Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

Hello all,

Our pre-discussion of She Will Be King will begin tomorrow. Has anyone read it? Reading it? Plan to read it. Get your copy now, we’ll likely start the actual discussion on the 3rd or 4th.

This is next up for me! I’m new to the group so this will be my first discussion with you all. Excited to read along as a group and discuss. I’ll probably start it this weekend or early next week.

Got my copy and looking forward to this.

Here’s some information on our author. I see she has a forthcoming memoir and she’s a published children’s author:

Wiki:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayét...

Interview in Naïra:
https://nairanyc.com/wayetu-moore-lov...

Website:
https://www.wayetu.com/

Review:
http://www.startribune.com/review-she...

Started last night... very interesting so far... not sure where it's going but I'm curious... happy reading... looking forward to the discussion

And I've finished it...

Those who have started the book, what’s your thoughts on the first couple of chapters? What do you think of her writing style?

Has anyone read any fiction or any non-fiction/political books on Liberia?

loved it. very palatable. easy to read

I'm excited to get started on this one. Wayetu Moore spoke at a publishers event at the January library conference, so I even have a signed book. She mentioned some of the autobiographical aspects of her book and it was intriguing. I haven't had time to check out the links yet, but I hope to later today.

I've started and like the writing, although it's best taken in in small doses. Much to contemplate.

What’s your thoughts on the first couple of chapters? Gbessa, June Dey and Norman Aragon , Jamaica, Virginia and Liberia. What do you think of them?

Started this last night and just finished. I really loved it and I think I will have lots more to say as others finish it.

Book 1 discussion through June 16th

Entire book open June 17th

Columbus wrote: "Those who have started the book, what’s your thoughts on the first couple of chapters? What do you think of her writing style?

Has anyone read any fiction or any non-fiction/political books on Lib..."She Would Be King

I read She Would Be King last year and will comment as I can.

Here are the books that I remember reading on Liberia:

Dream Country by Shannon Gibney - I actually read this book around the same time I read She Would Be King.

The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper

This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Madame President: The Extraordinary Journey of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I felt really connected to Gbessa. She was outcast and needed love and a community. Really love how curious June Dey was as a youth and how much he read people. I loved the imagery and descriptions of Jamaica. The writing was fantastic.

I got interested in why red hair was connected to witchcraft and found all sorts of interesting information. Gbessa really spurred my interest. I loved her sharp dialogue and spirit. I also felt really badly for her being ostracized just because of her appearance.

Apparently the witchcraft association has been around for a very long time and may be because red hair was equated with sexuality more than other colors. Interesting.

Also I found 8 medical weird things about redheads while searching for the witchcraft thing, and they say the sex is just about being "more visible."

NYTimes "The Pain of Being a Redhead" https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/0...

8 Ways having red hair affects a person's health from pain to sex:
https://www.medicaldaily.com/8-ways-h...

That's really interesting information, Ella -- thank you. Gbessa is a fascinating character and one I felt for as I read of her rejection. I've just finished part one and I am enjoying the book. I'm impressed with the writing. It's descriptive without "trying too hard" and the characters feel real. I'm interested in researching Monrovia more before delving into part 2 as I don't know much about that history.

I did the same. Really thought provoking work

A new review from the Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Entire book open for discussion

Columbus wrote: "A new review from the Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."

That review says everything I'd wanted to say, only so much better than I ever could have hoped to. Thanks for the link.

I found the hopefulness of this book really special. It gets to be overwhelming sometimes reading about slavery and colonization repeatedly, but this book was infused with hope for me, despite all of the tragedy along the way.

I agree. this book was hopeful despite the cataloging of tragic events. Excellent read!

I’ve only read Gbessa so far. And I love her story. Her ability to survive the village, her parents, lack of love speaks more to her strength rather than her witchcraft. I love her.

I’m no longer a fan of slave fiction because it seems that many, many books from the African diaspora goes back to slavery. However, I will read June Dey without bias.

I just bought this book and opened the first page, so I'm excited to see all the positive comments on here!

So I was a little Leary about continuing reading because the focus on slavery; however, I am enjoying this read. I just finished part I and I just cannot put this book down. The connection between stories is done seamlessly.

