Mile Long TBR

Literary Fiction

Black Buck Book Review

     milelongtbr      11 Comments

What to say about Black Buck?

I read this book a few weeks ago and I’ve been sitting on my thoughts before writing a review. 

It was obvious immediately that I LOVED the book, but there is simply so much to unpack with this book amidst a cast of rich characters and a rollercoaster of a plot. 

Summary:

At 22 years old Darren is working at an NYC Starbucks. Formerly the Valedictorian of his prestigious high school he’s now lacking ambition and direction and is happy hanging with his girlfriend in the upstairs apartment of his mother’s home.

After impressing a CEO customer by selling him a coffee other than his usual order, he gives Darren an opportunity to join the sales team at his startup. Darren hesitantly accepts – and takes us along on his journey of being hazed at the company for his first week’s initiation, his experience of being the only Black salesperson in the company, and all the ways making this jump impact his life. 

It’s a wild ride, to say the least as Darren, or “Buck,” goes from barista to salesman to advocate for other people of color wanting to get ahead in business. But what is the cost of his advancement? Will he lose sight of the values he held and the people he loves?

In Black Buck, readers who get something out of this book are urged to buy a copy for a friend.


Is debut author Mateo Askaripour having his salesman narrator tell us this as a clever ploy to sell more books?

Maybe, but it’s worth the read so I want to give you the chance to read and see for yourself exactly what the story is about.

Keep reading for details on how to get your own copy of Black Buck!

Analysis:

If there’s one thing I love in a book it’s juxtapositions, and Black Buck hit the nail on the head in this regard.

The book is largely about everyday life and yet takes us on a number of twists and turns of fate that are anything but mundane.

There are moments that will make you laugh out loud and ones that feel like a punch of the gut- bringing you through every range of emotion. I love books that do this and do it well, and the scope of this story certainly makes this possible,

There’s satire on corporate America alongside social commentary about gentrification, class, and privilege.

Additionally, all the characters in this book are so vibrant. From Darrens’ girlfriend Soraya to his mother and coworkers everyone is well-developed and could easily have a book of their own.

“Buck” especially is complex, honest, and raw and I love the way Askaripour used the narration style- and even the occasional breaking of the fifth wall. While risky, it absolutely works in this case and I’m glad he made this choice in style.

The writing was excellent and the story was extremely fast-paced, making this a compelling read.

Audio Review:

I absolutely loved listening to the audiobook of Black Buck.

The narrator, Zeno Robinson, did a fantastic job bringing the character of Darren to life. He brought such great energy and rawness to the story, and I highly recommend purchasing the audiobook of Black Buck.

Many thanks to Libro.fm and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.

Final Thoughts:

This is definitely a book to send to the top of your TBR!

Whether you enjoy satire, literary fiction, or are looking for Own Voice stories and books with important and timely themes, Black Buck is the book for you.

Black Buck is easily a five-star read and I recommend it for everyone!

If you want a copy of your own, read the following instructions and let me know the last book you gifted or leant to a friend in the comments!

I’ll pick a winner on 31 January 2020 and contact you at the email provided in your comment.

November 2020: Books I Read

     milelongtbr      27 Comments

Hi, friends!

Another month in the books! I’m glad to say November was one of my best reading months of the year! How was reading for you this past month?

In November I read 12 books, which Is awesome for me, especially as there are a couple of thick ones among them.

While I deviated from my original Nonfiction November TBR, half of the titles I read were nonfiction. I’m beyond pleased with that number!

I enjoyed all the books I read this month- some more than others- so I have them all listed here broken into two groups. There are books I loved and books I enjoyed.

Let’s jump in to my November 2020 reads!

LOVED!!

1. Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything

First off, let’s look at this fun read!

Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything – from driving on the highway to beans. Yes, beans. Especially Willow Bean, the woman she finds her husband sleeping with and eventually leaves her for. 

This book is laugh-out-loud funny, relatable, and inspiring all at once and manages to be both fun and thought-provoking. 

I especially loved Agatha’s character arc and growth. She may be an unlikely heroine, but you’ll find yourself rooting for her by the end of the book. (Think Eleanor Oliphant, Bernadette Fox)

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance copy.

2. Becoming

For one reason or another I hadn’t read this book despite seeing nothing but glowing reviews for it. I decided this was the perfect book to start off Nonfiction November with- and I’m so glad I did!

