Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 352 pages
Published: August 2018

When Hulu announced Washington Black was being released as a series, I picked up my long-overdue copy and quickly immersed myself in the ~350-page novel, eager to see the story come to life on the silver screen. (Sterling K. Brown, hello!)  Written by Esi Edugyan this beautifully-told coming-of-age novel captivated me. The TV adaptation took too many liberties and ultimately fell short of my expectations. This review will focus solely on the historical novel. 

The story begins with the titular character, an 11-year old enslaved field hand, on a Barbados sugar plantation whose life is upended when he is stripped away from all he knows and "given" to the slave master's eccentric brother, Titch, to assist with his scientific endeavors. Titch introduces Washington to the world of science and exploration, and the two develop a bond rooted in humanity. However, when a white man is killed, Washington is unjustly blamed, forcing he and Titch to abscond for his safety. This sets off a whimsical adventure that takes Washington from Barbados to the Arctic to Canada to London and to Morocco where he encounters experiences beyond his wildest imagination. The book explores themes of freedom, identity, belonging and abandonment. 

Edugyan excels at character development, particularly with Washington, who evolves from a frightened young boy into a resourceful young man. The author creates beautiful imagery as Washington embarks on this physical and emotional journey across the globe, all the while struggling to define his identity in a world that constantly seeks to limit him. My only criticism of the plot is the ongoing tension between Washington and Titch. Given the context of slavery, abandonment, and lost family, I found it questionable that Washington's continual quest for Titch would have ensued the span of the entire novel. 

Recommendation: I really enjoyed this story and the adventurous, uplifting spirit with which the author presents it. This is a must-read for anyone interested in history fiction, exploration, science, or simply a wonderfully created tale. It's sure to have you thinking past the final page. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Firstborn Girls: A Memoir by Bernice L. McFadden

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 400 pages
Published: March 2025

Firstborn Girls by Bernice L. McFadden found me by way of a new virtual book club, TheBrowneGirlReads, that highlights and honors the work of writers across the African Diaspora. Being a part of a book club that celebrates authors who look like me and write stories about my community as well as discussing these non-fiction narratives and fictional stories with other relatable women has been one of my personal bright spots of 2025. In my quest to read more book club selections in general (I’m a member of several different clubs.), I pre-ordered this book without hesitation. And to be honest, the title piqued my interest as I, too, am a firstborn girl. 

The book is a non-fiction, personal account of McFadden’s life from about the age of two, where she survives a horrific car accident up until the publication of her debut novel, Sugar. Throughout the memoir, she not only details her coming of age in chronological order but also shares vignettes about her family members, specifically her grandmother, mother, and daughter who are also firstborn girls, Interspersed, McFadden includes timely historical accounts of current events happening at the time to help help provide context to her life stories while giving them depth and providing the reader with perspective. 

The author’s vulnerability shines through in her dedication to provide a descriptive picture of her life as she shares the challenges that her birth order and gender afforded her. McFadden details both the highs and lows she endured as a firstborn girl growing up in a dysfunctional household in New York. I do believe people who are able to withstand the toughest trials end up being some of the most brilliant talents, and this definitely holds true for McFadden. Additionally, she offers some beautiful accounts of her personal experiences when she explains how her angelcestors* have watched over her.  

America was and remains a powder keg, and often the match that lights the fuse is racism. -p. 5

Gwen made a face. “You mad or what? I ain’t wasting my vote on her. What a woman know ‘bout running a country, anyway, huh? And a Black woman at that! If you think dem white people are going to vote for her, you just as mad as that Patsy Hill girl!” -p. 94 [speaking of Shirley Chisholm’s presidential run not Kamala Harris’]

There weren’t just books, they were my friends, my security blankets, my pacifiers, and my safety nets. -p. 105

In America, she is legally white because the Supreme Court says that people from Syria/Lebanon are racially white. Which proves yet again that race is a construct without biologically meaning. -p. 164

She spoke like she knew her way around a plate of fried chicken, black-eyed peas, and corn bread. Like she might not have been able to double Dutch but could turn. The thing I’m trying to tell you is that girl clapped on the two and the four and not the one and the three. -p. 170

