Black Coffee discussion

Anyone have any good books to recommend?

I highly recommend:

1.My Man's Best Friend

2.Kai's Aftermath


3. Alana Bites Back

Just read the synopsis. It does sound interesting....

It's worth the read.

The Woman in White

I would recommend Vivid by Beverly Jenkins.

I would recommend by Clifford Spud Johnson

LaSonya wrote: "I would recommendby Clifford Spud Johnson"

Thanks, LaSonya!

You're so welcome.

Has anyone read the classic ' ? i havent yet but would like to know what ppl think about it - is it a classic? why is it a classic? and what did you think?

thanks

Kerry wrote: "Has anyone read the classic ' ? i havent yet but would like to know what ppl think about it - is it a classic? why is it a classic? and what did you th..."


Yes! I can't say that I LOVED the book but I did like it. It's has a wonderful message about womanhood, independence, love, and finding yourself. It wasn't very popular during the original publications but after Zora Neale Hurstons death it became very popular and a classic in it's own respect. It's a good read. Lots of dialect so if you aren't a fan of reading broken English it could be a distraction. I think it has a positive message and it's also a movie with Halle Berry. Harpo production I believe.

kisha wrote: "Kerry wrote: "Has anyone read the classic ' ? i havent yet but would like to know what ppl think about it - is it a classic? why is it a classic? and w..."

OHHHHH now i remember that it was a film -
yes Oprah i think produced it (i will look it up)
By 'broken english' so you mean the type of repressed african american 'uneducated' type of broken english that say Color purple and push read with?

(I love that btw - it speaks very rythmatically to me, and i seem to get into the character easy if the book is written in a way they would speak and write)

kisha wrote: "Kerry wrote: "Has anyone read the classic ' ? i havent yet but would like to know what ppl think about it - is it a classic? why is it a classic? and w..."

OHHHHH now i remember that it was a film -
yes Oprah i think produced it (i will look it up)
By 'broken english' so you mean the type of repressed african american 'uneducated' type of broken english that say Color purple and push read with?

(I love that btw - it speaks very rythmatically to me, and i seem to get into the character easy if the book is written in a way they would speak and write)

Kerry wrote: "kisha wrote: "Kerry wrote: "Has anyone read the classic ' ? i havent yet but would like to know what ppl think about it - is it a classic? why is it a ..."


Yes, it's the same type of dialect so to speek. I think Push in my opinion was the hardest to get pass the language though. More like The Color Purple maybe. It's a good book.

kisha wrote: "Kerry wrote: "kisha wrote: "Kerry wrote: "Has anyone read the classic ' ? i havent yet but would like to know what ppl think about it - is it a classic..."

awesome thanks Kisha - yep will go get this one :)

Jane Eyre

I've penned a couple of books this year, but Unbreakable Bonds was my first. I am an ex veteran and this story is loosely based off of my experience while serving in the Air Force. These four women of the story were truly inspired by some women that I consider sisters after having served with them and our bonds are unbreakable. So please checkout this free excerpt for the day. I am still in the process of editing, since first writing this earlier this year and hopefully when the completed version is done, it will reflect that my prose and diction has grown since beginning this journey as a writer. The book in it's entirety is not at all as salacious as this excerpt, but drama sells and I'm trying to generate some buzz. Hope you enjoy:

If you enjoy military romance, you will love this sneak peak. This is a short excerpt of a full length novel titled, Unbreakable Bonds: Sisters in Uniform, which is a story about four women of color serving together in the Armed Forces, bonded and battling together on the front lines of love and war. This particular excerpt is from a part of Rocky's Story, a young spicy girl from the Bayou, who brings steam and life to the story through her forbidden rendezvous as well as bringing some comedic relief as she tries to school all of her friends on "The Game" that she claims to know so well. But how will she fair when her world is turned upside down by the ultimate forbidden affair.


This steamy affair is definitely an integral piece of the overall story and is intended to get your mouth watering and ready for more.:






http://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Bon...

I would recommend the following Books...


The Black Count by Tom Reiss - the life and times of General Alexandre Dumas


His Strength (Men of Valor) by Kiru Taye


His Treasure (Men of Valor) by Kiru Taye


The Seedbearing Prince by DaVaun Sanders


Dark Genesis by A D Koboah

I'm looking for a good plot twister. Any recommendations?

