Kalisha Buckhanon's Blog - Posts Tagged "solemnbook"

Library Journal has listed Kalisha's new novel SOLEMN as among Old and New Voices of African American Fiction.

Reviewer Rollie Welch writes SOLEMN "earns a place alongside James Hannaham’s Delicious Foods as top-notch literary fiction sending a message about African American struggles in the 21st century."

Kirkus Reviews has called Kalisha's new novel SOLEMN "a hypnotic tale." Kirkus has previously praised Kalisha's first two novels CONCEPTION and UPSTATE.

Read the full review HERE .

Kalisha was interviewed by her hometown newspaper Daily Journal for her new novel Solemn. She was born in Kankakee, Illinois, where the Daily Journal has printed since 1903. Kalisha spoke about her imaginative background formed there, creating characters in Solemn, and best practices for writers in the interview “10 questions with local author who made it big”. Thank you for reading.

SOLEMN is available on NetGalley for book bloggers, reviewers and media to request for approval to view from St. Martin's Press. You may view the book's promo/press kit in advance HERE. Thank you.

Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of Solemn in the Goodreads Giveaway for the novel. Contest open to Goodreaders in USA, Britain and Canada. Share giveaway with friends. Thank you.

You are invited to read an excerpt of Solemn HERE at St. Martin's Press/MacMillan's webpage for the book.

Also you may read later parts of the novel as "Expecting" on Gravel Literary Magazine and "Pearletta" in Deep South Magazine. Please do share with friends. Thank you.

Dear Goodreaders,

Thank you everyone for entering the giveaway for my novel SOLEMN. I am happy so many people are excited about its debut with me.

Special congratulations to the winners: Sarah Barnes, Vikki McCallister, Madeena Phelps, Maritza Baez, and Beverly Carp. I look forward to sending these ladies a signed book and nice treats from me.

SOLEMN is out tomorrow. I appreciate those of you have ordered it and will get your copy soon, and can not wait for the conversations it sparks! As always, feel free to send me questions on it.

Sincerely,
Kalisha

RT Reviews said of Kalisha’s novel SOLEMN: “SOLEMN is beautifully written in lyrically beautiful, poetic language…the story starts off with a traumatic event that successfully weaves its tendrils throughout the rest of the book.”

Now, they have selected Elsie Lyon’s cover design for the book as one of their favorites for May 2016. You can vote for SOLEMN‘s cover at RT Reviews‘ website Here.

From the writer whose debut novel UPSTATE was celebrated as “wild and beautiful” (Sapphire), “heartbreaking and true” (Dorothy Allison), and “a poetry uniquely its own” (Elle), and awarded by Terry McMillan as “capturing real emotion,” comes a powerful new story of unseen black youth: Solemn Redvine, a girl whose life winds to unexpected directions as she lives with simple people but complicated circumstances in a Mississippi mobile home community.

From St. Martin's Press May 3, 2016

Praise:

“SOLEMN is a thought-provoking and powerful novel about a girl who sees what she shouldn’t and is forced all too soon to learn about betrayal, loss and the precariousness of love. Kalisha Buckhanon is a writer of great imagination and boundless empathy. The writing style is poetic and the use of Mississippi dialogue, both black and white, is masterful. Solemn is a haunting story that keeps pages turning until the end.”- Jonathan Odell, author of The Healing and Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League

“Buckhanon crafts a hypnotic tale…cast against the hardships of everyday life in Singer’s Trailer Park, a young girl’s troubled thoughts make for a heartbreaking story of broken promises.” –Kirkus Reviews

“This work earns a place alongside James Hannaham’s Delicious Foods as top-notch literary fiction sending a message about African American struggles in the 21st century.” -Library Journal

“The story’s compassionate tone and rich characters will recommend it to fans of family fiction and Buckhanon’s earlier work.” –Booklist

“An emotional and expressive novel about family, obligation and community. This twisting, expressive coming-of-age story not only offers readers a young girl’s experience of seeking her place in the world, but also illustrates the struggle of life in the rural South.” –Bookpage

“Solemn is beautifully written in lyrically beautiful, poetic language…the story starts off with a traumatic event that successfully weaves its tendrils throughout the rest of the book.” –RT Reviews

"A searing story...fueled by emotion." -Bustle

Vote for SOLEMN as May's Best Cover on the RT Reviews website Here.

Take some time to visit:
Kalisha's website Kalisha.com
Kalisha's blog Negression
Kalisha on Goodreads
Kalisha on Facebook: Facebook
Kalisha on Twitter: Twitter

Visit these blogs who love SOLEMN:
SOLEMN on AALBC
SOLEMN on Bless Their Hearts Mom
SOLEMN on Books a la Mode
SOLEMN on Word Crafting Me

Also share this post on your social media of choice. Thank you.

Author and professor Kim McLarin reviews SOLEMN for The Washington Post, writing: “Reading this story, I found it difficult (though ridiculously unfair) not to think of Toni Morrison’s first novel, “The Bluest Eye,” not only because “Solemn” is told in a similar, fragmented style but also because both center on young, black girls wounded by the actions of those closest to them.” You may read the full review in Wednesday’s Entertainment/Books section Here.