Possessing the Secret of Joy (The Color Purple Collection Book 3) Kindle Edition by Alice Walker

 Book Excerpt:

"An American woman struggles with the genital mutilation she endured as a child in Africa in a New York Times bestseller, "as compelling as The Color Purple" (San Francisco Chronicle).

In Tashi's tribe, the Olinka, young girls undergo female genital mutilation as an initiation into the community. Tashi manages to avoid this fate at first, but when pressed by tribal leaders, she submits. Years later, married and living in America as Evelyn Johnson, Tashi's inner pain emerges. As she questions why such a terrifying, disfiguring sacrifice was required, she sorts through the many levels of subjugation with which she's been burdened over the years.


In Possessing the Secret of Joy, Alice Walker exposes the abhorrent practice of female genital mutilation in an unforgettable, moving novel.

This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alice Walker, including rare photos from the author's personal collection."

Title:  Possessing the Secret of Joy

Author:  Alice Walker

Publisher:  Open Road Media

Series:  The Color Purple Collection Book 3

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Five

Review:

"Possessing the Secret  of Joy" by Alice Walker

My Insight:  

"Possessing the Secret of Joy" courageously tackles the challenging issue of female circumcision, and the author's sensitivity in addressing this complex topic is truly impressive. Although I found it to be a demanding read, I am so thankful I decided to dive in. For those who enjoyed "The Color Purple," you'll be delighted to encounter Tashi, the daughter-in-law of Celie, who makes a heartfelt appearance in this story.

I don't want to give too much away, but I genuinely encourage you to explore "Possessing the Secret of Joy." The author has a unique gift for bringing tough themes to life, and their storytelling is nothing short of extraordinary.

As we navigate the narrative, we are reminded of the tragic reality that many children have suffered due to this practice, with some losing their lives or facing lifelong challenges. While it may be a challenging read, it is incredibly meaningful and opens our eyes to crucial truths that deserve our attention. You won't regret picking this one up!

The Temple of My Familiar (The Color Purple Collection Book 2) Kindle Edition by Alice Walker

 Book Excerpt:

"The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple weaves a 'glorious and iridescent' tapestry of interrelated lives in this New York Times bestseller (Library Journal).

Includes a new letter written by the author

In The Temple of My Familiar, Celie and Shug from The Color Purple subtly shadow the lives of dozens of characters, all of whom in some way deal with the legacy of the African experience in America. From recent African immigrants, to a woman who grew up in the mixed-race rainforest communities of South America, to Celie's own granddaughter living in modern-day San Francisco, all must come to understand the brutal stories of their ancestors to come to terms with their own troubled lives.  


As Walker follows these astonishing characters, she weaves a new mythology from old fables and history, a profoundly spiritual explanation for centuries of shared African American experience.


This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alice Walker, including rare photos from the author's personal collection.


The Temple of My Familiar is the 2nd book in the Color Purple Collection, which also includes The Color Purple and Possessing the Secret of Joy."

Title:  The Temple of My Familiar

Author:  Alice Walker

Publisher:  Open Road Media

Series:  The Color Purple Collection Book 2

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"The Temple of My Familiar" by Alice Walker

My Insight:  

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Temple of My Familiar"; it’s a captivating historical novel that intricately weaves together themes and narratives, making it a remarkable continuation of the author's poignant storytelling first introduced in "The Color Purple." For the most enriching experience, I highly recommend diving into that book first, as it lays a robust foundation for understanding the depth of the characters and their journeys. 

While some sections are layered and complex, I assure you that if you persevere, everything will beautifully converge by the end. Prepare yourself to encounter a rich tapestry of fascinating characters, each with their own unique stories and insights, alongside thought-provoking themes that resonate long after you turn the last page. The unforgettable storyline is filled with emotional twists and turns that will keep you eagerly turning the pages, lost in its world. You're truly in for a literary treat! I thoroughly enjoyed "The Temple of My Familiar." It’s a captivating historical novel that intricately weaves together themes and narratives, serving as a remarkable continuation of the author's poignant storytelling first introduced in "The Color Purple." 

The Scent of Burnt Flowers A Novel by Blitz Bazawule

 Book Excerpt:

"Fleeing persecution in 1960s America, a Black couple seeks asylum in Ghana, but fresh dangers and old secrets threaten their newfound freedom in this hypnotic debut novel.

“I am truly blown away by this novel.”—Jacqueline Woodson, New York Times bestselling author of Red at the Bone

When the windshield of his Chevy Impala shatters in a dark diner parking lot in Alabama, Melvin moves without thinking. A split-second reaction marrows in his bones from the days of the war, but this time it is the safety of his fiancé, Bernadette, at stake. Impulse keeps them alive, and yet they flee with blood on their hands. What is life like now that they are fugitives? Pack passports. Empty bank accounts. Set their old life on fire. The couple disguises themselves as a pastor and a reluctant pastor’s wife who’s hiding a secret from her fiancé. With a persistent FBI agent on their trail, they travel to Ghana to seek the help of Melvin’s old college friend who happens to be the country’s embattled president, Kwame Nkrumah.

The couple’s chance encounter with Ghana’s most beloved highlife musician, Kwesi Kwayson, who’s on his way to perform for the president, sparks a journey full of suspense, lust, magic, and danger as Nkrumah’s regime crumbles around them. What was meant to be a fresh start quickly spirals into chaos, threatening both their relationship and their lives. Kwesi and Bernadette’s undeniable attraction and otherworldly bond cascade during their three-day trek, and so does Melvin’s intense jealousy. All three must confront one another and their secrets, setting off a series of cataclysmic events.

Steeped in the history and mythology of postcolonial West Africa at the intersection of the civil rights movement in America, this gripping and ambitious debut merges political intrigue, magical encounters, and forbidden romance in an epic collision of morality and power."

Title: The Scent of Burnt Flowers
Author: Blitz Bazawule
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The Scent of Burnt Flowers" by Blitz Bazawule

My Assessment:

'The Scent of Burnt Flowers' was an exciting story that one must keep up with because it goes back and forth in many of its scenes. The story is presented with mythical creatures and events that will leave one thinking a lot about what is going on in the story. We find the story is combined with a triangle love story [Melvin, Bernadette, and Kwesi], chasing fugitives by an agent [FBI Agent Huges] that didn't obey what he was told to do by his authorities, and by the end of the story terrible things happened to them through devastation. I will stop here and say this author puts together quite a read that you will have to pick up 'The Scent of Burnt Flowers' to see how this played so well in how this story will come together. Somewhat by the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Love & Saffron A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love by Kim Fay

 Book Excerpt:

"In the vein of the classic 84, Charing Cross Road and Meet Me at the Museum, this witty and tender novel follows two women in 1960s America as they discover that food really does connect us all and that friendship and laughter are the best medicine.

When twenty-seven-year-old Joan Bergstrom sends a fan letter--as well as a gift of Saffron--to fifty-nine-year-old Imogen Fortier, a life-changing friendship begins. Joan lives in Los Angeles and is just starting out as a writer for the newspaper food pages. Imogen lives on Camano Island outside Seattle, writing a monthly column for a Pacific Northwest magazine. While she can hunt elk and dig for clams, she's never tasted fresh garlic--exotic fare in the Northwest of the sixties. As the two women commune through their letters, they build a closeness that sustains them through the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of President Kennedy, and the unexpected in their own lives.
 
Food and a good life—they can't be separated. It is a discovery the women share, not only with each other but with the men in their lives. Because of her correspondence with Joan, Imogen's decades-long marriage blossoms into something new and exciting, and in turn, Joan learns that true love does not always come in the form we expect it to. Into this beautiful, intimate world comes the ultimate test of Joan and Imogen's friendship—a test that summons their unconditional trust in each other.
 
A brief respite from our chaotic world, Love & Saffron is a gem of a novel, a reminder that food and friendship are the antidotes to most any heartache and that human connection will always be worth creating."

Title: Love & Saffron
Author: Kim Fay
Publisher: PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Love & Saffron A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love" by Kim Fay

My Assessment:

'Love and Saffron' was a delightful read told in a penpal form.
We find the setting of this story was from the 1960s [Seattle and Los Angeles] when Joan Bergstrom, a twenty-seven-year-old who was a columnist, and Imogen and fifty-nine-year-old Imogen Fortier, who through fan letters that produced a friendship that became good friends. Who knew that since they both worked for a newspaper and when Joan sent Imogen a packet of Saffron along with a fan letter, a friendship would come from this situation and you will have to pick up "love & Saffron to find out what all this author has in store for the reader.

It was a heartwarming read seeing how these two were able "to share recipes, love of food, pleasures, even curiosities from their richness of life." What a joy it was reading about seeing these two who 'shared affinity and fascination with each other insights and experiences.' Seeing how these two stuck with each other through a little bit of it all, especially when it came to their love of cooking and food.

Even as life went on around them ...from the Cuban missile crisis, the assassination of President Kennedy, different attitudes toward people of color which brought out fears and all that brought out lots of reactions of the world as there were lots of changes coming forth and most of all hope for the future.

Be ready for not only a well-written story but also a memorable one about friendship and, oh yes, food.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the excellent read and my leaving my honest opinion from the read.

