago I Was Reading. 

(I would have gone back ten, but I read so little in 2011)

I am tweaking today's post a bit to reflect what I was reading 9 years ago. In 2014, I was reading the Divergent Series by Veronica Roth. I read the Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant back to back the beginning of March along with a couple of short stories related to the series. I had been reluctant to read the series at the time but was motivated to read it before seeing the movies. I remember being really drawn into Roth's world in Divergent. It was such a fun read. I enjoyed Insurgent, although it did not quite live up to Divergent in my mind. And then there was Allegiant. I was not upset about the one issue most fans took with the series, but I did find it disappointing for other reasons. So much promise and then it fell flat for me. Not the strongest end to a series. Oh well. It happens.  

From the Publisher:  

Divergent: One choice can transform you. Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling debut is a gripping dystopian tale of electrifying choices, powerful consequences, unexpected romance, and a deeply flawed "perfect society."

Insurgent: One choice can destroy you. Veronica Roth's second #1 New York Times bestseller continues the dystopian thrill ride. As war surges in the factions all around her, Tris attempts to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. 

Allegiant: The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.  

Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books, 

read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme. 

Hosted by the  Kathryn of of Book Date.

In January Beverley A Baird posted a Connect 5 Spine Poetry. The idea sounded so fun, I thought I would try it too. Unfortunately, I do not have physical copies of all of these books and so it's more Book Title Poetry than Spine Poetry. Spine Poetry sounds better though, doesn't it? All five of these books are books I read (and enjoyed immensely) ten years ago in 2012. This is the result of reading a lot of mysteries . . . 

Every Day by David Levithan

Fun & Games by Duane Swierczynski

Before the Poison by Peter Robinson

An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Have you ever tried Spine Poetry before? 

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

How have books changed you the most? (submitted by Julie @ JadeSky)

I have been a reader for as long as I can remember and cannot imagine a life without books. Reading has touched every aspect of my life in some way. Sometimes the impact is subtle and other times more obvious. 

Scientifically, reading is known to improve concentration and memory and can make a person smarter. It is also believed reading improves our ability to reason. Pleasure reading reduces stress. Perhaps the most popular study out there shows how reading can increase empathy. While I would like to believe all of these have proven true for me, it's hard to know just how much they actually have had the desired effect on me. I think the one area I feel it the most acutely these days is how reading is a source of calm for me. When I need to slow down or quiet the racing thoughts in my head, vanquish my fears or if I just need to step away from real life for a short while, I often turn to reading. Reading is something I do for fun, of course, but it is also a form of self-care. 

Along the lines of self-care . . . through reading, I have learned more about myself--I may recognize myself in a character/person or situation and not feel so alone. I am constantly finding connections with the people I read about, even those with completely different life experiences than my own, relating to them on some level. This not only gives me that sense that I am not alone, but also allows me to see things from a different perspective, both on a personal level and outside of myself. I am not so quick to judge, and I feel like I am more open to other ideas and worldviews. My knowledge base has certainly increased. I also feel that my reading has helped shape who I am and how I see the world. Reading certainly has inspired more creativity in me, sparking ideas and helping me become a better writer.  

Sometimes my reading challenges what I believe or how I feel. And I don't mind. My views have evolved over the years thanks to books--I grow as a I learn. It's an ongoing process. I like to see things from as many perspectives as possible. I have this innate desire to understand why people are the way they are, believe what they believe, why they make the decisions they do, and how that impacts their lives--how they get through it. It comes back to making connections. I love how stories connect us. How they touch all of us in one way or another. And how they can change us. They make me want to be a better person and believe that it's possible. There is so much power in the written word. 

I am not sure if this really answers today's question. I started typing and this is where I ended up. Books have influenced every aspect of my life in one way or another. I do not know that I can point to how they have changed me the most, but reading and books are a part of what has made me who I am.

What about you? How have books changed you the most?

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

---

© 2021, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Waiting to Read Wednesday: Libertie / Murder by the Page / The Graveyard Book

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Release Date: March 30, 2021 by Algonquin Books

The critically acclaimed and Whiting Award–winning author of We Love You, Charlie Freeman returns with an unforgettable story about the meaning of freedom.

