"And because the taste for obscenity is universal and the appetite for reality rare and hard to cultivate, he had nearly perished in the basement of his private life. Or, more precisely, his fantasies." --ANOTHER COUNTRY by James Baldwin

That's why so many people are lost." Baldwin, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

Someone told me this was like Heart of Darkness of the Arctic and that's pretty accurate. Definitely explores the nature of evil / nature of man conceits of plenty of other novels but it reads fast and takes a few unexpected turns. Plus the ending is phenomenal. I actually loved it though I found Sumner's character a bit underwhelming in parts. Warning: lots of animal violence and a rape.

This one is likely to catch people by surprise. Probably the best first person narrator Quick has written (maybe Pat Peoples is "better"?). Also the funniest book he's done. Plus, it challenges some of the comfortable myths we on the left often leave unquestioned. Ultimately this has some uncomfortable moments that makes for a tremendously satisfying read.

Fans of Steinbeck probably already know Olsen but if, like me, you somehow missed out on her work -- get her short fiction or this unfinished but fantastic novel. The grime of poverty without the saccharine nobility of suffering. Plus the sentences are fantastic.

One of the times you can say that the movie was better. Mainly because the documentary gets to use actual footage of Baldwin who is AMAZING to listen to. I would actually subscribe to his podcast if he had one. And were still alive.

I don't love this as much as QUESADILLAS but it's still great. Much of the humor comes from the attack on elitism (a group of book snobs torments the narrator who "just" sold tacos for a living before ending up in crappy retirement apartment complex.)

Re-reading some Baldwin and it's very very satisfying. He's still relevant and so precise without sacrificing complexity.

Love it. read it twice. Which I don't normally do these days.

A slow paced opening that might not have held my interest but something about it has kept me going. Hard to describe except to give it about 50-60 pages.

Yow! Another great voice and a book that should be read twice (and can be since it's pretty short.) basically: a story about parenting anxiety that is DARK.

Read this twice: back-to-back. It is a truly astonishing voice. It feels almost like the opening section of THE SOUND AND THE FURY. Except better and more coherent. Note: Levy is the translator, not the author.

Maybe you should laugh during these dark times.

I've been waiting since April for this. It's already made me laugh a bunch of times.

80 pages in and I don't see anything magical or magnificent. Any novel about slavery is up against BELOVED and maybe that's unfair since that's a perfect novel. But still. considering that the hook is the fact that the railroad is real, I expected more--something fantastical, something more than what many novels about slavery have presented. Ah well.

I can't even describe how amazing this book is. Pure, shining, sharp satire. Funny on every page. Smart and fast paced and offensive.

"You'd rather be here than in Africa. The trump card all narrow minded nativists play." (Read the rest in image)

Time to read some hardcore literature.

This book is phenomenal. A good investment of time if you have limited knowledge of Africa. Great breakdown of the regions showing connections and disconnections. Shows effects of slave and ivory trades, effects of Arab and European greed, the culpability of African rules in evil trade systems

CANE has some intense passages.

A satisfying mix of family history& magical realism that explores faith and sexuality and bigotry. Clear to see Toni Morrison's influence in some of the prose and structure but Kenan is no copycat. He's written an inspired book.

But the ghosts of those times are stubborn; and though the hog stalls are empty, a herd can be heard, trampling the grasses and flowers and fancy bushes, trampling the foreign trees of the new families, living in their new homes. A ghostly herd waiting to be butchered.

Loved it. Funny and compelling. Couldn't imagine having to wait each month for these issues so the collection is worth it. But now I have to wait and I'm sad!

"Power" by Adrienne Rich

My favorite Adrienne Rich collection. There's are poems from '74-77 and they are stunning. There's a complete collection of her work out (now? Soon?) so you can have all her glorious work in one book. Or get this one so you can carry it with you forever.

"Prayer for the Newly Damned" by Ocean Vuong

BUY THIS BOOK!

"Torso of Air" by Ocean Vuong

Beautiful collection of poetry. Can't even describe it but I'll post some excerpts here.

About 85 pages in and I find myself.... not interested. Never thought I'd end up in a book set in academia (ugh) when I started reading. Some good lines but I've got too many other books to read to bother pushing thru. Also: this book has no quotation marks for dialogue WHICH I HATE.

A novel about Vietnam from the perspective of a 28 year old who joined what he saw (ten years prior) as the great cause of the Communists. I love books about less familiar (to American) perspectives & this book does not hold back. Not about battles but people being defeated by ideologies. SO GOOD.

This is an eloquent book that suffers from the problem that most books in 1st person plural suffer: vague plot. Worse: why generalize about Africans when that's exactly what slavery accomplished? As part of a series of books on the slave trade this book would be wonderful. Alone it's underwhelming.

Look at that great opening paragraph!

Everybody wants to own the end of the world.

"As mother and child made their way through Walmart, the toddler unzipped the gun pocket and reached inside. He drew the 9mm out of its Velcroed holster, pointed it up from his seat in the shopping cart, and fired at his mother..." (More in image)

A fantastic graphic novel with some beautiful pen and ink artwork. The faces are carefully done, expressing such subtly in this science fiction story that showcases the brilliant perseverance of its characters. Asks whether art & stories can save us.

If you want a good place to start with Muriel Spark, then I suggest the funny, weird protagonist of the brief but perfect THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

Lettie Colston keeps getting phone calls. The voice says "Remember you must die." The police don't help. No one seems to believe her. This novel is strange and dark with a bizarre sense of humor and a glorious conclusion.

If you want a novel about a black doctor trying to avoid the ire of the KKK while practicing in a suburb of Atlanta in the 1920s that happens to be written by a light skinned black man who infiltrated hate groups--this book is for you.

I don't often write negative things about books (the world is pissy enough) but I loathe this book. So much. Even finding it here on Litsy to pan it hurts me.

Words cannot describe this funny, smart, engaging book. An auctioneer who explores the origins of an object's value. The story of his relationship with his son adds a beautiful emotional depth.

Great analysis of the tricky history of Puritans in colonial era and, more importantly, the role of non-Christians in establishment of the United States. Great info about Muslims who helped the Spanish explorers and made up ~20% of slave population.

An amazing novel of a man named Ike who plans to steal a statue of the god of war Ngene from his village and sell it to a dealer of idols in NYC. Leads to an amazing almost surreal ending. Totally engrossing.

An unbelievably engrossing novel about the end of the world, as far as the narrator, an Anglisc man, is concerned. Written in "shadow tongue," an accessible version of Old English, this book portrays a believable, messed up mind in an apocalypse.

none will loc but the wind will cum. the wind cares not for the hopes of men the times after will be for them who seen the cuman the times after will be for the waecend