It’s that time of year again, where I share with you my best intentions for the new year by giving you a cross-section of the books I intend to read. Whether I get to read them or not is another story (no pun intended), but hopefully reading my list will inspire you to create your own.
Girl, Woman, Other | Bernadine Evaristo
I have already begun this book and so far I am loving it. A book about the diverse lives of black women is really my style of book, so when Girl, Woman, Other first came onto my radar I knew I needed my own copy. Thankfully, my sister gifted it to me for Christmas. Firstly, the colourful cover is a beauty and makes for great Instagram photos. I have so far completed the first two chapters and I look forward to reading the rest. Bernadine’s deliberate writing style is taking some getting used to but aside that, I am enjoying the rich characters, with their rebellious stories.
Slay in Your Lane Presents: Loud Black Girls | Elizabeth Uviebinené and Yomi Adigoke
Hot off the heels of their revolutionary debut book, which I adored (read my book review here), the ladies behind Slay in Your Lane will be releasing an anthology of black British writers. I am so looking forward to this book which will form an important part of the expanding catalogue of the diverse voices of black Britain. If the first book is anything to go by, then this follow-up is definitely one to look out for.
Love in Colour | Bolu Babalola
I have followed Bolu Babalola for a number of years on Twitter, and I’ve always found her tweets thoughtful at times, and at other times hilarious. She’s an intricate part of ‘UK Black Twitter’, who has more than earned her membership. So when she first tweeted about her novel I knew I would need to read it even before I knew what it would be about.
This year I graduated from my masters degree, finished my novel, got a column, started a key writing project, coined Oluwajack and wooed Michael B. Jordan pic.twitter.com/jqr2nRpcJy
— bolu babalola (@BeeBabs) November 29, 2018
Do They Hear You When You Cry? | Fauziya Kassindja
This book, which was first published in 1998, is definitely not new. In fact, I owned and read Do They Hear You When You Cry as a teenager but unfortunately, I either lent it out and never got it back or just lost it altogether. This autobiographical account follows the life of Fauziya, the writer, who flees from her native land Togo to escape FGM a dangerous cultural practice performed on women in certain societies around the world. Even through teenage eyes, I found the book deeply riveting. I would like to revisit it as a 30 something woman.
An American Marriage | Tayari Jones
This featured on my 2018 Must-Read List, but to be honest with you I chickened out of reading it. I knew this was a love story, which like most love stories which centre black people, ladened with trauma. As the year waned on, I decided I wasn’t yet ready for it. But in 2020, we’re giving it another go.
You may also want to read: What Has Madeline Been Reading?
I Am Not Your Baby Mother | Candice Braithwaite
Candice Braithwaite is another woman I have been following on social media for years. A mummy blogger who uses her platform to speak on racial inequality, Candice has long captured my attention with her colourful Instagram posts and candid captions. Her debut, I Am Not Your Baby Mother, a guide to navigating black motherhood is a book every black woman in the UK who has, or would like to have children should read.
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Write it Down Make It Happen | Henriette Anne Klauser
This may be a break away from my usual choice, but in 2020 I intend to level up. This means getting all the help I need. I would like to break out of the pattern of setting goals and not seeing them through, and this book came highly recommended by this YouTuber.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k | Mark Manson
Like the above, this is not my usual go-to but the audiobook is already downloaded on my Kindle! The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is described as a book which “cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be “positive” all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people”, and to be honest, I am intrigued. I hope to write a review soon.
There you go – a snapshot of my Must-Read List for 2020. Want to keep tabs on my reading journey this year? Let’s be friends on Goodreads.
What is on your must-read list this year? Will you be reading any of the books on mine?
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