tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56124462007-09-07T17:44:39.628-07:00QusanBlogger45125http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/fb_pwrd.gifThis is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site, subject to copyright and fair use.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-81354517652060635692007-09-07T17:43:00.001-07:002007-09-07T17:43:11.177-07:00

I know I haven't posted to this blog for a very long time and I aim to get back to it. But, I just had to post this review (in its entirety) of Edwidge Danticat's new book. I am going to add it to my Amazon list and cannot wait to read it. Joseph Dantica, one of two brothers at the heart of this family memoir, was a remarkable man: a Baptist minister who founded his own church and school in

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1162565932409015742006-11-03T06:58:00.000-08:002006-11-03T06:58:52.416-08:00

Wish I could have been there. "The African American Literary Award Show is a company created to give recognition to African Americans in the literary sector," explained Yvette Hayward, founder of AALAS, which presents the Open Book Awards. "It helps to honor, recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of African American authors and writers have made to the publishing world." "It's the

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1154291366861262602006-07-30T13:29:00.000-07:002006-07-30T13:29:26.873-07:00

I read this book in 1990 at the onset of the first Gulf War and it is time to dust it off and recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it before (or those who want to read it again as I do).

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1152257707742750112006-07-07T00:35:00.000-07:002006-07-07T16:56:14.503-07:00

I've been blogging way more than I've been reading so am really getting ashamed of myself for not keeping totally on top of things. Here's someone else Ive missed. I don't watch much TV, but I have managed to catch a few episodes of 'Scrubs,' and what I saw cracked me up. So when I was researching Angela Nissel, author of the recentlyt released 'Mixed,' for her appearance on More Than Words I

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1151825637420609472006-07-02T00:33:00.000-07:002006-07-02T00:33:57.486-07:00

Truthfully, I'm not sure I knew that Harper Lee was still alive. But, she peeked out of obscurity to write for O. Ever since Harper Lee's novel, 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' was published in 1960 and went on to sell 2.5 million copies in its first year and win the Pulitzer Prize, the author has led a low-profile life. Ms. Lee, now 80, has published virtually nothing of significance since then except

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1150746751102362552006-06-19T12:52:00.000-07:002006-06-19T12:52:31.120-07:00

Since I was born and raised in Chicago, this should be an interesting read. To Love Mercy is a new book by former Chicago newsman Frank Joseph that explores the city's South Side during the middle passage between the end of World War II and the lynching of Emmett Till. To Love Mercy is a novel of two boys the same age as Till -- a Jewish boy from Hyde Park and a Black child from Bronzeville

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1150230790907007162006-06-13T13:33:00.000-07:002006-06-13T13:33:10.960-07:00

This looks as though it may be a good summer read. I'll get back to you on it. When you curl up with an Andrea Lee story, there are three guarantees: You know you’ll get first-rate writing that won’t put you to sleep; you’re sure to learn a naughty phrase in Italian, Russian or French; and you’re definitely going to meet savvy, stylish, globe-trotting sisters who have great careers and even

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1148747509007653122006-05-27T09:31:00.000-07:002006-05-27T09:31:50.560-07:00

It's hard to believe that she taught as she wrote masterpieces. Former President Bill Clinton last night praised acclaimed Princeton University professor Toni Morrison for her humanity and exquisite touch with the written word. "I thank you, my friend, for your great big heart and for using that and your mind to help us to see the grace we must all imagine," Clinton said at the end of his

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1147282446765612742006-05-10T10:34:00.000-07:002006-05-10T10:34:06.836-07:00

With all of the garbage black fiction we have here in the states (which people gobble up, by the way) I'd say that the the UK markets need to catch up! The book trade is missing a trick by ignoring the potential of the black and ethnic minority (BME) market, says a new report by the Bookseller and the Arts Council. The Books for All survey of publishers, booksellers, agents and librarians found

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1144901854355318722006-04-12T21:17:00.000-07:002006-04-12T21:17:34.400-07:00

I think I may have attended more J. California Cooper book readings than any other author. I believe she lives someplace in Northern California so I she frequented Marcus Books in Oakland. I used to make treks there at least once a month. In addition to being a wonderful story teller, she also is a delightful treat to see in person. Her energetic and animated personality lets me see how she can

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1144898959512653622006-04-12T20:29:00.000-07:002006-04-12T20:41:04.720-07:00

I've always been a book lover so you know that as a kid, I loved all of the Ramona books. Well, Happy Birthday to the author. Beverly Cleary turns 90 this week. Oh, Ramona Quimby! I didn't think you were a pest. I thought you were a girl just like me. You envied your classmate Susan's reddish brown curls that bounced because you had ordinary brown hair. You were scared of big dogs. And you

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1144803683157755462006-04-11T18:01:00.000-07:002006-04-11T18:01:23.320-07:00

Here's a link to an author that I've never read ... and she lives in the Bay Area. How did I miss this?

