Half of the year 2020 is now complete. Can you believe it? I don’t really know what or how to feel. A good thing about this period of time is taking note of the things we claimed we did not have time for before. I have read 9 books so far in 2020. In this video, I discuss those books and share my take on what I loved and what I could do without. From Hip Hop culture, to relationships, to Afrofuturism, overall I really enjoyed these books.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi. I loved the alternative world the author created for this story. I also was fascinated by how she described the interactions between the tribes. The theme of power was strong throughout the story. I liked how the source of that power determined the results or destiny of certain tribes. For example, the story focuses on two tribes. One finds their source of power through nature. Everything they do is a balance of give and take with nature. The other finds their source of power through conquest. Everything they do is pushed by taking and conquering. It is fascinating to observe them interact and learn from each other.
This was also the first book I read with the book club Ghana Must Read. I really enjoyed discussing the book with them. Back then, we met in person. Now, the sessions are hosted on Zoom with the author of the books. So cool! If you are in Ghana looking for a group to read with, check them out.
3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Hip-Hop’s Multi billion Dollar Rise by Zack O’Malley Greensburg. I enjoyed the history and personalities in this book. It was fascinating and inspiring to read through the timeline of how each of them maneuvered their realities and caught the wave as part of Hip Hop became a capitalism machine. The book also gives some good advice on business strategies.
The Wait: A Powerful Practice for Finding the Love of Your Life and the Life You Love by DeVon Franklin and Meagan Good. I feel this book had helpful tips on determining why you make certain commitments to yourself and how to differentiate who is on your team. The overall message does focus on waiting to have sex until marriage. The examples and experiences they share can also resonate on life commitments that are or are not focused on physical intimacy. It also made me think about how certain personalities deal with self-hate. Like I asked in the video: for those of you who identify as men or lean more into your masculine energy, what do you do to manage disappointments and hurt feelings? Do you move on? Do you take yourself out of the race? For those of you who identify as women or lean more into your feminine energy, what do you do to manage disappointments and hurt feelings? Do you punish yourself? Do you move on? Comment below and let me know!
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler. This book was interesting and creepy. Almost prophetic actually. Even though it was written in 1998, it details a story that sounds very similar to what the world is going through right now. I was encouraged by how the main character maintained her tenacity to create and cultivate a like-minded community in a world where everything has been destroyed. There was a lot of symbolism around human nature and perceived hierarchy in society. This was my first Butler read.
The Game of Desire: 5 Surprising Secrets to Dating with Dominance and Getting What You Want by Shannon Boodram. This book has a lot of great advice in understanding how to define your expectations. I found it really helpful to better differentiate if the people you interact with have priorities that are truly aligned with yours. It was also fascinating to see how the different personalities maneuvered the challenges and lessons. I found it encouraging. I also recommend you check out Shannon’s content. I have been following her for about 6 or 7 years. It is not easy finding information about relationships and sex that is actually helpful and empowering. She knows her stuff.
How Long ‘Till Black Future Month by N. K. Jemisin. This book was one of my favorites! It was such a wealth of creativity and talent. I really love the way this author combines history, culture, and fantasy. This was a collection of short stories. Each one was filled with so much detail and mystery, I really wanted to read the full story of each. I already have another one of her books on my book list for the second half of this year.
Year One by Nora Roberts. This book was also interesting and creepy. The story sounds very similar to what the world is going through now with a mysterious virus and the after effects of a new normal. Overall, it was a good read and I am looking forward to finding out what happens at the end of the series.
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor. The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor. This was such a beautiful and exciting story. The way this author writes made me feel like I was listening to a real African griot. The overall story in this series is about the harm tradition can cause and the journey the chosen few must go through to save their people from themselves. I also loved the description of the dessert and the tribes. It paints an interesting future fantasy for Africa. I am also looking forward to reading more of her work the second half of this year.
Well, those were all the books I read this year so far. Would you read any of these? I am also looking for new books to read for the second half of the year. Do you have any book suggestions? Comment below and let me know.
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Dagny Zenovia 