I loved hearing Michelle’s account of her life. From growing up in Chicago to her life in the White House and her struggles as a woman. Despite her notoriety, her story is relatable and the warmth she brings to it through her narration makes it so comforting. That’s why we love her so much, after all.

3. A Promised Land

Again, I feel like I’d be the least likely person to pick up this book- anything over 400 pages is a commitment for me and I don’t especially gravitate towards political nonfiction.

Still, I couldn’t resist picking up the 700page first volume of 44’s account of his time in office- or the opportunity to hear him tell his own story on audio.

President Obama is wordy- he’s the first to admit it, but I love the way he speaks and writes as he explains so many of his decisions and struggles during his tenure as president.

This is an intimate look into the office as well as how a man balances family with one of the most demanding jobs on earth. Highly worth the read and I can’t recommend the audio enough.

4. Hood Feminism

This powerful collection of essays is a call to action t enure Intersectional Feminism isn’t just a catchphrase but a movement that makes feminism inclusive for all. I love this book for showing certain topics in a different light that some may not have considered and for taking the time to explain how things are feminist issues.

Hood Feminism should be required reading for those who consider themselves feminists- and everyone else- to see why feminism for all is so important.

5. The Midnight Library

Sometimes I’m wary of super-hyped books, but I just knew that The Midnight Library was going to be a five-star read for me.

In Haig’s latest, he imagines a place between life in death- a library filled with books of other lives we might have lived if we’d made different choices.

This is a introspective and emotional read- I had tears in my eyes a few times in the early chapters, but as the main character Nora is dealing with the loss of a pet it may have been a little close to home for me.

This is definitely a standout book for me- the end didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was expecting- possibly because I seemed to be realizing much of what was happening a step or two ahead of Nora- but that didn’t stop me from appreciating it in the least.

Definitely pick this book up and see for yourself what the buzz is all about!

6. Wow, No Thank You

Wow, No Thank You is a hilarious collection of essays on a wide range of subjects from her personal struggles to things all of us are sure to relate to. I love her deadpan sense of humor and observational wit.

This is my first time reading Irby but I definitely plan on reading her earlier books next time I’m in need of a good laugh!

7. Don’t Overthink It

I am prone to overthink everything, including my overthinking, especially in these times.

@annebogel had great practical advice on the subject and offeres many ways to streamline small decisions we make daily that can lead us to feel overwhelmed and indecisive.

I will definitely read through this book again to come up with a plan to put some of the ideas in action.

Anne narrates the audio version, which is perfect because many of us know her voice from her podcasts.

Overall I highly recommend this one if you have a tendency to overthink things and would like to save yourself that energy.

8. Apple: (Skin to the Core)

Apple (skin to the core) is a moving memoir in verse by Eric Gansworth,  is “a member of Eel clan, enrolled Onondaga, born and raised at the Tuscarora Nation.”

The verse is haunting and well-crafted but for me the real beauty came in the name and structure of the book. Gansworth reclaimed a racial slur used against him and drew a number of parallels to The Beatles and their music, albums and history, which he explains at the end.

I listened to this as an audiobook and while I enjoyed hearing the author narrate, there is other content to consider as well. Gansworth is a visual artist as well as a writer, so be sure to check out the accompanying artwork which is included in the print edition.

Many thanks to Libro.fm and Dreamscape Media, LLC for the ALC.

9. Hunger

Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist stands as one of my all-time favorite nonfiction reads. With that in mind I was excited to read this book, which explores her relationship with her body and food.

This book is moving and gives a look into a life and how those with larger bodies than are socially accepted are often mistreated. As always, the writing here is concise and compelling and I’m glad I read it.

Enjoyed!!

10. The Cul-de-Sac War

First of the books I liked is this fun enemies to lovers romance with lots of pranks as these neighbors try to one-up each other.

I really enjoyed the characters and their antics, as well as how the eventually see past their misconceptions.

All the elements going on in the story really added to the experience. There was more character growth than I expected and it made for a well-rounded read.

I listened to the audiobook and thought Kate Rudd was a good choice as a narrator and I highly recommend the audio format for this book. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advance copy.

11. We Met In December

Next up is this darling contemporary romance! This friends to lovers romance set in London is a lot of fun and just as sweet.

These housemates looking to shake up their lives found a deal renting from a friend- with the caveat that they aren’t allowed to date.

Over the course of a year they spend time together as friends- but this rule and a few other things stand in the way of making it more than that.

The book starts at Christmastime and circles back to end there too, so this is a fun light holiday read and was perfect to listen to while decorating to get into the Christmas spirit!

