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2020 Book Thread
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
I’m a few decades late but I’m hooked.
I’m a few decades late but I’m hooked.
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Y’all should really check out this series! I’m only two books in but I think a lot of people would really dig it!
Y’all should really check out this series! I’m only two books in but I think a lot of people would really dig it!
3. The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
A YA novel on grief, friendship, family and growing up. At times it’s cheesy but then you find yourself rooting for the characters and crying at their situations.
A YA novel on grief, friendship, family and growing up. At times it’s cheesy but then you find yourself rooting for the characters and crying at their situations.
4. Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
An interesting murder mystery focusing on the immigrant experience, motherhood, and neurodiverse kids.
An interesting murder mystery focusing on the immigrant experience, motherhood, and neurodiverse kids.
5. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Emoni is a senior in high school and has to navigate her passion for cooking with her studies all while being a teen mom. A beautiful look at family, Afro-Latinx identity, and the people in our lives who love us.
Emoni is a senior in high school and has to navigate her passion for cooking with her studies all while being a teen mom. A beautiful look at family, Afro-Latinx identity, and the people in our lives who love us.
6. Jimmy’s Blues and Other Poems by James Baldwin
A collection of poetry and poems by James Baldwin. I hadn’t realized he had written poetry but I’m not surprised. I enjoyed how many poems were for his loved ones and friends. – bei Sweedeedee
A collection of poetry and poems by James Baldwin. I hadn’t realized he had written poetry but I’m not surprised. I enjoyed how many poems were for his loved ones and friends. – bei Sweedeedee
7. Hitting a Striaght Lick with a Crooked Stick by Zora Neale Hurston
A collection of short stories from the queen of the Harlem Renaissance! Some of these haven’t been published in a long time. I enjoyed quite a few!! She speaks to race, gender, and class.
A collection of short stories from the queen of the Harlem Renaissance! Some of these haven’t been published in a long time. I enjoyed quite a few!! She speaks to race, gender, and class.
8. What We Lose by Zinzi Clemons
A striking novel on grief and the loss of a parent. The main character is half South African and half American. It’s a fascinating look at race, gender, colorism, and wealth between the two countries.
A striking novel on grief and the loss of a parent. The main character is half South African and half American. It’s a fascinating look at race, gender, colorism, and wealth between the two countries.
9. Cleanness by Garth Greenwell
This is a story of an American who teaches English in Bulgaria. Desire, relationships, and sex are played out against Bulgarian unrest as the protagonist undergoes his own inner turmoil. I wouldn’t recommend if you don’t like sexy time writing.
This is a story of an American who teaches English in Bulgaria. Desire, relationships, and sex are played out against Bulgarian unrest as the protagonist undergoes his own inner turmoil. I wouldn’t recommend if you don’t like sexy time writing.
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
I love these characters and their growth. I’m not prepared.
I love these characters and their growth. I’m not prepared.
11. Homie by Danez Smith
A great collection of poems alluding to friendship, love, and much more. I love the way Smith writes and plays with your idea of what a poem can be and hold.
A great collection of poems alluding to friendship, love, and much more. I love the way Smith writes and plays with your idea of what a poem can be and hold.
12. Small Country by Gaël Faye
Wow. A coming of age story set in Burundi/Rwanda during the genocide and wars there and shows what war steals and does to adolescence. I cried a lot and am so moved and also feel so uninformed about these conflicts.
Wow. A coming of age story set in Burundi/Rwanda during the genocide and wars there and shows what war steals and does to adolescence. I cried a lot and am so moved and also feel so uninformed about these conflicts.
12. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
A fun, dramatic story that feels so current. It’s about race, class, social media and there’s plenty of drama and laughs. Big Little Lies, Instagram influencer, and performatively woke white woman vibes.
A fun, dramatic story that feels so current. It’s about race, class, social media and there’s plenty of drama and laughs. Big Little Lies, Instagram influencer, and performatively woke white woman vibes.
14. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
I cried through the ending. A beautiful, engrossing look at family set during Hurricane Katrina. Sing, Unburied, Sing made me appreciate Ward, but this book sold me and I’ve bought the rest of her work.
I cried through the ending. A beautiful, engrossing look at family set during Hurricane Katrina. Sing, Unburied, Sing made me appreciate Ward, but this book sold me and I’ve bought the rest of her work.
15. My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King
WOW. An icon, a hero, an inspiration. I am so moved by Coretta Scott Kings life, love, and legacy. Her commitment to nonviolence and the movement for human rights is earth changing!
WOW. An icon, a hero, an inspiration. I am so moved by Coretta Scott Kings life, love, and legacy. Her commitment to nonviolence and the movement for human rights is earth changing!