High Cotton: Maafa

So I just read Gone Girl which disguised itself as a good book until the last chapter (which pissed me off). So now once again I'm look for a good psychological plot twisting thriller/ whodunnit by a well established author. Any suggestions? I'm not into Horror just thriller.

kisha wrote: "So I just read Gone Girl which disguised itself as a good book until the last chapter (which pissed me off). So now once again I'm look for a good psychological plot twisting thriller/ whodunnit b..."

I actually liked Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes.
I read it last summer around the same time I read Gone Girl and actually thought it was better.

Not sure exactly what kind of psychological suspense books you like but here is a list I put together for for books that were releasing this year thinking I would have time this summer.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/user_v...

Beverly, you saved the day! Thanks! You all make me feel like a beginner reader! hahaha!

kisha wrote: "So I just read Gone Girl which disguised itself as a good book until the last chapter (which pissed me off). So now once again I'm look for a good psychological plot twisting thriller/ whodunnit b..."

Kisha -

I forget about this book until I saw it is only 1.99 on Kindle today.

Serena by Ron Rash

http://www.amazon.com/Serena-P-S-Ron-...

Thanks!

May I be so bold as to suggest my first novel "Vengeance is Mine a Pirate's Tale?" The liberated slaves are not African American but were slaves in the new colonies of Mexico,still, they were slaves. They become liberated by a man falsely accused of piracy so he kills their masters, freeing them to help him exact his revenge. I am posting it free on my website under the "more" tab here at
http://www.theratsnestweebly.com/

May I recommend Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord. I have just read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Another book on my tbr list. Thanks Andrew!

Andrew wrote: "May I recommend Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord. I have just read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

"

Glad you enjoyed - I read this book a couple of years ago.

Are you going to read her latest book The Best of All Possible Worlds? I am hoping to get to this book soon - hoping to see this book on a couple of award nomination lists.

Beverly wrote: "Andrew wrote: "May I recommend Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord. I have just read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

"

G..."

I have it on my to-read list.

I am usually not much of a cover person but I will admit that this cover caught my attention and think it is so elegant.

And yes, I have added this book to by tbr list - it will be released in April 2014. Yes, I am a new release Junkie.



'Til the Well Runs Dry: A Novel by Lauren Francis-Sharma

I saw that one too Beverly! It is gorgeous isn't it? It sounds like a good read.

I can't remember which thread it was on, but we were talking about slavery through the eyes of the slave holder...were there any books suggested on this topic?

Hey Lulu, The Book of Night Women is a really good book. It's one of my favorites and it is multi-dimensional showing all perspectives. And here's the link where we had the discussion you are referring to https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks Kisha!!! You're the best!

No problem

Like Trees, Walking: A Novel by Ravi Howard

Based on the true story of a modern-day lynching in America, Ravi Howard's widely acclaimed debut novel exposes one of the most tragic chapters in the history of the American South.

On the morning of March 21, 1981, in Mobile, Alabama, nineteen-year-old Michael Donald was found dead, his body badly beaten and hanging from a tree on Herndon Avenue. Brothers Paul and Roy Deacon of the Deacon Memorial Funeral Home are called upon to bury their close friend and classmate, and the experience will leave them forever changed. Along with other residents of their hometown, the Deacon brothers must struggle to understand the circumstances surrounding Donald's murder—the city's first lynching in more than sixty years and a gruesome reminder of racial inequalities in the New South.

I read this book several years ago and enjoyed it. I was reminded of it when I saw the publisher has the ebook (most ebook formats) for $1.99 until 3/4

Black Boy by Richard Wright is now $2.99 in most ebook formats.

Any recommendations on biographies?

My favorite biography!

Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?: How Reginald Lewis Created a Billion-Dollar Business Empire

Thanks Carl!

Lulu wrote: "Any recommendations on biographies?"

What kind of biography are you looking for?

Anyone interesting. I'm into everything and everyone. Lol

For some reason the add book link isn't working. But my favorite that I read last year was Princess: The True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia. It was a buddy read that Beverly and I did. It's very interesting. Especially if you aren't familiar with the struggles of women in the Middle East in which is wasn't. Another good one is Keep the Faith by Faith Evans. I truly enjoyed that one as well.

Lulu wrote: "Anyone interesting. I'm into everything and everyone. Lol"

Lulu these are my favourite biographies which might interest you:

Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany by Hans J. Massaquoi. This is the story of a young Black man growing up in Nazi Germany.