12. All Stirred Up 






Finally, we have this Persuasion retelling! 





All Stirred Up is a fun read, though not quite the light rom-com I was expecting. There was more focus on familial relationships, delicious food descriptions. But, that only made it an interesting and more complex novel- just like your favorite dish.





 The audio version was great- loved the accents- and was an enjoyable way to experience this second chance romance and Austen reimagining. 





Many thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.










There you have it! All the books in the first group were standouts and highly recommend them!





Have you read any of the books from my November 2020 reading list?





Let me know which ones you’re excited to get your hands on, and what your favorite November 2020 read was!


Anxious People by Fredrik Backman: Review


       milelongtbr       10 Comments


Anxious People by Fredrik Backman review






” The problem is that everything is relative. Happiness is based on expectations” 
Fredrik Backman, Anxious People. 





Fredrik Backman’s latest book was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020. I adore everything of his I’ve ever read. When the early feedback started coming in I saw one rave review after the next as I anxiously awaited my own copy. Needless to say, my expectations for Anxious People were high.





Still, I tried to keep them realistic- surely not every book the man writes can be a masterpiece. 






Keep reading this full review to see whether Anxious People lives up and deserves a spot on your own TBR, whether you’re new to the world of Fredrik Backman, or a devoted follower like myself.










Synopsis:





This is the part where I’m supposed to tell you what the book is about. 





Anyone familiar with literary fiction in general and Backman in particular knows a simple summary couldn’t do justice to the work as a whole. 





I could try to tell you the premise of the story, but thankfully the author has done that for me. I’ll just use his words. 





“This is the story about a bank robbery, an apartment viewing, and a hostage drama, but even more it’s a story about idiots. But, perhaps not only that.” 

Fredrik Backman, Anxious People






To say it’s not only about these things is an understatement. 





Yes, there is an attempted robbery, and a hostage situation that evolves into a locked room mystery. 





There is also a procedural element as two small-town-cops-turned-hostage-negotiators try to free the hostages and identify the perpetrator. 





But idiots? I can confirm this description applies to the characters in the book. And why would you want to read a book about a group of idiots?





To answer that question I can only defer again to Mr. Backman. 





“This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots. So it needs saying from the outset that it’s very easy to declare that other people are idiots, but only if you forget how idiotically difficult being human is. Especially if you have other people you’re trying to be a reasonably good human being for.”
Fredrik Backman, Anxious People










Analysis:





To be an idiot is human. 





I’m paraphrasing both Alexander Pope and Fredrik Backman here, but I feel that this really could be the adage of modern times. 





Simply put, there is no other author today who writes about what it is to be human with the insight and emotion that Backman does. 





Or, as he demonstrates here, who writes about idiots with such compassion and truth. 





This book is everything Backman fans have come to love and expect of him. From the signature simple writing style to the nuanced story full of emotional surprises and alternating timelines, it’s a comfort for those who love the feel of his books. 





Anxious People is a largely character-driven novel and it’s the ensemble cast of quirky idiotic misfits that make the book shine. 





There are more than ten key characters, each with complex backstories and unique personalities. It’s easy to imagine this could be a case of too much information. Or that there wouldn’t be enough about some of them to give us insight into their lives. 





Again, Backman strikes a perfect balance, giving us glimpses into these characters and the result is the characters are like no one we’ve ever met before, almost too rediculous to be real at times. And yet, they’re all of us- flawed, struggling, and deeply human. 





As in most of his books, there’s exploration of difficult subjects, the predominant one in Anxious People being suicide. It is discussed multiple times from various viewpoints since it’s something that’s made an impact on many of the characters. 





Overall, I think the topic was handled sensitively, though I can see how it being discussed so much in the book may be difficult for some. 





There are so many parts of this book that made me start to tear up, but just as many that had me laughing out loud. 





The dark humor was expertly executed and gave another level to an already fantastic book. When the hostage situation is underway, part of the irony is that the strangers held at gunpoint end up being more trying for the would-be bank robber than the other way around. 





The characters from this small Swedish town are emphatically not Stockholmers. Yet they each come to empathize with their captor- and each other- before they leave the apartment.  





The beauty in this book is how the lives of these unlikely strangers are woven together; their pasts, presents, and possibly even futures. They each have something to learn, something to teach one another and help one each other. And maybe, with enough kindness, the whirlwind events of the day will leave them all in a more hopeful place than they were when it began. 










Takeaway:










Perhaps every book Fredrik Backman writes won’t be a masterpiece, but Anxious People won’t be the one to break the spell. 