But I’m talking about it now because I’m tired if keeping it to myself, and I’ve learned that things that live in the dark, die in the light. -p. 184

At the age of forty-four, Amanda died in 1893 of neurasthenia- also known as nervous exhaustion. Being Black and female in America is still an exhausting existence. -p. 254

If damned if you do and damned if you don’t were a people, those people would be Black. -p. 301

In America, Black kids don’t get to be kids, especially in the eyes of white people. Black children have been adultified since slavery, perceived as older and less innocent than white children. For hundreds of years, they’ve used this as an excuse to exact violence on our children. -p. 302-303

Penance aids the sinner; it does not erase the crime or the people harmed. -p. 303

I suspect the peek into his family history made him feel less alone in the world, maybe in some strange way it made him feel powerful. Maybe that’s why America works so hard at erasing and rewriting the true history of Black people in this country. -p. 329

While reading this book, I had to remind myself that I was learning about someone’s real life because McFadden writes in such a gripping and arresting way, that sharing her life almost feels like fictional storytelling to the reader. Most of my reading of this book was done with my physical hard copy, but I also took advantage of Spotify to listen to the book while driving. I don’t often do this, but I was so invested in quickly learning more about the author, I wanted to utilize each free moment I had to dive in more. 

Recommendation: McFadden is a talented and prolific writer, and I am shamed to admit I had read none of her works until now. I have, indeed, been missing out. After quickly consuming this novel, I am sure to pick up another work by her very soon. I highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in history, genealogy, or want to get to know more about McFadden’s fascinating life. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

*Angelcestor is a term coined and trademarked by Bernice L. McFadden that combines the terms angel and ancestor to honor those who have passed but continue to guide and safeguard their descendants.

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Wellness by Nathan Hill

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 624 pages
Published: September 2023

Wellness by Nathan Hill is being touted as the next great American novel. I am not sure if that is the case. I didn’t read Hill’s debut, The Nix, but I will say he does a great job of writing an engaging story that compels the reader to stick with the story until this end. And at more than 600 pages, it can take a while to get there. I enjoyed the journey, but I am still undecided on how I feel about the destination. 

Wellness is a story of growth for main characters Jack and Elizabeth who meet in Chicago as young adults, fall in love, get married, have a child, and then realize they aren’t the people they were when they met. (Is this groundbreaking?) Through a series of flashbacks and present day scenarios the author illustrates the events that formed the characters into the people they are presently. In an attempt to discern who they are as mature adults, the two embark on a variety of tactics to save themselves and their marriage. Are they successful? I’m not quite sure, I think the ending can be left up to interpretation.

Even though this was a longer novel, it didn’t seem that way. I was invested and able to finish the story at a moderate pace. I enjoyed the flashbacks that gave the reader detailed background into the nuances of the characters. They were both clearly drawn together because they’d suffered from horrible parenting. What I did not care for the overabundance of cited references throughout a fiction book. It almost made it seem as though it was fiction purporting to be non-fiction. I think the story could have been just as strong with out and the dozens of reference works listed at the end. 

Recommendation: I really wanted to enjoy this book. After hundred of pages, I was all in, but the ending kind of fell flat to me after all that build up. I think the author was struggling with bringing it all together, but I did enjoy his writing style. I may pick up The Nix or his next work, but sorry Oprah, I’m just unsure about the accolades that all the critics are giving this one. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Duration: 08:51:00
Published: January 2017

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney was a monthly book club selection by Ginger from the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club. When she introduced this older novel, she prefaced it by saying it's one she reads every year around Christmas/New Year's. The recommendation, synopsis, and nostalgia piqued my curiosity so off to the library I went for the audio copy. 

I must say, I did enjoy meeting Lillian Boxfish, an octogenarian, who sets out on a walk in New York City on New Year's Eve and, as she takes that walk, she reflects on a live well lived. As readers, we are put in the position of voyeurism, and as such, we learn about her childhood, the aunt who inspired her, her upward-moving career as an advertising copywriter, and her indifference to becoming a wife or mother, yet she becomes both anyway. We learn about her struggles in those areas, some of which lead to her divorce, and finally where she's ended up several decades later. Like real-life professional women, Lillian is multi-faceted, complex, and alluring. 

