Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

If anyone would like to lead the discussion for the March book of the month DON’’T CRY FOR ME, please let me know. You can respond here or dm me directly. Thanks!

ColumbusReads wrote: "If anyone would like to lead the discussion for the May book of the month DON’’T CRY FOR ME, please let me know. You can respond here or dm me directly. Thanks!"

That would be the March book Columbus...I'm already old as dirt, don't put an extra 2 months on me!

William wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "If anyone would like to lead the discussion for the May book of the month DON’’T CRY FOR ME, please let me know. You can respond here or dm me directly. Thanks!"

That would b..."

Hahaha, at least I got the M and the A correct. Oops!

I was already planning to read this novel in May or June so, although I am sad to miss out on next month, I am really looking forward to reading the book and later the discussion posted here. :)

I'm halfway through Don't Cry for Me and love it! It's very tempting to want to peek ahead, but I resist.

I am almost finished with this book omg it’s good.

Its so very good! First book I’ve been fortunate enough to start during the month of a discussion.

Happy March 1st LFPC!

We begin our discussion for Don’t Cry For Me by Daniel Black today.

Are you reading this now? Planning on reading it? What books by the author have you read?

I read Perfect Peace and didn’t like it at all. I also read They Tell Me of a Home prior to PP and enjoyed it quite a bit. I have so far only read those two.

DCFM discussion schedule:

Nov 2003 - today through March 6th
Nov/Dec 2003 through March 14th

Entire book open March 15th

Just started reading this today. Had no idea this was an epistolary novel - in this case a novel in letters. I really like this form when done well. Are there any epistolary novels from the past that you’ve enjoyed? A non-POC book I liked was 84 Charing Cross Road. Never read The Color Purple but I intend to.

I am really enjoying this book so far, and I like the epistolary format. This is my first book by Daniel Black. I have not read too many other books like this (in this format) but I hope to read The Color Purple soon.

Is it just me, or did the author's introduction bring tears to your eyes?

Marjorie wrote: "I am really enjoying this book so far, and I like the epistolary format. This is my first book by Daniel Black. I have not read too many other books like this (in this format) but I hope to read Th..."

Marjorie, I purposely didn’t read the introduction to avoid spoilers. Was there anything there I needed to be worried about?

The opening of this book is shattering. I have mad respect for Black’s talent. As the story evolves, it becomes a critique of masculinity, Black says. In this quote, a broader application can be seen, and it is troubling.

“This rejection of manhood was the destruction of civilization. It was also the destruction of my personal existence because I had no power without it.”

This novel is really eye opening on how upbringing and childhood experiences can play a role in life, in this case “parenting.”

The Daniel Black epistolary novel taught me much about how the toxic masculinity he is describing as endemic to Black culture in that time period (one generation after slavery) effected everything about parenting/family life. I wonder how much of that is still dominant among communities of color? Yes, the author's intro lets us know how personal this story is to him, how it represents an outreach to his own father.
I went online (Kirkus Reviews) to read reviews of Black's other work, and as some of our group have shared, there's much variation in quality, success, public acceptance. This one we're reading is, to me, an unqualified winner. Grateful for this group!

I picked up the book this afternoon from my local library and I am already very enthralled by the letters of the father figure. He’s giving great background to his life and the building blocks that have made him into the man that he is. It gives rise to what our parents have been thru that affects how they parent us. Looking forward to reading more. Also, is there a weekly reading guide?

Taylor wrote: "I picked up the book this afternoon from my local library and I am already very enthralled by the letters of the father figure. He’s giving great background to his life and the building blocks that..."

Yes, Taylor, see msg #9 above.

Hi, ColumbusReads. No, there’s nothing in the intro that you need to know about. It briefly mentions a bit of the relationship between the author and his father.

Marjorie wrote: "Hi, ColumbusReads. No, there’s nothing in the intro that you need to know about. It briefly mentions a bit of the relationship between the author and his father."

Good to know. Thanks!

Marjorie wrote: "I am really enjoying this book so far, and I like the epistolary format. This is my first book by Daniel Black. I have not read too many other books like this (in this format) but I hope to read Th..."

Tears and a deep sense of grief.

I really enjoyed this paragraph and it feels very relevant to this discussion:

"Now I know why you and your mother read so much. It makes you think, makes you see things you can't see, and that was my problem. I had all kinds of opinions, but I couldn't see a damn thing."

Hey y’all! This is my first time reading a book by Daniel Black. So far, I’m really enjoying it.

Marjorie wrote: "I really enjoyed this paragraph and it feels very relevant to this discussion:

"Now I know why you and your mother read so much. It makes you think, makes you see things you can't see, and that w..."