Not only did the book live up to the hype and my personal expectations- it’s easily a front-runner for my favorite book of the year. 





All the stars for this beautiful, beautiful book. 





It’s one I recommend to everyone, regardless of the genres they typically gravitate to because of the way it deals with the human condition- something that applies to us all. 





Thank you to libro.fm and Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC and the opportunity to review this book. 





Content Warning: 





suicide, infidelity, loss, of partner, grief, divorce, hostage situation, mental health topics




















Review: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry + Author Bio


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Author Bio & Review of A Rasin in the Sun





I’ve been making an effort to be on my phone less lately,  and  unfortunately, this meant that I didn’t know about the Instagram challenge by @thereadingchemist  and @allegedlymari until Friday afternoon when all the posts started showing up in my feed. 





This challenge is about celebrating the contributions and accomplishments Black people have made in our world. I may be late to the challenge, but it’s definitely not one I could sit out on. 





Over the weekend I reread A Raisin in the Sun for the first time since it was assigned reading for school. I enjoyed reading it more this time and loved learning more about  Hansberry and her fascinating life for the challenge. 





Lorraine Hansberry was a Black American playwright, journalist, &activist. I’d like to take some time to introduce you to her to #normalizeblackhistory. Lorraine has the distinction of being the first Black woman to write a play produced on Broadway. This makes her a trailblazer in Black storytelling, and the play, A Raisin in the Sun was a financial and critical success. For it, Lorraine became the first Black winner of the Play of the Year Award and at  29 she was also the youngest winner and only the 5th woman to receive this accolade at the time. 





Keep reading for :





  •  author bio of Lorraine Hansberry
  • full review of A Rasin in the Sun
  • YouTube links to a great stage adaptation
  •  the poem that inspired the title of the play. 





About Lorraine Hansberry 










Lorraine Hansberry was born in segregated Chicago in 1930. Only two generations before, her family had been slaves. After her father moved the family to a designated ‘white neighborhood’ when she was 8 white neighbors tried to force the Hansberrys out and threw a brick through a window of their home, which almost hit Lorraine. 





In 1940 Hansberry v. Lee went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Illinois court system ruled the family could be forced to leave their home and had to move back to a “Black neighborhood.” The Supreme Court ruled in Hansberry’s favor. Though residential segregation was unfortunately not outlawed with this ruling, the case was instrumental in setting precedent and made it harder for local restrictive covenants to restrict people of color from living in predominantly white neighborhoods. 





Lorraine was interested in writing from an early age, and poet Langston Hughes, a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance visited the Hansberry home when she was growing up.  A line from his iconic poem Harlem would later be borrowed in Lorraine’s classic play which centers around a Black Family chasing the American Dream and explores topics such as cultural assimilation, and residential segregation.





Harlem by Langston Hughes 





Lorraine’s early life and politically active family influenced her writing as well as her work as an activist for women’s, gay, and civil rights.





She wrote for both Black and lesbian news publications after dropping out of college. These jobs helped her develop her voice in writing. Though many of her articles and personal writings discuss gay rights and her being a lesbian, Hansberry never spoke openly about her sexuality.  She married Robert B. Nemiroff, a white Jewish man in 1953 after they met while protesting racial discrimination in NYC. They later divorced, though remained friendly. 





In 1957 Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun and two years later it started its run on Broadway with Sidney Poitier playing the male lead. The play was later adapted into a musical and had TV and big screen adaptations, one with Denzel Washington taking the role. 





Hansberry went on to write four other plays, three of which were published posthumously with the help of her ex-husband. Lorraine died in January 1965 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 34 years old. 










Review of A Raisin in the Sun





Synopsis:





This play is about the Youngers, a multi-general  working family living together. 





The matrich Lena  recently recieved a sizable life insurance payout after the death of her husband. This might be enough to change the lives of this struggling family 





Her son, Walter Lee is a chauffer with big dreams and his wife Ruth is trying her best to keep it together for everyone. Their school-aged son Travis 





Walter’s sister, Beneatha is the first of the family in college. She plans on becoming a doctor and is more interested in forging her own path than finding a man. 





The adults in the family all have their own ideas of what should be done with the money.  Ultimately, Mama Younger decides to buy a home for the family so they don’t have to share the cramped apartment. The house she wants to buy is in a white neighborhood in Chicago, and the residents don’t take well to the news a black family is moving in. 