The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss. The life and military record of General Alexandre Dumas, father of Alexandre Dumas (Pere) the writer and contemporary of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Monsieur de Saint-George: Virtuoso, Swordsman, Revolutionary: A Legendary Life Rediscovered by Alain Guede. Born in Guadeloupe he was famous in his day as a Nobleman, master swordsman, music virtuoso, soldier, revolutionary and socialite.

Thanks guys!! I really appreciate the recommendations

The Black Count is a good one. I haven't read it, but I plan to. Growing up, I didn't know that Alexandre Dumas was a black man. That book is about his father.

Carl wrote: "The Black Count is a good one. I haven't read it, but I plan to. Growing up, I didn't know that Alexandre Dumas was a black man. That book is about his father."

Yes Carl. It is said that Alexandre Dumas (Pere, the writer) based some of his famous characters (Edmond Dantes from the Count of Monte Cristo and d'Artagnan from the Three Musketeers) on his general father.

In fact Dumas represented a famous line as follows:

Alexandre Dumas the greater - The General
Alexandre Dumas Pere - the son and Writer
Alexandre Dumas Fils - the grandson and Playwright

See J.A. Rogers "World's Great Men of Color" Volume II for an introduction to this famous line.

Carl wrote: "The Black Count is a good one. I haven't read it, but I plan to. Growing up, I didn't know that Alexandre Dumas was a black man. That book is about his father."

I read The Black Count and really enjoyed it and learned a lot of history. Very well-written.

Here are a couple of other biographies:

The Black Russian by Vladimir Alexandrov

The Black Russian is the incredible true story of Frederick Bruce Thomas, born in 1872 to former slaves who became prosperous farmers in Mississippi. After his father was brutally murdered, Frederick left the South and worked as a waiter in Chicago and Brooklyn. Seeking greater freedom, he traveled to London, then crisscrossed Europe, and—in a highly unusual choice for a black American at the time—went to Russia.

Because he found no color line there, Frederick settled in Moscow, becoming a rich and famous owner of variety theaters and restaurants. When the Bolshevik Revolution ruined him, he barely escaped to Constantinople, where he made another fortune by opening celebrated nightclubs as the "Sultan of Jazz." However, the long arm of American racism, the xenophobia of the new Turkish Republic, and Frederick’s own extravagance landed him in debtor’s prison. He died in Constantinople in 1928.

Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin by John D'Emilio
Bayard Rustin is one of the most important figures in the history of the American civil rights movement. Before Martin Luther King, before Malcolm X, Bayard Rustin was working to bring the cause to the forefront of America's consciousness. A teacher to King, an international apostle of peace, and the organizer of the famous 1963 March on Washington, he brought Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence to America and helped launch the civil rights movement. Nonetheless, Rustin has been largely erased by history, in part because he was an African American homosexual. Acclaimed historian John D'Emilio tells the full and remarkable story of Rustin's intertwined lives: his pioneering and public person and his oblique and stigmatized private self.

Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision by Barbara Ransby

One of the most important African American leaders of the twentieth century and perhaps the most influential woman in the civil rights movement, Ella Baker (1903-1986) was an activist whose remarkable career spanned fifty years and touched thousands of lives.
A gifted grassroots organizer, Baker shunned the spotlight in favor of vital behind-the-scenes work that helped power the black freedom struggle. She was a national officer and key figure in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and a prime mover in the creation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Baker made a place for herself in predominantly male political circles that included W. E. B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, and Martin Luther King Jr., all the while maintaining relationships with a vibrant group of women, students, and activists both black and white.

Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson by Barbara Ransby

Eslanda "Essie" Cardozo Goode Robeson lived a colorful and amazing life, embroiled in much of the twentieth century's social turmoil and traveling to every corner of the globe to fight for downtrodden and oppressed peoples. She was a woman of unusual accomplishment—an anthropologist, a prolific journalist, a tireless advocate of women's rights, an outspoken anti-colonial and antiracist activist, and an internationally sought-after speaker. Yet historians for the most part have confined Essie to the role of Mrs. Paul Robeson, a wife hidden behind the large shadow cast by her famous husband. In this masterful book, biographer Barbara Ransby refocuses attention on Essie, one of the most important and fascinating black women of the twentieth century.