It's quite possible this is the case because her character is inspired by a real-life poet and advertising professional, Margaret Fishback, who was the highest paid female advertising copywriter in the world in the 1930s. Personally, I related to Lillian a lot - being a professional marketer who has chosen to prioritize my career over being a mother (gasp!). Additionally, Rooney through Lillian's voice, provides a lot of funny quips and thoughtful quotations throughout the story. 

"Choice is an illusion promoted by the powerful." (page 214)

"No matter what first draws our attention, language is where we make our decisions. (page 229)

"...a dull and dogged reminder that I was just like everyone else in suffering the injustice of chronology: I could only walk through it facing forward, going in that one direction." (page 266)

(Most of the quotations I've highlighted here are in the latter part of the book because I snagged an e-copy as I fell more in love with the story. I do intend to mimic Ginger, and read this book again next year.) 

I liked going back and reminiscing to a simpler time with Lillian Boxfish. The book would have been a solid 5-stars for me had it not included the stereotypical tropes of young men of color robbing on the streets of New York. But can I really be angry about something so real through the eyes of an 80-something white woman? I think I will just take it as it is so as to enjoy the story. 

Recommendation: I recommend giving the audiobook a listen as the narrator really brings Lillian to life. A great read for Christmas break to discuss with family and friends. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Duration: 9:03:00
Published: March 2019

I had been hearing about Daisy Jones and the Six for years … probably ever since it published … then again when the limited series aired on Amazon Prime Video. I kept thinking I should try reading it, but other books got top billing. Well, an Audible promotion and recommendation that Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel is best listened to prompted me to download an audio copy. And now, I am a fan girl of a totally fictional band. 

The story centers around Daisy Jones and a young band called The Six, led by the Dunne brothers. Both Daisy, as a solo artist, and The Six are trying to make a go of it in the music industry filled with underage sex and an overabundance of alcohol and drugs. Separate chance encounters with a successful producer provide the impetus for him to put the two together. There is a lot of conflict and sexual tension between Daisy and the older Dunne brother, Billy, that fuels the fire for creativity and catapults the group to stardom. Then, at the height of their success, the group disbands never to play together again and no one knows why. The present-day story is set up in documentary style, decades later, with each member sharing through flashbacks their respective memories and perspective on what happened. 

The audiobook is truly a treat to listen to. There’s a cast of characters, many of whom are well-known actors, who take on the personality traits of each character and really make the story come to life. While listening I kept wanting to hear the music. And that’s the bonus about Daisy Jones and the Six, Reese Witherspoon as producer with writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber bring the story to life. I am typically a person who always says the book was better. And the book was good, but the musical drama made the story so much better, allowing the characters to show us the chemistry among them just as well as Jenkins Reid told us. 

Recommendation: I highly recommend consuming this story via audio, and I equally recommend watching the TV series after you read the book. As with most adaptations, there were some liberties taken. And then, when you’re still jonesing (pun intended) for more, take a listen to the soundtrack on Spotify. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Everything's Fine by Cecilia Rabess

Rating: 4.75 of 5 stars 

Pages: 335 pages
Published: June 2023

I stumbled upon Everything's Fine (and that beautiful cover) by Cecilia Rabess through the Mocha Girls Read Book Club. The synopsis captivated me, so I put my name on the list at my local library and soon got the electronic loan. The story begins with Jess, an African American woman, who has recently graduated from college and starting an entry-level gig at Goldman Sachs. On her first day she learns she's on the same team as her conservative college nemesis, a white man named Josh. From day one, it is clear they Jess and Josh are opposites in just about every way, and from there a love-hate relationship develops and evolves. 

