In January, we will return with our Great Black Books ‘09 as a wrap-up of all the books we’ve featured in Blogging in Black for the year.

CLICK HERE to visit our column and be sure to share your favorites from the past few months via the comment section!

Love Trumps Game by D.Y. Phillips

LOVE TRUMPS GAME by D.Y. Phillips shows just how spoiled Neema is. If she asks her mother to babysit her children while she goes to a job interview, it might be more than a week later when she returns. Her mother wants to say “NO!”, but Neema will just wait until her mother is busy doing something else and run out of the house, leaving the children. Her lover, Topps Jackson, a drug dealer, a homicidal maniac, is cruel – mentally and physically – to Neema, but she sticks with him. He has money, a house and her two children are his. What Neema doesn’t realize is that Topps tracks her everywhere she goes. He uses her to deliver his drug. 

The Children of Children Keep Coming: An Epic Griotsong by Russell L. Goings

Alex Haley’s Roots brought to the screen a more thorough account of heritage, struggle and triumph. As I was reading the introduction to THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN KEEP COMING: An Epic Griotsong, Roots immediately came to mind. THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN begins with the spotlight on two runaway slaves. Their destiny is the Freedom Train where they have hopes of reaching freedom and liberation. 

Billy by Albert French

BILLY, written by Albert French, is an American literary classic that explores the racial dynamics of the conviction and execution of a ten-year-old black boy in rural Mississippi. French brilliantly weaves two racially segregated communities together and examines the hatred that threatens to diminish the reliance these two communities have on one another. Bold characters brighten the pages, weaving a colorful tale that will leave readers mourning Billy Lee Turner’s death for generations to come. 

Children Of The Waters by Carleen Brice

Out of separation bonding may come, but to get to the bonding stage a series of events must take place in order for the circle to be complete.  CHILDREN OF THE WATERS by Carleen Brice is an atypical account of two sisters, Trish and Billie, one white, one bi-racial and their journey towards each other.  Born to a drug addicted mother and black father, Billie was adopted at birth by a prominent Denver family.  Never knowing her parentage, her seemingly complete world is shattered when Trish comes along in search of her younger sister.  With a story to tell and hopefulness in her heart, Trish’s world is turned upside down when she is forced to deal with the issues of race, religion and abandonment. 

Three Lives by Joe Washington

THREE LIVES by Joe Washington is an account of Nicholas Gambit’s life, starting when he grew up in a Kansas City ghetto defending himself from thugs, until he went to the university and finally, what he did when he left higher education. His mother raised him to remember how smart he was and to not fall into the low life that others around him were into. Everything was fine and he was in college when Raymond Smalls, a local thug, caused Nicholas to give him a huge beat-down. After that, Raymond was on Nicholas’ trail, wanting to kill him. Nicholas knew it and was very worried. Then a man came along who gave him a way out. Will it work for Nicholas? Can he really escape the ghetto thugs? 

Have Mercy by Earl Sewell

After the death of her parents, Carmen took on the responsibility of raising her younger sister, Nikki.  The home they made for each other was peaceful until Nikki began hanging out with the wrong crowd, which caused friction between her and her sister.  Carmen devotes all her time and energy making a nice home for them, never spending any time on herself or a social life.  Will an encounter with a rough-around-the-edges man open a whole new world for Carmen? 

 

Body By Night by Zuri Day

A broken love relationship, a stressful home life, and terrible eating habits send plus-size beauty, D’Andra Smalls to the emergency room.  After being diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes, D’Andra is determined to live a healthier lifestyle.  She begins by making better food choices and joining a fitness club, but the lack of support from her family and her own low self-esteem makes taking control of her life challenging.  

 

Miracles In Action by Angela Alexander

Angela Alexander has seen and been through more pain and challenges in her life than most will see in their lifetime. Yet, she continues to stand on faith and her belief that God is her strength and protector doing her most difficult times. As a soldier in the military, she was summoned to the office and when she saw the priest her heart stood still enough to hear God, because she was about to hear the biggest heartbreak in her life. After hearing the news, she did not lose control, she simply did what she had learned to do, she gave it to God.  

