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Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 09:29 pm: | 
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Hello All,
I've been on a mission. I've read three books in the last 2 1/2 days!! I'm still going strong. I already told you all about And On The Eighth Day She Rested. The next day I read Sapphire's Grave by Hilda Gurley-Highgate, an painfully beautiful novel. I adore it! Today I read Somebody's Knocking at my Door by Francis Ray. I loved her I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, I loved this new one as well. Next, I'm going to a non-fiction book Lay Down My Burdens, a true story of a white man who killed his slaves, with the assistance of his black overseer, get this in 1921 Georgia!! When I was a boy, my father, who was born and raised in Georgia told me that there were still plantations that had slaves when he was a boy. My mother and I didn't believe him. Now I do. I'll let you all know how it goes. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 09:38 pm: |
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Hello All,
I misstated the title of the non fiction book. The CORRECT title is Lay This Body Down by Gregroy A. Freeman. Here's the back cover summary:
THE SENSATIONAL STROY OF HOW SLAVERY SURVIVED INTO THE 20TH CENTURY, AND THE BRUTAL MURDERS THAT CHANGED SOUTHERN HISTORY
The John S. Williams plantation in Georgia was operated largely with the labor of slaves--and this was in 1921, 56 years after the Civil War. Williams was not alone in using "peons," but his reaction to a federal investigation was almost unbelievable: he decided to destroy the evidence. Enlisting the aid of his trusted balck farm boss, Clyde Manning, he began mthodically killing his slaves. As this true story unfolds, each detail seems more shocking; surprises continue in the aftermatn, with a sensational trial galvanizing the nation and marking a turning point in the treatment of black Americans.
I don't know about yawl but I was hooked after I read that.
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Bernice
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 10:01 pm: |
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Thumper,
I've had that book for quite some time and just havent worked myself around to it yet - I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts.
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Soul Sister
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 09:28 am: |
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Thumper,
You already know you da man -- with the speed reading. Yup, Ise jealous -- but I love your insight. I would like to know who wrote Lay Down My Burdens -- I would like to peep this history book.
Also, how did you like Sapphire's Grave - I could not get past the weak/simple writing -- I suppose I should try and get back on the horse??? You mention that it is a painfully beautiful -- to me so far its more pain than beauty. My all time favorite slavery sister book The River Where Blood is Born Sandra Jackson Opoku -- we have disagreed on her writing at times.
Right now I am digging Christopher Chambers -- A Prayer for Deliverance. Yup there is some cursing in there -- I am bristling but its not more than I hear on the average city bus ride.
Thanks for the reviews and the forum -- I recommend this site to erryone I know -- talk to you later -- Peace
ps -- when is the Harlem Book festival
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Soul Sister
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 09:30 am: |
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Oooooops -- did not read the second post -- I know have the title and author. My bad |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 08:35 pm: |
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Hello Soul Sister,
I loved Sapphire's Grave. I didn't find the writing simple or weak. I love how Highgate created a powerful third person narrative, and captured the speech of the women and how it evolved through the time. I loved the whole premise. The carriage of strength, anger, by passing through the blood of the women from Sapphire's mother. Sapphire's Grave is an excellent book. You know I still love you though. It's not the first time we've disagreed. Speaking of which, I gave Linda my copy of the first book we disagreed on, remember it? Feeding The Ghosts by Fred D'Aguiar (I think) |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 08:40 pm: |
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Hello again Soul Sister,
I forgot to mention my opinion of Lay This Body Down. It was a good book. It could have leaned a little more to the academic side though as far reprinting investigate field reports, court transcripts and interviews. Once I started reading, I began recalling pieces in novels written by the older AA generation of writers relaying how at times black men would be taken by force from a train travelling through the South, jailed on some trumped up charge just to be sold into peonage, another word for slavery. I would recommend the book. |
Wanda Toby
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 10:47 pm: |
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Hey Thumper, I just finished I Know Who Holds Tomorrow. I enjoyed it and actually read it pretty quickly. I couldn't wait to find out what the big secret was. I was kinda dissapointed that it wasn't something more. I was more shocked about the true relationship between the two dudes (I don't want to give it away for someone who hasn't read it yet). Over all I really liked it. You have to tell me how you liked Somebody's Knocking at my Door. |
Kola Boof
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 11:16 pm: |
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Thumper,
I ran out and bought Lay This Body Down and read it last night. I am so shocked and wounded. I just haven't been able to stop crying all day, UNTIL...
I got an email today from our great mutual love...author Bernice McFadden. I was so....SHOCKED. She is so absolutely gifted and truly one of the defining artists of our coming future. I love her!!
I was so thrilled to find out that she thinks the same of me and I cannot WAIT to meet her in person.
This is such a magical time for me..I thank you for turning us on to LAY THIS BODY DOWN and I hope you won't mind flying into N.Y. next year and reviewing my debut "reading" at Carnegie Hall. That would mean so much to me and you could meet Bernice!
I mention you as the hottest new critic of our generation in my new book, baby brother (I'm older than you!!)
Anyway. I'm so happy. I just had to write you this post. PRAY FOR MY SAFETY and PRAY I GET A GOOD DEAL.
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Soul Sister
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 10:40 am: |
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Thumper,
Thanks for responding. Feeding the Bones - WOW --you know I LOVED that book. Thanks for jogging my memory. As for Sapphire, I will pick it up again - inbetween some other stuff. Have a great day -- all -- Peace |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 06:49 pm: |
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Hello All,
Wanda: How are you doing? I'm glad you like I Know Who Holds Tomorrow. I read Somebody's Knockin' At My Door. I don't know if Francis Ray have been intentionally choosing titles from song titles or not, but on both of her books so far, I find myself singing the song. This time its, "Somebody's knocking at my door, somebody's ringing the bell, Do me a favor, open the door and let 'em in." I think this is a Paul McCartney song.
Anyway, I loved the book. It's a quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Francis Ray is right up there with Sandra Kitt to me.
Kola: Thanks for the invitation and the kind words. I don't think I can swing it into my schedule though. But, let me take a look and see. Lay This Body Down was a TRIP! I'm glad I read it. It was an episode I didn't know anything about. I'm sure I'm not the only one. My next book that I'm going to read along this line is Fine In A Canebrake: The Last Mass Lynching In America by Laura Wexler. I'll keep you posted on this one as well.
Soul Sister: Sometimes my memory is long. I gave Linda the book in hope that she would give it a try. I loved the first half of that book, but I did not like that second half. I may have to try that one again.
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Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:30 am: |
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I also read I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Francis Ray and her new one Somebody's Knocking at My Door. I really enjoyed both of them and her writing. Her books read smoothly and leave me with a good feeling at the end. I liked I Know Who Holds Tomorrow a wee bit more than her new book, but I did like how she pulled characters in from her first mainstream, The Turning Point (which I loved!)
I have all her romance books as well and she's definitely an author I'd read over and over again.
Thumper, I may have to try Lay This Body Down. I don't read much non-fiction, but it sounds interesting...
-Tee |
akaivyleaf
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 07:53 am: |
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I went to the library yesterday and picked up Lay This Body Down. It sounds intriguing. Its thin enough to read in an afternoon (I hope)
Sharon |
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