Reading has always been one of my favorite past times. In the past, I’ve opted to listen to books using Audible. While I do love audiobooks, it’s sometimes difficult to comprehend or even remember what I’ve read. So these days, I’m making an effort to physically read more books.
When I read, I like to highlight, take notes, and refer back to certain sections. You can’t really do (all) that with audiobooks. And while I haven’t read as many books this year as I planned to, I’m making time to read and finish a few books this season.
Here are five books I plan to read this summer:
1. The Origins of Others, Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison is one of America’s most beloved and most notable Black female authors. According to a few reviews I’ve read online, The Origins of Others is essentially six lectures given by Morrison at Harvard University in 2016. She touches on race, fear, belonging, and an array of other topics in relation to literature.
2. No Disrespect, Sista Souljah
From the first time I read the line, “I came busting into the world during one of New York’s worst snowstorms, so my mother named me Winter”, I’ve been a fan of Sista Souljah. Her remarkable first novel, The Coldest Winter Ever, was a staple for every young black girl’s bookshelf. No Disrespect, published in 1994, is also said to be remarkable and riveting in its own way. Each chapter is devoted to someone who made a difference in her life and also gives a real-life look at how Black people are being treated in America. Although this book was written 20+ years ago, I’m almost certain the lessons and experiences she recounts are eerily relevant today.
3. The End of Me, Kyle Idleman
I started reading The End of Me thinking it was a normal chapter book, but it’s much more than that. Idleman brilliantly weaves Bible stories and scripture into each chapter to show how we must come to the end of ourselves in order to experience the full life Jesus has to offer.
4. Woman of Color, Latonya Yvette
Woman of Color explores motherhood, sisterhood, beauty, style, loss, and resilience from the author’s perspective. After thumbing through the pages, I can already tell this six-chapter book, part memoir, part lifestyle guide, will be a refreshing, intriguing, and heartfelt read.
5. More Myself, Alicia Keys
Since elementary school, I’ve been fascinated with autobiographies. So reading More Myself, part autobiography, part narrative documentary, has been a treat. Keys is a great storyteller. On the one hand, her life seems very normal. Then you start reading about her experiences working in the music industry and you see that her “normal life” is also extremely compelling.
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