Coming of age as a free-born Black girl in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, Libertie Sampson was all too aware that her purposeful mother, a practicing physician, had a vision for their future together: Libertie would go to medical school and practice alongside her. But Libertie, drawn more to music than science, feels stifled by her mother’s choices and is hungry for something else—is there really only one way to have an autonomous life? And she is constantly reminded that, unlike her mother who can pass, Libertie has skin that is too dark. When a young man from Haiti proposes to Libertie and promises she will be his equal on the island, she accepts, only to discover that she is still subordinate to him and all men. As she tries to parse what freedom actually means for a Black woman, Libertie struggles with where she might find it—for herself and for generations to come.

Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States and rich with historical detail, Kaitlyn Greenidge’s new novel resonates in our times and is perfect for readers of Brit Bennett, Min Jin Lee, and Yaa Gyasi. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: This historical novel appeals to be for several reasons. Not only because it is inspired by one of the first Black female doctors in the U.S., but also because I am already invested in Libertie's story, just from the synopsis. 

Murder by Page One (Peach Coast Mystery #1) by Olivia Matthews
Release Date: March 23, 2021 by Hallmark

If you love Hallmark mystery movies, you’ll love this cozy mystery with humor, intrigue, and a librarian amateur sleuth.

Marvey, a librarian, has moved from Brooklyn to a quirky small town in Georgia. When she’s not at the library organizing events for readers, she’s handcrafting book-themed jewelry and looking after her cranky cat. At times, her new life in the South still feels strange...and that’s before the discovery of the dead body in the bookstore.

After one of her friends becomes a suspect, Marvey sets out to solve the murder mystery. She even convinces Spence, the wealthy and charming newspaper owner, to help. With his ties to the community, her talents for research, and her fellow librarians’ knowledge, Marvey pursues the truth. But as she gets closer to it, could she be facing a deadly plot twist?

This first in series cozy mystery includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Classic Peach Cobbler.

Why I want to read this: It's a new cozy mystery series! This one featuring a librarian who makes book-themed jewelry and has a cranky cat. I can't resist giving this one a try.

Does Libertie or Murder by Page One interest you? What upcoming release are you looking forward to reading?

 

The Old(er) 

I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Harper Collins, 2008)

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a perfectly normal boy. Well, he would be perfectly normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the world of the dead.

There are dangers and adventures for Bod in the graveyard: the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer; a gravestone entrance to a desert that leads to the city of ghouls; friendship with a witch, and so much more.

But it is in the land of the living that real danger lurks, for it is there that the man Jack lives and he has already killed Bod's family.

A deliciously dark masterwork by bestselling author Neil Gaiman, with illustrations by award-winning Dave McKean. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Neil Gaiman. Do I need to say more? I purchased a copy of this book after a fellow blogger recommended it in 2008. Another case of a neglected book that is patiently waiting its turn.

Have you read The Graveyard Book? Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

---

© 2021, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: Mouse's Corner Edition (Whatever After) & What I Have Been Up To

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date and a children's/middle grade version hosted by Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

Last year, Mouse and I read the Spill the Beans, the thirteenth book in the Whatever After series by Sarah Mlynowski, which she loved and I felt so-so about. But if it gets her excited about reading then I am all in! Mouse was eager to read more in the series and so for Christmas, I got her the first three books, which we recently read together.

The series begins with Fairest of All, in which 10-year-old Abby and her brother, who is 7, are adjusting to life in their new town. Abby was none too happy about the move and worries about fitting in at her new school. One night, Abby follows her brother down into the basement to see what has got him all excited: a mirror that seems to be more than a mirror. Three knocks and they find themselves swept into an entirely different world--and so their adventures begin. 

