Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

If anyone would like to lead the discussion for BLACK NO MORE, please let me know. Thanks

I haven't read this whole novel, but there's an excerpt from it in the anthology "Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora," and I have read that. Fascinating. I'm going to see if I can get a copy and read along.

If I can get a copy in time I would

Thank’s, Sean. I just requested a copy from my library system but i’m not sure how long it’ll take to get to me.

Just a reminder that if anyone prefers to read an ebook of this title, you can get it for $1.99 on kindle and amazon.

Also, if your library uses Hoopla:

Black No More is available as an ebk and an audio book.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Thank’s, Sean. I just requested a copy from my library system but i’m not sure how long it’ll take to get to me.

Just a reminder that if anyone prefers to read an ebook of this title, you can get..."
Thanks! I just downloaded the audiobook via Hoopla.

Sarah wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "Thank’s, Sean. I just requested a copy from my library system but i’m not sure how long it’ll take to get to me.

Just a reminder that if anyone prefers to read an ebook of t..."

You’re welcome!

Just sharing in here too since it was shared in another chat 10 days ago. Black No More is still available on Kindle for $1.99 (as of 1/15 since I purchased today). This is a great deal everyone!

Sarah wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "Thank’s, Sean. I just requested a copy from my library system but i’m not sure how long it’ll take to get to me.

Just a reminder that if anyone prefers to read an ebook of t..."

I saw that, how is the audiobook, not all are user-friendly meaning they sound monotoned or make you sleepy.

Adrienna wrote: "Sarah wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "Thank’s, Sean. I just requested a copy from my library system but i’m not sure how long it’ll take to get to me.

Just a reminder that if anyone prefers to read..."

While I have not listened to the audiobook, the narrator is Sean Crisden who is an award winning narrator/actor and I have listened to another book he "read" and is an engaging narrator.

The audio book was published in 2018 so is a current production.

I hope this helps and you can always listen to sample on audible.com.

I have the eBook and just started; however, this seems to be in an era where I am not familiar with the terminology nor the slang. I have to look up on dictionary.com like "ofay"; so if readers are like me, gen x, then I cannot imagine the gen y or millennials.

Poetrygrl wrote: "Just sharing in here too since it was shared in another chat 10 days ago. Black No More is still available on Kindle for $1.99 (as of 1/15 since I purchased today). This is a great deal everyone!"

true, cannot cry about $2.

I have not participated in a book discussion on this platform so I was happy to be able to pick this book up pretty swiftly at my library. I’m about a third of the way through and I really can’t wait to hear others’ thoughts about this book and perhaps to discuss it in context of the life of the author? Looking forward to it!

This book is not available in my local library system and is sold out/ not available on thriftbooks, so I will be sitting out this month. See yall in March.

Tricia wrote: "This book is not available in my local library system and is sold out/ not available on thriftbooks, so I will be sitting out this month. See yall in March."

Oh, sorry about that, Sean. Thanks though for considering.

I've recently started Black No More and I'm finding it quite amusing and enjoyable thus far. This will be my first time participating in a book discussion on here and I'm excited to discuss it with you all! :)

Niv wrote: "I've recently started Black No More and I'm finding it quite amusing and enjoyable thus far. This will be my first time participating in a book discussion on here and I'm excited to discuss it with..."

Great to have you, Niv. Are you reading an ebook or paper book? Also, do you know what edition it is?

I’m curious with those reading this book if you can tell us what edition you’re reading and if it has a foreword, introduction or afterword. My edition is Harlem Renaissance: Four Novels of the 1930s: Not Without Laughter / Black No More / The Conjure-Man Dies / Black Thunder and includes three other classics or semi-classics.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Niv wrote: "I've recently started Black No More and I'm finding it quite amusing and enjoyable thus far. This will be my first time participating in a book discussion on here and I'm excited to dis..."

Oh, and it’s a beautiful Library Of America edition book. I love their books.

