| Author |
Message |
    
Madame X
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 05:23 pm: | 
|
At the back of Their eyes were watching God - in the afterword chapter - it states that: "...between the middle of the Harlem Renaissance and the end of the Korean War, Zora Neale Hurston was the dominant black woman writer in the United States. Who would that be in our time? |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 05:30 pm: |
|
Tony Morrison hands down. |
Samuel
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 06:05 pm: |
|
I think we actually have two if you count the entire "black women's literature movement" of the last 30 years.
That would be Toni Morrison (Beloved) and Alice Walker (The Color Purple).
The reason I say both is because Morrison only really writes novels. Walker, however, has coined the term "womanist", which is now a movement, has won many awards for her Non-fiction like "In Search of Our Mother's Garden" and it's most likely that the film "Color Purple", world wide, has most deeply represented and expressed the lives of Pan African women better than any other film ever made. It was also Walker who dug up and re-introduced the world to Hurston. She was the one to put a tombstone on Hurston's grave site.
So I have to say it's those two.
|
InPrint
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 08:37 pm: |
|
I would say Morrison, but with the footnote that her reign is in decline. Sadly, I fear Jazz was her shark-jumping.
Walker jumped the shark after the Temple of My Familiar.
I think it's time to look at the next generation. At the moment, Zadie Smith would probably stand strongest. Of the Americans, I fear too many black woman have been lured- or shoved- into a commercial niche that is not about innovation, but replication, a reality than in itself handicaps their attempts to bring truly new voices.
But really, the womanist period had an amazing run. It's just natural that it should come to an end, that something new should follow. It will be interesting to see what exactly emerges. |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 09:34 pm: |
|
Z.Z. Packer is a much stronger writer than Zadie Smith and holds that distinction without even a first novel being released as yet.
Also, I have only in the last 5 years heard young black college girls begin to call themselves "womanists". I think it's actually just beginning.
Perhaps In Print is confusing the present day college movement with the old white feminist movements and Alice Walker love fests which wasn't really a "click" or a cult rather than an actual movement.
I see most "womanists" today are not even gay or bisexual and have ALTERED the term to include a certain sexual liberation amongst black women.
Just my two cints.
|
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 11:04 am: |
|
ZZ Packer is good, but she's got all the Literary Establishment hype behind her. She can't dominate anything with one book of short stories out and that's the bottom line.
Alice Walker has moved too far out in left field and lost her audience.
Morrison might have jumped the shark, but Oprah the New York times Bestseller list, the Pulitzer and Nobel committees don't think so. Morrison is a household name and nobody knows who Packer and Zadie Smith are. If they died now they would be a footnote in literary history at best.
Cuz Stone Cold said so. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 12:01 pm: |
|
The way this question was posed would seen to make "dominant" the operative word here. Is dominating the black woman's writer genre a hallmark of quality or quanity? Teri McMillan certain was a dominant force in terms of quanity. But who are we kidding? Toni Morrison is not only the black woman writer paragon, she is the definitive woman's writer of this era. What white female author has a better body of work? And, Morrison's heir to the throne will not be a flash in the pan, but someone who has the staying power necessary to be considered a legitimate contender. |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 12:35 pm: |
|
Cynique:
She got the work. She got the awards. She got the moolah. She got the name recognition. She got the braids. She got the teaching position at Princeton. Folks are turned away from her SOL speaking engagements. She can say silly things and they become Holy Writ (Clinton as the First Black President). She got the book made into movie. Teri might be crowding her on sales (might be ahead) but on numbers of books and those thought to be classics she is ahead of her.
This is a no brainer. The only person I would consider even giving her a run is Maya Angelou. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 08:22 pm: |
|
Hello All,
What a good question. In my opinon, it's not Toni Morrison nor Alice Walker. Calling a spade a spade, both authors heyday has past and gone. It's too bad we, the reading audience, wasn't recognized at the time that these ladies, along with Toni Cade Bambara were hitting their stride. At least there was a crossover so that we each know about the other and are still alive to see and appreciate each other.
