Hey writers,
Normally, I’m not much of a fall person, but this year I’ve been leaning into the season and reading cozily at home. It feels like a warm hug.
Lately, I've been reflecting on the books that have left a lasting impact on my life over the years.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Black Girl, Call Home: Poems
by Jasmine Mans
The title itself checks me in different ways. Being a Texas native in NYC, I’ve made a home away from home. What both places have in common is me—I am my own home. While reading Black Girl, Call Home: Poems, Jasmine Mans’ words took my inner child's hand and drew my adult self into the warm embrace of a Black woman.
My Grandmother’s Hands
by Resmaa Menakem
The unjustified execution of Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams made me think about Resmaa Menakem’s My Grandmother’s Hands. Menakem walks us through the history of how racism affects our minds and bodies, which effectively carries on through generations—ultimately tasking us to pursue the process of healing and ending the cycle.
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Mouth: Stories
by Puloma Ghosh
Right in time for spooky season! This creepy collection of short stories left me breathless and horny. Its unique storytelling unravels the boundaries between realities (or unrealities) and the supernatural. At times I questioned how a bubblegum pop girl like myself could continue reading beyond wolf fucking and other sexy themes, but Puloma Ghosh’s Mouth: Stories provoked a thirsty curiosity.
Evil Eye
by Etaf Rum
Now, the cover of Etaf Rum’s Evil Eye is absolutely dazzling! Its story follows a Brooklyn-born Palestinian woman, Yara, attempting to raise her two daughters in North Carolina. Yara’s emotionally volatile and conservative childhood continues to plague and affect most aspects of her life, forcing her to confront her trauma.
The Princess of 72nd St
by Elaine Kraf
Elaine Kraf’s Princess of 72nd Street is a quick read set in 70s Manhattan. The leading character, Ellen, known as the Princess of 72nd Street, is an artist who lives two separate lives and manages her mental health episodes which she coins as “radiances.” The story follows Ellen’s escapades and other interesting characters to better understand her boastful and active mind.
Happy reading! 📚
Until next time,
Brie + writers club