Welcome to Litsy!

This was heartbreaking, raw, and difficult to read at times. The voice in each short story rings out with truth and pain and many show resilience and resolution. This has taken me a few months of coming back to it as I couldn‘t read it all at once but I‘m so glad to have finished it. So well written, it sings. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

This is a terrific short story collection. Many of the stories were such a gut punch that I couldn‘t read through to the next, but had to put it down for a break before going forward. Also, many were written in AAVE, which I had to adjust to a bit, but which ultimately made the stories richer. I will be looking for more from Watkins.

NBA longlist, fiction (this collection is far better than the one that was shortlisted)

Totally worthy of being on the National Book Award longlist. These stories are the type that make you thankful for short fiction.

Two favorites. A metaphorical story about a man moving to a white area with a white wife, yet never feeling at home and yearning to be around people who understand him. A brutal story of a son born of rape who may have committed the act himself. She definitely doesn‘t shy away from hard topics.

A dog on my lap and a book in my hands. What could be better?

I‘ve been at my new job as the director of education for the Texas Library Association for 7 weeks. Last week we had our annual conference and it was amazing! This is a difficult time for librarians and event gave so many time to connect, learn and regroup. It was a special week and I‘m so thrilled to be working with this incredible organization. With so many authors and new releases, I had a few books follow me home 😍