One of the things I like about this series is how the fairytales are not based on the Disney versions, as Abby explains to Jonah (and therefore the reader) in each instance. Abby's grandmother used to read Abby and Jonah fairytales frequently when they lived closer to her, and Abby remembers her fairytales very well. This is not a series in which the reader necessarily needs to know the original fairytales, and I appreciate that each is (somewhat) addressed in the books. The author even mentions some of the more shocking parts (toes and tongues cut out--"Gross!" as Jonah would say), but in an age appropriate way. Keep in mind though that even as the fairytales they find themselves in may appear to follow a similar story line at first as the original or a similar version, the actual characters, world building and overall story are quite different. 

This series is full of humor and I like the overall theme of girl empowerment that I have encountered so far. The distressed damsels turn the tables in their tales, and the outcome is never quite what you'd expect. Mouse loves that about these books too. Each book also contains a lesson for Abby, usually something she is struggling with in her real life that she comes to realize the solution to as she works out how to fix the fairytales she and Jonah land in. We laughed a lot as we read these three books and cheered when the fairytale characters get their happy ending--even if not the original ending expected.

In the first book in the series, Fairest of All (Scholastic, 2013), the siblings are dropped into the middle of a forest. They come upon a cottage in which an old woman is trying to entice a young woman to open her door and enjoy an apple. Jonah, ever hungry, would love an apple and immediately inserts himself in their conversation. It does not take long for Abby to figure out that this old woman is not who she appears to be and the young woman at the door is no other than Snow White. No apple is eaten that day. No one is poisoned. And therein lies the problem. They broke the story and now have to fix it. The twelve dwarves all have very different names than you would expect. And they are not all men. The prince ends up imprisoned in the dungeon, there are crocodiles in the moat, and the magic mirror is Jonah and Abby's only way to return home. Oh! And there's a fairy named Rosemary that lives in Abby and Jonah's mirror. She hasn't made an appearance yet, but there is time for that in a future book, I am sure. In this book, Abby is worried about getting Snow's story back on track, but by the end realizes that change is not always a bad thing. Maybe the move to the new town is a good thing. Change can be good, after all. 

In the second book of the series, If the Shoe Fits (Scholastic, 2013), Abby and Jonah again find themselves traveling through the mirror into yet another fairytale, this time Cinderella. They are determined not to interfere with the story this time, only of course things do not go as planned. Soon, Cinderella's story is derailed. And it seems to get worse and worse the more Abby and Jonah try to get it back on track. They call on the Fairy Godmother to help, only she isn't quite so willing. Cinderella has to prove she is no damsel in distress, that she can take care of herself, which turns out the be the message Abby needs to take to heart too--and not rely on her parents for everything now that she's older. In this book, one of the evil stepsisters proves not be be so evil, mice really can run up clocks, and hold on tight to that magic wand or it might end up in the wrong hands. 

Sink or Swim (Scholastic, 2013) is the third novel in the Whatever After series, and, you guessed it, is the Little Mermaid story. Like with the other fairytales, this one is not based on the Disney version where the Little Mermaid and the prince live happily ever after. No, this is the version in which the Little Mermaid will not only lose her voice and the prince, but also her life. Abby cannot let that happen. So instead of trying to keep the story from going bad, Abby and her brother set out to actually change it. On purpose. What was fun about this particular book is that it was very modern in its presentation. Surfing seems to be the favorite pastime. The king calls everyone, "Dude". And everyone has an obsession with mustard (to be fair, Jonah's obsessed with ketchup). The prince in this one is rather superficial and both Mouse and I wondered what Princess Lana, the Little Mermaid, sees in him. Despite Abby's best efforts, the wedding doesn't quite go as planned, and she must face the Sea Witch herself--with Jonah, of course. This was perhaps my and Mouse's favorite of the three. It was the funniest and quite creative in terms of story line. The overall lesson in this one was a bit more complex than the first two: knowing when to accept things the way they are and when to take a risk and speak up for what you want.

I asked Mouse what her favorite parts of all three books were in hopes of sharing them with you here. Unfortunately for you, they each include a major spoiler. I will at least say that for Sink and Swim, it involved the King and Sea Witch's interaction toward the end. As for the other two, let's just say she liked how Cinderella and Snow White's stories ended.

