Embroideries is a sharp witted graphic novel revealing the lives and loves of a group of Iranian women. During an afternoon at the home of the author's grandmother, the women talk openly about men and sex. Everything that they share--virginity, arranged marriages, gay or cheating husbands-- is anecdotal and reads like a "hen party". It's just all over the place and hilarious. I actually found myself laughing out loud. They cover the gamut of characterizations from the adventurous to the prudish. Most women readers will find some connection with one of the women in this novel. 

After reading both Persepolis novels, I had to read Embroideries and was not disappointed. Satrapi has such a way of exposing the dynamics of relationships  among women and between women and men that is just blunt, honest, and humorous. What she's also done is reveal that "the veil" is just that...a veil. It's one that when pulled back, we see little difference in our experiences navigating relationships with men. 

*I purchased this book.

After sharing my top 25 books via Twitter last weekend which included Animal Farm, a few tweeters noted they wanted to re-read it. I suggested we read it for another Twitter book discussion and somehow I was hoodwinked, ahem, nudged into hosting it.

So join in the Twitter discussion of Orwell's brilliant political allegory beginning August 15, 2011 at 4pm CST (5pm EST). You can follow me @browngirlspeaks and the hashtag will be #AnimalFarm.



Discussion schedule (tentative):
Monday (8/15) - ch. 1-4
Tuesday (8/16) - ch. 5-7
Wednesday (8/17) - ch. 8-10

Twitter chum, @sweat_btwn, asked me to share my top 25 books to show support for the upcoming launch of a new literary piece: Specter Magazine.  Then I was asked to make this a permanent post so others could bookmark it. Sure. Why not?

This list is composed of books that transformed me in some way...emotionally, intellectually, and the like. These are the books I typically ask others if they've ever read and feel that they should. These are the books I bring when discussing reads that were "mind blowing", "life altering", "game changers", and so on.


I'm sure this list will evolve as I read more amazing works but for now, here it is and in no certain order...

1. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
2. Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker
3. In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens by Alice Walker
4. She by Saul Williams
5. Does Your House Have Lions? by Sonia Sanchez
6. Like the Singing Coming Off the Drum by Sonia Sanchez
7. The Wife of His Youth by Charles Chesnutt
8. The Big Sea by Langston Hughes
9. I Put a Spell on You: Autobiography of Nina Simone

10.  Slumberland by Paul Beatty
11.  Mama Black Widow by Iceberg Slim
12.  Let the Lion Eat Straw by Ellease Southerland
13.  The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
14.  Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
15.  Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler
16.  Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
17.  Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie
18.  Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
19.  No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe
20.  The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
21.  Animal Farm by George Orwell
22. The Book of Night Women by Marlon James
23.  The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson
24.  Girl In Translation by Jean Kwok
25.  The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi

Ernessa T. Carter's debut novel, 32 Candles, introduces us to Davie Jones. She lives in small town Mississippi with an abusive and wanton mother. Davie is also the school's target for taunting and teasing with a nickname only mean-spirited children could concoct. She soon finds solace in Molly Ringwald movies namely, Sixteen Candles. Enter the new kids, the ultra-atrractive Farrells who are heirs to a prominent hair care company. Naturally she falls hard for the lone son, James. After Davie spends months pining over him and thinks she has finally gotten him to notice her, she falls victim to a humiliating prank and running away takes her to the other side of the country. In L.A. she begins to thrive as a night club singer and one day, she literally crashes into her past. James is now the one falling hard for Davie, a woman he no longer recognizes from high school. However, others soon show up in L.A. and they do remember and pose a big threat to Davie's Sixteen Candles happy ending. 

What can I say about Davie Jones? She's a little neurotic but who wouldn't be after spending several years voluntarily mute to avoid her mother's abuse and being called "monkey night" by her peers. I ♥ Davie Jones for being able to not let life's bullsh*t keep her down...even the kinda psycho schemes she pulled off to later retaliate against the Farrells. Carter has written such a real character that a lot of us can (unfortunately) relate to and not just in Davie but those Farrells as well. They're those popular kids that others made even more larger-than-life through adoration and fantasizing. What Carter reveals through them, however, is that they even know that things and status are not always what make you awesome but resilience, wit, and bravery. Of course, it's always wonderful to see Black characters who cover a variety of lifestyles and experiences. Even the author's approach to the often materialistic world of the Farrells is not overdone or obnoxious. Rounded out by a gloriously flawed supporting cast including a short-tempered but fatherly club owner, 32 Candles should be on everyone's reading list. 

Dollar stores have always been great for getting inexpensive birthday card, gift wrapping supplies, and disposable pans for that massive Thanksgiving dinner that is your turn to prepare for the family. On one those visits about a year ago, I remembered that I had seen books in them occasionally. To my surprise, most of them have tons of books. In the past none were too appealing but lately I've been able to pick up at least one title on almost every visit which is an average of once a month. 

