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.
Books on top of Books, this is definitely something that you will not see a shortage of whether in my home or office (especially recently!!). Nothing like adding a new literary treat to your rotation! As I prepare for my upcoming trip, I have a few books that will be getting me through my vacay!! As summer is officially here make sure you don’t forget to grab a book for you, one for your friend, and an extra for good measure!!
Check out June’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:
The Bookshop Sisterhood ~Michelle Lindo-Rice
The Rich People Have Gone Away ~Regina Porter
Daughter of the Merciful Deep ~Leslye Penelope
The Lion’s Den ~Iris Mwanza
Between Friends & Lovers ~Shirlene Obuobi
Blackheart Man ~Nalo Hopkinson
Do What Godmother Says ~L.S. Stratton
Rage: On Being Queer, Black, Brilliant and Completely Over It ~Lester Fabian Brathwaite
The Volcano Daughters ~Gina Maria Balibrera
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read ~Rita Lorraine Hubbard & Oga Mora
And as always, Don’t forget to support your local bookstores!!
Happy Black Music Month!! Happy Pride Month!! Happy Juneteenth!! and Happy Summer Solstice!!
Don’t forget you can always go back and check out previous lists in the “Resource” section of the website!
Graduation Season is in effect! The school year is coming to a close. Travel Plans are being made! And Summer is just around the corner! With that said, it’s time for you to get your summer reading list together! And I am here to help you make some selections so that you can drift into that literary dreamstate!
Check out May’s List Below:
Last Summer on State Street ~Toya Wolfe
What the Fireflies Knew ~Kai Harris
Anywhere You Run ~Wanda M. Morris
The God of Good Looks ~Breanne McIvor
The Three of Us ~Ore Agbaje-Williams
Dances ~Nicole Cuffy
Before I Let Go ~Kennedy Ryan
You Think You Know Me ~Ayaan Mohamud
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!!
“Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.”
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:
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
Black Future Feminist fans, we got a special treat for you from our resident intern Jaya Robinson! On this past January, Jaya had the opportunity to attend this year’s Sundance Film Festival which was held in a virtual format!! Check out below her commentary and spoiler-free reviews of some of the festival’s feature films!!
This year I was fortunate enough to attend the Sundance film festival last month, so I thought I would give you guys a spoiler-free review of the four movies I saw!
‘After Yang’ (Directed by Kogonada)
After Yang was the first movie I saw at the virtual festival and it is definitely one of my favorites from the ones I saw. It is a movie set in a very technologically advanced society in the future and it follows one family in particular when their daughter’s android (Yang) breaks down and her father Jake played by Colin Farrell looks for a way to repair him. It is a beautiful movie that deals with loss and human connection. The acting is really a key part of the movie too, along with an excellent cast. The cinematography is also something that I really think of when I hear about this movie, just because it was so beautiful. After Yang is set to be released in theaters on March 4th.
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‘Master’ (Directed by Mariama Diallo)
Switching gears almost drastically, the next movie I watched was a horror/commentary on the black experience in academia. The movie follows two characters, Gail Bishop the new “master” at a prestigious New England university, and a student Jasmine Moore that is being terrorized by this “Salem Witch Trials” era legend on the campus. Each navigate different sides of the university’s haunted past and even more terrifying present. This movie was definitely my favorite of all the movies I watched at the festival, the horror aspect and the commentary really made me think of how black women are treated at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). I really loved how the movie was divided into specific chapters that were referenced in the dialogue. Not only was the writing amazing but Regina Hall’s performance really stood out to me, especially seeing her in a much more serious role. This movie will also be available to stream on Amazon Prime on March 18th.
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‘892’ (Directed by Abi Damaris Corbin)
892 is another hard hitting movie that is based on a real story. The movie follows Brian Brown Easley who once his disability check fails to deliver from Veterans Affairs is close to becoming homeless. As a result, with no other options in place he decides to hold up a Wells Fargo bank by saying “I’ve got a bomb.” Rather than being a fictional tale this movie is all too real, this movie showcases what some forgotten veterans face. This is usually not the type of genre of movie I gravitate towards, but this movie draws you in completely. Even all the way to the end you are invested into this movie and what will happen next. With stellar performances from John Boyega, who showcases his amazing acting range and Nicole Beharie, these performances really bring the movie together. This movie also features Michael K. Williams’ final role on the big screen.
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‘Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul’ (Directed by Admamma Ebo)
Where do I begin with this well done dark comedy? There is a lot to say about it, but first let us begin with what the movie is about. It follows Trinity Childs played by Regina Hall and her husband Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs played by Sterling K. Brown in the aftermath of a big scandal, trying to rebuild their once prominent church. The writing, in particular, nails the sometimes ridiculous nature of mega churches. It is filmed like an episode of The Office, following the mock documentary format that often lands with the audience. Although it is advertised as a comedy it does do well with juggling two genres of a more serious drama and outright comedy. This is another example of how Regina Hall steals a movie, she puts on another show stopping performance that really makes you invested in the movie. You don’t usually see a mock documentary in a movie format and I think that’s what makes it work, especially for a directorial debut film.
(Photo credit: Sundance Institute)
All in all, even though some of the movies that I watched were not some of my favorites, I am really glad I was able to attend and be a part of the Sundance community for the first time. When it is all said and done, I look forward to seeing everyone’s reactions to the movies once they officially release!
Another great day to roll out some new trailers!! Today’s line-up is mostly thrillers, horror, suspense with a splash of music!! Enjoy and check them out below:
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (In theaters July 16th)
Beckett (Streaming on Netflix August 4th)
Don’t Breathe 2 (In theaters August 13th)
Tick,Tick …Boom! (Streaming on Netflix this Fall 2021)
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” ~Frederick Douglass
It is nothing like finding a good book, a cup of coffee (or your drink of choice), and curling up on your couch as you float in literary heaven. I am always thankful when I get the opportunity to flip through pages, listen on Audible, or digitally swipe through the Kindle pages.
Here in this space, I will offer my suggestions of good books to add to your reading list (whether personally and/or professionally). This will be an opportunity to share books with you and hopefully get some recommendations from you as well. As they say, “sharing is caring.”
So make sure you stay tuned, you never know what may cross my desk!!
Black Future Feminist 