Confessions in B-Flat by Donna Hill

 Book Excerpt:

"A captivating and skillfully constructed weaving of history and romantic drama." -Kirkus 

Essence bestselling author Donna Hill brings us an emotional and powerful love story set against the powerful backdrop of the civil rights movement that gripped a nation—a story as timely as it is timeless...

The year is 1963. In Harlem, the epicenter of Black culture, the fight for equality has never been stronger. The time is now. Enough is enough. Yet even within its ranks, a different kind of battle rages. Love thy neighbor? Or rise up against your oppressors? 

Jason Tanner has just arrived in New York to help spread the message of his mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., of passive resistance. At the same time, beat poet Anita Hopkins believes the teachings of Malcolm X with all her heart: that the way to true freedom is "by any means necessary." When Jason sees Anita perform her poetry at the iconic B-Flat lounge, he’s transfixed. And Anita has never met anyone who can match her wit for wit like this…

One movement, two warring ideologies—can love be enough to unite them?

Confessions in B-Flat is a celebration of the hard-won victories of those who came before us and a stark reminder of just how far we still have to go."

Title: Confessions in B-Flat
Author: Donna Hill
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Confessions in B-Flat" by Donna Hill

My Speculation:

Wow, now this is one read that will keep your attention till the end that was not only a good read but very timely due to what is going on in our world 2020 even though this event happened during the 1960s. And believe it or not, this civil unrest is still happening in some fashion now in our world of 2020.

It was quite an interesting read for Jason Tanner and Anita Hopkins, who meet on a bus going to New York City. We find Jason was being 'sent by Dr. King to help get the message of passive resistance to the people up north, which showed clashing with how Anita's had her support going for the support of Malcolm X's ideology.' As the story continues, it was good seeing if these two will clash due to their separate political differences that deal with civil rights, but what will happen when there is a beautiful love story connection between these two? What was it about Anita's special way she could put out the poetry at the B Flat that will keep you wanting more? The other characters in this story were well-developed and well-defined, giving the story that special punch in this emotional, educational, and gratifying read. This read reminds me of how far we've come since the Civil Rights area and how relatable now we are in the Black Lives Matter movement 2020.

Would I recommend this read? YES, that would be my answer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

THE YEAR THAT CHANGED HER: The Year Book One Kindle Edition by Angelia Vernon Menchan

Book Excerpt:

"Two months before her fiftieth birthday, Ameena Mitchell sat in her car, tears racing down her face. It was December, and the past eight months had drained her. The culmination was burying the man she loved, two weeks earlier. Menton was the love of her life, the man she married weeks after she graduated from college. He was twenty-eight to her twenty-one at the time and seemed to love her thoroughly. They accomplished great things in almost twenty-nine years. She realized her dream of a Ph.D. in spiritual counseling, and he, after being a high school principal, got his dream job as a local college president. It was a job he loved and was where he was found slumped over his desk, at fifty-seven, dead of a massive heart attack. She recalled their last conversation.

"Baby, you've got to take better care of you. You spent all this year running interference, trying to heal my family and your patients, and you broke yourself." Menton said, staring down into her face, his eyes filled with love. His words resonated because it was true. She felt broken and wasn't sure how to put herself back together. "Promise me that no matter what happens, you'll focus on you."

She smiled at him and promised to start at fifty. They had gotten a chuckle out of that before he kissed her and headed to work. The next time she saw him, he was lying on a table, cold to her touch.

Drying her face, Ameena got out of her car and made her way inside, wondering if it would be better or different if she had become a mother. She and Menton tried but gave up after fourteen years when Ameena turned thirty-five. By then, they were both successful and living out their dreams. Now it all felt like dreams deferred."

Title:  The Year That Changed Her

Author:  Angelia Vernon Menchan

Publisher:  Honorable MENCHAN Media L.L.C. 

Series:  The Year Book One

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Five

Review:

"The First Year That Changed Her" by Angelia Vernon Menchan

My Speculation:  

What will happen when this devoted wife, Ameena, finds out about the secrets her husband took to his grave?  Well, it wasn't quite a secret because her husband's mother Minnie knew all about this situation.  Well, it was after her husband died that Ameena becomes friendly with a cousin that was a treat for her due to she had no other relatives.  There were some other cousins, but Sheba became one that really mushes with her so well.  For Ameena, will she be able to pick up the pieces of her life and move on when everything comes out about her husband's secrets?  Will it be meeting a Dr. Rashad Jackson that will give her just what is needed?  Will Ameena be ready to accept this feeling after all of the drama she has gone through from the in-law and some cousins? It was also good seeing Ameena reaching out one
again for another cousin. 

To see how 'The Year That Changed Her' will come out, you will just have to pick up this excellent, well-written story and see if there will be a H.E.A. for Ameena and Rashad.