Now, I was hesitant at first to buy a work from the dollar store that an author undoubtedly toiled over for some time. But then I thought well, I don't have to mention where I got the book if and when I discuss how great a read it was. Also, it might find an unexpected audience in someone who might not otherwise know about the book if not found at the dollar store. Even still, the nagging question of whether or not that demeans the author and their work in any way lingers in my mind. 

So, I would love for some others authors to chime in on this. Readers as well, of course. 

Do any authors know of their books being found in dollar stores and how do you feel about it? 

Readers, are there any titles you've found in dollar stores that maybe helped you branch out in your reading choices?

If you haven't already read the smart and sassy debut novel, 32 Candles, you may want to expeditiously get to the bookstore as the paperback hit the shelves today. I'm so delighted that the author, Ernessa T. Carter, has given BGBS a peek at what makes her quirky brown. 


What fictional character do you most identify with and why? 
Being a quirky black girl myself, I don't find many narrators whose experiences reflect my own. But if you erased my heavy edge of cynicism and gave me way more altruistic qualities, I'd probably act and think exactly like Anne of Green Gables. I also found myself weirdly relating to the Oscar Wao from THE BRIEF AND WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO, just because I know the awkwardness of being a nerd in a culture known for being cool. 

How do you live "quirky brown"? (quirky brown is my year long reading challenge focused on fiction depicting atypical Black experiences, like your work!)
I represent hardcore for the quirky brown even when it makes things awkward. But I also try to read as much black sci-fi and fantasy as I can get my hands on and then tell everybody about it. And if it's a black graphic novel, like AYA or BAYOU or INCONEGRO, I'm all over it. 

What books would readers be most surprised to find on your bookshelves? 
At this point, no one's surprised by anything on my shelf. I'm known for reading everything from mass market romance to the really literary to plays. People are usually surprised by what's not on my shelf. After getting out of grad school, I decided not to read anything else by anyone who was dead. Staying that thoroughly contemporary has been a controversial decision. I've only broken the rule once for FLATLAND by Edwin A. Abbot. 

Who's your favorite quirky brown author and why? 
I will read anything by Carleen Brice, Laura Esquivel, Junot Diaz, Colson Whitehead and Tananarive Due. I'm a sucker for well-written and commercial, with a nice dose of unusual. 

What's your favorite quirky brown book and why? 
THE COLOR PURPLE has influenced both my writing and my life. It's funny how few books give dark-skinned women happy endings. But Celie convinced me that you can have everything going against you and still come out on top. 

What 5 songs would you consider the soundtrack to encompass your literary work? 
"Head Over Heels" by Tears for Fears, "Ain't Nobody" by Chaka Khan, "Silver Linings" by Rilo Kiley, "Halo" by Beyonce, and "River Deep, Mountain High" by Tina Turner Recent - Bonus: "One and Only" by Adele

What 5 songs would you consider part of your life soundtrack? 
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper, "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson, "Halo" by Beyonce, "Island in the Sun" by Weezer, "Things Can Only Get Better" by Howard Jones - Bonus: "I'm Bad" by L.L. Cool J

Which, if any, of your works would you like to see in a film adaptation?
 I'm very committed to getting 32 CANDLES to the big screen. 

What's next for Ernessa T. Carter? 
I've finished my second book, THE AWESOME GIRL'S GUIDE TO DATING EXTRAORDINARY MEN, which I hope will hit shelves in 2012 sometime. And I'm hard at work on my third book, which I'm  just calling THE THIRD BOOK for now. 

http://twitter.com/ErnessaTCarter
http://32candles.com
http://fierceandnerdy.com

Mi Barrio by Robert Renteria as told to Corey Michael Blake, illustrated by Shane Clester (Writers of the Round Table Press/SmarterComics, 2011)
ISBN: 978-0-9822206-7-2
From the Barrio Foundation CPS Vendor Number: 63134
http://fromthebarrio.com

Mi Barrio is comic book version of Renteria's part memoir, part motivational book, From the Barrio to the Boardroom. We get a look at a life that starts with  baby Robert sleeping in a drawer in his parents' tiny apartment. From there are most of the hardships one would anticipate for someone from a marginalized group of people living in East L.A. in the 1960s and 1970s. There's also one the reader won't see coming. Mi Barrio is a cautionary tale about making wise choices, not letting a rough start in life hinder you from success, and to always be your authentic self. What is so delightful about Mi Barrio is that it expands Renteria's reach in his obvious agenda to motivate other disadvantaged young people. It is so important to reach people where they are and I think this is a great way to make his message accessible to everyone. The message I loved the most dealt with the author's realization that he had lost himself, his passion in his work and was brave enough to walk away and step out on faith for reconciliation. So often we see young people allowing others to hold them back or dictate their lives or afraid to be their true self for fear of backlash. I believe Renteria's story does and should resonate with everyone no matter what their station in life.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher as part of a Condor Book Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Giveaway Details
Since Robert Renteria will be available for answering questions via comments today, I'll ask that those who would like to win a copy of Mi Barrio send an email to terri (at) browngirlspeaks (dot) com. Please make the subject "Mi Barrio giveaway". I will randomly select a winner form all entrants. For a bonus entry, you can subscribe to my blog feed. Simply include that you did so in the body of the email message. Good luck!