 

The Kat Trap by Cairo

Despite a rough childhood, Katrina, known as “Kat”, is achieving success her way.  Kat owns expensive clothes and jewelry and drives the hottest cars.  She learned early in life to take care of herself since her mother cared more for the men in her life than she did her own child.  Kat is a highly paid assassin with a unique way of trapping her targets.  She manages to keep her career a secret from family and friends.  However, when her private life collides with her day-to-day life, the results may be deadly. 

 

Oracle of The Sun Gods by M. Chelley Laurenz

When cultures clash in Africa, along come adventure, mystery, romance and some fantasy.  The aforementioned best describes ORACLE OF THE SUN GODS by M. Chelley Laurenz. 

After viewing, please share your favorite books from the last month.

June 2009 Five on the Fifth Features

The Way We Roll: A Bama Gamma Pi Novel by Stephanie Perry Moore – Young Adult
Finding Grace On A Less Traveled Road: A Cancer Doctor Reflects on Living and Dying by R. Elliot Willis, MD – Inspirational
Assata and The Secret of The Cowrie by Vickie M. Oliver-Lawson – Children’s Fiction
This is What I Signed Up For by Jerald Howard – Fiction
Before I Forget by Leonard Pitts – Fiction

The Way We Roll: A Beta Gamma Pi Novel by Stephanie Perry Moore

From the time she was old enough to understand English, college sophomore Malloy Murray has heard and seen the rites and customs of Beta Gamma Pi Sorority.  Her mother, the National President and her godmother live, and breathe for the lavender and turquoise.  Much to Malloy’s dismay they want the same for her.  Malloy’s resentment of the sorority stems from the fact her mother has always put the sorority before Malloy’s happiness.  Anger propels her to pledge but her heart is not in it.  A series of events have Malloy rethinking the bonds of sisterhood. 

Finding Grace On A Less Traveled Road: A Cancer Doctor Reflects on Living and Dying by R. Elliot Willis, MD

One thing R. Elliot Wills knew; there had to be more to life than the one his parents were living. They were a family of nine, living in one of the toughest projects in Chicago. For the most part his father, after a brief stint in the military, settled into a drunken existence. His mother had enough love to sustain the family and every now and then his father would gain employment, which made things tolerable. But, Willis’ despair was insuperable, and his struggle almost insurmountable. 

Assata and The Secret of The Cowrie by Vickie M. Oliver-Lawson

Have you ever seen someone wear porcelain-like seashells at the end of their locs?  Did you wonder why wear seashells?  In ASSATA AND THE SECRET OF THE COWRIE, Vickie M. Oliver-Lawson tells a story about cowrie shells that explains what they are, where they come from and why they are used to adorn the hair.  The story begins in a small African country, near a river, where a little girl named Assata spends her days looking for these beautiful shells.  

This Is What I Signed Up For by Jerald Howard

Thomas Carson is a dreamer but his dreams aren’t coming to reality.  Ashamed of being a failure in his girlfriend Darbye’s eyes, he contemplates suicide, but a phone call saves his life.  

Before I Forget by Leonard Pitts

In BEFORE I FORGET by Leonard Pitts, Mo, a well-known musician from the 70s, gets lost on his way to a gig. He goes there every week so he can’t figure out what happened. He goes to the doctor and finds out. At age 49, he has early onset of Alzheimers. Mo is shattered but is referred to a group of others just like him. They tell their stories, give each other comfort and make life better for each other. Mo realizes he has some unfinished business, mainly with his son, Trey, whom he has ignored most of his life. There were always jobs to be done, recordings to be made, trips on the road and so he really doesn’t know Trey.  

