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Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:12 am: | 
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Sooooooooo, what has everyone read so far this month? I'm FINALLY done with my move and trying to play catch up. Atlanta is quite different than The Boonies, Alabama, so I'm enjoying being in civilization again.
I just read Momma's Baby, Daddy's Maybe by Jamise L. Dames and before that was You Know Better by Tina McElroy Ansa. I was suprised that I enjoyed the latter because I couldn't finish Ugly Ways. You Know Better was well-written and I loved the plot, the dialogue, and the ending.
-Tee |
Bayou Lights
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:43 pm: |
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Glad to see you back, T--. Hope Atlanta treats you and your family well.
Just finished reading "Devil and the White City" (nonfiction). Great book, heard the movie rights were just snapped up.
Also, finished "Dakota Grand" by Kenji Jasper. Fun, lite read, didn't take itself too seriously but got a little fantastical after awhile. I wonder if this was loosely based on Ronin Ro, the journalist from the Source and Vibe who wrote the tell-all about Death Row Records.
Looking forward to Mat Johnsons new book (on order) and I got Elizabeth Nunez's "Grace" from the library in addition to "Acting Out" which wasn't too popular on this board.
Bayou |
Sis E
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 10:47 am: |
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Hi Sis Tee C and Bayou Lights,
I finally got around to reading Lalita Tademy's Cane River, now that I can afford the paperback version. Quite a gripping piece of work; I'm in the middle of it. And one of the African American book clubs I'm in is reading Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom, which is a surprise choice, in my opinion. I checked out the book but haven't begun reading it. |
Crystal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 12:01 pm: |
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Hi Everybody! I'm just starting Tananarive Due's My Soul to Keep and have the sequel, The Living Blood, waiting. It's been a long time since I've read this kind of stuff so we'll see.
Bayou Lights: I'll be waiting to hear what you think of Acting Out.
Crystal |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 04:44 pm: |
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Hello All,
I just finished Gwynne Forster's Blues From Down Deep and was extremely disappointed. Sketchy characters, weak plot, and Forster committed the ultimate sin: she failed to deliver a story element that was promised on the back cover summary. It was a quick, lackluster read.
But, there's some good news. I also read a charming short story collection by Crystal Wilkinson titled Water Street. Excellent, excellent, excellent. I loved every little thing about it, as the song goes. I highly recommend it. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 06:04 pm: |
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Whassup Peeps,
I've been doing more writing than reading lately. I decided to try my hand at short story writing by penning a 7,000-word tale of horror in hopes of having it accepted for inclusion in the black horror anthology that "Thunderland" author Brandon Massey is compiling. He posted the guidelines on this board, and invited interested parties to e-mail him submissions. So I'm giving it a shot. It was weird constructing the plot. I got "possessed" by the characters! LOL |
Patti Flinn
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 08:49 pm: |
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Hello All,
Thumper, I just wanted to let you know, Crystal Wilkinson also did Blackberries, Blackberries, another short story collection. If you get a chance you should check it out. And as a sidebar, she's a very nice person too. |
Casey
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:52 pm: |
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Hello, Just wanted to let you know that Crystal Wilkinson is going to be featured at a book sign and dine sponsored by Booking Matters in Atlanta on April 27th. Glad to hear that her book Water Street was enjoyed because I do plan to attend the book signing. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 11:30 am: |
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Hello All,
Patti: Thanks for letting me know about Blackberries, Blackberries. I'm going to have to check it out.
Casey: Tell Miss Crystal I said hi.