I just finished and loved learning more about the founding of Liberia and about Monrovia. I left a gap of time between reading the first half and the second half. I wish I hadn't because it took me a little while to get my connection with the characters back. I enjoyed the writing style and the magical realism and will be looking for more work from Wayetu Moore. I saw tremendous potential here and enjoyed meeting her briefly at a publisher's session this past January. She spoke about having family connections to all of the locations in the story and wanting to explore the connections as well as write about Liberia and I think she succeeded.

Just finished. What a powerful book.

I read this in just a few days, although I wasn't able to finish in time for the discussion. After finishing Book One, I was in a five star rave - the lives of Gbessa, June Dey and Norman Aragon were so powerfully told, I felt I knew them through and through and even the more minor characters felt fully dimensional. And I was as stunned as Charlotte was to find out that she was dead! That was one of the best slow reveals I've ever read or seen in a film!

When it comes to superpowers though, it seems like Gbessa got the short end of the stick - June Dey is impervious to pain or injury, Norman can evade it by disappearing, but poor Gbessa endures so much physical suffering. Being immortal has it's downside - not fair ;)

Settler life in Monrovia in Book Two was fascinating, but overall Book Two didn't seem as strong to me as Book One. I felt like June Dey and Norman disappeared (they were off doing their superhero thing backstage), but my biggest problem was with the French slavers. They felt like stock enemies for June Dey, Norman and the African warriors to vanquish - they just didn't feel real. Also, the final battle, while thrilling from a 'fighting for justice' point of view, just seemed a bit thinly written.

Overall though, I loved the book - so glad I read it.

thoughtful review Nadine. Thank you. After a few of these reads, I'm really hooked on the fusion of historical fiction and magical realism.

Are you able to suggest anything similar please, Maria? I loved this.

I read Sing, Unburied, Sing and Kindred. Both set in the states so perhaps not as much to learn about setting. Yesterday I picked up The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna and The Rules of Magic. Both were highly recommended!

Thank you! Those look very interesting.

Columbus wrote: "Those who have started the book, what’s your thoughts on the first couple of chapters?
Gbessa--opening chapter, was definitely a different style of writing for my norm. However, I found myself intrigued and somewhat interested. I also read the first few pages more than once to try to grasp the concept of the story itself.

June Dey--I was captured immediately. I tend to like historical fiction, especially wrapped around slavery, or enslavement. As the story progressed, I loved the fantastical history coming to life before my eyes and thoughts--as if it was a Black Lightning-Samson character emerging from the seams of unknown strength beyond man's wildest dreams--not a bullet would penetrate through his skin, nor a whip. There still was a grip of sadness, but loved the fight and the strength within and for others to see, even the enemy.

Still have to read Norman's story....just started a week or so ago.

The magical and mystical aspects of it has definitely piqued my attention. I hope to finish soon and catch up with other reads.

What do you think of her writing style?

Her writing style is quite different...hard to pinpoint for me right now.

Has anyone read any fiction or any non-fiction/political books on Lib..."
no.

Maria wrote: "I felt really connected to Gbessa. She was outcast and needed love and a community. Really love how curious June Dey was as a youth and how much he read people. I loved the imagery and descriptions..."

Thank you for this point, helped me see it in a different view.

Ella wrote: "Columbus wrote: "A new review from the Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."

That review says everything I'd wanted to say, only so much..."

Wow, it hits it on the nail for me. Still have to read Norman's.
3-I's of the 3 characters: Immortal, Invisible, and Invincible.

Maria wrote: "I read Sing, Unburied, Sing and Kindred. Both set in the states so perhaps not as much to learn about setting. Yesterday I picked up The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna and The Rules of Mag..."

Oh didn't think of these reads: Yes I read Sing, Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward (dealing with prison slavery in the South); Kindred by Octavia Butler (loved it with the syfy (science fiction) feel to it from two different centuries of enslavement). Then I would add Black Boy and Native Son by Richard Wright. I have definitely seen documentaries and movies on such though...will try to read Roots, been in my work desk for quite some time.

Nice will add those to my ‘to read’ list. Thanks!