Now Reading: Mouse is reading Trouble at Trident Academy (Mermaid Tales #1) by Debbie Dadey on her own. 

What I Am Reading: I finished reading Michelle Obama's Becoming early in the week and loved it. What a humble and amazing woman. I am now reading The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. So far it is living up to the hype and my expectations.  

I have not quite decided what to read next. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo perhaps (so I can be ready for the release of the Netflix series). Although, I am in the mood for a historical novel. Maybe I will do that for next month's TBR Poll and make you choose for me! Hmmm.

What I Am Watching: My family and I watched the latest WandaVision episode. As anxious as I am to see how everything wraps up in the next episode, I am also sad it's coming to an end. We are also keeping up with our Buffy and Angel watching. We watch an episode almost every night, depending on what we have going on.

Off the Blog: It was a week. A very crazy-busy-thank-goodness-its-over kind of week. I was so relieved when I left the office Friday evening. I am behind on blog visits and responding to comments--thank you for your patience and understanding. 

The trimester is officially over for my daughter and the new one begins next week. We got word from the school district that they will be starting elementary school students in the hybrid program in the classroom one day a week beginning March 9th, raising it to two days a week a couple weeks after that if all goes well. Hopefully it will go well for those returning to the classroom. From talking to teacher friends and other parents, feelings are mixed. As I've mentioned before, my daughter is in the virtual program this school year, and so we will be watching from the sidelines. The COVID numbers are continuing to go down in my county and dare we hope we will be able to enter a slightly less restrictive tier soon? 

Mouse made breakfast for all of us last Sunday as part of a Girl Scout project she is working on. Chocolate chip pancakes topped with whipped cream. My favorite! 

I just received Mouse's March dance/rehearsal schedule for March. It's going to be a busy month for her. Which reminds me, I need to load the donation bags into the car and drive them over to the studio today. The booster club is doing a fundraiser, collecting clothes and some household items.  I have about nine or ten full garbage bags waiting for an opportunity to be donated. My husband will be so happy to clear the space in our garage!

Enjoying the sunny day

This Past Week In Reading Mews:

• Weekly Mews: Poetry Corner Edition (#2)
• Bookish Mewsings: The Russian Cage by Charlaine Harris & The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
• Waiting to Read Wednesday: Surviving Savannah / An Unexpected Peril / The Rest of Us Just Live Here
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (Female Warriors / Ghostly Mystery / Connect Five: TBR Must Reads / BBHOP)

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this week?

---

© 2021, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Where Is Your Bookmark? (Female Warriors / Ghostly Mystery / Connect Five: TBR Must Reads / BBHOP)

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence (or more) of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

Today is the Ritual of Purity.

The thought nervously circles in my head as I hurry toward the barn, gathering my cloak to warn off the cold. It's early morning, and the sun hasn't yet begun its climb above the snow-dusted trees encircling our small farmhouse. Okai gather in the darkness, crowding the weak pool of light cast by my lamp. An ominous tingling builds under my skin. It's almost as if there's something there, at the edge of my vision . . . [opening of The Gilded Ones]

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

As I finally allow myself to succumb to it, I notice something I didn't before. A little brown girl, about eleven or so, white shift fluttering as she runs away from us deeper into the forest.

"A girl . . . ," I say.

Then I surrender to the darkness. [excerpt from 56% of The Gilded Ones]

My initial thoughts: I am not too far into The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1) by Namina Forna yet, but I am already hooked. The opening gives the reader a sense of foreboding, although we can't quite be sure what it means just yet. 

I have not reached the second excerpt I shared yet, but possibilities are already swirling in my head about what it might mean. I look forward to finding out!

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself. [Goodreads Summary]

Does The Gilded Ones sound like something you would like to read? What are you reading this week?

Originally a feature called Last Year I Was Reading created by Maria from ReadingMaria. 

I liked it enough to continue on my own, but have tweaked it

 to feature Five Years Ago I Was Reading. 

