I read this advice somewhere, “If you aren’t writing, be reading,” or something to that effect. And hoo boy do I absolutely take it to heart, all day, erry day.
I am currently writing a book, which is why I am writing this blog post right now, and why I was reading before this, and why I will be reading after. See how life works sometimes?! Plus, my TBR (to be read) pile is, frankly, ridiculous, so I really need to focus on the work of getting through it. There is no better way to do that than to have a theme.
I am always collecting books to read, and since I read Black authors all year long, I therefore have a massive pile of their books mixed into the afore-mentioned TBR pile. As it is Black History Month, and I have a Little Free Library, and I don’t want to give away all of my favorite books by Dr. Maya Angelou and Zora Neale Hurston, etc, I decided to read as many of the afore-mentioned TBR books as I can this month, so I can feature them in the LFL throughout. To say this is a win-win situation would be an understatement, woo hooooo!
Here are the books I’ve read so far. I am terrible at reviews so I’m just going to show you. No reviews for you! Read it yourself if you want to know how it is or what it’s about, okay?!
As you can (and will again) see, I had to take a screenshot from my LFL’s Instagram page, because I am in constant fear of running out of space in my iphone’s memory, so I delete pictures faster than you can say “what book are you reading?”.
Okay this isn’t a review but damn Bryan Washington can write a story! It’s serving Black, it’s serving diversity, it’s serving queer, it’s serving awkward adolescence, it’s serving hardship – whew what a ride!
I tried putting this into my LFL a while ago after someone donated it, but one of my regulars told me it was one of the best books he’s ever read and that I should read it. So I did. And then I put it into the LFL. That is all.
Someone took this banned book almost as fast as I posted it was available. I really really hope they sent it to their niece or nephew in Florida!
As you can see in the books shown at the top, I am currently reading a couple more. Granted, Robin DiAngelo is not a Black author, but “White Fragility” has been on my shelf for way too long, it was praised in “My Grandmother’s Hands” by Resmaa Menakem – one of my favorites in recent years – and so I made an exception.
Coming up is a book I chose for this month’s book club pick, but then I wasn’t able to make the meeting because it was weirdly early in the month, and I had a friend it town. Dang!
This one came on my radar through another book-loving Instagram account I follow (@bookitqueen if you want to find it!). She is funny and silly and smart, and I trust her recommendations, so when she mentioned a romance that wasn’t cloying, I jumped. It’s next in line; I’m excited to get into it!
I only have two more in the goal pile, but it’s a short month so I’m not sure if I’ll get to them. One of them, “Stamped from the Beginning” by Ibram X. Kendi, is BIG so even if I start it, it’ll take me into March. Which is fine. I mean, this book I’m writing isn’t going to not-write itself, amiright?
What about you? What are some of your favorite books by Black authors? Because obviously I need to replenish my TBR pile now, so thank you in advance!
Amanda Janik 
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