It’s that time of year again when I share my Top Books of the Year! And once again the books do not disappoint. I am always thankful when I get some leisure reading in, especially with my busy schedule. Whether it’s on the plane, sitting poolside or by the beach, or while I’m under the hairdryer reading something new or revisiting a classic is very much necessary.
As an extra bonus a few of the books on this year’s list even got turned into Hulu and Netflix television series, now that’s pretty exciting!
So without further ado (in no particular order), check out Dr. G’s Top 23 Books of 2023!
As I always like to say ‘Happy Reading’ and make sure you support your local bookstores!! Look forward to sharing with you all in 2024!!
For those preparing to celebrate Halloween, I wanted to share a recent feature that I am included in as well as my Top 20 Fave Horror movies!! Now while I’m not necessarily an active Halloween participant (anymore), I am a fan of a great horror/thriller movie!! On this past Monday I was featured in a VCU News article, “What’s your favorite scary movie? A horror film watch list for October.” The article features recommendations from VCU faculty, staff, and students on their favorite horror movies! I selected the 1992 classic film, Candyman! See an excerpt below:
“Candyman”is a classic example of how a film can and does eloquently have a conversation surrounding racism, Black pain and historical memory. This in many ways is what separates it from other horror films, telling the story of a mysterious Black man who comes back to life after being brutally executed.
Lead character “Daniel Robitaille” (played by Tony Todd) from Candyman (1992)
In addition to the above feature, I wanted to share my Top 20 Fave Horror/Thriller films! You can watch these on Halloween or any other day when you need that horror fix!
Now this list is in no particular order, just simply a feature list:
Candyman (1992 and 2021)
The Blackening (2023)
His House [Netflix] (2020)
Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
Master [Prime Video] (2022)
Eve’s Bayou (1997)
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023)
Get Out (2017)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Ganja & Hess (1973)
Tales from the Hood (1995)
Us (2019)
Smile (2022)
Nosferatu (1922)
Midsommar (2019)
The Exorcist (1973)
Carrie (1976)
The Craft (1996)
So many stories to tell, so many viewpoints to share, and plenty of chills to crawl up your spine!! Try one, or try them all, trust me there is at least something for everyone!!
Keeping up with my tradition from 2020 and 2021 I have compiled my ‘Top 22’ books from this year!! I feel like I always have an endless supply of books, you can never have too many! Plus I love seeing my library grow!!
This year I added a few graphic novels that caught my attention during one of my many travels this year!!
All in all, I love sharing some of my top reading faves!! As I always say, ‘sharing is caring.’
So in no particular order, here is my Top 22 List of Books for 2022!!
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever the Courage to Dream ~Frederick Joseph
The Keeper ~Tananarive Due & Steven Barnes
Take My Hand ~Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Red Lip Theology: For Church Girls Who’ve Considered Tithing to the Beauty Supply Store When Sunday Morning Isn’t Enough ~Candice Marie Benbow
The Silent Twins ~Marjorie Wallace
The Light We Carry ~Michelle Obama
Black Disability Politics ~Sami Schalk
Riding Jane Crow:African American Women on the American Railroad ~Miriam Thaggert
Finding Me ~Viola Davis
Walking in My Joy In These Streets ~Jenifer Lewis
Surviving Southampton: African American Women and Resistance in Nat Turner’s Community ~Vanessa M. Holden
Tune in on this Thursday May 12th at 3 pm/ET as Dr. Robinson and I continue our discussion n Blackness and horror with a discussion on the 1997 film, Eve’s Bayou!!
This discussion explores the 1997 film Eve’s Bayou. Actress Kasi Lemmons made an auspicious debut as a writer and director with this delicately handled, wrenchingly emotional drama, hailed by critic Roger Ebert as one of the best films of 1997. Eve’s Bayou begins with ominous narration: “The summer I killed my father, I was 10 years old.” From that point the story moves backward in time and memory to Louisiana in 1962, when a young girl named Eve (Jurnee Smollett) witnesses a shocking act on the part of her womanizing father (Samuel L. Jackson). But what really happened? And can Eve be certain about what she saw when there is more than one interpretation of the facts? Less a mystery than a study of deeply rooted emotions rising to the surface to affect an entire family, the film has the quality of classic Southern literature, with layers of memory unfolding to reveal a carefully guarded truth.
Just in case you want to refresh your memory of the movie, check out the trailer below:
Black Future Feminist 