Black No More schedule:

Preface and Chapter 1: Feb 1-3
Chap 2 thru chap 4: Feb 4-6
Chap 5 thru chap 7: Feb 7-10
Chap 8 thru chap 10: Feb 11-14

Entire book open February 15th

I'm reading the Kindle ebook version and it started right at the preface. Doesn't look like there's an afterword either, unfortunately. Not sure of the edition either.

Niv wrote: "I'm reading the Kindle ebook version and it started right at the preface. Doesn't look like there's an afterword either, unfortunately. Not sure of the edition either."

Ok, thanks!

I reading my paperback 1999 Modern Library Edition, published by Random House. ( and yes, the pages are slightly yellowed)

It has an introduction by Ishmael Reed and a biographical sketch of George S. Schuyler.

I just got the book on Kindle. The $1.99 price is still holding strong!

This will be my first time participating with the group and I couldn't be more excited to delve into this material with you all!

Hello from Frosty New York (state, not the city)!!!

@Sean, you were trying to locate the book, and see the Kindle edition is still only $1.99. Now would you be able to still get a copy and join the discussion.

This wasn't a book I chosen but will join the discussion.

Tricia wrote: "This book is not available in my local library system and is sold out/ not available on thriftbooks, so I will be sitting out this month. See yall in March."

kindle still $1.99

I just bought it on Kindle and it was only $0.99!

I have this book here and hope to get to it in February (I have a very large stack of library books). I took a stab at Burning, but I read the end (I have been doing this with print books since my kids were young and I suddenly had very limited reading time) and given all that is going on IRL etc now, opted to not read it this year.

I am never good at reading every book in a group, but enjoy it when I do get around to it. I have been focused on my personal reading demographics challenge (my first 100 books of 2021 are to be written by authors that match American demographics, but I rounded up all minorities) even if they are not American authors. What has been interesting to me is that while it is easy to find enough books by black/African American authors (not every black person I know IRL IDs as African American, especially some of the immigrants), it has been harder to find books by Hispanic/Latinx authors since I don't care for magical realism which is popular in general right now, and some of the more well known authors who fit this write those. These are not all authors of colour, of course.

Also, after this past year I want a big break from political books, which has made the search a bit harder. I will read some books that touch on it, of course.

Karin wrote: "it has been harder to find books by Hispanic/Latinx authors since I don't care for magical realism which is popular in general right now, and some of the more well known authors who fit this write those. These are not all authors of colour, of course...."

I did a quick search on Listopia using LatinX. Of course that term is a controversial construct of American culture however.... Hope this helps :

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Monica wrote: "Karin wrote: "it has been harder to find books by Hispanic/Latinx authors since I don't care for magical realism which is popular in general right now, and some of the more well known authors who f..."

I didn't like using the term Latinx and hadn't even heard it before, so now I can quit, but when I looked it up I first found a positive bit about it. It's such a broad group and I am including Hispanic, Latino (that was the term a friend of mine called himself when I was in high school, so if it is now politically incorrect, I apologize--I have lived long enough to see how quickly a correct expression turns into a rude one) et al--whatever is in that c. 17 percent category in US demographics.

Thanks for the Listopia. I did find some genre shelves, but this is more specific since people use shelves loosely. I have a few here right now and am reading a Y/A romance set mostly in Mexico at the moment.

I think the term is more clumsy and inadequate rather than offensive. I don't think it is a derogatory term, though I am certainly not an expert on that.

Monica wrote: "I think the term is more clumsy and inadequate rather than offensive. I don't think it is a derogatory term, though I am certainly not an expert on that."

Okay. I am somewhat out of the loop since where I live you don't generally hear Latino or those terms used (but Hispanic, yes), due to the local demographics, I guess.

Happy Black History Month!

I like the dedication page at the start of this book:

“This book is dedicated to all Caucasians in the great republic who can trace their ancestry back ten generations and confidently assert that there are no Black leaves, twigs, limbs, or branches on their family trees.”

Ok, who’s reading BLACK NO MORE with us?

ColumbusReads wrote: "Ok, who’s reading BLACK NO MORE with us?"
I'm in; I just got the book.

I also will be reading BLACK NO MORE.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Happy Black History Month!

