AALBC.com eNewsletter - April 28th, 2003 |
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RECENT AALBC.COM BOOK REVIEWS & ARTICLES
AALBC.com publishes scores of articles, books reviews and author profiles
each month. Below is sample of the most recently added content.
Role
Call: A Generational Anthology of Social and Political Black Literature and Art
Editors
Tony Medina,
Samiya A. Bashir and Quraysh Ali Lansana
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/rolecall.htm
Overall, this collection holds it�s on in comparison to others. "Role Call"
merits inclusion with anthology notables such as; "Black Fire: An Anthology of
Afro-American Writing" (Morrow; 1968), "Black
Voices: Anthology of African-American Literature" (Signet Classic; reissued
in 2001), and the recent work
"Step Into a World: A Global Anthology of the New Black Literature (Wiley &
Sons; 2000). "Role Call" sets itself apart from the "here comes another
anthology" legion by operating from a sense of mission.
―Reviewed by Rondall Brasher
Lay
this body Down: The 1921 Murders of Eleven Plantation Slaves
by Gregory A. Freeman
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/laythisbodydown.htm
Lay This Body Down by Gregory A. Freeman is an examination of a 1921 murder
case where a plantation owner and his black overseer murdered eleven men because
the owner feared a federal investigation for violating an 1867 federal law
making it illegal to practice peonage. Lay This Body Down is a first-rate
account of a little known episode in American history.
―Reviewed by
Thumper
Somebody's
Knocking
by Francis Ray
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/somebodysknocking.htm
I couldn't wait to read Somebody's Knocking At My Door. I wanted to see if I
truly liked Francis Ray's writing style. I reviewed Ray's previous novel,
I Know Who
Holds Tomorrow, and I loved it. Since, I've long been tired of
Buppie-inspired romantic fiction, I don't know why I loved this book so much. In
order to see if lightning would strike twice in the same spot, I had to read
Somebody's Knocking At My Door. Again, lightning bopped me upside my head
because I loved Somebody's Knocking At My Door....
―Reviewed by
Thumper
Hunting
in Harlem
by Mat Johnson
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/huntinginharlem.htm
Hunting In Harlem is a brilliant, thought provoking,
humorous at times, and multi-faceted thriller that moves with the beauty and
force of a tall Hawaiian waterfall...The book is more than a
mystery/suspense novel, it is a study in human nature, an exploration of the
black middle class, and the solid second step in establishing Mat Johnson as a
literary force.
―Reviewed by
Thumper
Sapphire's
Grave
by Hilda Gurley-Highgate
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/sapphiresgrave.htm
In 1749, a proud, spirited blue-black woman is chained in
the stagnant belly of ship, taken from her home, Sierra Leone, West Africa, and
the life she knew. She is made a slave in America where she gives birth to her
daughter. The slave master names the new baby Sapphire. Mother and daughter are
eventually separated but her mother leaves Sapphire the gifts of self-pride,
inner beauty, and the sheer willpower to fight. As generations are born,
Sapphire's story is handed down from one daughter to the next. As time passes,
each female descendant will come to rely on the power that radiates from
Sapphire's blood flowing through her veins.
―Reviewed by
Thumper
The
Wig
by Charles Wright
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/thewig.htm
The Wig, is hilariously funny and disgustingly sad at the
same time. Imagine how ridiculous the thought of gold fingernails appeared in
the 1960's. Or running past the police to avoid being stopped, while they are
wearing buttons saying, "We are our brother's keepers," pretending to be your
friend. However now, in the twenty first century, it is a picture-perfect
glimpse of how predictable our destiny was, and of the society we have become.
―Reviewed by Linda Watkins
And
on the Eighth Day She Rested
by J.D. Mason
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/ontheeighthday.htm
And On The Eighth Day She Rested caught me by surprise. I'm not ashamed to
admit it. After the title and cover won me over, I was expecting a "U-Go-Girl!"
book. Granted, there were a few "U-Go-Girl!"-ish moments, but the novel is not a
"U-Go-Girl!" book. It is Ruth's story of surviving and living beyond her abusive
marriage. Domestic violence wasn't a ploy, used to draw a reader in only to
provide a poor imitation of a devastating social problem. Mason takes Ruth and I
through the storm of rebuilding a life from the shattered pieces of a violent
relationship. Ruth faced a few hurdles I hadn't anticipated.
―Reviewed by
Thumper
Seed
by Mustafa Mutabaruka
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/seed.htm
Seed is a stunning, incredible masterpiece! I finished it
in a complete open-mouth daze. The characters contain the traits such as depth,
jagged edges and complexity that all memorable characters I love have. Seed is
written in a sure voice, displays great knowledge about human nature, and is
mercilessly truthful. The imaginative, risky and demanding structure provides
the story with a solid, secure bottom. Because the story was emotionally moving
and horrific, I struggled to keep my wits about me in order to appreciate the
many dimensions of Seed.
―Reviewed by Thumper
Water
Street
by Crystal E. Wilkinson
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/waterstreet.htm
Water Street is a small, intimate masterpiece. Wilkinson is a true artist
creating, with a sturdy and graceful hand, lullabies without happy endings. She
neither compromises nor dampens the raw emotional fallout, which keeps her tales
and characters' authentic in their beauty and their agony. I have no problem
placing Wilkinson's Water Street alongside Reginald McKnight's White Boys,
J. California Cooper's Some Love,
Some Pain, Sometime,
Ernest Gaines' Bloodline,
Christine Lincoln's Sap Rising,
and my all-time favorite
Langston Hughes' The Ways of
White Folks. Water Street is a lyrical wonder I wouldn't mind visiting again and
again.
―Reviewed by
Thumper
Althea
by
Linda Watkins
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/althea.htm
For Althea her troubles begin at the opening of the story when her mother's
sister, Aunt Darnella, is brutally murdered by a group of white men and
unceremoniously dumped a few blocks from her apartment in the mostly "white
gaslight district of Cincinnati." One of Althea's father's friends, Mr.
Johnson explained Darnella's death saying that she was just too beautiful and
full of joy. "She looked white, lived with the white and when they found out
that she was colored, they couldn't stand it," he said.
―Reviewed by Leah Mullen
AALBC.com RECOMMENDS
Black
Voices: An Anthology of African-American Literature
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451527828/aalbccom-20
Originally Published in 1968
Featuring poetry, fiction, autobiography and literary criticism, this is a comprehensive and vital collection featuring the work of the major black voices of a century. An unparalleled important classic anthology with timeless appeal.
Contributors include; Sterling Brown, Charles W. Chestnutt, John Henrik Clarke, Countee Cullen, Frederick Douglass, Paul Laurence Dunbar, James Weldon Johnson, Naomi Long Madgett, Paule Marshall, Clarence Major, Claude McKay, Ann Petry, Dudley Randall, J. Saunders Redding, Jean Toomer, Darwin T. Turner, James Baldwin, Lerone Bennett, Jr, Arna Bontemps, Rudolph Fisher and many others.
The
Sisters of APF: The Indoctrination of Soror Ride Dick
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743466985/aalbccom-20
by Zane
The Sisters of APF is Zane's first book based on one of her most
popular short story subjects, the sexy escapades of a sorority like no
other.
APF stands for Alpha Phi Fuckem, a sorority dedicated to sexual freedom
and the fulfillment of its members. Zane's APF stories have appeared in
her earlier collections, including The Sex Chronicles: Shattering the
Myth, and are favorites among her readers.
Many readers have written to Zane and asked to join the sorority or to
launch a new chapter in their region. APF is fantasy, but the enthusiasm
of Zane's fans is real. So now, with The Sisters of APF, she's offering
readers what they want, a book-length story chronicling the adventures
-- and recruitment process -- of the fearlessly sexy women of APF.
Mary Ann is the daughter of a chicken farmer from South Dakota. She has
never been more than fifty miles from home and has led a sheltered life.
By the time she goes off to college in Washington, D.C., she has been
intimate with only one man -- her high school sweetheart. The resident
manager of Mary Ann's dormitory, Patricia, befriends the country
bumpkin. She finds Mary Ann amusing, but also senses something
intriguing about her, hidden under the surface. After Mary Ann becomes
smitten with Trevor, the campus playboy, Patricia is determined to show
Mary Ann how not to be a victim, but rather how to outdo the players and
heartbreakers. She indoctrinates Mary Ann into the ranks of the sexiest
secret society ever: the sisters of APF.
CHECK OUT THIS AUTHOR
Hope
C. Clarke
http://authors.aalbc.com/hopecclarke.htm
Author of Best Seller, Shadow Lover and the newly released Not With My Son, Hope C. Clarke is an author with a proven track record for writing books which combine "romance, horror and mystery".
In Not With My Son Clarke introduces us to Keesha Smalls. Keesha has been out of passions's game for a long time until she takes a second look at her best friend's son. The dashingly gorgeous Chris Walker brings more than flaming romance to Keesha's bedroom. Their illicit romance is perfect until Christine, Chris' mother finds out.
RADIO INTERVIEWS OF AUTHORS ARCHIVED ON AALBC.com
A
Round 2 It
http://aalbc.com/reviews/around2it.htm
Delores Thornton, the author of Anybody Seen Junebug? and Ida Mae, is the host of the increasingly popular radio talk show, "A Round 2 It", on book crazy radio. Ms. Thornton is making archives of her program available to AALBC.com visitors.
The show spotlights African American authors and literary entrepreneurs. Thornton will also offer self publishing tips as well as marketing and promotional tidbits! One of the first interviews to be archived is of AALBC.com's very own Thumper. Visit her page frequently as new authors are added
If you are interested in hearing other interviews check out Lee E. Meadow's
radio interviews, from the late 1990's
http://aalbc.com/reviews/wpon.htm.