16. Real Life by Brandon Taylor
A beautiful novel that holds so much. Wallace is a Black, gay graduate student at a predominantly white institution navigating relationships, his past, and desires. It’s a beautiful look at friendship, love, trauma, and so so so great.
A beautiful novel that holds so much. Wallace is a Black, gay graduate student at a predominantly white institution navigating relationships, his past, and desires. It’s a beautiful look at friendship, love, trauma, and so so so great.
17. Lie with Me by Philippe Besson
Short yet packs a powerful punch. What does it look like to have to love in secret? Can you ever get over your first love?
Short yet packs a powerful punch. What does it look like to have to love in secret? Can you ever get over your first love?
18. The Fire This Time edited by Jesmyn Ward
A collection of essays on race in America past, present, and future.
A collection of essays on race in America past, present, and future.
19. Weather by Jenny Offill
So fun & so digestible. I smiled & laughed so much through it. A woman caught in a midlife crisis starts working for a doomsday/climate change podcaster & corresponds to peoples’s crazy questions. It ended at the dentist & I just went to the dentist.
So fun & so digestible. I smiled & laughed so much through it. A woman caught in a midlife crisis starts working for a doomsday/climate change podcaster & corresponds to peoples’s crazy questions. It ended at the dentist & I just went to the dentist.
20. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
I finally read this classic.
I finally read this classic.
21. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
This has been my favorite one so far and I’m so nervous for what comes next. I love Harry, Hermoine, Sirius, Dumbledore, McGonagall. Cedric
This has been my favorite one so far and I’m so nervous for what comes next. I love Harry, Hermoine
, Sirius, Dumbledore, McGonagall. Cedric
22. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.
I put off reading this book & then the show is happening so I picked it up & I’m so glad I did. A really great intertwined story of families that highlights motherhood. Really enjoyable.
I put off reading this book & then the show is happening so I picked it up & I’m so glad I did. A really great intertwined story of families that highlights motherhood. Really enjoyable.
OK, I forgot to mention the takes on white progressivism, microaggressions, cross-racial adoption, suburbia, etc etc. It's really good.
23. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Harry is angsty. Voldemort is back. I love Luna and Neville.
Harry is angsty. Voldemort is back. I love Luna and Neville.
24. Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward
A heartbreaking memoir of loss and love. It’s a rea look at grief, America’s racism, poverty, and treatment of Black people. Heartwarming and chilling at the same time.
A heartbreaking memoir of loss and love. It’s a rea look at grief, America’s racism, poverty, and treatment of Black people. Heartwarming and chilling at the same time.
25. Children of the Land by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo
A memoir on movement, immigration, family. It was moving and gripping and sad and real.
A memoir on movement, immigration, family. It was moving and gripping and sad and real.
26. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
I really want to enjoy this book but didn’t love the suicide attempts at all :/
I really want to enjoy this book but didn’t love the suicide attempts at all :/
27. The Beekeeper or Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
An amazing novel that made me cry so much. It’s the tale of migration and war and asylum. What does it mean to see? to hope? to love?
If you have a soft spot for Syria or refugees, I’d highly recommend this beautiful book.
An amazing novel that made me cry so much. It’s the tale of migration and war and asylum. What does it mean to see? to hope? to love?
If you have a soft spot for Syria or refugees, I’d highly recommend this beautiful book.
28. Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino
Reading a book of essays about self-delusion and our current word was hard with everything that’s going on in the world. I really loved the essays on heroines, the internet, religion & drugs, and the scams of our generation.
Reading a book of essays about self-delusion and our current word was hard with everything that’s going on in the world. I really loved the essays on heroines, the internet, religion & drugs, and the scams of our generation.
29. American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
A different kind of spy novel...not that I read many spy novels but I just know it’s different because the protagonist is a Black woman doing her job in the Cold War. It’s a great read if you’re into espionage, motherhood, & bad ass women
A different kind of spy novel...not that I read many spy novels but I just know it’s different because the protagonist is a Black woman doing her job in the Cold War. It’s a great read if you’re into espionage, motherhood, & bad ass women
30. Mean by Myriam Gurba
A moving memoir told through poetry? I love Gurba’s creativity with English.
A moving memoir told through poetry? I love Gurba’s creativity with English.
31. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
Wow. I’m not prepared for what comes next.
Wow. I’m not prepared for what comes next.
32. Native by Kaitlin B. Curtice
An amazing book that asks us to see God in the margins & mystery. Curtice walks through her decolonization of her faith & discovery of her Native identity. It is thought-provoking & challenging & I’m sure will make some people mad.
An amazing book that asks us to see God in the margins & mystery. Curtice walks through her decolonization of her faith & discovery of her Native identity. It is thought-provoking & challenging & I’m sure will make some people mad.
