Tag: Fiction

Posted in Celebration, Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations- June 2025

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Summer is a great time to start reading a new book!! There are so many great spaces and places where you can get your literary fix! To be honest, summer is when I get to catch up on a lot of books that have been added to my “To Be Read” list. As a matter of fact, two of the books on this list I am currently reading (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson and Rivals by Jilly Cooper)! Since we are also halfway through 2025, this is a great time to find your next read and accomplish one of the New Year’s resolutions!

June is also Caribbean Heritage & Pride Month, so I definitely added a few nuggets under each theme for your reading pleasure.

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Check out June’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:

  • Good Dirt: A Novel ~Charmaine Wilkerson
  • Awakened ~Kelechi Okafor
  • Necessary Fiction ~Eloghosa Osunde
  • The Taking of Jake Livingston ~Ryan Douglass
  • Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson ~Tourmaline
  • Putting Myself Together ~Jamaica Kincaid
  • This is Not a Ghost Story ~Amerie
  • The Jumbies ~Tracey Baptiste
  • Better Must Come ~Desmond Hall
  • Eight Days: A Story of Haiti ~Edwidge Danticat
  • Rivals ~Jilly Cooper (I was fascinated by the Hulu TV series, so I had to read the book!!)

As always, don’t forget to support your local bookstores!!

Don’t forget you can always go back and check out previous lists in the “Resource” section of the website!

Posted in Celebration, Monthly Book Recommendations, On The Radar, Resources

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-March 2024

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

It’s Women’s History Month and what better way to celebrate than by highlighting a few books by some AMAZING women writers!! Even put in a few extra ones for you!! And as always, Don’t forget to support your local bookstores!!

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Check out March’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:

  • How to Live Free in a Dangerous World ~Shayla Lawson
  • Colliding With Fate ~A.E. Valdez
  • Under the Udala Trees ~Chinelo Okparanta
  • So Let Them Burn ~Kamilah Cole
  • The Black Girl Survives in This One ~Edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell
  • With Love, Miss Americanah ~Jane Igharo
  • Believe ~Leigh-Anne Pinnock
  • Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now ~Dana L. Davis
  • Pride: A Pride & Prejudice Remix ~Ibi Zoboi
  • Night Wherever We Go ~Tracey Rose Peyton
Photo collage of March Book Recommendations

As an Extra Bonus…Got a ton of books, but need to organize them? How about “Quotes by Iconic Women Bookends” created by Kristen and Lindsey Archer! Some of the icons available to purchase include, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Katherine Johnson, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Angela Davis, Sojourner Truth, Kamala Harris, Sonia Sotomayor, and Gloria Steinem. You can find these at Uncommon Goods.

And as always, remember you can always go back and check out 2023’s lists and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!

Posted in #30DaysofBlackJoy Series, Celebration, Monthly Book Recommendations, Resources

#30DaysofBlackJoy…Day 20-Celebrating Literary Black Joy (Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-June Edition)!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

I am truly a sucker for a good book. Getting caught up in a good book definitely brings me much joy!! Books on top of Books, this is definitely something that you will not see a shortage of whether in my home or office. Black joy is not limited to one idea, much like reading diversely is not limited to one genre of interest.

Thus, today’s #BlackJoy moment is all about celebrating Black literary work that encompasses Pride, Juneteenth, and Summer Solstice! Along with my monthly book recommendation list, I am including books that exude and channel Black Joy!!

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Black Joy Book List

  • The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World ~Jessica Nabongo
  • It’s Not All Downhill From Here ~Terry McMillan
  • Open Water ~Caleb Azumah Nelson
  • Who Will You Be? by Andrea Pippins
  • Friday I’m in Love ~Camryn Garrett
  • A Lowcountry Bride ~Preslaysa Williams
  • You So Black by Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D
  • A Garden of Black Joy: Global Poetry from the Edges of Liberation and Living ~Black Table Arts
  • Meals, Music and Muses: Recipes from My African American Kitchen ~Alexander Smalls

——-

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-June Edition

  • Jubilee ~Margaret Walker
  • Power & Magic The Queer Witch Comics Anthology ~Edited by Joamette Gil
  • Black Queer Freedom : Spaces of Injury and Paths of Desire ~GerShun Avilez
  • Palmares by Gayl Jones
  • Light for the World to See: A Thousand Words on Race and Hope ~Kwame Alexander
  • Charming As a Verb ~Ben Philippe
  • The Brightest Day: A Juneteenth Historical Romance Anthology ~Kianna Alexander, Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart, & Piper Huguley
  • Beasts of Prey & Beasts of Ruin ~Ayana Gray

Happy Pride Month!! Happy Juneteenth!! and Happy Summer Solstice!!

By sharing these lists I hope they bring you much joy as you read them and please feel free to share these awesome literary treats/books by Black authors with your friends and family!!

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“Never be afraid to sit a while and think.” ~Lorraine Hansberry

Posted in Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-March 2023

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

We are rocking and rolling through another list of recommended reads!! This month is dedicated to telling “Her” story as we celebrate Women’s History Month! Much like every month I try to mix it up to include graphic novels, coming-of-age stories, diasporic and world literature, stories of the American dream, romance, and historical fiction. Nothing like adding a few more literary reads to your library!!