It's not Terry McMillan. While she was the dominant black female writer at one time, now, there is too many years between books, and a whole host of authors, both male and female, have taken over commercial fiction. So, she's out.
The black female writer that I believe is the dominant writer is Zane. Here's why: although I still haven't read her (Zane, forgive a brotha. I will correct it soon *smile*), she is everywhere. Love her or hate her, you know about her. If you haven't read any of her books, you have plans on it, at least one. So, Zane gets my vote. Even I have notice a slight change has taken over in the sista-girlfriend books since Zane's emergence. She's beginning to cast a long shadow. |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 09:27 pm: |
|
Does dominance equate to quality or popularity? There is a hellva difference. |
reppskearn
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 09:42 pm: |
|
Ouch! |
JMHO
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 06:55 am: |
|
I agree with others who said, Morrison. She's been around a while and still going strong. I got "Love" and can't wait to get into it.
However, Thumper, I will also say, that any author who's churning out 2 to 3 books a year is most certainly "everywhere." The publisher will have those books front and center (and "everywhere") to recoup their investment.
And, as just with the sistagirlfriend books, popularized by McMillian, those who are more concerned with sales, will emulate what's selling regardless of style and/or content.
|
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 09:21 am: |
|
Hello All,
JMHO: I agree with you. As was said before, we didn't clarify if we were talking quantity or quality. I can't evaluate the quality of Zane's work because I haven't read any of her books. I agree that her books are everywhere, but they have to be selling to even get to the point where she is putting out that many books a year.
Now as far as quality, I'll go with Morrison too as being the dominant author, male or female. (Love is an awesome book BTW) But, I have to say, I've read a couple of excellent new authors in the past few years that I can't wait to see how they develop. |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 04:12 pm: |
|
I would have to agree with Thumper and say Zane. I just picked up the December issue of Essence and she is holding down number 1 and number 5 on the hardcover fiction list. I don't recall ever seeing another female author have 2 out of 5 hardcovers on the list at once and she had 3 out of 5 on the paperback list several times. I also just heard on a loop that I am belong to that Zane has 7 out of 15 of the top selling AA titles at Waldenbooks nationwide. She has only 7 books out. Now say what you want but the woman is dominating the book industry at present. If I am not mistaken, Zane has books coming out in both December and January. Somebody is buying the books because they are flying off shelves everywhere. |
JMHO
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 06:28 pm: |
|
My point exactly. But, then again, sex sells, regardless of the medium.
|
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 10:19 am: |
|
Interesting. Interesting. If we were to go to who is possibly having the dominant effect--that is who the greatest number of new authors trying to write like and imitate--it does put us in different territory.
I think then we would have to go with Terry McMillain or somebody who is writing those Sistagirl books. |
yukio
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 12:58 pm: |
|
Interesting thread, here.
If we were to say talking about literary dominance, then i would say MOrrison. I can not speak to commercial literature, but i woul suspect Zane, though T. McMillian is responsible for creating the cultural shift to "sistagirl" literature.
InPrint:
Why do you state Morrison is on the decline? Is this your personal opinion, the literary establishmnet and/or community's opinion, or all of the above?
And what you tell me where, please explain why... |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 01:27 pm: |
|
This may open up a can of worms but since the topic has been raised, who do you think is the dominant black male author at the present time?
Thumper, I have not read all of Zane's books but if and when you do decide to give her a shot, you can't go wrong with Addicted and Nervous--in that order. The woman definitely has something more to her than just sex, as someone implied earlier. If it was just about sex selling, then why aren't the other AA female authors toting themselves as erotica queens selling like Zane? |
LiteraryGrrrl
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 02:48 pm: |
|
Well, Zane certainly is the hottest black female of the moment, but is that the question?
