The winter break is considered atime for rest and relaxation. Hereare five note-worthy books that should be read this season.
1. Black Sheep: Southern University’s very own Dr.Achebe Toldson has produced a work of art. Set in present day Southern University, Toldson introducesus to Duce, a New Orleans native at the University. Everything in Duce’s world is great; he has a lovinggirlfriend, excellent grades, and popularity.
It isn’t until Duce arrives atBig State, a flagship university in a midatlantic college town. There Duce has to deal with being aminority at a college where his thesis paper is being rejected for being to”progressive”.
Taking a break from Big State,Duce visits Brooklyn with a friend. While there, he his carjacked and his only copies of his thesis paper inhis car. Defeated and bitter, Ducereturns to New Orleans and the life he thought he left behind for good. Mixing psychological fiction withsuspense, Black Sheep is thetype of book that will leave the reader wondering what one’s true purpose isand if one really has any control in it.
2. The Sweethearts of Soul: Evelyn “Slim”Lambright’s second novel (The Justus Girls, 2001), deals with thePhiladelphia’s black music scene through four stories.
Black Music Magazine sendsamateur writer Laverne Diamond on a tackling assignment, to find theSweethearts of Soul which include Venus Jones, Adeline Lights, Ruth Thomas, andBrenda Wade.
The Sweethearts, a popular groupduring the sixties is now being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall ofFame. Like all disbanded groups,the Sweethearts are in no hurry to talk to Diamond or rehash the history.
As time goes on, Adeline, Brenda,Ruth, and Venus open up to Laverne as she understands the history thatsurrounds their lives. TheSweethearts of Soul is sure tobring laughter and tears to anyone who opens this book to read.
3. If You Were in My Shoes: GwynneForster’s puts a new face on the cliché “walking in another man’s shoes”. Set in Charlotte, North Carolina, we seetwo generations dealing with rape, pregnancy, and adoption.
Seventeen-year-old Coreen Holmesis raped when Leon Farrell walks her home from school one day. Realizing she cannot take care of ababy, Coreen gives baby Frieda up for adoption.
Twelve years later, Frieda isalso raped by her adopted father. Thirteen years after that, Coreen has remarried and is living asemi-normal life, until Frieda discovers who she is and plots to destroy hermother.
A drama that will leave youbreathless to the end, Forster’s writing style will leave the reader wantingmore. Both Coreen and Frieda willlearn what it’s like to be each other as they come to grips with their troubledpast.
Skipping on the edge of being asoap opera, Forster is able to make the characters and an ending so believablethat no one who reads this will forget anytime soon.
4. May December Souls: Relationship lecturerturned novelist Marissa Monteilh takes us on a torrid affair between 40 yearold Mariah Pijeaux and 21 year old Malik Tolliver.
Though the novel seems fluffy andshallow, Monteilh does an excellent job in connecting the character with thereader. Upon her fourth birthday,
Mariah goes to a seminar held bylove specialist Dr. Singer. Realizing that she needs to let go of all her emotional baggage, Mariahbegins her journey in forgiving her father, a man who left her and her motherat the age of five for another woman, and Kareem, a former basketballplayer.
Though she knows Kareem is wrongfor her, Mariah isn’t able to get over her philandering boyfriend until shemeets Malik, a man both she and Dr. Singer approve of.
The book, although lacking indepth, has exciting sex scenes and dialogue that will have you screaming “Gohead on, girl!” and snapping your fingers to Monteilh’s quick wit and humor.
5. Sacrifice the One: Monica P. Carter’s sophomore novel is in a classof its own.
Taking a time old of formula –girl struggles for father’s love, fails, spirals into self-destruction, getshelp, then gains father’s acceptance — Carter, a Shreveport resident, leads uson a page turning drama that feels like the characters wrote it instead of her.
Beginning in the winter of 1974,we meet Robert and Rose Armstrong, a loving couple living the Americandream.
Everything in their world isperfect, until Rose decides to have a baby. After unsuccessful attempts, Robert and Rose vow to stoptrying and be content with each other.
Despite doctor’s orders, Rosetries and conceives a child. During childbirth, Rose dies and leaves Robert alone to raise theirdaughter, Rosetta Love.
Over the years, Robert comes tohate everything involved with his dead wife, while Rosetta, now called Seta,struggles to regain her father’s love while doing the only thing sheloves–playing basketball.
As Seta settles into her teenageyears, death, major illnesses, and funding for clouds Seta’s judgment as shelooks for ways to earn money.
Carter is able to convey emotionsinto words, a feat few authors are capable of. Between wanting Seta to find the love she wants and Robertthe peace he needs, Sacrifice the One drives the reader to the edge of their emotions.
It is quite hard to finish thebook without a tissue close at hand.