I don't know what's come over me lately. I just finished The Hatwearer's Lesson by Yolanda Joe this morning. I started it last night. I am not pleased. The book is a half written novel telling a half contructed story. Except for one scene that had me LMAO, I laughed so hard, I cried, the book is pitiful. And I was on such a good roll, too. |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 12:31 pm: |
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Thump:
You think these writers are churning out too many books and they're flat? |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 02:33 pm: |
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Hello Chris,
I think that's a major portion of the problem. There's only so much anyone can do using the same premise over and over again, the lack of orginality. There's so many authors doing basically the same story, that if the authors aren't putting a new twist, or risking to take it deeper than the surface of the characters, there's nothing to excite or stimulate me. Frankly, it's also showing the real skill of the authors. Not every AA fiction book has to include a romance. I think that right now it's crunch time. Cream rises to the top and its time to seperate the good and the bad. |
Sandra
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 04:25 pm: |
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Hello People,
I've been gone for a bit and I missed you guys. I am still reading of course. I've finished Marked By Fire (excellent) and Blowback (very good). I am just now reading Douglass' Women and I am almost done with it --oh I love this book! |
GG
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 09:16 pm: |
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Hi Everyone:
I just finished reading This Side of The Sky by Elyse Singleton. This was an excellent book, very beautifully written. I am now reading The Douglass Women, a book that I have been wanting to read from for quite some time. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 06:18 pm: |
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Hello All,
I'm FREEEE! I just got through reading and writing the review to one of the WORST books that I've come across in some time. Now, I'm reading Glenville Lovell's new book and I'm near heaven. Ah, to be into a good book after a bad one! I feel like my old self. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 02, 2003 - 09:54 am: |
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Hey all...
Casey, how was the Sign & Dine with Crystal? I hate I didn't get to meet her. I have both of her books and hope to get to them soon even though I'm not too sure I like short stories, they seem to always leave me wanting to know more about the characters. I've heard nothing of good things about them.
Thumper, are you a city boy? <grin> I'm a country girl right off an Arkansas farm and I absolutely loved The Hatwearer's Lesson. It made me long for family and reflect on some of the teachings of my mother and those in the church. It's interesting to see, but of those who I've heard say they didn't like the book, they all grew up in big cities.
GG...glad you enjoyed This Side of the Sky. That is one book that will remain on my favorites list! I can't wait until her next book comes out.
Welcome back Sandra...please let me know how The Douglass Women is...I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, but I love the author. She's so vibrant and warm.
Chris, yes, I think some authors are producing books that are "flat" but I don't think it's necessarily those who are putting a lot of them out. Reading is subjective and what I may like, someone else may hate and vice versa. I think my biggest annoyance is that I'm tired of reading the same ole story with different characters.
I want a new plot...a new twist...or a new "feel" to writing.
-Tee C. Royal |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 02, 2003 - 09:55 am: |
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Oh Thumper...what book did you just finish reading and what made it so bad?
-Tee |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 02, 2003 - 06:21 pm: |
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Hello Tee,
I'm glad to hear that you liked The Hatwearer's Lesson. Let me assure you that my dislike of the book has nothing to do with me being raised in the city. It has to do with the book being tired. I read Yolanda Joe's previous novels and I liked them. I loved He Said, She Said. So, I know Joe can write better than what she tried to give me with The Hatwearer's Lesson. The book is half written. Joe didn't even bother to write a full description of the characters. The only time the book comes alive is when she's telling Grandma Ollie's story of her romantic youth. The sections featuring Terri, the granddaughter is a waste of ink.
I started Solomon Jones' new novel, The Bridge. It's looking like something I can get use to. I'll have to get a little more into it. But, it's shaping up that his first novel, Pipe Dream was no fluke.
I'm definitely going to have to check out Glenville Lovell's previous novels. Yawl, this man is deep and smooth. Just the way I like 'em. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 02, 2003 - 10:28 pm: |
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ROFL Thumper...okay, gotcha. That was my first time reading Yolanda Joe...and I'm sure I'll check out her previous works, I've heard they are really good. And, Grandma Ollie's story was my most favorite part of the book...along with her dialogue.
Also, I'm glad The Bridge is looking good as well. I really enjoyed Pipe Dream and I have The Bridge stacked in a pile of books to read...it's like #5 though, so I'm hoping to get to it in two weeks or so.
-Tee |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 02:07 pm: |
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Hello All,
I just finished The Bridge by Solomon Jones and it is MAGNIFICENT!! I got up early this morning to finish reading it. Easily one of the best books I read this year!! It's better than his first novel Pipe Dreams, and you all know that book was off the hook. If Chester Himes is to have a successor, Jones is it! Carey, you can tell Miss Ann that, yep, it's grizzly. She knows how I am. But, she's going to be blown away by this one. |
yasmin
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 09:15 am: |
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Hello Thumper, et al!
What I'm reading...recently finished:
The Night Before 30 by TJ Butler--Enjoyed it and found it very entertaining...would classify it as a light chic lit read.
Momma's Baby, Daddy's Maybe by Jamese Dames--she's coming to Harrisburg this month and I wanted to read her book and get a handle on her style before she came.
The Puzzle by Tracie J. Scott--debut novel, relationship drama with surprising plot twists and turns...loose ending...so it appears a sequel is on the horizon.
Now Up--Behind Closed Doors by Collen Dixon (author of Simon Says)...I hope to start this one today.
Nex Up--The Other Woman by EJDickey...I need to read and review this one before May 12th...yikes. Actually I started it a month ago but I honestly have problems with books that have titles like Cheaters, The Other Woman and several other ones which I won't mention right now. Its like the title tells me everything about the book and therefore nothing in the book is a surprise for me.
Thumper you've read a number of books that are currently in my position but I haven't had a chance to read them:
The Bridge by Solomon Jones
Glen Lovelle's new one
Alright everyone...I'm off and back to reading. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 09:15 pm: |
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Hello All,
I just started today, and am already half way through it is, Fire In The Canebake: The Last Mass Lynching in America by Laura Wexler. Oh, boy, it's a good one too. This book documents the murders of two black couples in 1946 Georgia. Not that long ago. *eyebrow raised* I'm in the middle of it and can't wait to get back to it, but from my understanding the folks that the FBI suspected of taking part in the lynching is still alive. It sorta gives you a pause doesn't it? It does me. |
yasmin
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 10:34 pm: |
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Hey Thumper...one of the AET reviewers read and reviewed that one a few weeks ago and she said it was awesome and gave it a very high rating...which is unusual coming from this reviewers. So I'm anxious to read the book because I respect her opinion and you just affirmed that I need to move it up on my TRL...sigh. So many books so little time. |
akaivyleaf
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 07:54 am: |
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Yasmin- Forgive me but what is AET?
Thumper - I read your high praise for Lay This Body down and immediately went and read it. Now it seems as if you are suggesting Fire in the Canebrake. I'll have to pick it up too. Seems like a lot of crimes were committed in Georgia of this nature and since I live here, its really opening my eyes. What has you reading this type of literature?
I'm currently reading Minion by LA Banks and Friday Nights at Honeybee's by Andrea Smith. I just finished Testimony by Felicia Mason. I have at least 10 books that I must get through this month. |
yasmin
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 08:43 am: |
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akaivyleaf--AET is APOOO Exchange Team; it's the reviewing arm of APOOO BookClub.
So what are thoughts on the books you listed--minion(thumper hated it...hehe; but I LOVE Leslie's personality and spirit and she's a soror so I know I'll be reading; plus I liked her romance books so I want to see how well she can write o/side of that genre), friday nights at honeybee's(i started this one but it was a little slow so i set it aside about 5 months ago and haven't picked it up since...so i'm hoping you will have good things to say about this one)and I read Testimony last year and really enjoyed. I liked that she was writing about drama in the church choir which was a new theme that I hadn't read about in fiction before. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 09:35 am: |
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I'm getting OUT of my reading slump for real! I just finished up Healing the Breach by Rosalind Stormer and am hoping to get 2 more books read this week...not sure what they are yet, though I have been hiding from a non-fiction book I need to read for quite a while. I read one a few weeks ago about Winning at Divorce and hubby kept looking at me strange. ROFL. I still don't think he believes I HAD to read it.
Healing The Breach was good and dealt with forgiveness and the ending was left WIDE-OPEN, but after chatting with the author, I know her beliefs on the subject. Her book did move me and wanted me to strengthen myself in that area, but that's a whole different thread...
akaivy...guess I'm gonna have hunt down Lay This Body down. I'm trying to read more non-fiction, but I don't know. Things of that subject matter end up pissing me off and then I want to rant and rave about the injustices of the world.
And, yep, I'm still going to read Minion and Friday Night at Honeybee's is on my list as well. The excerpt that I read was very well written and I enjoyed it.
-Tee
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Susan
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 09:42 am: |
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I just started reading, Water Street by Crystal Wilkinson.
Susan |
yasmin
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 10:01 am: |
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Susan: I've heard good thinks about Water Street. I hope you will also find it an enjoyable read. |
Sandra
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 08:14 am: |
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Dark by Kenji Jasper |
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