Mel The Bookworm

Last Week In Books: Say “Dr. Seuss” ONE MORE TIME. I Dare You!

Guess what I’m tired of talking about, but seems to have taken over the internet anyway? This week I could easily have written a book called “Oh, The Annoyance You’ll Feel!” but there are still some important things being done in these conversations so I can’t be outright mad at it. Anyway… *sigh* If anyContinue reading “Last Week In Books: Say “Dr. Seuss” ONE MORE TIME. I Dare You!”

[REVIEW] The Gatekeeper’s Staff(TJ Young And The Orishas Book 1), by Antoine Bandele

A black and white ebook standing on a cement block, underneath a halo-shaped fluorescent light.

(Find it HERE.) I LOVED THIS. Before I get into the review, let me just say–if you know a pre-teen boy who loves magic and adventure, get him this book. If he’s Black, get him two copies. This is the first book I’ve read in 2021 that made me want to clap and cheer andContinue reading “[REVIEW] The Gatekeeper’s Staff(TJ Young And The Orishas Book 1), by Antoine Bandele”

[REVIEW] Engine Empire, by Cathy Park Hong

A black Kindle Paperwhite with a white electronic book cover display, lying on a table in front of a wooden tray containing a half-drunk latte and a half-eaten chunk of cake

(Find it HERE.) The bleached ruin of light lasts and lasts, no night/to repair our miinds, no white clip moon to give us rest. / Only pitiless noon where our sleep-starved consciousness/patters faintly behind our squinted eyelids. ~ Ballad of Tombstone Omaha Have you ever read something and not been exactly sure if it wasContinue reading “[REVIEW] Engine Empire, by Cathy Park Hong”

Reading Kids, TV Railroads, and the Cancellation of Dr. Seuss: Last Week in Books, February 21st -27th

Two children reading underneath a blanket tent. One child is dark-skinned and curly-haired. The other is Asian, with long black hair and a middle part. They are giggling.

The titles of these get more and more fun to write every week. First, some good news: a 10 year old boy named Joziah Jason in Ypsilanti, Michigan has started a podcast bookclub for his fellow elementary school students. I listened to one episode and it’s equal parts inspiring and adorable. Check it out forContinue reading “Reading Kids, TV Railroads, and the Cancellation of Dr. Seuss: Last Week in Books, February 21st -27th”

[BOOKLIST] Earth Is Ghetto: A Booklist Where Aliens Land Everywhere

Yellow brick wall with red mosaic "Space Invaders"-style alien in top right corner.

“Earth is ghetto / I want to leave / Can you beam me up / I’m out on the street by the corner store / You know the one on 15th…“ I’m sure many of you have heard the viral song by Aliah Sheffield by now–it’s the toast of TikTok. If not, take a moment andContinue reading “[BOOKLIST] Earth Is Ghetto: A Booklist Where Aliens Land Everywhere”

[Review] A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara

Black and white book with photo of man's tightened face on cover held up in front of apartments buildings on a snowy street

(Find it HERE.) Jude, Willem, JB and Malcolm meet during their freshman year of university, and luckily the friendship lasts a lifetime–through failures, successes, relationships, jobs, deaths and heartbreak. They’re a motley crew–all different races, classes and sexualities–but the main character is Jude, the shyest and most secretive of the group, tortured by an unspeakableContinue reading “[Review] A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara”

Last Week In Books, Feb 7th – 14th: I’m Old and I Love You

Black woman with afro-puff seated in front of a bookshelf, wearing red skirt, purple peacoat and white tshirt that says "I Am My Own Normal" in black.

I turned 40 last weekend, hence the delay on this post. Also, it’s Valentine’s Day! Go read some romance and love somebody up today, whether romantically, amicably or nobly. Before we get into it, the lovely image of myself above was shot by Grace Kim and edited by Uchenna. The shirt I’m wearing, which isContinue reading “Last Week In Books, Feb 7th – 14th: I’m Old and I Love You”

Last Week in Books, Jan 31-Feb 6: Let’s Bring This Back, Shall We?

A screenshot of a tweet that says "#BlackHistoryMonth I post this every year and I pay $2 a month to keep it open. I compiled a free Black history library equipped with pdfs, ebooks and little video on: SNCC, The Black Panther Party, Harriet Tubman, Zora Neale Hurston, Garvey, Malcolm, Fanon:

Happy Black History Month! Let’s take a quick look back at some of the most interesting diverse books news from last week. OG Black speculative fiction writer Gerald L Coleman has put together the dopest, most definitive list of Black science fiction and fantasy I’ve EVER seen. Please check it out.[ Gerald L Coleman] ThisContinue reading “Last Week in Books, Jan 31-Feb 6: Let’s Bring This Back, Shall We?”

[HEAR ME OUT] I Am What Is And What Could Be: A Quick Thought On Why I Write What I Write and Read What I Read

Octavia Butler herself, signing a hardcover copy of a book

The following post is an edited version of a rant on the Equal Opportunity Facebook. Follow it for lots of bookish news updates and rants. “Fourteen years ago, during my first year of college, I sat in a creative writing class and listened as my teacher, an elderly man, told another student not to useContinue reading “[HEAR ME OUT] I Am What Is And What Could Be: A Quick Thought On Why I Write What I Write and Read What I Read”

[REVIEW] Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison

Blue paperback book lying on shiny polished wood dining table in front of a white coffee cup and saucer. The cup is full of latte with a fleur-de-lis pattern in the foam.

(Find it HERE.) Some books show you the lives of other people. Some books show you yourself. Some books do both. Song of Solomon has always been the last for me, although it’s always been hard to put my finger on exactly why. ⠀ This is a deceptively dense novel, packed with story and detail,Continue reading “[REVIEW] Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison”