Explore curated book reviews & recommendations by Black authors. Find your next great read from my home library collection, featuring fiction, non-fiction, classics, and new voices.
The Quest to Become a Well-Read Black Woman in 2026
When I first dedicated myself to reading books by Black authors in 2024, I started with pure, unfocused passion. I grabbed the first book on my shelf and just began. That energy led me through tons of nonfiction and historical fiction. But by 2025, my pace slowed down considerably. To be honest, I felt overwhelmed…
The Challenge of Reading Long Books (And My Plan to Finally Tackle The Count of Monte Cristo)
Let’s be honest: big books can be intimidating. Seeing a massive spine on the shelf just feels like a commitment. It’s easy to think, “I could read three other books in the time it takes to finish that one!” But I have a shelf full of these giants—books with over 575 pages—that I’ve been meaning to read…
The White Myth of Classic Literature
Let’s talk about classic literature. When you hear the term, what authors come to mind? For many, it’s a familiar, predominantly white list: Dickens, Austen, Hemingway, Fitzgerald. Let me be clear: I have read most of the “classics”. If you grew up in the Midwest, one or two of the classics were pretty much required…
Igniting a Revolution: The Story of FIRE!!, the Harlem Renaissance’s Most Rebellious Magazine
This year, I embarked on a “Personal Curriculum” deep dive into the Harlem Renaissance. While I loved the classics, I became fascinated with the lesser-known voices—authors like Rudolph Fisher and Jessie Redmon Fauset. But nothing prepared me for the explosive rebellion I found in the pages of Fire!!, a short-lived quarterly magazine that was less…
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