In terms of the dominant female, I'd have to agree with those who say Toni Morrison. This woman gets a front page on the New York Times Book Review, is reviewed widely -- from mainstream to African American media. She is a writer who cannot be ignored. EVERYONE takes notice when a new Toni Morrison comes out.
Now Zane is hot, hot, hot -- but I think you can't compare the two, because they are so very different. Which is to say, I give them both major props. |
Posh Patty
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 03:11 pm: |
|
I must agree with Thumper - yes, Zane is the "dominant" female author (at the moment) because she is everywhere and her numbers are staggering -- just like Terry McMillan was dominant ten years ago - this only goes to quantity and not quality. Now if asked, which AA female author constantly delivers top notch, character driven, quality literature - that would be Toni Morrison and a hand full of other authors who exist in the shadow of the "sista girl" and "chick-lit" authors. Besides, the shelf life of those books (Zane etc.) is short. I sleep soundly knowing that those authors and their works will never be added to the Black canon of literature. |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 03:29 pm: |
|
Posh Patty,
If the shelf life of Zane's books are short, how can she have 7 out of 15 of the top AA books at Waldens when she only has 7 books out? I beg to differ. From what I can see, her first books that came out three years ago are still selling just as well as her new books. That is one of the reasons why she is so hot.
Sure, Toni has had more staying power. She is 72 years old. I don't know how old Zane is but I know she can't be anywhere near that and she has only been on the scene a brief period of time and from what I can see, isn't planning on going anywhere. Yet, she has more books out than probably 99% of the authors that have been out for years or even decades.
I am not saying Toni is not the bomb. I just finished Love and thought it was great! I am just keeping it real. Zane won't do interviews or appearances so maybe that is the only reason she is not getting the media attention other authors get. Could it be because she doesn't want it? What would be really insane is the amount of books Zane would sell if you did a tour like all the rest of the authors (even Toni). |
JMHO
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 08:22 pm: |
|
Anonymous, I said that sex sells, and it was certainly more than an implication, because that is definitely the main thrust of all her books. In fact, Addicted is about a woman who is addicted to sex. And, all her others books are very sexually explicit. Why some want to deny that fact is beyond me. Do you really believe that if all the sex scenes were removed from the storylines that people would still be buying her books based on her writing?
And, secondly, there are many authors who have similar storylines in their recent books. In fact, some are even trying to out zane Zane. Look at the number of "erotic" anthologies that have come from off the press in the past 3 years. They may not be touting themselves as "erotica queens" but both male and female writers are putting out similar themed books and stories.
|
JMHO
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 08:34 pm: |
|
LiteraryGrrrl, if one means dominant to be who's "hot" in the means of sales then perhaps maybe it's Zane but then if we're looking at that then we need to tally up all the sales and not just what's on a best-selling list for one store (Waldenbooks) or one magazine (Essence). But, as well, then you have to factor in time and maybe 40 or 50 years for now if Zane is still selling books and Morrison don't sell anymore then perhaps a fairer comparison can be made. I read that there was a first printing of 500,000 copies for Morrison's Love.
|
ta bonne fee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 08:46 pm: |
|
Zane was putting her erotica (excerpts) out on the web via many black boards for years. She had a following online which is translating into a following with her novels. Kudos to her for exploiting a lucrative market.
I have done my share in supporting her by purchasing her books for others. I find erotica to be rather formulaic (is that a word??) and therefore, rather boring to read. So, I don't have any Zane books on my shelf (no offense.
There is no doubt that Zane is dominating in the dollar market. I choose to look at the dominance issue relative to quality and longevity (I do wish these things for Zane but my rational self doesn't believe it possible). I believe that Morrison dominates the literary forum as has been stated in previous posts. Song of Solomon will be forever one of my treasured reads.
