Tag: twitter

S2 Episode 3 Show Notes: Red Lip Theology

Leave a comment

 For Season 2 Episode 3 we read Candice Marie Benbow’s Red Lip Theology

About the Author

Candice Marie Benbow is a well known Black womanist theologian with degrees from Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University and Duke Divinity School who makes a living as a writer.

Book Look

The cover stands out as a profile picture of Candice Benbow with popping Red Lipstick as an ode to her book title. Candice rightfully stands out and shines bright as the face of her new book/memoir.

Bookmark

  • “ If all of creation is holy, then Black girls and women are holy, too” pg 18
  • “Red lip theology is the space in which young, Black churchwomen can sit with the parts of yourself and be honest about all of them. Within these borders, there are boundless possibilities for who we can become and how we can love into our faith. Red lip theology introduced me to a God much more kind, gracious, and loving than the one I’d been given in my youth and young adulthood.” pg 22

POV

Sam and Felicia had a great bit to discuss and go over in this book. Favorite characters didn’t exactly apply to this kind of book but it is safe to say that Candice Benbow has an incredible story to tell about her life and faith journey.

Deep Dive

Red Lip Theology is about Candice’s journey to Jesus and helping other Black women heal from the constraints of religion. Felicia and Sam thoroughly discuss the definition of Red Lip Theology and what it means to them. Candice experiences racism, sexism, and other trauma and uses her book to redefine her own identity. We are excited for any future work or projects Candice has coming next.

S2 Episode 2 Show Notes: People Person

Leave a comment

 For Season 2 Episode 2 we read Candice Carty William’s People Person

About the Author

Candice Carty Williams is a British writer and People Person is her second novel. When she isn’t writing she is still very much involved in publishing as a book marketer. As a university student she was told she wasn’t “clever” enough to do English and yet found success in the publishing world at just 23.

Bookmark

  • “I’m not saying you need to toughen up, but you need to know who you are, and take accountability for who that person is. That’s when you’ll stop apologizing for everything.” p. 300

  • “I think that you’re a people person in the way that you get people. You see people. And, like, properly see people. You see us, you see who we all are, in our own way. And you don’t judge us for it. You don’t ask people to be who they aren’t. And I don’t think many people are like that, so, yeah. I rate it.” p. 305

POV

Sam and Felicia found the novel to be funny despite the dark themes. Although the book never gives it a name, the sisters found the overarching theme of the book seemed to be generational trauma and curses.  How much can the siblings really find closeness after years and years apart? Will the life altering event really be the catalyst to bring them together and change their relationships for the better?

Deep Dive

People Person is told majority from the perspective of Dimple, the middle daughter of what can only be described as a deadbeat father (Cyril Pennington). The story follows the 7 children of Cyril as they find themselves coming together to help Dimple after an altercation with her ex-boyfriend that becomes a life-altering event for them all. The story exposes the family trauma that can come out of being abandoned by a parent (and/or partner) as well as coming from an immigrant family. It’s also about accepting who you are as a person and being true to yourself despite the ways the world may try to harden you. Overall, the story gives a true perspective into how siblings can come together for good or bad, despite their parents’ mistakes and what path they may be on as individuals.

S2 Episode 1 Show Notes: A Black Girl in Paris

Leave a comment

 For Season 2 Episode 1 we read Shay Youngblood’s Black Girl in Paris

About the Author

Shay Youngblood is a Georgia native indie writer with an MFA in Creative Writing from Brown University.

Book Look

Black Girl in Paris is about a young Georgia girl following in her heroes footsteps to the Black artist Mecca, Paris, we follow the young girl as she struggles to survive in Paris and hopes to make it as a writer.

Bookmark

  • “I admire the dedication of the artist, but nothing is certain for you. I am not so brave.” pg. 16 
  • “You can’t stop living your life. Everybody is scared, but you can’t let fear rule your life” pg. 53
  • “Art is just as important food, ‘cause if your soul ain’t nourished, you one empty mutherf*ker” pg. 184

POV

Felicia didn’t have any strong ties to characters this time around. Sam’s favorite character was Delphine, who is a young sophisticated Black French girl who helps Eden survive her first couple of days and every now and then pops into the story to help with something. The least favorite character was Indigo, a manipulative man who seems to be taking Eden under his wing but really he is only out for himself.

Deep Dive

Sam and Felicia both felt that this was a darker read to start the new year off with. It was a short read but it wasn’t easy to get through. The topics and stories mentioned in this novel were really tough to read through. Eden is just a young girl who wants to live a life where benign black doesn’t hold her back. But, even though she gets a chance to move to France, Eden finds out that life is still difficult.

Podcast 13 Show Notes

Leave a comment

 For episode 13 we read Bethany Morrow’s A Song Below Water

About the Author

Bethan C. Morrow is a California native, she graduated from University of California with a Bachelor’s in Sociology. Morrow is an accomplished writer with several other books, and the sequel to A Song Below has been released, and is titled A Chorus Rises. 

Book Look

A beautiful and eye-catching book cover. The book cover played into the fantastical and fun theme the sisters were looking to read around Halloween.

Bookmark

  • “My voice is power. Awaken” p. 277
  • “I’m talking about things like illumination and warmth – things that help me see more clearly and feel more comfortable in my own skin and he’d talk about how those are things that bring “growth” p. 30

POV

Sam and Felicia enjoyed the overarching theme of Black women as magic in A Song Below. Although a fantasy novel, there are common themes that an everyday Black girl would identify with such as natural hair and sisterhood.

