Welcome to Litsy!

Idk, but the title of this book felt like autumn. 🍂Hopefully, it‘s a good read.

Daniel Black put into words the weight black men and women carry, the burden to conform to strict gender roles, and the fear that is felt when someone steps outside of those roles. He also shows the hope for freedom from this burden and fear. #blitsy #lgbtq #queer #family #epistolary

A necessary and long awaited message of love, acceptance, and atonement by a father for his son.

4 out of 5

“A man‘s history is all he has.”

A father writes a memoir addressed to his son explaining his life and navigating through their family‘s history. It started off a little slow for me, but eventually this poignant novel reeled me in.

I devoured this book. I read 2/3 in one day and finished it as soon as I could reasonable pick it up again. Don‘t Cry For Me is a story told as a series of letters a man writes his estranged son while on his death bed, trying to explain their history, why he wasn‘t the father the father he wanted to be, and all the things he wish he could say. Well written and reminded me of Red at the Bone by Woodson, this is a gorgeous story on generational ⬇️

“It was a strange thing, sitting next to people you love but being unable to love them.” Pg 170

I have always found quotes on love fascinating because we have been writing about love for hundreds of years and we‘re still trying to find the right words to explain all its intricacies.

Starting my #bookspin book and I‘m already tearing up at the authors note so I can tell it‘s going to be an emotional ride for me!

Ok yes, more #bookmail

#12BooksOf2022 - February @Andrew65 Phenomenal and powerful. Perfect pacing and audio narration. A black father‘s gift of a letter to his gay son. Similar in feels to On Earth We‘re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.

I absolutely loved this book. It‘s written in letter style which made it a page turner for me. A complex and heart-wrenching yet warming story. I will be looking for more books from Daniel Black for sure!

My reading goal for the remainder of the year, because I want to read from everywhere, is at least one book from my physical shelves for every library or e-book read. So far I‘m on target. Tagged was my favorite!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

This little book has so much to say. The primary message is about the regrets of a man believing a good father had a responsibility to raise a ‘masculine‘ son. But the sub story of this aging father finally discovering black men proud of their blackness through the discovering of reading books is equally powerful - especially in today‘s environment.

I‘m very surprised that I haven‘t heard more about this book. The writing is exceptional and the story is so heartfelt it almost felt like reading nonfiction. This is a beautiful book about a father and his relationship with his son and I feel like anyone can appreciate the story that is told. I would love to have read more but I think it ended well and it left me wanting more.

This was my #bookspin or my #doublebookspin @TheAromaofBooks. This is a really tender story. I was absolutely moved by the writing. The story is about family, intergenerational trauma, love, regrets, & acceptance. Black did a masterful job writing a story that broke my heart. The heaviness of missed chances & miscommunication hurt my chest. In the end, we love our children for who they are & not who we thought they would be. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Such an excellent and insightful story! A dying black man writes to his estranged gay son, telling him about his childhood, how it influenced him as a father, telling him how he feels as a dad, what he wishes he had done, his regrets, etc. Very well written, definitely a book worth reading.

Jacob and Isaac are an estranged father and son and Jacob has always been a hard man. But now he is dying, and wants to reach out to Isaac to try to make a connection, so this is told as a long letter to Isaac. I found this a tough read, as there are some seriously deplorable things about Jacob, but it‘s quite good.

This was a heartfelt letter from a father to his son. It was an emotional read as they had an estranged relationship. The author writes this book as if it was his father writing to him. It‘s how he imagined his father would have written to him, had his father not forgotten things with Alzheimer‘s. This book was good, took me a while to read because I‘ve been in a reading slump, but good nonetheless.

a novel written through letters that Jacob writes on his deathbed to his estranged son. explaining how he grew up, the things he was taught and why he was the way he was, and struggled to except Isaac‘s queer identity. at times he seems to seek redemption and at others he makes no apologies for his ways.
I did find myself wishing to know if Isaac ever got or read the letters and his response but this book is poignant being one sided as is.

Day 3 of #TarotTakeover and still going strong!

Five of Wands deals with conflict, both with others and with oneself. This makes me think of the tagged (a recent quick read) in which the narrator recalls his struggle to accept his son, which resulted in their fragmented relationship. Check it out! @ErinSueMreads

This book exceeded my expectations. Jacob is dying and before he leaves this earth, he wants to explain to his estranged son in the form of letters why he had such a difficult time accepting his queerness. It‘s breathtaking and heartbreaking. It gave me Ocean Vuong vibes. Audio narration was excellent. 5 stars. Reads like a memoir.

Feeling a lot of emotions related to this book. It‘s titled don‘t cry for me, but I did.

A dying father writes letters to his gay son - partly about his own history and partly an apology for how he treated his son. It‘s beautiful seeing his growth and understanding his story.

Honestly it‘s the letter I‘d love to receive from my parents.

#BOTM

I‘ve picked up three audiobooks today but nothing is sticking…Heard great things about this one so 🤞🏼🤞🏼
#ScribdAudio

Taking a day trip out to Beacon, NY to go to the art gallery and wander the town. Starting this on the train ride.

From the reviews I‘ve seen it‘s gonna be a hell of a read!

This heart-shattering novel is letters from a dying father to his son. Jacob is a Black man born in 1940s Arkansas. He believes there is one way to be a man and raise a son. When his son is born queer, he doesn‘t know how to deal. He resorts to violence. He drives a wedge in the family. As he is dying, he tries to explain himself and show his son what time has taught him. Get the tissues! 😭 #botm

My #BOTM is here!!! I‘m so excited. My first box. What a great valentines present to myself haha.

❤️

Apparently A River Enchanted is going to be a series, so I may try it from the library before I commit. Excited for my picks this month! What did everyone else get? #botm

The confirmed February #BOTM picks! The jury's out on whether or not I'll skip, it might come down to how good the add-ons are. And how awful is that Vladimir cover?! 🙈