I’m always drawn to passages in books about reading or naming of books. I’m reading one now with almost every chapter or every other chapter where this is the case. I did notice that particular passage you referenced and my antenna went up.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Taylor wrote: "I picked up the book this afternoon from my local library and I am already very enthralled by the letters of the father figure. He’s giving great background to his life and the build..."

ColumbusReads wrote: "DCFM discussion schedule:

Nov 2003 - today through March 6th
Nov/Dec 2003 through March 14th

Entire book open March 15th"

Ah, so that’s what this post means! New group member here.

Just finished it for the second time!! One of my favorite books at the moment, it’s so moving.

Hi everyone! This is the first book I’ve read by Daniel Black and it is amazing! A lot of mixed feelings about these letters though.

Finished DB's DCFM and am so impressed by how he chose to end it. No easy resolutions here, but great example of growth as a person reflects, reads, receives.

ciara. wrote: "Hi everyone! This is the first book I’ve read by Daniel Black and it is amazing! A lot of mixed feelings about these letters though."

Hello Ciara, curious as to why you have mixed emotions about the letters. You care to elaborate or would you be unable to without giving away spoilers?

Susan wrote: "Finished DB's DCFM and am so impressed by how he chose to end it. No easy resolutions here, but great example of growth as a person reflects, reads, receives."

Hello Susan, is this your first book by Black? and if not, how does it compare to the others?

Dani wrote: "Just finished it for the second time!! One of my favorite books at the moment, it’s so moving."

For the second time, Dani? Wow! I think you might like it 😄

I love reading these letters knowing that both father and son are gaining something important through them. That it benefits them both. I can’t help but think about the book, Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. How it was so hard for his dad to communicate personally the love he felt for his gay son. I wish there was some way where he could have dealt with his son’s sexuality.

Wow. Just finished the exchange between Charlie and Fats (p. 104-109 paperback) and I brought be back to a falling out with a friend in high school about the Black Lives Matter Movement and police brutality against Black Americans. She justified police killings because being a cop is a hard, scary job. Stung even more because she was Black, too! We were 15/16.

Dani wrote: "Just finished it for the second time!! One of my favorite books at the moment, it’s so moving."

Hi Dani,
I could see myself reading this book again. It is indeed moving.

Columbus Reads asks if this is my first book by Dan Black. Yes! My main experiences so far with authors of color have been Octavia Butler and Louise Erdrich. I've consumed just about everything by those two ladies.

Susan wrote: "Columbus Reads asks if this is my first book by Dan Black. Yes! My main experiences so far with authors of color have been Octavia Butler and Louise Erdrich. I've consumed just about everything by ..."

If you’re gonna read any, those are not a bad two to choose.

The entire book is open for discussion

I enjoyed this book. It was my first book by Black. I would love to know if he plans to have a sequel where the son reads the letters and the audience gets to see his exploration of grief, loss and reconciliation after death. Very moving book. Still ruminating on various components.

Finished DCFM for few days ago and truly enjoyed the read. It was such a page turner, I truly wanted to know the next chapter of the father’s life. In the end, I enjoyed the rational of who he was and why he acted out in ways that he did. He was self aware enough to understand that how he treated his family was not the best way, but it’s all he knew.

Just finished last night and was struck by the perspective of the dad and his understanding(s), ways of making meaning in the world and acting through the lens of those meanings, those sets of perspectives.

Grateful for having another way of trying to understand actions that seem unspeakable but and are informed by lived and painful realities.

Lacie wrote: "I enjoyed this book. It was my first book by Black. I would love to know if he plans to have a sequel where the son reads the letters and the audience gets to see his exploration of grief, loss and..."

Lacie, I would also read a book written from the perspective of his wife. She had hopes and dreams that were cut short to have a child (and work in the home) and seemingly never supported later in life, either. I could tell that Jacob loved her and admired her, but he never seemed to realize that she should have had her own life, too.

I agree her POV would be great.

Yes, her perspective would be insightful as well.

Just finished the audiobook in the car after dropping my kids off at school. Weeping at every stoplight. I never imagined a book by someone so different than me can relate to my story with my dad so terribly closely. What a special book. I’m so grateful to have found this book and the exposure to writers outside of the ones I’d normally gravitate towards.

I loved perfect peace by author and purchased a copy at work library years ago. yet when I recommended and gave it to an avid reader, they were mad at me. they thought of RuPaul with the dress up in that novel. this book I enjoyed and didn't like they compared his work to taneshi Coates which his memoir didn't get much love in my past book club group held in library and I was greatly disappointed with it.
I enjoyed most parts of this read and got pass the gay son to see the way parents may or may not accept them because of their choice of sexuality.