(I would have gone back ten, but I read so little in 2011)

Five years ago at this time I had just finished reading Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer. On the first Saturday of the month I post a TBR List Poll asking my blog visitors to vote for one of three of my TBR books and Moyer's book happened to be the winner of my February poll in 2016. Delia's Shadow is a historical paranormal mystery, featuring a former teacher who leaves her job on the East Coast to follow a ghost asking for her help. Nineteen fifteen in San Francisco and a murderer is on the lose.  It was an atmospheric dark and entertaining mystery with a dash of romance mixed in. I really enjoyed it and meant to continue with the series but haven't managed to yet. 

Have you read Delia's Shadow? What were you reading five years ago? 

Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books, 

read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme. 

Hosted by the  Kathryn of of Book Date.

For my Connect Five Fridays this month I have been featuring books by Black authors in celebration of Black History Month. Of course February is not the only month we should be celebrating Black and other authors of color. We should be celebrating them year round. 

My TBR collection (books I actually own) is embarrassingly huge and among them are these five gems by Black authors that I am really looking forward to reading. I am currently reading The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna, perhaps I will pick one of these up soon . . .

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

The Handmaid's Tale for a new generation . . .

In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet's word is law, Immanuelle Moore's very existence is blasphemy.

The daughter of a union with an outsider that cast her once-proud family into disgrace, Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol and lead a life of submission, devotion and absolute conformity, like all the women in the settlement.

But a chance mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood that surrounds Bethel - a place where the first prophet once pursued and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still walking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the diary of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realises the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her . . . [Goodreads Summary]

Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo

A mesmerizing novel in verse about family, identity, and finding yourself in the most unexpected places—for fans of The Poet X, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, and Jason Reynolds.

Nima doesn’t feel understood. By her mother, who grew up far away in a different land. By her white suburban town, which feels both dangerous and familiar. At least she has her childhood friend Haitham, with whom she can let her guard down and be herself.

Until she doesn’t. As the ground is pulled out from under her, Nima must grapple with the phantom of a life not chosen, the name her parents didn’t give her at birth: Yasmeen. But that other name, that other girl, might just be more real than Nima knows. And more hungry.

This book is a story of mothers and daughters, of friends and enemies, of journeys and homecomings, and of realizing that sometimes the person you’re meant to be has been staring at you in the mirror all along.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent. [Goodreads Summary] 

What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons

From an author of rare, haunting power, a stunning novel about a young African-American woman coming of age—a deeply felt meditation on race, sex, family, and country

Raised in Pennsylvania, Thandi views the world of her mother’s childhood in Johannesburg as both impossibly distant and ever present. She is an outsider wherever she goes, caught between being black and white, American and not. She tries to connect these dislocated pieces of her life, and as her mother succumbs to cancer, Thandi searches for an anchor—someone, or something, to love.

In arresting and unsettling prose, we watch Thandi’s life unfold, from losing her mother and learning to live without the person who has most profoundly shaped her existence, to her own encounters with romance and unexpected motherhood. Through exquisite and emotional vignettes, Clemmons creates a stunning portrayal of what it means to choose to live, after loss. An elegiac distillation, at once intellectual and visceral, of a young woman’s understanding of absence and identity that spans continents and decades, What We Lose heralds the arrival of a virtuosic new voice in fiction.[Goodreads Summary]

 

The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.

A novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.

Isaiah was Samuel’s and Samuel was Isaiah’s. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. In the barn they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a place of human refuge, a source of intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. But when an older man—a fellow slave—seeks to gain favor by preaching the master’s gospel on the plantation, the enslaved begin to turn on their own. Isaiah and Samuel’s love, which was once so simple, is seen as sinful and a clear danger to the plantation’s harmony.

With a lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Robert Jones, Jr. fiercely summons the voices of slaver and the enslaved alike to tell the story of these two men; from Amos the preacher to the calculating slave-master himself to the long line of women that surround them, women who have carried the soul of the plantation on their shoulders. As tensions build and the weight of centuries—of ancestors and future generations to come—culminate in a climactic reckoning, The Prophets masterfully reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty, and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.  [Goodreads Summary]

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

From the New York Times -bestselling author of The Mothers, a stunning new novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white.

