Thank you for this list, David. I am not white and have read, to my immediate recollection, only 8 of the 23 books you recommend—some as long ago as college (more than 40 years), others within the past 3 years. Hurston's collection, Hitting a Straight Lick…, is one of the best books I read in 2022 and I recommend it often. I read Petry's The Narrows in 2023, thinking it was new to me, and realizing only with the familiarity of its ending that I did recall reading it in college! It was worth the second read and caused me to place other Petry works onto my current to-read list. Other titles on your list are familiar, but I cannot reliably attest that I have read them! Since I've already exceeded your 5-book challenge, I will endeavor to read all of those I have not read, if not within 12 months, perhaps in 24, as my to-read list is already quite long. Enjoy your respite!
Thanks so much for your response. I've read too few of these myself--I want to read both THE NARROWS and QUICKSAND. And I've heard about Himes for years and it's time to read some. Well, and a bunch of others. Thanks also for mentioning HITTING A STRAIGHT LICK . . . that was a late addition to the list.
In some earlier post, I reflected on the idea of reading projects, and how I couch my lists in those terms, because I like reading projects myself [for the past few years I've devoted myself to VICTOBER--I stumbled onto some impassioned YouTube (largely English) ladies who post their Victorian novel picks, and thought what the hell, why not? For one thing, reading projects get you to read stuff you wouldn't otherwise get to (or even think of maybe)]. I know that most followers don't take up the challenges, but it's really gratifying when they do! So I salute you, and if you feel you've gotten the good out of this challenge, there are, let's see, a dozen earlier ones. And more waiting in the wings. Good luck to you!
Have a great rest of your summer!
Thanks, Barb!
Thank you for this list, David. I am not white and have read, to my immediate recollection, only 8 of the 23 books you recommend—some as long ago as college (more than 40 years), others within the past 3 years. Hurston's collection, Hitting a Straight Lick…, is one of the best books I read in 2022 and I recommend it often. I read Petry's The Narrows in 2023, thinking it was new to me, and realizing only with the familiarity of its ending that I did recall reading it in college! It was worth the second read and caused me to place other Petry works onto my current to-read list. Other titles on your list are familiar, but I cannot reliably attest that I have read them! Since I've already exceeded your 5-book challenge, I will endeavor to read all of those I have not read, if not within 12 months, perhaps in 24, as my to-read list is already quite long. Enjoy your respite!
Thanks so much for your response. I've read too few of these myself--I want to read both THE NARROWS and QUICKSAND. And I've heard about Himes for years and it's time to read some. Well, and a bunch of others. Thanks also for mentioning HITTING A STRAIGHT LICK . . . that was a late addition to the list.
In some earlier post, I reflected on the idea of reading projects, and how I couch my lists in those terms, because I like reading projects myself [for the past few years I've devoted myself to VICTOBER--I stumbled onto some impassioned YouTube (largely English) ladies who post their Victorian novel picks, and thought what the hell, why not? For one thing, reading projects get you to read stuff you wouldn't otherwise get to (or even think of maybe)]. I know that most followers don't take up the challenges, but it's really gratifying when they do! So I salute you, and if you feel you've gotten the good out of this challenge, there are, let's see, a dozen earlier ones. And more waiting in the wings. Good luck to you!