33. The Myth of the American Dream by D.L. Mayfield
An amazing look on how the myth for the American dream fails the most marginalized among us while also harming those in power. It is a very Christian perspective but built on a mutual belonging and togetherness
An amazing look on how the myth for the American dream fails the most marginalized among us while also harming those in power. It is a very Christian perspective but built on a mutual belonging and togetherness
Wow, no thank you. by Samantha Irby
A collection of hilarious essays
A collection of hilarious essays
35. Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone by James Baldwin
Y’all know I love Baldwin. The book highlights the love and relationship between brothers, interracial relationships, and bisexuality. As always, Baldwin’s statements on race in America ring true today
Y’all know I love Baldwin. The book highlights the love and relationship between brothers, interracial relationships, and bisexuality. As always, Baldwin’s statements on race in America ring true today
36. Stamped from the Beginning - The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X Kendi (audiobook)
Thorough and rich explanation of the way racist ideas have shaped and changed American history. It’s free on Spotify!
Thorough and rich explanation of the way racist ideas have shaped and changed American history. It’s free on Spotify!
37. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by Shakira
I have finished the series for the first time. I love Hermoine & Harry & maybe even Ron. I teared up & maybe even cried a few times. Moms are amazing. Luna and Neville deserve the world.
I have finished the series for the first time. I love Hermoine & Harry & maybe even Ron. I teared up & maybe even cried a few times. Moms are amazing. Luna and Neville deserve the world.
also the way I would die for Professor McGonagall.
38. Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward
A book about brotherhood and family. My least favorite of Ward’s novels but I still love the way she writes her characters, family dynamics, and the South
A book about brotherhood and family. My least favorite of Ward’s novels but I still love the way she writes her characters, family dynamics, and the South
39. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
A beautiful memoir and manifesto detailing the intersections of growing up Black and queer.
A beautiful memoir and manifesto detailing the intersections of growing up Black and queer.
40. Little Man, Little Man by James Baldwin
Baldwin’s only children’s book. A lot of fun water color paintings and a look at Harlem through the eyes of a child
Baldwin’s only children’s book. A lot of fun water color paintings and a look at Harlem through the eyes of a child
41. I Can’t Date Jesus by a Michael Arceneaux
Personal and comedic essays.
Introduced me to the term Beytheist and Beytheism and I’m forever changed
Personal and comedic essays.
Introduced me to the term Beytheist and Beytheism and I’m forever changed
42. The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee
If you like ATLA, check out this book about Kyoshi
If you like ATLA, check out this book about Kyoshi
43. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Reading has been really hard recently so I decided to reread my fav book from last year. The first 14 pages (& all of it) make me weep. It’s floraly & rich poetry/prose & so damn good to me but not everyone’s cup o’ tea
Reading has been really hard recently so I decided to reread my fav book from last year. The first 14 pages (& all of it) make me weep. It’s floraly & rich poetry/prose & so damn good to me but not everyone’s cup o’ tea
44. Begin Again by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.
An amazing book. It takes lessons from James Baldwin’s life & writings over his career & how the lessons he learned & message he shared applies to our current day. It’s hopeful, sobering, & scary. Highly recommend!
An amazing book. It takes lessons from James Baldwin’s life & writings over his career & how the lessons he learned & message he shared applies to our current day. It’s hopeful, sobering, & scary. Highly recommend!
45. A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
Wow, oh, wow. The story of thtee generations of Palestinian-American woman. Rich and moving story of motherhood and womanhood and the mixing of cultures. Really beautiful and rich and hard at times
Wow, oh, wow. The story of thtee generations of Palestinian-American woman. Rich and moving story of motherhood and womanhood and the mixing of cultures. Really beautiful and rich and hard at times
46. Everywhere You Don’t Belong by Gabriel Bump
This book really surprised me. It’s funny and deep and quick. Chicago. Dialogue driven. Great characters.
This book really surprised me. It’s funny and deep and quick. Chicago. Dialogue driven. Great characters.
47. Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham
The story of a family navigating life in Lagos, Nigeria after their parents leave them. Primarily the story of twin sisters but I loved the youngest brother. Faith, discovery, family, and more.
The story of a family navigating life in Lagos, Nigeria after their parents leave them. Primarily the story of twin sisters but I loved the youngest brother. Faith, discovery, family, and more.
48. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Wow. I really enjoyed this. Motherhood. Family. Race. Identity. Lying.
Wow. I really enjoyed this. Motherhood. Family. Race. Identity. Lying.
49. Waging Peace by Diana Oesteich
An amazing story of a soldier turned peacemaker
Great personal stories of learning to love first and ask questions later!
An amazing story of a soldier turned peacemaker
Great personal stories of learning to love first and ask questions later!