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (TRR) are the team of reviewers for RAWSISTAZ Literary Group (www.rawsistaz.com) and are committed to supporting and spreading the word about African-American titles. Since inception in January 2001, they have reviewed approximately 5,000 titles, been published in numerous print and online magazines, and provided online newsletters for book lovers worldwide.

May 2009 Five on the Fifth Features
Going Down South by Bonnie Glover – Fiction
Serving Justice by Jacqueline D. Moore – Christian Fiction
SThe Black Man’s Little Book of Encouragement by Cassandra Mack – Non-Fiction
Just Loving You by Frederick Williams – Fiction
Cop Out by Robert Davis – Self-Help

Going Down South by Bonnie Glover

No one can love you like family and no one can hurt you like family. I found this to ring true while reading GOING DOWN SOUTH.  Olivia Jean has an unstable relationship with her mother, Daisy, which is exasperated by her close relationship with her father, Turk, a man her mother is struggling to hold onto.  Daisy is jealous of the time and attention he gives Olivia Jean and doesn’t have for her.  When Olivia Jean tells her parents she is pregnant at fifteen, for fear of what the neighbors will think, the only option is to send her to stay with her grandmother.  Daisy’s relationship with her mother, Birdie is also fragile, so she is surprised when Birdie agrees to take Olivia Jean in on the condition Daisy stay as well.   

Serving Justice by Jacqueline D. Moore

Angela Jenkins was raised by her grandmother because her parents died while she was quite young. She lived in a nice neighborhood but didn’t have the money to have the things the other kids did. As a result, she was frequently teased and always felt like an outsider. Her grandmother encouraged her in Christian ways and urged her to excel in school. When she entered college, her three roommates became her family. They all went to law school and two, including Angela became judges. They remained good friends after college.

The Black Man’s Little Book of Encouragement by Cassandra Mack

THE BLACK MAN’S LITTLE BOOK OF ENCOURAGEMENT by Cassandra Mack gives advice, encouragement and support to a group who really needs it – Black Men. It covers relationships, prison time, what to do while you’re there, how to stay out of prison and how not to drag yourself down so you will feel you can’t accomplish anything worthwhile. Chapter 2 lays out just how to become successful. One section describes Martin Luther King’s dream and Malcolm X’s vision. Mack goes into how every life has a purpose and how to find your purpose. She gives concrete advice about baby momma drama and how to avoid it as well as great advice about how to not neglect your children even if they don’t live with you. One chapter tells how to praise your children so they don’t grow up feeling down and depressed. 

Just Loving You by Frederick Williams

The Mitchells are a typical upper middle class American family, who thrive on family drama.  Big Casey, who started with zilch, is now the owner of a major company and has put four children through college.  Family dynamics has the entire Mitchell family turning to the oldest son Jason, to use his power of persuasion to end or solve all family problems. Who wins in this situation? Are the secrets he is forced to keep hurting or helping his family?  Are Jason’s personal life and goals becoming a cesspool?  

Cop Out by Robert Davis

Robert Davis was born in New Orleans and lived with his eight siblings and his grandmother. His father disappeared before any of the children could even remember him and his mother was also missing in action. His grandmother always told him, ‘do the right thing.’ Instead, Robert began supplementing her income by working for chop shops, which buy stolen auto parts. He did a few other things that were not legal before joining the New Orleans Police Department and becoming an officer. He was quite young and when paired with older, corrupt officers and he began to follow their lead, only he got caught because a girl he was pressuring told on him. He and his wife fled to Canada so he could avoid prosecution. Apparently, it was too much for her because she packed up and left. That’s when he knew he’d have to live in the forest. He bought books on survival, camping gear, guns and knives and began to carve out his life in the woods.   

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (TRR) are the team of reviewers for RAWSISTAZ Literary Group (www.rawsistaz.com) and are committed to supporting and spreading the word about African-American titles. Since inception in January 2001, they have reviewed approximately 5,000 titles, been published in numerous print and online magazines, and provided online newsletters for book lovers worldwide.