I like the dedication page at the start of this book:

“This book is dedicated to all Caucasians in the great republic who can trace their ancestry back ten generations ..."

I knew from the dedication that I would enjoy the book, because it was an immediate laugh. I think it was a clever way to set the stage & tone for the book, poking fun at the concept of racial purity.

I'm in the midst of chapter 1 and getting a chuckle out of Dr. Crookman's name.

I remember reading about the novel years ago and being curious about it as a satirical commentary on racism in the early 20th century. I would have liked a preface or some historical context included in the book, but the $1.99 Kindle edition I bought doesn't have it.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Happy Black History Month!

I like the dedication page at the start of this book:

“This book is dedicated to all Caucasians in the great republic who can trace their ancestry back ten generations ..."

I started reading a couple of days ago and what a read it has been! I'm looking forward to the discussing some of the parallels between society in the book and society now.

Yes, Rosalie, and that’s why with certain books I like to know what edition everyone is reading and if it includes any additional info.

As previously mentioned, I have Harlem Renaissance: Four novels of the 1930’s (Library copy):
Not Without Laughter
Black No More
The Conjure-Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem
Black Thunder

There’s biographical notes on each of the four novelists and a “note on the texts” that includes the equivalent of three paragraphs on the book and nothing much of note to report.

Looking at the two friends out and about, Max Disher and his friend, Bunny Brown tend to desire and prefer light skin women; however, it seems like his transformation is greatly desired when he sees a white woman he wants to date.

Do women make a man from one glance/look, would desire and willingly change their DNA or identity even change his race just to have a date with her? Is this wild fetched?

He jumps to do it, and doesn't even know the side effects? Is it long-lasting? psychological effects? It makes me think of the TV series: Lovecraft.

I did read that book where a white man did the experiment to change himself black and to learn what people went through as a black man. I believe he was a white reporter. Sorry, I cannot think of the name. I'll check my past reads to find out

Angela wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "Ok, who’s reading BLACK NO MORE with us?"
I'm in; I just got the book."
I wil!

Adrienna wrote: "Looking at the two friends out and about, Max Disher and his friend, Bunny Brown tend to desire and prefer light skin women; however, it seems like his transformation is greatly desired when he see..."

Adrienna, was it Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin? A white man in Texas who had his skin darkened for a period to pose as a black man.

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

No! The Book is renaissance writer George Schuyler's BLACK NO MORE.

Beverly wrote: "Also, if your library uses Hoopla:

Black No More is available as an ebk and an audio book."

Must be different things available in the various libraries who use it because it is not found in my Hoopla search. But I'll get a print copy in a day or two.

I just finished the audiobook version. Whew! I'm going to put this book on the same shelf as Ann Petry's The Street. This is going to be a great discussion. I may have to listen to it again to make sure I heard what I thought I heard.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Adrienna wrote: "Looking at the two friends out and about, Max Disher and his friend, Bunny Brown tend to desire and prefer light skin women; however, it seems like his transformation is greatly de..."

Absolutely; thank you

William wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Also, if your library uses Hoopla:

Black No More is available as an ebk and an audio book."

Must be different things available in the various libraries who use it because it is no..."

Suppose so since I just found audiobook version and eBook on Hoopla. I wanted to hear audio...especially with the southern dialect.

Tiffany wrote: "I just finished the audiobook version. Whew! I'm going to put this book on the same shelf as Ann Petry's The Street. This is going to be a great discussion. I may hav..."

Oddly I read this book with LPFC group in 2012, and don't recall it at all. Hm. I've been here for years though.

William wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Also, if your library uses Hoopla:

Black No More is available as an ebk and an audio book."

Must be different things available in the various libraries who use it because it is no..."

Does your library offer Libby or Overdrive, this is how I found the eBook copy too

Columbus, skimmed through the article, and Dr Crookman also did his experiment based on: medication usually given to victims of vitiligo (a disease that causes white spots to appear on the patient's skin) and he supplements the medication with sessions under a sun-lamp and by shaving his hair and rubbing a stain into his skin.