While romance is not my favorite genre to read, I thought this book was done well as it not only focused on the romance but other challenges that women of color, particularly Black women, face in corporate America. The sexual tension between the main characters on the backdrop of the challenges of being a woman of color in a largely white male world all while two people on diametrically opposing sides of the political aisle makes for an engaging, albeit frustrating, read. Additionally, there's the struggle of developing an interracial relationship in a society that's on the tail end of the Obama administration and on the cusp of what we now know as at the hot mess of the Trump administration. The ending was real but unsatisfying in a challenging way because it was so real. It left me returning back to a question I've often pondered as a societally-defined undesirable woman: Can you truly be known and seen by someone who doesn't understand your day-to-day struggle? After reading this novel, my answer remains the same ... a resounding no. I think the character would figure this out in a future time period. Maybe Rabess can gift us a sequel! 

Recommendation: I really enjoyed this book. One; because I'm in a time period of intense romantic love and could relate to those feeling and two; because I also deal with microaggressions in a largely white male-dominated field every day. It was all very relatable to me, and while I didn't necessarily agree with all of Jess' choices, I could totally empathize with how she felt in certain scenarios. Having said that, I would never (and I know they say: "never say never") rely on a man (of any color) for financial stability. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars 

Duration: 12:04:00
Published: February 2022

The Violin Conspiracy is Brendan Slocumb’s debut novel categorized as a mystery thriller. It opens as the main character, Ray, realizes his family heirloom and primary method of making money has been stolen with a demand for ransom to secure its return. The item in question — an 18th century Stradivarius violin, given to his enslaved great-great-grandfather by his former white owner after he was freed, literally worth millions of dollars. Shortly after this explosive beginning, the reader is taken back to Ray’s high school years as an untrained violinist and gradually brought up to present day as Ray prepares, now a classically-trained musician, for the renowned Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia. But without his violin, that has become something of a security blanket, can he play and win? Can he raise the funds to pay the ransom for his stolen heirloom? And can he fend off the descendants of the white family that enslaved his ancestors for ownership of the violin? 

As it might seem from my summary (or the one provided for the publisher), there’s a lot going on in this book. On top of the myriad of plot elements, Ray is also dealing with an unsupportive family. I selected this book on recommendation of my online book club — The ModernMrsDarcy.com Book Club — and specifically in audiobook format. And I will say from a musical perpsective, it was a delight to listen to the musical excerpts played by the author himself. However, the narrator was a huge turnoff for me. The voice acting of many of the characters was overdone and portrayed in a stereotypical way. Additionally, I found most of the characters were written with an overabundance of characters flaws while Ray was written as mostly the perfect victim. I had hoped the characters would have been a little more nuanced, but it was like the author took the worst of every character and amplified it. The angry Black woman trope given to Ray’s mother. The overt racist uncle during a wedding scene as well as the white man at the instrument repair store were written in such a way that their behavior was almost unbelievable for the time period, which I suspect is 2020-something as bitcoin is mentioned early on in the book. Having said this, the author did participate in a Zoom session with the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club and he mentioned that the book is somewhat autobiographical. So, perhaps the situations in this book reflect his life (albeit at a different time since he appears to be at least in his late 40s). We write what we know and I don’t deny this is his experience. However, I do think writers have a responsibility to the message disseminated, especially when writing using such polarizing prose. In addition to the stereotypes, I wasn’t a fan of the profanity, finding most of it unnecessary, and I thought this book was a little too long. The best part of the book was the author’s note and playing at the end. 

There are a lot of books out there. As a former musician, I might have picked up this book on my own. However, I was more motivated to read and complete this selection as a result of book club. Having finished it, I might have invested my time in a different selection. 

Recommendation: Not every book is for every person, and this book was not for me. This could have been a beautiful and distinct story, but I just found it to be a character playing the victim instead of truly overcoming. I doubt I will read another book by Slocumb, but I could certainly listen to him play for hours and I wish him the best of luck in his writing career! 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 401 pages
Published: July 2022

The last and only book I’ve read by Gabrielle Zevin, before Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, was The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. That book was before A Page Before Bedtime, but I do recall it being lovely and giving me all the feels. So, I had high hopes when I snagged this copy as part of my Book of the Month Club subscription. Little did I know it would be one of the most popular books of the summer. After reading it, I can definitely say it is worth the hype. 

