Sunday Sit Down 006: End of the Month!
It’s practically May, and I feel like I’ve read everything and nothing all at the same time.
It’s practically May, and I feel like I’ve read everything and nothing all at the same time. I’m at a total of ten books read for the month so far, and I’ll probably sneak in one or two more before the end of the month. This week, I read four books. Two audiobooks and two physical books. I actually loved them all. No book mail this week, and I didn’t buy anything, lol. SHOCKER!
I’m currently reading South to America by Imani Perry. This one is going to challenge me, I can tell. I really want to focus on more historical nonfiction because it is where I struggle the most. It’s usually very dense, and they trip me up. My plan is to listen to the audiobook while I read for some guidance. It’s the book pick for the pod, The League of Extraordinary Readers, so I’ll have to discuss it next week. Now, let’s get into my recent reads.
Completed Reads:
I finally read The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali. I read The Stationary Shop by her the year before last and absolutely loved it. When I originally tried to read The Lion Women of Tehran, I DNF’d it because it was such a slow burn. Now, I had the same experience this time around, but I am so glad I stuck it out and finished reading it. One of my friends said this is one of their favorite reads, and I see why. It is a well-written story about women, their friendships, the changes they experience becoming women, and loyalty. I think when we have long-term friendships, we don’t know how to maneuver the personal or economic challenges we may face and the impact those challenges have on our friendships. If you don’t mind a slow burn but love historical fiction, you’ll love this book.
Ring Shout is phenomenal. This is my second P. Djeli Clark book, and I have no problem saying I’m a fan. This tells the story of three Black women in the 1920s who are monster hunters and bootleggers. They hunt Klu Kluxes, monsters that disguise themselves as white men. These monsters were summoned through the 1915 release of Birth of a Nation. It’s fast-paced, funny in places, informative, and will give you a fix of what you’re craving after watching Sinners. I really enjoyed the audiobook as well. If you want more recs of books to read after watching Sinners, check out my YouTube channel!
This next read absolutely blew me away. I received a finished copy from Gallery Books earlier this year and have been waiting for the moment I could read it. Harriet Tubman Live In Concert was an amazing and quick read. I know by the title and author alone that many people are going to bypass it. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it is on many favorite lists by the end of the year. Bob the Drag Queen used wit, history, and inclusivity to tell Harriet Tubman’s stories. I learned so much, I laughed, I even cried a little. It is definitely a must-read. I listened to the audiobook and read at the same time. I highly suggest the audiobook; there are some songs at the end.
Last but certainly not least, I finished Bibliotherapy in the Bronx by my friend Emely Rumble. I learned so much in this book, but what stood out the most is that we are all participating in some form of bibliotherapy and have been all our lives. I think this is the perfect book for any level of reader that wants to know about how books actually impact them and how they think or want to know more about bibliotherapy. There is so much information about Black culture and reading that I didn’t know at all. You need to go grab yourself a copy; it comes out on Tuesday, April 29th.
I think the rest of the month will be slow and steady. There are a few book events I want to go to, and I may still try to squeeze in Jazz lol. I’m always saying reading isn’t a competition because it is not, but a book less than 300 pages feels like someone said “I bet you can’t read it in a day!” And that, my friend, is how I read a billion books a month!
Let me know how your reading went this week and what you are rounding your month out with.
K. Love you. Bye!
About Me:
I am Shelbey Monae, the founder and host of Shelbey And The Book Club, a virtual book club centered around Black literature, diversifying reading, and creating community for all types of readers.
You can find me on Instagram and YouTube yapping about Black books and giving reading recommendations or on the podcast I cohost with my book bestie The League of Extraordinary Readers.
All my work focuses on reading, my extreme love of books, and all the feels that comes with it.
The Book Club Diaries is a weekly newsletter. If you’d like to support my work, please consider subscribing or using the links included above. Other ways to support me monetarily are by purchasing some merch or watching my YouTube channel.