I, too, look to some of the up and coming female authors such as Bernice McFadden to bring some quality reads to the table. AND there is always little Tyqueelah. If I have anything to do with it, this little 2nd grader will be the future Toni Morrison. The little sista can tell a story complete with twists and turns that will keep you turning pages! |
Carey
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 17, 2003 - 09:16 pm: |
|
Hello T-bone
As usual, you stated your point well but tell me.
You said: There is no doubt that Zane is dominating in the dollar market. I choose to look at the dominance issue relative to quality and longevity (I do wish these things for Zane but my rational self doesn't believe it possible).
Are you saying that Zane will not be in the race in the long haul? If you are I am affraid I am going to have to disaggree. If you look at the nature of "zane" types of books, it's true, it's not about quality just as JMHO so bravely stated, therefore it's about sex and although you may find it boring others are gobbling it up. Take for instance the parent to Erotica, the tried and true romance novel. They basically change a few names, change the setting and a few other minor details and BAM a new novel. I am going to flip the script a little and mention Playboy and the other mens magizines. Now tell me, how many times can one few a naked lady? I mention that to say, flip it, smack it, rub it around, sex sells and Zane will be riding the wave for a loooog time.
Ten toes up and ten toes down, two naked bootys going round and round......you know the rest of the story  I think I'll write a book about it.
CArey |
Posh Patty
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 05:09 pm: |
|
Anonymous -
By short shelf life I mean that - will Zane's books be taught in English classes - or considered "Classics" - I don't think so. Not knocking her - she's doing her thing - her "thing" is just not "my" cup of tea. |
ta bonne fee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 08:40 pm: |
|
Carey ...Big Bruh, are you supposed to be talking about S-E-X to your lil sis???
I undertand what you're saying BUT I maintain my position. I think erotica novels (Playboy, et al not included) ride the ebb and flow of the times. I think we're existing in a time where people are living vicariously through the written world. Whether this is due to self-preservation or a mere time issue I don't know. ANYWAY, times change and so do the fads. I just don't see the overindulgence of the buyers being sustained.
I'm with Posh Patty, "not knocking her - she's doing her thing - her 'thing' is just not 'my' cup of tea"
Nuff said?
T-bone
PS - Big Bruh, you be hurtin mah feelins. Couldya e-mail a sista? I'm is leavin the address one mo 'gin. Encore une fois (I had to redeem myself!) |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 08:49 pm: |
|
I am not sure what we mean here by "dominant black female author". So I can’t fairly declare who would appear to be such. I might agree the aforementioned Morrison/Walker are good picks for literary quality, and McMillian/Zane are fiercely workin’ the cash registers. But perhaps only time will tell which among them and/or others matter most.
Zane intrigues me. It seems what she has been most successful at achieving is cleverly creating a uniquely alluring literary persona. Zane does not just write/sell sex novels. Rather, she has managed, in a remarkably short period of time, to wield herself into this "great" guru and liberator of modern Black female sexuality. The Zane "worshipers" are a burgeoning legion. And even those who have scarcely read her works seem to enjoy freely commenting about her.
Even her single nom de plume "Zane" has about it a sultry, sassy quality. I mean, really, who wouldn’t want to on some level be 'like' (female) or be 'licked (male [or female]) by a chick called "Zane"?
I don’t know if Zane is a great literary talent, but that sistah is so skilled at marketing that she could give Disney executives lessons on selling Mickey Mouse. |
JMHO
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 09:52 pm: |
|
Carey, I agee with you about the romance novels. The main reason why I don't read them either.
ABM, Disney knows marketing. Mickey is 75 years old today and will be around for at least another 75 years.
|
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 10:13 pm: |
|
JMHO, it's true Disney has dealt more vacuous fantasies than has LSD. And Disney also knows how to bribe Congress into contorting copyright laws to suiting their interests. Mickey Mouse should have been in the public domain years ago. |
Samuel
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 04:15 am: |
|
Hands down, I Still say that we have two black women's voices for this generation-Toni Morrison and Alice Walker--and that you cannot have one without the other.
