We have taken the last two weeks off from publishing anything on The Book Slut. We took this time, not as a break, but to better utilise our resources elsewhere; from attending Black Lives Matters protests, to teaching our kids about what's going on in the world, and dedicating ourselves more than ever to charitable causes. For some of us, just as importantly, we took this time for deeper self-reflection, to increase our education on the world around us and the history embedded into each of our countries, good and bad.
Over the next few days we will be including some resources that we have found valuable, and ways in which we as a community can uplift and uphold the voices and businesses of the marginalized.
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi - Alexandra
2020 is been a hell of a year, but I can see something positive is happening: people are protesting and demanding justice and equality for the Black community. As someone who grew up protected from those issues, I can't say I know how you feel. But I can say I'm trying to learn as much as possible about Black lives and experiences and to support Black authors. I think this book is a good starting place and so far I'm learning a lot with it and I'm sharing this new knowledge with my family and friends.
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole - Mel
Halfway through and loving it enough to have already ordered the next two books in the series. This is like a modern retelling of Cinderella, where the lead, Naledi, befriends an inexperience waiter and coworker Jamal who may or may not be the prince of Thesolo, who in turn believes that she is the young woman whose parents fled the country decades ago, that she is supposed to be his betrothed.
The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin - Nikki
Third and final installment in Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy! I'm loving these books and how they explore themes including mortality, sexuality, race, and oppression. These were Jemisin's first novels, and I've heard her writing and world-building have only improved.
Tender Is The Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica - Courtney
What would you do if you if a virus jeopardized the worlds animals and left the only option for meat consumption being human? Safe to say: I’m glad I’m a pescatarian. While this novel is creepy as all hell making cannibalism the norm, it subtly explores empathy, grief, and the trap that capitalist society often finds a lot of people having to make moral sacrifices in the name of living.
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom - Marian
This book is a poignant story of Broom’s experiences as a Black woman residing in a ramshackle house in East New Orleans. The metaphor of the “yellow house” seems a lens into racial inequities that come into clear focus such as housing, schooling, crime, and so many other barriers to Black economic stability.
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner - Christina
I am hooked on this excellently researched fiction on women serving life sentences in a California prison. I generally only think of a book as 5 out of 5 stars when I think it has significantly changed the way I view the world, and as I have just ordered a bunch of books on prison abolition, this might be one of them.
Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ - Maggie
A beautiful and hauntingly heartbreaking book about a woman questioning what makes her a woman if her body won't allow her to have a baby. I can already tell the ending will have me at the edge of my seat.
These Ghosts Are Family by Maisy Card - Jessica Maria
It’s been difficult to concentrate on reading lately, and I have about three books I was halfway through a couple of weeks ago that I haven’t been able to finish. However, I remembered Akilah’s insightful review of These Ghosts Are Family and picked it off my shelf since it’s not only a #ReadCaribbean title, but also because Akilah will be interviewing the author Maisy Card this weekend!
Sending love to wherever you are in the world, from all of us at the book slut. x
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