REVIEW: The Day God Saw Me as Black by D. Danyelle Thomas

 

In The Day God Saw Me as Black: The Journey to Liberated Faith, D. Danyelle Thomas delivers a profound exploration of Black identity, spirituality, and the decolonization of faith. Through candid storytelling and a blend of cultural critique and personal reflections, Thomas invites readers to reimagine their spirituality beyond Eurocentric interpretations of Christianity. The book speaks to the healing and liberation found in reclaiming one’s faith from oppressive structures, celebrating Blackness as sacred and deserving. Thomas's writing is both intimate and empowering, making this work a compelling read for those interested in faith, cultural identity, and the resilience of the Black experience. Each chapter could be it's own standalone text as deserves it's own deep dive and exploration. There are so many gems within and between the lines. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author D. Danyelle Thomas and Row House Publishing for an audio copy of #TheDayGodSawMeasBlack in exchange for my honest opinion. The Day God Saw Me As Black comes out tomorrow, October 29, 2024.

REVIEW: Pineville Trace by Wes Blake

 

Frank Russet, is a former southern revival preacher and confidence man who escapes from a minimum-security prison in eastern Kentucky. With only a cat named Buffalo by his side and a desire to leave his past behind, Frank embarks on a journey to or on the fringes of society. Pineville Trace is a flash-fiction novella or a  novella-in-flash by Wes Blake follows Frank as he navigates a shadowy world, encounters remnants of his former life that forces  him to confront his deepest regrets and desires. The prose is not only haunting but introspective and atmospheric at the same time. It vividly captures Frank's struggle for survival and his quest for redemption in short snippets, inviting readers to explore the fine line between salvation and damnation.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Wes Blake and Mindbuck Media Audio for an audio copy of #PinevilleTrace in exchange for my honest opinion. This novella actually comes out tomorrow September 3, 2024, so be on the lookout!!

READING WRAPUP: August 2024

 

Top Row: Graphic Novels (all 3 🌟)
🌻 Blood on the Tracks vols. 14 & 15 - The saga continues with this strange mother and son relationship.
🌻 Saga vol. 11 - This saga, too, continues.

Favorite Read This Month (5 🌟)
🌻 Scam Goddess* - entertaining and hilarious. I've been a fan of Laci Mosely's podcast of the same name since pre-pandemic days. It was such a fun read!!

Reads I Really Enjoyed (4 🌟)
🌻 The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez
🌻 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
🌻 Becoming Nigerian by Elnathan John
🌻 Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta 
🌻 My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand

Reads That Were Okay (3 🌟)
🌻 They Dream in Gold* - a good story, but I was expecting a bit more.
🌻 Navigate Your Stars
🌻 Sex, Cult, Nun
🌻 Meridon - final installment in The Wildacre Trilogy 
🌻 August Blue

Reads That Were Just Bad (2 🌟)
🌻 Sure I'll Join Your Cult - how the author looks on the cover is how I felt reading this - gibberish.
🌻 The Very Final Last Girls

* An advance copy of the audiobook was provided by #NetGalley for an honest opinion. See previous posts for reviews. 

REVIEW: Scam Goddess by Laci Mosley

 

Life is a Scam, Adulthood is a Scam, Everything is a Scam!! I have been a huge fan of Laci Mosley's Scam Goddess podcast and now her first book. Scam Goddess is a witty and sharp collection of essays that dives into the world of scams, frauds, and cons with unbridled humor and insight. Based on her personal experiences and the world around her, especially Hollywood,  Mosley magnificently explores how the scamming mindset and situations has influenced her life. Through her unique lens, Mosley reveals that we’re all participants in a cruel game that has been rigged against us, but with the right attitude and scam up your sleeve, one can definitely flip the script to your advantage. This was a hilarious and Both entertaining read and at times thought-provoking. Mosley provides a very helpful list of ‘scam’ tips at the end. Scam Goddess is a celebration of resilience, survival, and the art of the hustle. Let the church say Amen!! 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Laci Mosley and Hachette Audio | Running Press Adult for a digital (audio) copy of the memoir #ScamGoddess in exchange for my honest opinion. Scam Goddess will be out September 10, 2024, so be on the lookout!!

REVIEW: They Dream in Gold by Mai Sennaar

 

They Dream in Gold is a captivating novel that weaves together human stories on multiple levels. Set against the backdrop of the 1968 New York jazz scene the book spans continents and decades and follows the passionate and tumultuous relationship and bond between Bonnie and Mansour. A bond, formed out of shared experiences of displacement and longing, is both a source of solace and inevitable heartache. It also draws on characters and its exploration of the African diaspora's quest for identity and belonging. Mansour's musical journey, infused with Senegalese rhythms and the spirit of revolution, also serves as a powerful metaphor for the migrant experience. When Mansour disappears it adds another level of mystery and urgency to the narrative, propelling Bonnie on a quest that is as much about finding herself as it is about finding him. They Dream in Gold is an intimate tale that is beautifully written and deeply moving.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Mai Sennaar and Dreamscape Select | SJP Lit for a digital copy of the novel #TheyDreaminGold in exchange for my honest opinion.