Please hear me out.
"The Color Purple" has become a cottage industry all unto itself, continuing recently to break box office records in Africa and South America. That novel is the equivalent today to yesterday's "Their Eyes Were Watching God". CELIE's feminist transformation is akin to Janie Crawford's and is even more widely celebrated and known.
Morrison's entire body of work, with "Beloved" as the masterpiece reigns supreme as the overall experience of black life and with novels like "Song of Solomon" and "Bluest Eye" has single handedly represented black communal life for this entire century, but you still cannot rule out that Walker has been the "feminist" Anti-voice...much the way Hurston was back in the Renaissance.
I have never heard academics discuss the subject of today's black women novelists without mentioning Morrison and Walker in the same breath. Just a there was Baldwin, Wright and the guy who wrote Invisible Man--there will not be merely 1 star writer for this generation, it's IMPOSSIBLE!
Jaqueline Sussann, Jackie Collins and Danielle Steele have sold gazillions copies of books--like Zane has--but that in no way makes those women share the same space as Sylvia Plath, who sold a fraction of their numbers.
Zane is nothing but the Hot Dish, the Hitmaker of today. She's the Diana Ross of literature--but can't hold a candle to the Aretha's, the Glady's, the Nina's. She's a besteller, glamorous and sexy, but is not leaving a LASTING sociological legacy in the least. It's a joke to even mention her name in the same breath with the others.
Terry McMillan still remains the #1 top selling BLACK writer of all time (male or female)--Zane is nowhere near her throne--but being top seller is just the Jaqueline Sussann award. "Valley of the Dolls" and "Hollywood Wives" (by Collins) sold 15 and 20 million copies--but they remain meaningless.
No one studies "Valley of the Dolls" in college courses. It's a soap opera for goddsakes.
It's QUALITY that lives and lasts. It's academic discourse that remains the barometer of who is really SOCIALY significant.
Significant.
I dare say that Morrison will die as our "black historian"...and Walker will die remembered as our greatest "Feminist" voice, as feminism most definitely is asleep, but no dead. Walker started the "womanist" movement--she will go in the history books for activism as well as literature and Morrison won the NOBEL prize. There is really no competition for these two women other than Gloria Naylor.
Walker was also the very first black woman writer in history to highlight the subject of female genital mutilation. She made a film about it.
100 years from now when they discuss this period in black women's literature....Toni Morrison and Alice Walker will be the "twin" names mentioned every time. Their works will be read, steadied and TRUSTED as guides to what it was like to be a black woman in these times.
|
Posh Patty
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 06:14 am: |
|
Amen Samuel! |
Posh Patty
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 08:28 am: |
|
ta bonne fee:
I wouldnt call Bernice McFadden a promising new author -- maybe she was promising when Sugar came out and The Warmest December - but everything after that was disappointing (in my opinion) McFadden is just "sista girl" author w/a little more atmosphere than some of the others. |
InPrint
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 11:16 am: |
|
Samuel-
Well done! Beautifully put.
And with the comparison to the Big Guys of mid-century black lit, likewise it is not neccessary that Walker and Morrison agree, or that there be a critical consensus on the equality of their work in regards to artistic or commercial merit.
Bravo! |
ta bonne fee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 07:02 pm: |
|
Posh Patty ... I haven't read much in, well, forever. I've only read Sugar and The Warmest December which I really enjoyed. It saddens me to think that she took a slide. I'll have to check out her other works and see for myself.
Thanks for the info. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 08:02 pm: |
|
Hello All,
Samuel: Well put. I don't necessarily agree though. I would think that Hurston would be mentioned somewhere in there as well. But, I dare say that popularity has to come into play in your choices as well. Yes, The Color Purple is the bomb, but the movie The Color Purple can not be denied the impact it has on the popularity of Walker. Frankly, I hadn't heard of Alice Walker until after I saw the movie. Continuing your chain of thought, where would Toni Cade Bambara or Paule Marshall fit in?