The complex story is about the complicated relationship between two childhood friends (Sam and Sadie) and a third, secondary character, whom they met in college during an entrepreneurial venture in the video gaming industry. Over the course of the many years the books covers, we learn more about the layers of the personal and professional relationships as well as the backstory of each major character that contributed to their current personality make-up in present day. In this story, Zevin tackles some heavy subjects (trigger warnings: grooming, abuse of power, death, etc.) 

I listened to a couple of podcasts where Zevin was interviewed about this book, and I believe her when she tells the reader that this is a story about love, a story about relationships, but not necessarily one about romance. I agree that you truly can have a loving relationship with people who you are in a platonic relationship. 

Recommendation: It’s so hard to sum up this book. It’s about so many things. I am not a gamer, but I don’t think this is necessarily a book about gaming. It’s a book about people and interpersonal relationships and gaming is the vehicle that helps propel the story forward. The plot evokes many emotions and points to ponder long after the last page is read. I highly recommend this book when you have time to truly appreciate the excellent work of contemporary literature it is. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Pages: 352 pages
Published: January 2020

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano is about a family of four who board a fully booked plan in Newark, New Jersey headed for Los Angeles, California. Midway across the United States, the plane crashes leaving a sole survivor, Edward, a 12-year old boy and the youngest son of that family. Edward's story makes him a national celebrity as he navigates how to heal, physically and emotionally, and live life without his parents and his older brother. 

This is really a coming of age novel, and it is sad because a plane crash that kills nearly 200 people is sad, but it is also hopeful. It's about healing and learning who you are in spite of the most challenging circumstances. I fell in love with Edward and the secondary cast of characters who rallied around him to make sure he was OK after such a horrible tragedy. This book was very touching and very real to me. I know there has been a lot of criticism about the technical accuracy of the airplane and its crash, and I cannot attest to that. However, if you read the book for the beautiful piece of literature it is, I think you can overlook any technical errors that might be in place. 

Recommendation: No one is really traveling very much right now, so it's a good time to read a book like this. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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What We Lose: A Novel by Zinzi Clemmons

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Pages: 213 pages
Published: July 2017 

At its core, What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons is a story about grief, depression, and healing. In this short fictional novel, Clemmons presents a story centered around Thandi, born of a South African mother and black American father, who loses her mom to cancer. The plot is Thandi working her way through this loss. She also explores seemingly unrelated themes of femininity, race, sexuality, and identity.

Clemmons has received rave reviews on her debut novel. I'm not as impressed. While there were some touching passages that resonated with me, I found the book to be very disjointed and lacking fluidity. Maybe she was trying to illustrate the emotional elements of grief through her writing. I found it very cumbersome. At times I could not tell if she was writing fiction or non-fiction. She references real life events and scientific studies like the book is a work of non-fiction, but then she has Thandi's story, which is somewhat fictional, sitting on top of the book. I say "somewhat" because she, the author, has admitted to borrowing experiences from her relationship with her own mother and using them in the novel. I know authors do this - you write what you know. I truly believe this gives the stories depth. However, in my humble opinion, Clemmons did not execute this well. I found myself re-reading passages to understand if the events she was writing about were regarding a real life person, like Nelson Mandela or Barack Obama or if she was referring to the fictional character, Thandi.

I liken the tone and pace of this book to Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot. There seems to be a trend of authors writing their trauma through their books. I suppose this is a tool to heal. I just don't know if it's effective from a creative standpoint.

Recommendation:  This was an interesting read that I finished in about two hours. Obviously, it has resonated with many people. It just wasn't my cup of tea. The one thing I did take from it was: Love your mom while she's still here. Happy Mother's Day, Mom! :-)

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Pages: 310 pages
Published: October 2018 

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi is a coming-of-age novel about a teen girl who happens to be Muslim and how her culture causes some uncomfortable and extremely violent reactions from people post-9/11. The book is somewhat autobiographical in that the author did experience some of the events illustrated in the novel. However, it is not an autobiography. Think of it as "inspired by" rather than a re-telling of her life. I learned about this book when Mafi spoke on a panel at the 2019 North Texas Young Adult Book Festival in March. I am glad I did.

