Recently finished this epic self-told biography of Nate Shaw, a black sharecropper. The details about that era from the end of slavery through the 1970s.... so well told through the life of this one man.
I use Sampson's work on collective efficacy in my research, and have fallen in love with this book. He is an amazing scholar that I hope to mimic! Especially love the idea of "looking-glass neighborhood" to understand very good theorizing of neighborhood effects on individual lives...
After finishing my dissertation, I was desperate to read non-academic books! What to choose though? So I found the top 100 English novels of the 20th Century. But still how to choose what to start with? Because the summer began with tons of movies about men and men stuff, and all the political fights over women's rights and equal pay, I decided to read only the female authors. That left me with only like 6-7 books from the 100!!! This was my first choice and a fantastic read!
The second and third choice from my summer of female writers was The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth from E. Wharton. Both so painfully beautiful, like The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, in a way that only a woman living through societal gender norms could express.
And while not written in the 20th Century, my walk into literature by women authors meant I could not skip the ultimate novel. Strong female writer and strongest female protagonist in literature... yes!
A friend was alarmed that I had never read this great work on race and humanity. It has been a moving read, both beautifully and heartbreaking written.
And for fun! I received this for my birthday along with his other book "How to Survive..." as a way for a friend to help me last to another birthday! It is addicting...
Our book club selected a female author, after a bit of pointing out the selection bias. So far, fabulously written and numerous strong and complicated female characters.
Almost finished with the female authors on the 100 Greatest 20th Century Literature List. This was a great humorous story about life.
The most unique novel I have read! Loved the feminism, the sociology, the wit, and the style! I'm going to read many more of hers.
Devastatingly beautiful in writing and content. Loved how Bowen made the characters' internal world so vivid.
Other's include:
Colum McCann, This Side of Brightness
Dan Simmons, Hyperion And since it ends in a cliffhanger (almost literally), I read his next one in the series Fall of Hyperion. Great for all sci-fi and also religiously intrigued people.
Tea Obrecht Inland So beautifully unique and visual.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia Gods of Jade and Shadow Loved this twist on Gods and mythology
What I'm rockin'!
J. Cole's 2014 become a morning routine! And his philanthropy is so inspiring!
For dancing!
For anytime! And every other Lupe Fiasco album and mixed tapes!
For writing!
For relaxing!
Working my way backwards in rap greatness, starting with Nas' latest release. It is so perfectly timed for this period of life...