The only time you will find me quiet is when I am engrossed in a book. I appear pretty outgoing — and I can be — but my natural state is that of a homebody.

My ideal day would be spent near a crackling fire, wrapped up in a faux fur blanket, a stack of books within reach and some gluten-free Double Stuff’d Oreos to snack on. (Have you tried these things? I’ve had one or two or thirty-eight, but who’s counting?) Maybe even some fat snowflakes lazily drifting down from the sky. (I wrote this before a huge snow/ice storm & a week of below-freezing temps in DFW – joke’s on me.)

Despite occasionally having to swat off children whilst trying to read, I do manage a few books a month. It’s a form of self-care for me, and I am a huge proponent of not forgetting to take care of yourself — no matter what stage of life you are in with kids, furbabies, what have you.

Books By Black Authors — My February Reading List

Since February was Black History Month, I decided to read only books written by Black authors. I didn’t just want to read books that are designed to educate me — although that is important, too. I wanted to read about Black joy, Black struggle, Black justice. I wanted suspense and drama and humor all written by Black authors. Here’s what I ended up reading and what I recommend (Note: I kept the spoilers to a minimum — just one I note at the very end!)

1. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

It takes a very skilled writer to make a book about a serial killer somewhat humorous, but Braithwaite manages just that in this dark comedy based in Laos about two sisters, codependency, and of course, serial killers. It’s a fast read with short chapters. My one critique is that it could have been longer and it would have been nice to see some of the characters fleshed out a bit more. The ending felt abrupt, but maybe that is the point.

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2. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

I read this book for a community-building group I’m in. In Caste, Wilkerson examines America, then and now, through the lens of a caste system, comparing it to other famous caste systems, most notably India’s. For an in-depth review, I recommend this article in the Boston Review that really takes the time to dig into — and in some cases refute — Wilkerson’s arguments. One that I found compelling in particular was how Wilkerson doesn’t really explore the role capitalism played in the role of racism or — her argument — a caste system — in America. I do like how she weaves personal experiences and stories from others to illustrate her larger point.

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3. The Turner House by Angela Flournoy

I loved this book, and it reminded me a lot of Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson, except not as lyrical. It follows a family of 13 children — now adults — who grew up in Detroit in a home known as “The Turner House.” Flournoy’s prose really makes you feel like you’re part of the family and you learn to love them, even when they frustrate you. Just a really good fiction novel to sink your teeth into.

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4. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

While Coates is best known for his non-fiction (if you haven’t read Between the World and Me, do it) and long-form articles, he flexes his fiction chops in this historical fiction (at times science fiction) novel. The prose is beautiful, like this line: “I was young and love to me was a fuse that was lit, not a garden that was grown.” I mean, all the gold stars. It was suspenseful and yet a bit slow. I found at times I couldn’t put it down and others where I found excuses not to pick it up. If you’re a Coates fan, check it out. If you’ve never read Coates, definitely start with the aforementioned Between the World and Me.

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5. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Similar to his book, The Underground Railroad, there is truth at the center of this story about a “reform school” for boys in Southern Florida during the Jim Crow era. Honestly, it’s worth reading because of something really unexpected that I cannot find a good way to express, except when it happens you’ll want to re-read and find any Easter eggs that hinted to this reveal. It’s a difficult, upsetting book, but like all of Whitehead’s work, masterfully written. It’s a book that stays with you.

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6. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

I don’t actually recommend The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory, but I need to explain why. I never leave Goodreads reviews, but I felt compelled to do so for The Wedding Date. Here’s a quick snippet:

So many boring sex scenes. So many doughnuts. So many miscommunications that could have been solved if they would stop texting and just pick up the damn phone. I wanted to love this book. Roxane Gay has a quote on the cover about how much she loved it! I’m team Alexa Monroe, but sadly not team “The Wedding Date.”

I’m glad I spent a month being intentional about what I consume. It’s a practice I want to bring to other parts of my life as well; what I watch, listen to, etc., I found some new authors to explore and one I might avoid.

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Other Black Writers to Check Out

I wanted to quickly mention some other Black authors that I highly recommend: Brit Bennett (her new book The Vanishing Half is sensational), Jacqueline Woodson (her prose has a lyrical quality to it), Samantha Irby (her short essay-style books will literally make you LOL), Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist and Hunger are among my favorite books), Colson Whitehead and Kiley Reid to name a few.

— Meredith