Mafi is a storyteller. Her writing is fluid, and her prose is beautiful. In this novel, she presents some incredibly horrific events, in such a beautiful way, that captivates the reader. At its core, the book is a teen love story about the main character, Shirin, who meets her classmate, Ocean James. The two are very different but also very much drawn to each other. Mafi tells the story of their interactions and the result of those interactions from a snippet of time in their high school careers.

I think this book was very true to life, which is why I think it held my attention from page one till the very end. It was a quick and enjoyable albeit sometimes uncomfortable read. The pace and feel of it reminded me of Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give. It is so important that we all, especially young adults, have a diverse library of books from which to choose. I am thankful Mafi shared this story, and I hope she knows it does not only resonate with people from the Muslim community but other people of color as well.

Recommendation:  I would definitely recommend this book to young adults (late teens) of all backgrounds. We learn by reading, and there is something to be learned here. There is some language and romantic scenes, although nothing sexually explicit.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Rating: 4.5+ of 5 stars
Length: 325 pages
Published: August 2018

The majority of the members in my bookish groups had been telling me to run, not walk, to the nearest library or bookstore and get Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing. As luck would have it, I was able to get on the list at my local library and the ebook became available ... about six hours before Fredrik Backman's Beartown also became available, so I dug in right away. 

Where the Crawdads Sing is a coming of age story about Kya Clark who, at a young age, was abandoned by her family. We learn of her tale of survival through a chronological telling from age 6 through young adulthood. The book's setting alternates between this historical, biographical backdrop in the 1950s and 1960s and a more present day decade of the 1970s. In this more recent timeline, the reader learns that Chase Andrews, the town's heartthrob, has been found dead and probably murdered. From there, the story vacillates between the two time periods until they converge on the pinnacle point of the mysterious death. 

This story has everything: great writing, a compelling plot, mystery, suspense, and romance. Ms. Owens is a talented writer creating powerful imagery of the marsh and swamplands of the North Carolina coast. She does such a great job depicting scenes in her novel that I felt like I was there. Owens writes in such a way that the reader can't help but be transported to the very time and place in which she is describing. This book and this author's writing is a true illustration of what readers mean when they say books can take you places you've never been before. Additionally, the suspenseful elements of the book propel the reader forward. The book had a little bit of a slow start for me (hence the rating just shy of 5 stars), but the momentum quickly picked up and didn't let me go until the surprising, plot twist-filled conclusion. 

Recommendation: I was pressed for time on this book because I needed to get to my next ebook loan; however, I suspect that I would have devoured it without a deadline just the same. Do yourself a favor and travel to North Carolina through Ms. Owens' words. Run, don't walk, and pick up a copy of Where the Crawdads Sing today! 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Black Girl in Paris by Shay Youngblood

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Length: 256 pages
Published: January 2001

The theme for the Mocha Girls Read book of the month in January was Paris. As a group, we voted to read Black Girl in Paris by Shay Youngblood. This relatively short and extremely beautiful book was essentially a coming of age story for its protagonist, Eden, and a lovely way to kick off 2019.

Black Girl in Paris is the story of a young lady and budding writer who picks up from her home in the United States with a little money and travels to Europe in search of the greatness that author James Baldwin wrote about. While there she encounters many people while trying to make a living and find creative inspiration in Paris. 

One thing I found it interesting about this book is that Youngblood set it in the 80s while writing it in the millennium. It could have just as easily been set in the time in which it was written. I suspect the author may have done this to demonstrate just how far way from home Eden traveled. With the technology today (and in the early part of the turn of the century), it's so much easier to be close even when there's great physical distance. 

Black Girl in Paris reads like a collection of chronological essays. Youngblood's prose is excellent and you want to follow her as a writer and Eden as the main character on this journey of self discovery. This book definitely kept me interested. This is not something I would have read but for book club. And that is one of the greater purposes of book club. I am glad I was able to partake and participate. 

My ultimate takeaway from this story is that we cannot escape racism no matter the time nor location. 

Recommendation: If you love Paris and the pursuit of one's dreams, this quick read might pique your interest. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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