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect?

Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins.

As with her New York Times-bestselling debut The Mothers, Brit Bennett offers an engrossing page-turner about family and relationships that is immersive and provocative, compassionate and wise. [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? What fiction or fantasy novels would you recommend by Black authors? 

Be sure and check out my to read Connect 5 lists of Memoirs/Essays, Romance, and Mystery/Thrillers by Black authors celebrating Black History Month.

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do you use Goodreads to keep track of your books? (submitted by Elizabeth @Silver's Reviews)

For the past several years, I have used Goodreads to keep track of the books I have read--since I started keeping track, that is. I have considered adding TBR books to Goodreads but so far have always decided against it. That would be a huge undertaking. I actually catalog all the books I own on LibraryThing, whether read or unread. I like LibraryThing much better than Goodreads for that particular purpose. As if that wasn't enough, because I love making lists, I also keep my own spreadsheet of the books I read with various stats I like to track. 

What about you? Do you use Goodreads to keep track of your books?  Or perhaps another web-based website? Do you use a spreadsheet?

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

---

© 2021, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Waiting to Read Wednesday: Surviving Savannah / An Unexpected Peril / The Rest of Us Just Live Here

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

Release Date: March 9, 2021 by Berkley

It was called "The Titanic of the South." The luxury steamship sank in 1838 with Savannah's elite on board; through time, their fates were forgotten--until the wreck was found, and now their story is finally being told in this breathtaking novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis.

When Savannah history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski, she's shocked. The ship sank after a boiler explosion in 1838, and the wreckage was just discovered, 180 years later. Everly can't resist the opportunity to try to solve some of the mysteries and myths surrounding the devastating night of its sinking.

Everly's research leads her to the astounding history of a family of eleven who boarded the Pulaski together, and the extraordinary stories of two women from this family: a known survivor, Augusta Longstreet, and her niece, Lilly Forsyth, who was never found, along with her child. These aristocratic women were part of Savannah's society, but when the ship exploded, each was faced with difficult and heartbreaking decisions. This is a moving and powerful exploration of what women will do to endure in the face of tragedy, the role fate plays, and the myriad ways we survive the surviving. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Everything about this historical fiction novel calls to me. 

An Unexpected Peril (Veronica Speedwell #6) by Deanna Raybourn

Release Date: March 2, 2021 by Berkley

A princess is missing, and a peace treaty is on the verge of collapse in this new Veronica Speedwell adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

January 1889. As the newest member of the Curiosity Club—an elite society of brilliant, intrepid women—Veronica Speedwell is excited to put her many skills to good use. As she assembles a memorial exhibition for pioneering mountain climber Alice Baker-Greene, Veronica discovers evidence that the recent death was not a tragic climbing accident but murder. Veronica and her natural historian beau, Stoker, tell the patron of the exhibit, Princess Gisela of Alpenwald, of their findings. With Europe on the verge of war, Gisela's chancellor, Count von Rechstein, does not want to make waves—and before Veronica and Stoker can figure out their next move, the princess disappears.

Having noted Veronica's resemblance to the princess, von Rechstein begs her to pose as Gisela for the sake of the peace treaty that brought the princess to England. Veronica reluctantly agrees to the scheme. She and Stoker must work together to keep the treaty intact while navigating unwelcome advances, assassination attempts, and Veronica's own family—the royalty who has never claimed her. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I haven't made it this far into the series yet, but having loved the first book, I will definitely be reading it when I get the chance!

Do Surviving Savannah and An Unexpected Peril interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

 

The Old(er) 

I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (HarperTeen, 2015)

What if you aren’t the Chosen One? The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

Award-winning writer Patrick Ness’s bold and irreverent novel powerfully reminds us that there are many different types of remarkable. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I bought a copy of this at a local indie bookstore just because it is written by Patrick Ness. I loved his Chaos Walking Trilogy and had been wanting to try something else by him and this one sounded really good. And yet there it sits on my shelf. Still waiting its turn. 

Have you read The Rest of Us Just Live Here? Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

---

© 2021, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.