Check out March’s List Below:

  • Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts ~Rebecca Hall
  • Maame ~Jessica George
  • Queenie: Godmother of Harlem ~Elizabeth Colomba
  • The Middle Daughter ~Chika Unigwe
  • Behold the Dreamers ~Imbolo Mbue
  • The Sun is Also a Star ~Nicola Yoon
  • Such a Fun Age ~Kiley Reid
  • Twice As Hard : The Stories of Black Women Who Fought to Become Physicians, from the Civil War to the 21st Century ~Jasmine Brown

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“Where there is a woman there is magic.” — Ntozake Shange

Posted in Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-February 2023

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Just like that I got another list of literary goodies waiting for you to add to you bookshelves. As always I have a nice mix for you, everything ranging from fantasy fiction to LGBTQ stories to illustrated history, and much more! And as you peruse the list make sure you also support your local bookstores!

Check out February’s List below:

  • Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People ~Kekla Magoon
  • Stone and Steel ~Eboni Dunbar
  • Rootless ~Krystle Zara Appiah
  • The Trayvon Generation ~Elizabeth Alexander
  • Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and Unseen ~George McCalman
  • Decent People ~De’Shawn Charles Winslow
  • A Ruin of Shadows ~L.D. Lewis
  • Trouble the Saints ~Alaya Dawn Johnson

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ~Harriet Tubman

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Feature Spotlight, Monthly Book Recommendations

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations- October 2022

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Fall is here!! Another one of my favorite times of the year!! Nothing like the crisp breeze blowing, the crunchy leaves, the sweaters and knee-high boots, and the early nights! And as always why not have a good book to curl up and read. Well I got you covered!! Check out this month’s book recommendations below:

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  • find her. keep her ~Renaada Williams
  • Bittering the Wound ~Jacqui Germain
  • Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem ~April Ryan
  • Love in the Age of Dragons ~Fatima R. Henson
  • Running to Fall ~Kalisha Buckhanon
  • Mr. Loverman ~Bernardine Evaristo

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“I really don’t think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don’t mind the failure, but I can’t imagine that I’d forgive myself if I didn’t try.” ~Nikki Giovanni

Posted in Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-June 2022

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Happy Summer!! As we prepare to enter into sweltering heats, take vacations on the beach, spend time with loved ones and friends, let me make sure I get you ready for some summer reading! Summer is always an exciting time for me, and a time to take advantage of some leisure reading!

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

This month, just like every month before….I GOT YOU!! Nice mix of stories from all different directions and perspectives!!

  • If They Come For Us ~Fatimah Asghar
  • My Monticello ~Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
  • Girl Gurl Grrrl: On Womanhood and Belonging in the Age of Black Girl Magic ~Kenya Hunt
  • The After Party ~A.C. Arthur
  • All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom ~Angela Johnson
  • A First Time of Everything: A Story of a Black Woman Public Servant ~Sallie Peake
  • Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations ~Nicole A. Taylor
  • We Are Each Other’s Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy ~Natalie Baszile

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.” ~Michelle Obama

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Feature Spotlight, On The Radar

Check Out Dr. G at the VA Festival of the Book!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

The coming Friday I have the great opportunity to interview three amazing female authors during the annual VA Festival of the Book!! Don’t you just love how this ties in with Women’s Herstory Month!!

Under the theme, “To Reimagine Time: Historical Fantasy“, I will be in conversation with Natashia Deón (The Perishing), Nicole Glover (The Undertakers), and Shelley Parker-Chan (She Who Became the Sun) as we discuss their historical fantasy novels, each of which incorporate the magical or fantastic as a means for their strong female protagonists to explore questions of what it means to be human, the importance of family and traditions, and how to fulfill their destinies.

March 17th, 2022 6-7 pm/ET … For additional details see here!

As part of the 2022 Virginia Festival of the Book, this event is FREE to attend and open to the public. THIS IS A VIRTUAL EVENT.

To attend, please register below or make plans to watch on Facebook.com/VaBookFest. The video recording from this event will also be available to watch after the event concludes, on VaBook.org/watch. The Virginia Festival of the Book is a program of Virginia Humanities.

This event will offer closed captions and an accompanying live transcript using Zoom’s built-in automatic speech recognition software (ASR).

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Monthly Book Recommendations, On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-February/Black History 2022

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

“We write for the same reason that we walk, talk, climb mountains or swim the oceans – because we can. We have some impulse within us that makes us want to explain ourselves to other human beings.” – Maya Angelou

Every month I always look forward to feature books for my followers, family, and friends to read. I am always on the lookout for books to add to my monthly lists, so much so that I had to create a file just for “Book Features”. Well this month is no different!! I found some goodies that I hope you will like and feel free to share with others!!

Check them out below:

As an added bonus this month, not only do you get February’s recommendation but also a special list just for #BlackHistoryMonth!!

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“Books are meat and medicine and flame and flight and flower,
steel, stitch, and cloud and clout, and drumbeats in the air.”

~Gwendolyn Brooks

~Dr. G

Posted in Feature Spotlight, Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk...

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-January 2022

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

It’s a new year, a new month, and I got a new set of books for you to put in your shopping cart, which will eventually make it to your bookshelf or e-reader device!! As always I am excited to share with you some literary jewels!!

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This month I got a nice selection of books ranging from historical fiction, YA psychological thrillers, LGBTQ+, urban fiction, coming of age and stories from the African diaspora.

So make sure you pre-order, add to your cart, support your local bookstores and remember sharing is caring!!

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and my recommendations from 2021 in the “Resource” section of the website!!

~Dr. G