Meadows interviewed a wide range of authors -- many at the beginning of their
careers. One of my favorite interviews is of
J. California Cooper.
LITERARY EVENTS CALENDAR
http://www.aalbc.com/events/
Our events calendar allows visitors to learn about up coming African American literary events. Visitors may even post their own events and include a link back to their web site. If you don't have a web site AALBC.com can build one for you; simply fill out the form on our web site at http://www.aalbc.com/events/
Here are just a few of the events planned around the country in the next few weeks:
Symphony
Space presents
E. Lynn Harris, on May 7 at 8
pm, in the theatre's literary series Selected Shorts: A Celebration of the
Short Story. Harris and co-editor
Marita Golden will host an evening of stories from their terrific new
collection
Gumbo:
An Anthology of African American Writing. Actors Curtis McClarin (The
Exonerated), Lillias White (Crowns) and Laurine Towler will read stories by Ravi
Howard, David Haynes and
Jewell Parker Rhodes.
Selected Shorts features great short stories read by Broadway and Hollywood's
finest actors, and is recorded for later broadcast on NPR.
More information on Symphony Spaces 2003 Literary season is available at http://www.symphonyspace.org. Symphony Space is located at 95th and Broadway. Box office hours are Tues-Sun Noon-7 pm. Tickets are $21 and may be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 212-864-5400, or on-line at http://www.symphonyspace.org.
GET
PUBLISHED: A Hands-on, How-to Workshop for Aspiring Authors
Presented by New York is Book Country, in association with The New School
Graduate Writing Program
Wednesday, May 14, 3:00-6:30pm
The New School, Tishman Auditorium
66 West 12th Street, New York City
Workshop fee: $95 (Students can purchase tickets at the door for $25 with
student ID)
Access to Agents:
What are the secrets to getting your proposal read? Ask Brian DeFiore of DeFiore
and Company, and Harvey Klinger of Harvey Klinger Inc.
Answers from Editors:
What are the latest trends that editors are interested in? Find out from Shaye
Areheart, VP and Publisher of Harmony Books/Shaye Areheart Books; Mauro DiPreta,
Executive Editor of William Morrow/HarperCollins; and Ayesha Pande, Senior
Editor at Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
Advice from Authors:
How did they turn their dreams into their day jobs? Hear first-hand from Chris
Bohjalian, author of Midwives; Ben Mezrich, author of Bringing Down the House;
Lisa Dierbeck, author of One Pill Makes You Smaller.
Moderated by Daisy Maryles, Executive Editor of Publishers Weekly.
Visit www.nyisbookcountry.org or
call 866.468.7619 for information and tickets.
AALBC.com is a proud member of the Harlem Book Fair Advisory Council
The Harlem Book Fair Celebrates Its 5th Anniversary - Save The Date!
The
Harlem Book Fair
Sunday July 13 - Saturday, July 19, 2003
The Wheatley Book Awards: Friday, July 18
Street Fair: Saturday, July 19, 2003
This year's Harlem Book Fair begins on Sunday, July 13th with Real Men Write, a
very special Sunday brunch hosted by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black
Culture, featuring the sexiest writers in print.
The Annual Book Fair will take place Saturday, July 19, 2003. This, the largest
book fair of its kind, is expected to draw more than 15,000 New Yorkers and
visitors to West 135th Street (between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
Boulevards in Harlem, New York), from 12 PM to 6 PM. Over 150 booths will be set
up along West 135th Street, offering books, story-telling, readings, and
opportunities to meet and greet authors on two stages that will feature spoken
word poets, celebrities, and music throughout the day.
If you are interested in exhibiting, please download the Exhibitor Application
found under the Exhibitor Information link and mail as soon as possible to QBR.
If you are unable to download the application, please email your request to
harlembookfair@aol.com. We will add
you to our exhibitor mailing list.
AALBC.com is a proud member of the Harlem Book Fair Planning Committee
THE COFFEE WILL MAKE YOU BLACK ON-LINE READING
GROUP
http://thumperscorner.com/Reading_List.htm
May
2003 Selection
The Coffee Will Make You Black reading group is currently reading Grace by Elizabeth Nunez
"Extremely deserving of its
title, this gorgeous, meditative book is a graceful rendering of one couple's
journeys and explorations toward and away from each other. A moving love story,
it shows us how a deferred dream can erode a marriage and how grace can
sometimes put us to the test, even as it redeems."
―Edwidge
Danticat
Our chat session is scheduled for Sunday, May 11th, 2003 at 6:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time. If you have already read Grace, and would like to participate in our on-line chat session; please join us in our chat room http://www.thumperscorner.com/chat/
Visit
http://thumperscorner.com/Reading_List.htm to view the rest of
The Coffee Will Make You Black on-line reading
group's reading list for 2003
RELATED WEB SITES WORTH CHECKING OUT
World's Largest African-American
Selection
Books, Videos, Art Prints, Toys, Software, Calendars & More
Cushcity.com also has a retail store in Houston, Texas, located at 13559 Bammel N. Houston Rd., Houston, TX, which is in the Northwest part of Houston, near FM 1960 and Veterans Memorial.
The Black Think Tank
http://www.blackthinktank.com
Founded January 21, 1979, The Black Think Tank has enjoyed a position on the
cutting edge of black social change and progress. The official founding of The
Black Think Tank followed upon the trailblazing participation of some of its
members in the birth of black studies on the American campus.
Interested in having AALBC.com promote your book? |
Peace,
Troy Johnson,
Founder AALBC.com
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