Book 1 of 2019: The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney
This is an incredibly intelligent book. However, I find it hard to relate to this seemingly mature 17 year old that has such an expansive lexicon at her disposal. Not my cup of tea but I encourage yâall to read it.
This is an incredibly intelligent book. However, I find it hard to relate to this seemingly mature 17 year old that has such an expansive lexicon at her disposal. Not my cup of tea but I encourage yâall to read it.
Book 2 of 2019: Corregidora by Gayl Jones
âMy great-grandmama told my grandma the part she lived through that my grandma didn't live through and my grandma told my mama what they both didn't live through and my mama told me.â
Ph: @ViragoBooks
âMy great-grandmama told my grandma the part she lived through that my grandma didn't live through and my grandma told my mama what they both didn't live through and my mama told me.â
Ph: @ViragoBooks
Book 3 of 2019: Like a Mule bringing Ice Cream to the Sun by Sarah Ladipo
This book is a short read. Itâs a little riotous in its attempt at centering sexuality and desire in the life of an aging womxn. I struggled to finish it because it seemed idle at times.
This book is a short read. Itâs a little riotous in its attempt at centering sexuality and desire in the life of an aging womxn. I struggled to finish it because it seemed idle at times.
Book 4 of 2019: THICK by Tressie McMillan Cottom
âThey say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that ugly is as ugly does. Both are lies. Ugly is everything done to you in the name of beauty. Knowing the difference is part of getting free.â Fuck
âThey say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that ugly is as ugly does. Both are lies. Ugly is everything done to you in the name of beauty. Knowing the difference is part of getting free.â Fuck

Book 5 of 2019: Pet
You want many things, you are full of want, carved out of it, made from it, yes. But the truth does not care about what you want, the truth is what it is. It is not moved by want, it is not a blade of grass to be bent by the wind of your hopes and desires
You want many things, you are full of want, carved out of it, made from it, yes. But the truth does not care about what you want, the truth is what it is. It is not moved by want, it is not a blade of grass to be bent by the wind of your hopes and desires
Book 6 of 2020: Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis Benn
I have never felt such profound frustration with characters. This author is gifted with an exquisite ability to spin into life deeply flawed and complex characters that breathe and have flesh. Itâs also a queer book.
I have never felt such profound frustration with characters. This author is gifted with an exquisite ability to spin into life deeply flawed and complex characters that breathe and have flesh. Itâs also a queer book.
Book 7 of 2020: Pushout by Monique W. Morris
What happens when the disciplining of school children is left to law enforcement officers that have no experience in child development? When black girls are handcuffed for throwing tantrums and racially profiled in school?
What happens when the disciplining of school children is left to law enforcement officers that have no experience in child development? When black girls are handcuffed for throwing tantrums and racially profiled in school?
Book 8 of 2020: Red at The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
This man looks at his daughter coming down the stairs and thinks âthis apology of a child.â That is because when he found out her mother was pregnant, he kept apologizing. Whoa a writer.
This man looks at his daughter coming down the stairs and thinks âthis apology of a child.â That is because when he found out her mother was pregnant, he kept apologizing. Whoa a writer.
Book 9 of 2020: The Girl with the Louding voice by Abi Dare.
This is a beautiful book about resilience and girl power and all of that stuff. My difficulty is what the book perpetuates when it is in the wrong hands. I may be wrong to put the onus on the author .
This is a beautiful book about resilience and girl power and all of that stuff. My difficulty is what the book perpetuates when it is in the wrong hands. I may be wrong to put the onus on the author .
Book 10 of 2020: The Street by Ann Petry
âI am tempted to describe Petry as a magician for the many ways that The Street amazes, but this description cheapens her talent.â Tayari Jones on The Street.
âI am tempted to describe Petry as a magician for the many ways that The Street amazes, but this description cheapens her talent.â Tayari Jones on The Street.
Book 11 of 2020: A fire like you by Upile Chisala
What a piece of sweetness in this extraordinary time. The collaboration between the author and illustrator, Neo Phage and Lulama Wolf, really bring various perceptions on womxnhood and femininity and masculinity.
What a piece of sweetness in this extraordinary time. The collaboration between the author and illustrator, Neo Phage and Lulama Wolf, really bring various perceptions on womxnhood and femininity and masculinity.
Book 12 of 2020: Salt by Nayyirah Waheed
One of the pioneers of the revival of poetry. So many poets have borrowed from her form, style and imagery.
One of the pioneers of the revival of poetry. So many poets have borrowed from her form, style and imagery.
Book 13 of 2020: Her Body and Other Parties
I just started reading this one and Iâm really excited to review it. Itâs a collection of short stories exploring sexuality, sensuality, autonomy, horror and all things abominable.
I just started reading this one and Iâm really excited to review it. Itâs a collection of short stories exploring sexuality, sensuality, autonomy, horror and all things abominable.
Book 14 of 2020: An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma
The book is centered in Igbo Cosmology and the Chi speaks on behalf of its host, the protagonist. The protagonist is a bereaved chicken farmer who saves the life of his paramour using a rare and expensive fowl.
The book is centered in Igbo Cosmology and the Chi speaks on behalf of its host, the protagonist. The protagonist is a bereaved chicken farmer who saves the life of his paramour using a rare and expensive fowl.
Book 15 of 2020: Braised Pork by An Yu
This was a bizarre book. It follows a womxn in search for self determination and answers after she finds her husband dead in the bath. The illusive sketch of a âfishmanâ bounds her to a strange journey from Beijing to Tibet.
This was a bizarre book. It follows a womxn in search for self determination and answers after she finds her husband dead in the bath. The illusive sketch of a âfishmanâ bounds her to a strange journey from Beijing to Tibet.
Book 16 of 2020: The Hidden Star by K Sello Duiker
I came into this book expecting the Sello who breathed life into Tshepo and Azure. This book is different, childlike and whimsical. It was difficult for me to adapt. I also have to accept that I donât like child protagonists.
I came into this book expecting the Sello who breathed life into Tshepo and Azure. This book is different, childlike and whimsical. It was difficult for me to adapt. I also have to accept that I donât like child protagonists.
Book 17 of 2020: Sisters of the Yam
bell hooks write a book encouraging black womxn to self actualize within political organizing. hooks recognizes that classism and racism are institunalized and we canât heal the wounds of our psyche through sheer will.
bell hooks write a book encouraging black womxn to self actualize within political organizing. hooks recognizes that classism and racism are institunalized and we canât heal the wounds of our psyche through sheer will.
Book 18 of 2020: Khamr by Jamil F Khan
This book generously pulls apart the cloak of respectability and appearance to expose traumas. The legacy of colonial conquest is mapped throughout this memoir, identifiable is the assault of dispossession and the tyranny of religion...
This book generously pulls apart the cloak of respectability and appearance to expose traumas. The legacy of colonial conquest is mapped throughout this memoir, identifiable is the assault of dispossession and the tyranny of religion...
Book 19 of 2020: What it means when a man falls from the sky
Iâm breezing through this collection of short stories. They carry a heaviness thatâs is mostly implied and reliant on the authorâs capacity to pull on the readers emotions. Family, displacement, disorientation.
Iâm breezing through this collection of short stories. They carry a heaviness thatâs is mostly implied and reliant on the authorâs capacity to pull on the readers emotions. Family, displacement, disorientation.
Book 21 of 2020: On Earth Weâre Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
This book is so devastating. A child being raised in a foreign land where the residue of war and trauma is stuck on the older minds and generations need to wade through the spill. Incredible.
This book is so devastating. A child being raised in a foreign land where the residue of war and trauma is stuck on the older minds and generations need to wade through the spill. Incredible.
Book 21 of 2020: Such a fun age by Kiley Reid
I canât say I enjoyed this book. It sounded inauthentic and such serious issues were dealt with flippantly. I tried to not expect too much from it but I draw the line at âniggerâ jokes from the white boyfriend on date night.
I canât say I enjoyed this book. It sounded inauthentic and such serious issues were dealt with flippantly. I tried to not expect too much from it but I draw the line at âniggerâ jokes from the white boyfriend on date night.