Reading

I've always been an avid reader. From the time I was old enough to pick up a book I've been turning pages. My earliest experience with them involved drawing pictures on the inside cover and blank first and last pages. I defaced many a book in my formative years.

I'm not sure when I learned to respect and cherish books for their power to take the reader someplace else, but I still remember and have the novel that started my addiction. It was called The Saturdays, by Elizabeth Enright and I got it from the book mobile that came to my school when I was in sixth grade. Whenever I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and want to return to simpler times, I will pick it from my shelf and lose myself in the story of four motherless children, growing up in 1940's New York City.


Upon moving to Brooklyn, the first thing I did was find the local branch of the public library and get myself a library card. No matter where I've landed over the years, I've never failed to patronize the local libraries. Three of Brooklyn's 60 branches are within reasonable walking distance of my home, including the Central Library (pictured).

According to the library's website, its notable architecture was created to resemble an open book, with the spine on Grand Army Plaza and the building’s two wings opening like pages onto Eastern Parkway and Flatbush Avenue.

Reading has definitely cut into my blogging time, but I believe with each book I complete, I'm honing my writing skills. With this post I thought I'd share some of what I've read recently.


Acolytes: Poems by Nikki Giovanni

I grew up with listening to Nikki Giovanni. My Aunt Jane used to play her spoken word album for me and my cousin when we were small children. Giovanni was actually the very first writer I ever saw in person. I've always loved her work and Acolytes is her latest book. I read quite a bit of it on the bus and subway and many of her images moved me to tears, which prompted me to write my own poem: I Can't Stand Nikki Giovanni. It's not a very good poem, but I've always left the genre up to those who know it best.




For One More Day by Mitch Albom

This is the second of Albom's books that I've read and, like the first, I poured through it in a day. His novels are touching and very visual. I loved the book, but fell asleep on the TV movie last night.







Drama Is Her Middle Name: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Vol. 1 and Is the Bitch Dead, Or What?: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Book 2 by Wendy Williams and Karen Hunter


It's trash and I know it, but sometimes I just want to be entertained with something mindless. I read both in a day and have to admit that I was compelled to know what happens to these characters. I'm actually looking forward to the next installment, but it's definitely not one I will add to my library.





I Say A Little Prayer by E. Lynn Harris

Not unlike the two previous titles, this one was pure soap opera. Another quick, mindless read to help pass the time on public transportation. I really need to get myself an IPOD. I would have much rather listened to Aretha Franklin or Dionne Warwick sing the song, but since I commit myself to characters, no matter how flat or undeveloped, I have to see them through to the end.




Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

I thought I would read something with some literary merit and made a good choice. Paris is one of my favorite cities and Baldwin really captured its spirit in this tale of an american man, struggling with his sexuality. I was a little disappointed that he wrote this book in the voice a of white character, but as I read it became very evident that he knew this character very well. Still, there were some passages and references that screamed Black writer. This is only the third of his books I've read, but I will certainly grab another on my next trip to the library.




The Best American Short Stories 2006 (The Best American Series) by Ann Patchett (Editor), Katrina Kenison (Series Editor)


I've always loved short stories for their ability to tell a complete story in the space of a few pages. It is the form that most of my own writing takes. I simply don't have the discipline to write a novel, though most of my stories are related by shared characters. Anthologies like this really help me as I work to get my own stuff ready for publication. One of the quotations about home that I used in a previous blog entry comes from this collection.



Ida B.: A Novel by Karen E. Quinones Miller


I started this one on Saturday and I have laughed out loud at something on each page. It's the story of the residents of a Harlem high-rise that examines issues of poverty, gentrification and relationships. One of the elderly female residents of the building runs a store out of her apartment, stocked with merchandise acquired from crackheads. There is also the aunt of the main character, who drinks too much and cusses everyone out. They are my favorites so far. I will probably finish it sometime today.



Emily Post's Etiquette, 17th Edition by Peggy Post

I've always marched to the beat of my own drum, but sometimes I like to consult the professionals to find the proper way of doing things. It was this book that help me come to terms with sending electronic greetings as opposed to buying stamps. I'm still not well with it and have sent out 30 Holiday greetings so far.


African-American Holiday Traditions: Celebrating With Passion, Style, and Grace by Antoinette Broussard



We don't always comply with etiquette, but I don't believe no people on earth are as hospitable as African Americans. I grew up in one of those old, southern-based households that never turned away anyone that was hungry and always had enough to feed a multitude. This book contains some marvelous recipes that I will be using this holiday season. I will certainly let you know how they turn out.