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1143695844910833782006-03-29T21:17:00.000-08:002006-03-29T21:17:24.933-08:00

I found Octavia Butler to be a positively facinating writer. Science Fiction writers, in particular, are a little different and as a large, odd looking black woman, Octavia Butler, at face value, seemed like an odd person to be chosen for this kind of gift. In any case, here is yet another article of praise after her passing. There are those among us who worship Toni Morrison, then sheepishly

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1143591516455433062006-03-28T16:18:00.000-08:002006-03-28T16:18:36.506-08:00

Listen to an excerpt from Lolita Files' latest ... Celebrated author Lolita Files, who recently released 'Sex. Lies. Murder. Fame,' will be the debut guest for 'More than Words,' the BV Books podcast hosted by Ken Gibbs, Jr.

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1143070065177287212006-03-22T15:27:00.000-08:002006-03-22T15:27:45.246-08:00

Not only was I more than sick of all of the hysteria over James Frey's alleged fabrication of a few events in his memoir, I am definitely ready to punch a priest over all of the high drama over The Da Vinci Code, the upcoming move and whether this work of fiction is an assault on the Christianity. Fortunately, all of the madness isn't stopping readers from buying and reading either of these

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1143035111524667792006-03-22T05:45:00.000-08:002006-03-22T05:45:11.586-08:00

This is great! Warner Books, Seven Stories Press, Beacon Press, The Carl Brandon Society, Writers House, and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame announced today the creation of The Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of the internationally acclaimed fiction writer, who passed away last month. The Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund will enable writers of color

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1141037368449335582006-02-27T02:49:00.000-08:002006-02-27T03:00:13.790-08:00

I read my first Octavia Butler book in 1989. It was called Kindred it was one of the best books I've ever read. While I haven't read all of her works, I also read two of her books from the 90s: Parable of The Sower and Parable of The Talents. I also was able to attend one of her readings at the San Francisco Book Festival in 1995 or so. I recently recommended Octavia Butler to some people who

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1138302666084345982006-01-26T11:11:00.000-08:002006-01-26T16:11:16.676-08:00

This book seems to be causing somewhat of a ruckus. I really don't know what to say. Hold My Gold : A White Girl's Guide to the Hip-Hop World

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1137623622056957492006-01-24T17:37:00.000-08:002006-01-24T17:37:38.736-08:00

Here's a new one by Paul Beatty. Author Paul Beatty is back in the swing of things with his latest effort, ‘Hokum: An Anthology of African-American Humor,’ which hits stores Jan. 17. Author of ‘Tuff’ and ‘Joker, Joker, Deuce,’ Beatty, a 43-year-old Los Angeles native, is renowned for pushing the envelope. “I write because I’m too afraid to steal, too ugly to act, too weak to fight, and too

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1138151957646832872006-01-24T17:19:00.000-08:002006-01-24T17:19:17.893-08:00

BlackReader.com has a nice little bio on one of my favorite writers. I think she is one of the best and the most likely to succeed Toni Morrison and Alice Walker in receiving a Pulitzer or a Nobel Prize. While Krik Krak was a collection of short stories, Breath, Eyes, Memory was her first novel and I was blown away by her style and mastery of words. Edwidge Danticat was born in Port-au-Prince,

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1137538281256207142006-01-17T14:51:00.000-08:002006-01-17T14:51:21.316-08:00

Last night I ran across a stack of books - some of which I hadn't finished reading. Among them was Wayne Dyer's The Power of Intention. It is a great book and I often watch the PBS program of his that airs during their subscription drives. So, today I run across this blog post by someone who seems to be on a quest that is similar to mine. The one thought that's kept me focused (i.e. wouldn't let

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1137446277824097392006-01-16T13:17:00.000-08:002006-01-16T13:17:57.840-08:00

I cannot name a black person who doesn't claim to have a "little Indian" in them. Myself included, I supposedly have Cherokee lineage. But, here is a list of resources to check out so that you can trace your Native American heritage. For those trying to confirm their Afro-Native heritage, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Newberry Library in Chicago, the Oklahoma Historical Society

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1137244000279247192006-01-14T05:06:00.000-08:002006-01-14T05:06:41.230-08:00

Hmmm! With people still buzzing about James Frey's "fradulent" memoir, it's funny that I'd run across this course description at the UC Berkeley Extension on memoir writing: Introduction to Memoir Writing X6 (3 semester units in English) The notion that we each have a distinct and compelling story to tell is the essence of memoir--a genre that depends on the past as we

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1137097124898759502006-01-12T12:18:00.000-08:002006-01-12T12:42:41.056-08:00

While I believe I've posted my last words on the James Frey/Million Little Pieces saga, it has opened up an interesting debate. I actually never knew that there was any kind of distinction between a memoir and an autobiography. That debate has exposed rifts throughout the publishing industry this week, not least one between a prominent author - Gay Talese - and the similarly prominent publisher

Qusantag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5612446.post-1137039501677167792006-01-11T20:18:00.000-08:002006-01-11T20:18:21.733-08:00

Here's to hoping this is the last word on this story. I watched James Frey on Larry King and turned when the hour was over. For some reason I turned back to CNN and realized that Larry (cutting into Anderson Cooper's show) was still on and Oprah was on the phone. James was there, with his mother, as Oprah defended his book. Oprah Winfrey broke her silence about James Frey's disputed memoir of

Qusan