Blog Tour Schedule
Week One

Mon June 20 Musings http://nilkibenitez.blogspot.com 
Tues June 21 Dulce Bread & Book Shop http://dulcebreadandbookshop.com/  
Wed June 22 Frankie Benitez http://juliorvarela.com/ 
Thurs June 23 Brown Girl BookSpeak http://books.browngirlspeaks.com/ 
Fri June 24 Latina Book Club http://www.latinabookclub.com/  

Week Two

Mon June 27 VivirLatino http://vivirlatino.com/   
Tues June 28 Blogs By Latinas http://www.clicklatina.com/ 
Wed June 29 Dos Idiomas/Two Languages http://www.ofelianj.com/ 
Thurs June 30 Juan of Words http://www.juanofwords.com/ 
Fri July 1 Sammy Makes Six http://www.sammymakessix.com/

Live Chat with author Robert Renteria scheduled for Sunday, June 26 at 7 pm EST. http://condorbooktours.com/Author_Chat_Salon.php

That's what I expect to see after committing search after search on the Memphis Public Library's website. Why? Because the vast majority of the time I'm searching in vain. I just don't get it. Well, I do get that funding is a major issue. However, I don't get what drives the selection that is there. Is it the same as what mysteriously drives the book selling market? I say "mysterious" because it's beyond me why nothing I and many others prefer to read is hardly ever available in a bookstore in this city. 

The library has a request form that I've employed at least two dozen times to have only one request pending fulfillment. Even that one took months for a response. I've inquired a few times with various librarians at the largest branch about how books are chosen for the inventory and how quickly are new releases added. That was pretty much a bust. I got some vague, dismissive response. Honestly, I don't think she knew the answer. I know some might think it harsh I'm bitchin' about public libraries but it's because they are important to creating a vibrant image for a city and because I'm a bookhead...HELLO! 

I commented earlier on a post by another book blogger that I'm given almost no choice but to purchase most of the books I read as I cannot get them from a library here. I've been asked about an interlibrary loan system. Huh? I've always only thought such a thing existed in academic libraries. This prompted me to prowl around some other cities' library systems and I was rudely awakened. 

So, I called the branch closest to my home which happens to be the largest and spoke to a really kind woman who responded as best she could to my questions. Basically, as I mentioned before, it comes down to money. I did let her know that I wasn't just some griper who doesn't contribute to the pot. I've patronized every book sale for the last two or three years and the used bookstore which helps fund the library. As a matter of fact, I purchased four books from Second Editions in the last week. She did tell me that we do have an ILL system. I asked if it's on the website anywhere and she was certain that it's not. So am I. And she seemed to get my frustration with that. However, that hasn't stopped it from amassing a high volume of requests. Now I know.

I feel like my patronage at the library's book sales is for naught. It seems to be funding the attainment of everything I don't enjoy reading. Should I just spend my money only on what I want to read and not care if the library flounders? And I'm not suggesting that my support will bring the library's demise but I know that every little bit helps.

Is the problem merely the allocation of tax dollars to or public libraries shamefully low?

How are things at your local library? Does it sufficiently feed your reading habits?

Summer is actually already here in Memphis. It's actually gotten quite dangerous to be outside in our hot, humid weather. Of course, I'll be in as much as possible with some books close at hand. Here are some of the titles I plan to check out this summer...

So, what are you reading this summer?

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by A Few More Pages. 

There is, stretching delicate as a bird's head from the thin neck of the Kra Isthmus, a land that makes up half of the country called Malaysia. where it dips its beak into the South China Sea, Singapore hovers like a bubble escaped from its throat.
--from Evening Is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan

There's a promise for a vivd, eloquent narrative. I'm ready to receive it. Also, there's a strong reverence for the setting that's apparent.

Friday 56 s a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice. 

She looked up at Appa. His eyes were invisible behind the glare of his glasses, but she felt seen then, more seen than ever, her sacrifices noted, appreciated, and put into words; her sufferings keenly felt; her many weaknesses--her report card C's, her failed geography paper, the chipped murukku bowl--forgiven.
--from Evening Is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan