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Starting this today as I have not read enough Black authors recently. For at least the rest of the month, I will read only Black authors. Posting here and will thread what I read. If anyone wants to borrow when I’m done let me know. #BlackLivesMatter 
Was meant to say “posting here to hold myself accountable”. Only twenty pages in and it’s beautiful. Kicking myself that I didn’t read it sooner.
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Ren Eddo Lodge. I’m reading it again. You should too. Or read it for the first time if you’ve not yet read it. You’ll learn something new. Something will jump out more in reread. For me it’s the police having guns.
The first time I read it,I didn’t think twice about police having guns.That’s just normal PSNI.But it’s not the norm for police in England-there was a deliberate choice to send an armed force to raid black homes.I keep seeing tweets saying police aren’t armed in the UK: they are
Very interesting on reread a lot of the feminists who were resistant to address race and racism and feminism are the ones currently involved in the anti trans rhetoric.
I bought this at Belfast Book Festival almost a year ago (I think. Time and meaning has all changed) and it’s been by my bedside and ignored for fiction. It begins talking about being Black and Irish and has a mention of Repeal so I really should have read it already.
Have never read a book and thought “this might be better as an audiobook” but with Don’t Touch My Hair there are so many new words and phrases I’d love to hear. Although an audiobook wouldn’t have the excellent pictures
Feels logical to follow with this which I’ve very kindly received a lend of. I’ve read NW and White Teeth by Zadie Smith and own Swing Time and her new short stories but reading On Beauty before my own.
There’s a lot of fatphobia in this novel. Sometimes you aren’t sure if it’s the writer or characters. This (so far) reads like it’s the characters and Smith recognises the world is a fatphobic (and racist) place.
Absolutely loved “it’s Baltic outside”. Is that something English people say or a wee nod to Nick Laird (there are several obvious poetic nods but this I thought was only a colloquial saying)
Next up is a collection of letters and essays edited by Angela Davis. I swapped shifts working in a call centre then was a volunteer telling people where to sit just to hear her speak. Have read parts of this but never cover to cover. So going to do that now!
This could’ve been written yesterday.”It should be clear that numerous individuals are compelled to resort to criminal acts,not as a result of conscious choice-implying other alternatives-but because society has objectively reduced their possibilities of subsistence and survival”
My review of Angela Davis can be summed up by Lisa Simpson better than myself.
And even more succinctly
Shocked and happy to discover how short a novel this is.
I don’t even like oysters but Baldwin’s writing makes me think I should go and eat them in Paris. Anthony Bourdain also made me think this.
That was beautiful and sad which I think is my favourite genre: literary misery. Have put the request in for the other Baldwin novel @LibrariesNI has but it says 8 weeks wait! Hopefully libraries will be open by then.
Trying to alternate between fiction and non fiction. Audre Lorde Sister Outsider is a book that I’ve read essays from but never cover to cover. Weekends in lockdown are how much reading I’d do if it wasn’t for pubs and protests.
“Did you ever really read the work of Black women? Did you ever read my words, or did you merely finger through them for quotations which you thought might valuably support an already conceived idea concerning some old and distorted connection between us?”
“I had decided never again to speak to white women about racism. I felt it was wasted energy because of destructive guilt and defensiveness, and because whatever I had to say might better be said by white women fo one another at far less emotional cost to the speaker
And probably with better hearing.”
Audre Lorde succinctly telling us white women to step up!
Audre Lorde succinctly telling us white women to step up!
“The white policeman who shot the Black child and was acquitted” Adrienne Rich to Audre Lorde in 1979. Police brutality has a long history. #BlackLivesMatter
I’ve moved back to fiction! Just over half way through Soul Tourists by Bernadine Evaristo and I love it so far. I love how defined the character voices are.
A non fiction graphic novel (is it still a graphic novel when it’s non fiction?) Amazons, Abolitionists and Activists by Mikki Kendall and A D’Amico. This was a Christmas present that I’m only getting round to reading now.
The woman complaining about patriarchy coming to Ireland is very me. Specifically the hair and shirt is 2015 me.
“There was no shortage of people who objected to British colonisation” shocking revelation.
Next up: Toni Morrison “A Mercy”. Have only read Beloved and Song of Solomon of hers. Was considering rereading Beloved but will read this as it is new to me first.
I wasn’t sure how much I was enjoying this and then the last chapter is just perfection. I’m suitably heartbroken
Arguably the saddest book I have ever read but it is also full of hope. Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn is one to be wary of for quite a few triggers but overall a beautifully told story. Not quite finished. It may hurt me more.
It did hurt me more. But I loved it. It’s not one I will forget. If you are okay reading about trauma: read this. I think maybe my favourite read this year. Top 10 anyway