Deep Dive

In A Song Below Water, mythical creatures are known to the human world. However, sirens are considered dangerous and they are exclusively Black women. There is something mysterious going on in the lives of Tavia and Effie. Tavia is realizing her true power as a Siren. Effie is learning about the truth of her mythical powers. Even in a mythical world racism is alive and well and the girls will have to learn who is truly on their side and recognize they can accomplish far more than they think.   Ultimately the sisters felt like something was missing and there wasn’t enough for them to go off of to really fall in love with the story. 

Podcast 12 Show Notes

Leave a comment

 For episode 12 we read Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate

About the Author

Laura Esquivel is a Mexican novelist, politician, and screenwriter.  Laura has a passion for children which is why she trained to be a teacher, founded a children’s theater workshop, and has written/produced many dramas for children. After Laura’s father’s death she was inspired to write. Like Water for Chocolate was her first novel and it became a best seller in Mexico and the U.S.

Book Look

This book was a work of art from the inside out. Uniquely this is a story presented as a cookbook and family history.  At its core this novel was a historical fiction filled with magical realism. The cover immediately draws you in with the colors and women cooking.

Bookmark

  • “My grandmother had a very interesting theory; she said that each of us is born with a box of matches inside us but we can’t strike them all by ourselves; just as in the experiment, we need oxygen and a candle to help. In this case, the oxygen, for example, would come from the breath of the person you love; the candle could be any kind of food, music, caress, word, or sound that engenders the explosion that lights one of the matches. For a moment we are dazzled by an intense emotion. A pleasant warmth grows within us, fading slowly as time goes by, until a new explosion comes along to revive it. Each person has to discover what will set off those explosions in order to live, since the combustion that occurs when one of them is ignited is what nourishes the soul. That fire, in short, is its food. If one doesn’t find out in time what will set off these explosions, the box of matches dampens, and not a single match will ever be lighted.” pg 115

POV

Sam and Felicia both enjoyed the character ,Nacha, who was the family cook and the real mother figure the main character could connect to. In addition, Sam loved John, a doctor who was uniquely kind to Tita, the main character and was always there to support Tita. Without a doubt the least favorite character was Mama Elena who was the source of abuse and trauma in Tita’s life. Sam also was not a fan of any other characters whose motives seemed a bit unsupportive and undesirable.

Deep Dive

Like Water for Chocolate was a fantastical folk tale that incorporated family, food, love and life into a book. Sam and Felicia discuss how the magic realism in the book kept things intriguing. The story was filled with ghosts and a few other unknown elements that keep a reader engaged. The novel also includes great Latina representation in the characters, history, and writing style. The words on each page flowed in a beautiful and unique way. Sam and Felicia also go over the darker elements in the book and how it takes a bit of strength to finish the novel but it is worth it in the end.

Podcast 11 Show Notes

Leave a comment

 For episode 11 we read J. Elle’s debut novel Wings of Ebony.

About the Author

J. Elle is a former educator and first-generation college student. She has a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in Journalism with a minor in Rhetoric & Writing. She also has a Master’s in Educational Administration. J. Elle became a published author by winning DVPit in October 2018 (DVPit is a Twitter pitch contest literary agents and publishing professionals peruse to scout for talent). When she’s not writing, Elle can be found mentoring aspiring writers, binging reality TV, loving on her three littles, or cooking up something true to her Louisiana roots. 

Book Look

This book has a beautiful fantasy-esque cover and is reminiscent of other fantasy book covers the sisters have read such as Legendborn. The representation of the natural hair on the cover is a beautiful touch.

Bookmark

  • And for you reader, there is an amber in you that’s hungry to burn. That is your magic. Let it. (dedication)
  • You don’t get it. I see you trying to work through it, but I can’t let you keep hurting me or anyone in the process. p. 593

POV

Felicia’s least favorite character was the General, his character and motives ultimately didn’t really add up to her. In a world of magic – he still hates Black people. Sam was questioning throughout the novel, who can she trust? Sam’s least favorite character was the Chancellor, and hated that he ruled as a dictator but was treated as a God. Sam also didn’t like “The Gray People” or basically all the white people in the magic world. The sisters agreed on their favorite character being the grandmother figure, Ms. Iyelola, she was a courageous boss! Sam also was found of Jamal and Bati, who were from the tribe of true magic wielders. They came through for the main character, Rue.

Deep Dive

A major theme of the book was Black identity, giving back to your neighborhood, and showing up for your family and closest friends – As Rue would put it your ride or dies. For a fantasy novel, the back and forth timeline came off as confusing for Sam at some points. Rue had to navigate friendship and family to get to the truth of the magic inside of her. The story is based in magic, but it speaks to larger themes based on the Black experience. The sisters talk through and recognize the parallel between circumstances in the book and the reality/ramifications of slavery, racism, and white privilege. Sometimes, it seemed contradictory how much Rue wanted to put on for her hood and talked about “the block” supporting each other but, Rue couldn’t really get over the idea that she had to do everything her self or save the community herself until the end, when she realized that a victory would require everyone’s help. Although the sisters did comically disagree about how much Tasha could help. In Sam’s mind, with no magic Tasha had no business trying to help and jeopardize the mission while Felicia suggested she be the lookout (or something!). It wasn’t either sisters favorite read, but they both found the message to be beautiful, sister, family and knowing that your magic can’t be put out or dimmed by others, it’s forever inside of you.