Browngirl Speaks

Truessence tagged me.

Total books I own:

currently 213 (not including my son’s library)

Last book I bought:

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

Last book I read:

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Adichie

Five books that mean a lot to me:

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston

Like the Singing Coming Off the Drums by Sonia Sanchez

Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker

She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb

Let the Lion Eat Straw by Ellease Southerland

I’m supposed to tag others, but all my reader friends have been tagged, so any takers feels free to join in.

The Thing Around Your Neck should be on your summer reading list.

Adichie is definitely becoming one of my favorite writers. This is only the second work of hers I’ve read, the first being Half of a Yellow Sun which is phenomenal.

Beautiful prose…

from "A Private Experience" "…that religion and ethnicity are often politicized because the ruler is safe if the hungry ruled are killing one another."

from "Ghosts" "…and I will be forced to live a life cushioned by so much convenience that it is sterile."

I really appreciate her use of second person narrative in the title story. It makes it that much more engaging and instigates a strong empathy. She liberally takes on sexual politics in regards to women and homosexuality in the African community without a bunch of hype.

"The Arrangers of Marriage" is one of my favorites in which you see a young Igbo woman brought to America by a husband who wants so desperately to fit into the "mainstream" it’s almost disgusting. The last two stories - "Tomorrow is Too Far" and "The Headstrong Historian" - were a bit lackluster in the subtle and heart wrenching language as in the prior stories. But this shouldn’t stop anyone from adding it to their must read list.

The reader will learn that the "The Thing Around Your Neck" applies to each story and some problem, concern, or truth that can be emotionally binding.

This one is worthy of a second date. 

Mark your calendars. 7/7/09. Maxwell. BLACKsummersnight. Music has missed you man.  

Check out his new video for "Pretty Wings" here.

*The season finale of Lost was like OMG!!  I am going to suffer major withdrawal until 2010.  And I can’t believe it’s going to be the last season…EVER!  But I am looking forward to the resolution of the best written show in TV history. As I tweeted last night:"As much as I distrust Juliet, I still would have preferred Kate’s ass going down!"

*I am sooo in love with my new hair brush.  Yes, that Denman D4 I mentioned a couple of posts back.  Thanx Teri of tightly curly for the recommendation.  And your whole site is fabulous!  This brush has given me weekly hairgasms for the last 3 weeks.  It makes my curls so oingy boingy and smooth.

 * I’m so glad that we’re doing 3 weeks on and 1 week off as our new homeschooling schedule.  I’m a bit too happy, I think.  That break is coming just in time…every time.  BTW, our basil is growing beautifully and the peppers are growing strong as well.  That basil smells wonderful!

*Congrats to Teyona, America’s Next Top Model.  She definitely deserved it.  I just wish it would have been her and Aminat stomping it out at the end.  Though, no doubt we’ll see her killer bod gracing some catwalks and some high fashion mags.

*Adichie’s latest book, The Thing Around Your Neck, is really good.  I’m about half way through this collection of short stories.  I know, I know…it’s not out yet in the U.S. I couldn’t wait, so I ordered it from The Book Depository.  This UK based book seller just rocks my world.  I should have a review up in a few days.

ciao!

Momversation is holding an amazing contest: Best mom memory wins a coveted spot on their panel!

Here’s what I need you to do: vote for Quel!  She’s the fab mom blogger of HomeGirl.