Blog tour: What Start Bad A Mornin' by Carol Mitchell

Title:  What start Bad A Mornin'

Author: Carol Mitchell

Publisher:  Central Avenue

Publication Date 9/19/2023

Rating: 💥💥💥💥

About the Book

What start bad a mornin', cyan end good a evenin'." — Jamaican proverb.  

Amaya Lin has few memories of the years before she turned eighteen. Now in her forties, she has compensated by carefully cultivating a satisfying life as a wife, mother, and business professional. Her husband’s law practice is on the brink of major success; her neurodiverse son has grown into an independent adult; and she has come to terms with her aunt’s dementia. This sense of order is disrupted, however, when she encounters a stranger who claims to have an impossible connection, launching Amaya on a tumultuous journey into the past. 

Using three interwoven narratives spanning the United States, Trinidad, and Jamaica, Carol Mitchell's debut gives voice to an immigrant woman forced to confront her repressed memories of violent trauma. Only then can she discover what she is capable of when it comes to self-preservation and the protection of her family.

My thoughts. 

A story that goes back and forth 20 years, This was such an enjoyable read.  There were plenty of secrets and questionable actions that will have you shocked. It also shows how secrets can cause issues.    And don't forget the drama that will have you on an unexpected journey.  I felt bad for Amaya, especially having to work and take care of her aunt who has Alzheimer's.  I especially loved how the story unfolded.  Add to the fact that there are numerous lessons in the story made this such a good and enjoyable read.  

About the Author 

 Carol Mitchell describes herself (in jest) as being in self-imposed exile from her Caribbean home. She holds an MFA and teaches writing in Virginia. She is also a fellow of the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. Her short stories have appeared in various Caribbean journals and four of them have been long-listed for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. She has written 18 children’s books. What Start Bad a Mornin’ is her debut adult novel.

linktr.ee/writewithcarol

Blog tour: Black AF History

 Title:  Black AF History.  The Un-White Washed Story of America

Author:  Michael Harriot

Publisher:  Dey Street Books

Publication Date: September 19, 2023

Rating: 💥💥💥💥💥

About the Book

From acclaimed columnist and political commentator Michael Harriot, a searingly smart and bitingly hilarious retelling of American history that corrects the record and showcases the perspectives and experiences of Black Americans.

America’s backstory is a whitewashed mythology implanted in our collective memory. It is the story of the pilgrims on the Mayflower building a new nation. It is George Washington’s cherry tree and Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin. It is the fantastic tale of slaves that spontaneously teleported themselves here with nothing but strong backs and negro spirituals. It is a sugarcoated legend based on an almost true story.

It should come as no surprise that the dominant narrative of American history is blighted with errors and oversights—after all, history books were written by white men with their perspectives at the forefront. It could even be said that the devaluation and erasure of the Black experience is as American as apple pie.

In Black AF History, Michael Harriot presents a more accurate version of American history. Combining unapologetically provocative storytelling with meticulous research based on primary sources as well as the work of pioneering Black historians, scholars, and journalists, Harriot removes the white sugarcoating from the American story, placing Black people squarely at the center. With incisive wit, Harriot speaks hilarious truth to oppressive power, subverting conventional historical narratives with little-known stories about the experiences of Black Americans. From the African Americans who arrived before 1619 to the unenslavable bandit who inspired America’s first police force, this long overdue corrective provides a revealing look into our past that is as urgent as it is necessary. For too long, we have refused to acknowledge that Americanhistory is white history. Not this one. This history is Black AF. 

My thoughts

I am such a lover of black and bipoc history.  This book was just simply amazing and so informative.  I usually don't have time to re read books, but as soon as I get caught up I plan to re read this one and at a slower rate.  I want to digest every morsel.  Most books after I've read them, go onto a shelff in my garage.  Not this one.  This book needs to be a staple in every black household in the world.   There was just so much good information on each and every page.  Many non fiction books have resource and end notes/works cited that usually take up the last half of the book.  Not this one.  Out of the 426 pages, the actual book content contains 382 pages.  Joi Reed said it best, Mr. Harriet is the Samuel L. Jackson of the written word, and after finishing it, I wholeheartedly agree.  Since many schools in the US don't want to teach the real blackhistory, this book surley will.  I've never heard of him until this book, but that will change expeditiously.   

About the Author 

Michael Harriot is an economist, writer and cultural critic who covers the intersection of race, politics, and social issues. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, NBC, BET, and on his mother’s refrigerator. Famously called "the King of Black Twitter," Harriot also serves as a writer for the Amber Ruffin Show. His political and social commentary frequently spark national debate, earning an Emmy nomination, 2 NAACP Image Award nominations and 4 National Association of Black Journalists awards. His college course “Race: An Economic Construct” was adapted by university economics departments across the country as a model for teaching the combination of history, economics, politics, and class structures. @michaelharriot