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On to my next IRL book club book. Thrillers aren‘t typically my cuppa and I‘ve heard very mixed things about this one, so trying to keep my skepticism at bay
Other Black Girl | 
On to my next IRL book club book. Thrillers aren‘t typically my cuppa and I‘ve heard very mixed things about this one, so trying to keep my skepticism at bay
so-soAre you fucking kidding me?? I appreciated the insightfulness and urgency the author was creating in highlighting the lack of diversity in publishing and the micro aggressions PoC face in the workplace. There were definitely structural problems with this book & pacing issues but the artistic choices made in the last 1/3 of the book did not work for me at all!! I think it hindered the seriousness covered at the beginning of the novel. Ugh 😩
so-soThe first half of the book really pulled me in but as more details emerged I began to disengage. The author created a unique premise that speaks directly to Black culture. I loved that part. The reasons behind the manipulation, not so much.
pickAn irresistible blend of social satire and thriller, “The Other Black Girl” is one of the most enjoyable books I‘ve read this year.
pickKind of funny novel about the hostility, mostly covert, that Blacks face in the professional workplace. Her cringe-inducing description of Diversity Town Halls hit way close to home - I‘ve been to a few, and they are about as thoughtful as the one in The Office. Takes a while to come together, but when it does, it‘s both brutal and satisfying. Absolutely recommended!
pickOffice satire? Light horror? Literary social commentary? Slow burn thriller? I‘m not sure what to call this novel about Black women‘s experiences set in a NYC publishing house—a workplace in which the author has a lot of familiarity. Whatever the genre, it‘s great! I was glued to the #audiobook, read mainly by Aja Naomi King, occasionally switching to other points of view read by Joniece Abbott Pratt, Heather Alicia Simms & Bahni Turpin.
…it wouldn‘t be enough to simply show up to work, to simply wear the right clothes—you had to wear the right mentality. You had to live the mentality. Be everyone‘s best friend. Be sassy, be confident. But also deferential. Be spiritual, but also be down to earth. Be woke, but also keep some of that sleep in your eyes too.
“The first sign was the smell of cocoa butter.” Took this from the actual first chapter because I liked it better than the prologue‘s first line (“Stop fussing at it, now.”). Enjoying this book a ton so far. About half way through, and it‘s keeping me guessing.
#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl
pickThis was really good. I'm not sure how to describe it - sort of a thriller but kind of slow-paced in the beginning. I've seen it described as horror but it's not the gory or paranormal or hide under the covers kind of horror. The ending wasn't as satisfying as I wanted, but I think that was intentional. A good book for discussion.