This is far from the only obstacle in the Younger family’s fight for a better life. Will they be able to achieve their dreams, or will they be again deferred for another generation?





Analysis:





A Raisin in the Sun has stood the test of time and is widely considered a classic work of both literature and theater. 





Hansberry acknowledged that her early family life served as inspiration for the plot and characters, and particularly saw herself in Beneatha. 





The work explores a number of important themes such as intersectional feminism, systematic racism, and cultural assimilation. Though some things are different than they were when this was written, the social commentary still feels relevant in 2020. 





 “There isn’t any real progress … only one large circle that we march in. ” – Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun





Still, A Raisin in the Sun is not only a story of the Black struggle. This book took the Black story quite literally to center stage and proved that even White audiences will pay to  listen. 





This is also a story of Black joy, of Black, love, of Black family. It’s a story of Blacks embracing their cultural roots while simultaneously reaching for big dreams that were out of reach for many at the time. 





Takeaway:





While I rated the book five-stars, I still feel that there is a lot to be gained by seeing the play performed on stage. I watched this portrayal of A Raisin in the Sun by The Harvard Black Community and Student Theater Group. The players gave an excellent performance and I highly recommend watching it or looking into the 1961 version with Sidney Poitier. Check out the trailer here. 





Whether you’re looking to explore classic theater, classic literature, read more diverse stories, or learn about Black experience in history A Raisin in the Sun is a great title to add to your TBR.










Book Review: Siddhartha by Herman Hesse


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Siddhartha Book Review





Last month I read Siddhartha as part of my goal to read a work of classic literature every month in 2020. While I knew there were elements of this work that interested me, it surprised me just how much this work spoke to me. It’s filled with so many layers, quotes to remember and discuss, and





That’s why Siddhartha is a perfect book for my Self Care Sunday series, where I talk about books that speak to the soul, make you grow as a person and different ways to practice being good to yourself. 





This is also a book that I have been talking about over on The Same Page Book Club where I feature books that embody these themes as well.





Keep reading this review of Siddhartha to see why it’s a good book for those looking to read more classic literature as well as those looking to go deeper within themselves. 





Synopsis:





Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha is a classic work where the titular character leaves his life of comfort behind in search for deeper meaning in life. For those familiar with the origin of Buddhism the story may sound familiar. 





Though the Siddhartha in this story shares a name with Siddhartha Guatama; this is a different character from the historical Buddha. Though living in the same time and place,  the two men are seeking a similar goal, but  And yet, his story parallels the Buddha’s in many ways as he forsakes his life of comfort in search of greater meaning.





Even when he encounters The Buddha in his travels, Siddhartha knows that for him, the truest path to enlightenment is not in following but in finding his own way.





Siddhartha quote





Siddhartha learns from everyone and everything around him. Because he is open to learning and experiencing rather than blindly seeking the goal,   even the most unlikely of sources provide profound insight. A ferryman, nature, and a courtesan provide just as much opportunity to learn as his encounter with the Buddha.  And yet, he struggles to apply this wisdom. 










Those of us who have to figure things out for ourselves can certainly relate, and realize that much of the struggles and suffering arise from our own resistance to what is.





This definitely reflects teachings we know of Buddhism, though the story is not overtly religious. It focuses more on themes of attaining enlightenment, and whether that comes from internal or external forces.










Analysis:





I appreciate what Hesse did with the story and how Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment was similar to that of the Buddha’s, yet was not realized through following the Buddha.  





To me the book is not religious, but rather focuses on the human condition, philosophy, and even psychology. Whether or not you practice Buddhism or have an interest in eastern philosophy I feel there is something to be gained from reading Siddhartha. 





The history behind this book fascinated me almost as much as the story within the pages. I loved reading the backstory about how Hesse, son of Christian missionaries, came to write this ode to eastern spirituality, as well as his personal struggles and how he sought help from Carl Jung, a pioneer of psychoanalysis. 





These personal challenges were hurdles to the completion of Siddhartha. Later portions of the work were perceptibly rushed and lacked the lyricism and slow pacing that it began with, and I could feel Hesse’s difficulty writing a resolution he’d yet to experience in his own life. 





Hesse’s writing is the only thing keeping this from being a five-star read for me. I did not especially care for his style, though that could down to personal preference and the type of work this is. It’s worth noting that the book was originally written in German, and I was reading an English translation from Joachim Neugroschel. 





 Also, Siddhartha is technically a lyrical poem of sorts rather than a novel; stylistically it is unique and may be a stark change of pace for certain readers. 