Posh Patty: In my opinion, Bernice McFadden is awesome. Bitter Earth and Loving Donovan were both excellent novels. Ta bonne fee, do check out her other books. I love her. |
Samuel
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 08:46 pm: |
|
Thumper---
Cade Bambara's death didn't do for her what Audrey Lorde's death did for her. That's #1.
Also Cade Bambara doesn't have a book that young black girls today go and check out of the library and read on their own. Few people, other than Book Noses and Academics really know who Bambara is. She definitely hasn't spoken to the entire conunundrum of black women's experience as black women in the U.S. the way that Morrison, Walker and Naylor have.
Paule Marshall is equally brilliant, like Bambara, but she's a West Indian writer who writes bout West Indian black women. She's also not famous.
Alice Walker has written more than one DEFINING book about the black female experience. "You Can't Keep A Strong Woman Down"...and "In Search of Our Mother's Garden" are routinely read like Pop Novels by inner city black women. In the south, "Third Life of Grange Copeland" is widely read and talked about. The woman is truly saturated in the fabric of black readership--the film, as you said, only made her a world wide phenomenon. She's totally different from Morrison, because she's a blatant feminist, a "Pagan" and an advocate for Earth rights, genital mutilation. You don't seem to notice how GLOBAL Alice Walker's importance has become.
Morrison is a superior "fiction" writer, however, and has won the Nobel Prize. Right now, she's HOT.
But I supposed the question was...100 years from now, who will be regarded, as Zora Neal Hurston is now, as the DEFINING (the dominant) voice of black women's literature.
There is no way possible that you can have ONLY Morrison and not Walker. Morrison's work represents the entire Black community...Walker's work represents Black ideology and Feminism. Previously, Zora Hurston represented BOTH.
WE HAVE TWO FOR THE 1900's.
I don't think the one for the 21st Century has even been published yet. It's way too early.
|
Idrissa Uqdah
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 10:02 pm: |
|
Okay; I have something for almost all of your comments so I won't single out any one comment but I agree with Thumper that Bernice McFadden is an awesome writer and more really quality books will come from her. LOVING DONOVAN was nothing short of phenonomal in my opinion.
ZANE is a sistah who took sex and made her niche in literature; but I don't think it will have the shelf life of a classic. Like the other sisters stated; "it's just not my cup of tea." But kudos to the sister for doing her thing.
Toni Cade Bambara's GORILLA MY LOVE is something young girls can read and relate to . . .quality short stories. And what about her book; THE SALT EATERS? I always was saddened that she never got her just due....and died too young to write more good stuff.
I rushed to buy "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere" because of the reviews and enjoyed her stories; but was not overly impressed. Yet; z.z.packer is hailed as such an awesome writer. Go figure.
I thought that Resurecting Mingus and Selah's Bed were very good novels...well written with a good story line. Jenoye Owens (may be wrong about the last name) who is married to writer Michael Datcher is the author.
I'd vote Alice Walker and Toni Morrison. Now; Gloria Naylor is another sister who doesn't get her just due, either. MAMA DAY was breathtaking....so vivid that I was drawn to vacation on those islands just from reading that book.
Just my 2 cents.....
I'm new here...but really enjoy the exchange.
|
Brian
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 24, 2003 - 10:13 am: |
|
As I was reading through these messages, I was thinking "I guess nobody will mention Gloria Naylor so I'll have to". But, I noticed that Idrissa mentioned her and I also noticed that she mentioned Mama Day, still my all-time favorite AA book! So, with that said, I'd vote for Gloria Naylor and Bernice McFadden. Sugar and The Warmest December were amazing! |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 02:55 pm: |
|
Before I read all of the comments, my inital response was Zane. So, I am going to stick with her. All of her books, except for the Sex Chronicles, were page turners. I can't wait to read Skyscrapper. I have casted my vote. |
Email This Page