Takeaway:





Still, Siddhartha is an enjoyable and worthwhile book, both for the story and opportunities for introspection that arise. I highly recommend it for those interested in examining their thoughts and actions more deeply, and those interested in Buddhism or the origins of ancient wisdom.  





I gave it a four-star rating, though a different translation could easily bump it up to five. 










Upcoming General Fiction by BIPOC Authors


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Fiction by BIPOC





Recently I’ve seen many great diverse reading lists pop up around the internet but wanted to extend this to highlight upcoming releases of fiction by BIPOC authors.





With so many of us committing to diversifying our reading in light of current events, it’s important to remember to keep reading books from BIOPC authors even when it’s not “trendy.”





Keeping up with upcoming book releases can be a great way to do that Whether you’re looking for books to keep your teens busy this summer or want to get lost in a good read yourself, this is the perfect list.





This list features 9 books from BIPOC authors in general fiction. They’re all are set to be published in the next few months and are currently available to read now or request on NetGalley.





If you have already bought and read other recommended titles by BIPOC authors, are on a tight budget, or simply want to help amplify BIPOC writers by supporting their emerging titles, this can be a fantastic way to get more relevant titles to read.





I have listed the publisher and scheduled U.S. publication date with each title, but please bear in mind that these may vary based on your country and that COVID-19 has impacted a number of publication dates, so these are subject to change.





Unlike most of my recommendations, the books on this list are not all ones which I have read personally, but am suggesting for those trying to find new and diverse fiction by BIPOC. 





They all sound like great choices, and if you aren’t approved through NetGalley I’d consider preordering a physical copy from a Black-owned bookstore.










Fiction by BIPOC Authors









A Girl is A Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi










This book is set to be published on 01 September 2020 by Tin House. 





NetGalley Description:





“International-award-winning author Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s novel is a sweeping and powerful portrait of a young girl and her family: who they are, what history has taken from them, and—most importantly—how they find their way back to each other.





In her twelfth year, Kirabo, a young Ugandan girl, confronts a piercing question that has haunted her childhood: who is my mother? Kirabo has been raised by women in the small village of Nattetta—her grandmother, her best friend, and her many aunts, but the absence of her mother follows her like a shadow. Complicating these feelings of abandonment, as Kirabo comes of age she feels the emergence of a mysterious second self, a headstrong and confusing force inside her at odds with her sweet and obedient nature.





Seeking answers, Kirabo begins spending afternoons with Nsuuta, a local witch, trading stories and learning not only about this force inside her, but about the woman who birthed her, who she learns is alive but not ready to meet. Nsuuta also explains that Kirabo has a streak of the “first woman”—an independent, original state that has been all but lost to women.





Kirabo’s journey to reconcile her rebellious origins, alongside her desire to reconnect with her mother and to honor her family’s expectations, is rich in the folklore of Uganda and an arresting exploration of what it means to be a modern girl in a world that seems determined to silence women. Makumbi’s unforgettable novel is a sweeping testament to the true and lasting connections between history, tradition, family, friends, and the promise of a different future.





About the Author:     





Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi is a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize and her first novel, Kintu, won the Kwani Manuscript Project Prize in 2013 and was longlisted for the Etisalat Prize in 2014. Her story “Let’s Tell This Story Properly” was the global winner of the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Jennifer lives in Manchester, UK with her husband and son.”










His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie










This book is set to be published on 01 September 2020 by Algonquin Books. 





NetGalley Description :





“Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding.”





Afi Tekple is a young seamstress whose life is narrowing rapidly. She lives in a small town in Ghana with her widowed mother, spending much of her time in her uncle Pious’s house with his many wives and children. Then one day she is offered a life-changing opportunity—a proposal of marriage from the wealthy family of Elikem Ganyo, a man she doesn’t truly know. She acquiesces, but soon realizes that Elikem is not quite the catch he seemed. He sends a stand-in to his own wedding, and only weeks after Afi is married and installed in a plush apartment in the capital city of Accra does she meet her new husband. It turns out that he is in love with another woman, whom his family disapproves of; Afi is supposed to win him back on their behalf. But it is Accra that eventually wins Afi’s heart and gives her a life of independence that she never could have imagined for herself.





A brilliant scholar and a fierce advocate for women’s rights, author Peace Adzo Medie infuses her debut novel with intelligence and humor. For readers of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Candice Carty-Williams, His Only Wife is the story of an indomitable and relatable heroine that illuminates what it means to be a woman in a rapidly changing world.










Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West










This book is published by Park Row (Harlequin) and is scheduled for release 16 June 2020.





NetGalley Description:





Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2020 by The Every Girl, PureWow, Book Riot, Library Journal and more.





“Forever and to the end. That’s what they say instead of I love you.”





When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it’s a devastating loss that leaves her on her own with her violent father. While she receives many condolences, her best friend, Layla, is the only one who understands how this puts Ruby in jeopardy.





Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what is the price for turning a blind eye? In a relentless quest to save Ruby, Layla uncovers the murky loyalties and dangerous secrets that have bound their families together for generations. Only by facing this legacy of trauma head-on will Ruby be able to break free.





An unforgettable debut novel, Saving Ruby King is a powerful testament that history doesn’t determine the present and the bonds of friendship can forever shape the future. 










Memorial by Bryan Washington










This book is set to be published on 06 October 2020 by Riverhead Books. 





NetGalley Description:





“This book, in what feels like a new vision for the 21st century novel, made me happy.” —Ocean Vuong, author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous





“This book made me think about the nature of love, and family, and anger, and grief, and love again.”  —Jasmine Guillory, author of The Wedding Date and The Proposal





What happens when a love story collides with the limits of love–and everyone has an opinion?





Benson and Mike are two young guys who live together in Houston. Mike is a Japanese American chef at a Mexican restaurant and Benson’s a black day care teacher, and they’ve been together for a few years — good years — but now they’re not sure why they’re still a couple. There’s the sex, sure, and the meals Mike cooks for Benson, and, well, they love each other.





But when Mike finds out his estranged father is dying in Osaka just as his acerbic Japanese mother, Mitsuko, arrives in Texas for a visit, Mike picks up and flies across the world to say goodbye. In Japan he undergoes an extraordinary transformation, discovering the truth about his family and his past. Back home, Mitsuko and Benson are stuck living together as unconventional roommates, an absurd domestic situation that ends up meaning more to each of them than they ever could have predicted. Without Mike’s immediate pull, Benson begins to push outwards, realizing he might just know what he wants out of life and have the goods to get it.





Both men will change in ways that will either make them stronger together, or fracture everything they’ve ever known. And just maybe they’ll all be okay in the end. Memorial is a funny and profound story about family in all its strange forms, joyful and hard-won vulnerability, becoming who you’re supposed to be, and the limits of love.










Buck Black by Mateo Askaipour 











This book will be published on 19 January 2020 by  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.





NetGalley Description:





For fans of Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street—a crackling, satirical debut novel about a young man given a shot at stardom as the lone black salesman at a mysterious, cult-like, and wildly successful startup where nothing is as it seems.





There’s nothing like a black salesman on a mission.





An unambitious twenty-two-year-old, Darren lives in a Bed-Stuy brownstone with his mother, who wants nothing more than to see him live up to his potential as the valedictorian of Bronx Science. But Darren is content working at Starbucks in the lobby of a Midtown office building, hanging out with his girlfriend, Soraya, and eating his mother’s home-cooked meals. All that changes when a chance encounter with Rhett Daniels, the silver-tongued CEO of Sumwun, NYC’s hottest tech startup, results in an exclusive invitation for Darren to join an elite sales team on the thirty-sixth floor.





After enduring a “hell week” of training, Darren, the only black person in the company, reimagines himself as “Buck,” a ruthless salesman unrecognizable to his friends and family. But when things turn tragic at home and Buck feels he’s hit rock bottom, he begins to hatch a plan to help young people of color infiltrate America’s sales force, setting off a chain of events that forever changes the game.





Black Buck is a hilarious, razor-sharp skewering of America’s workforce; it is a propulsive, crackling debut that explores ambition and race, and makes way for a necessary new vision of the American dream.










Luster by Raven Leilani










This book is scheduled to be published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux on 04 August 2020. 





NetGalley Description:





“Exacting, hilarious, and deadly . . . A writer of exhilarating freedom and daring.” —Zadie Smith, Harper’s Bazaar





“Impossible to put down.” —Ling Ma, author of Severance





No one wants what no one wants.





And how do we even know what we want? How do we know we’re ready to take it?





Edie is stumbling her way through her twenties—sharing a subpar apartment in Bushwick, clocking in and out of her admin job, making a series of inappropriate sexual choices. She is also haltingly, fitfully giving heat and air to the art that simmers inside her. And then she meets Eric, a digital archivist with a family in New Jersey, including an autopsist wife who has agreed to an open marriage—with rules.





As if navigating the constantly shifting landscapes of contemporary sexual manners and racial politics weren’t hard enough, Edie finds herself unemployed and invited into Eric’s home—though not by Eric. She becomes a hesitant ally to his wife and a de facto role model to his adopted daughter. Edie may be the only black woman young Akila knows.





Irresistibly unruly and strikingly beautiful, razor-sharp and slyly comic, sexually charged and utterly absorbing, Raven Leilani’s Luster is a portrait of a young woman trying to make sense of her life—her hunger, her anger—in a tumultuous era. It is also a haunting, aching description of how hard it is to believe in your own talent, and the unexpected influences that bring us into ourselves along the way.










The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim










This book is scheduled to be published on 





NetGalley Description:





Margot Lee’s mother, Mina, isn’t returning her calls. It’s a mystery to twenty-six-year-old Margot, until she visits her childhood apartment in Koreatown, LA, and finds that her mother has suspiciously died. The discovery sends Margot digging through the past, unraveling the tenuous strings that held together her single mother’s life as a Korean War orphan and an undocumented immigrant, only to realize how little she truly knew about her mother.





Interwoven with Margot’s present-day search is Mina’s story of her first year in Los Angeles as she navigates the promises and perils of the American myth of reinvention. While she’s barely earning a living by stocking shelves at a Korean grocery store, the last thing Mina ever expects is to fall in love. But that love story sets in motion a string of events that have consequences for years to come, leading up to the truth of what happened the night of her death.





Told through the intimate lens of a mother and daughter who have struggled all their lives to understand each other, The Last Story of Mina Lee is both a gripping page-turner and a profound family saga that explores identity, secrets and what it truly means to belong.










The White Coat Diaries by Madi Sinha










This book is scheduled to be published on 





NetGalley Description:





Grey’s Anatomy meets Scrubs in this brilliant debut novel about a young doctor’s struggle to survive residency, love, and life. 

Having spent the last twenty-something years with her nose in a textbook, brilliant and driven Norah Kapadia has just landed the medical residency of her dreams. But after a disastrous first day, she’s ready to quit. Disgruntled patients, sleep deprivation, and her duty to be the “perfect Indian daughter” have her questioning her future as a doctor.





Enter chief resident Ethan Cantor. He’s everything Norah aspires to be: respected by the attending physicians, calm during emergencies, and charismatic with his patients. And as he morphs from Norah’s mentor to something more, it seems her luck is finally changing.





But when a fatal medical mistake is made, pulling Norah into a cover-up, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect the secret. What if “doing no harm” means putting herself at risk?














Aria by Nazanine Hozar










This book is scheduled to be published on 





NetGalley Description:





An extraordinary, cinematic saga of rags-to-riches-to-revolution–called a “Doctor Zhivago of Iran” by Margaret Atwood–that follows an orphan girl coming of age at a time of dramatic upheaval.





It is the 1950s in a restless Iran, a country rich in oil but deeply divided by class and religion. The government is unpopular and corrupt and under foreign sway. One night, an illiterate army driver hears the pitiful cry of a baby abandoned in an alley and menaced by ravenous wild dogs. He snatches the child up and takes her home, naming her Aria–the first step on an unlikely path from deprivation to privilege. Over the next two decades, the orphan girl acquires three mother figures whose secrets she willonly learn much later: reckless and self-absorbed Zahra, who abuses her; wealthy and compassionate Fereshteh, who adopts her; and mysterious Mehri, whose connection to Aria is both a blessing and a burden. A university education opens a new world to Aria, and she is soon caught up in the excitement and danger of the popular uprising against the Shah that sweeps through the streets of Tehran. The novel’s heart-pounding, explosive finale sees the Ayatollah Khomeini’s brutal regime seize power–even as Aria falls in love and becomes a mother herself.





Nazanine Hozar’s stunning debut gives us an unusually intimate view of a momentous time, through the eyes of a young woman coming to terms with the mysteries of her own past and future.










The books on this list are a great starting point for upcoming general fiction by BIPOC authors.





Please keep publication dates in mind as reading and posting timely and constructive reviews to retail sites is a great way to amplify BIPOC voices.





And, of course, also consider requesting your local library buy these books, purchasing a copy for family or friends (preferably from a Black-owned bookstore), posting honest favorable reviews to retailer sites, and searching for backlist titles by one of these authors.





Start reading this fiction by BIPOC authors and stay tuned for more upcoming own voice titles in nonfiction.












	

    
        

            
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