I'm late so let's just get to it, shall we?
I love to read. I returned to reading in earnest in 2020, and continued that trend in 2021. I enjoyed pretty much every thing I read. And even when I didn't love them, I definitely learned something.
Here's what I read this year (If it's bold then I highly recommend):
Fiction
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
Octavia's Brood, edited by adrienne maree brown and Walidah Imarisha
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Another Country by James Baldwin
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
Non-Fiction
Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals by Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Nobody Knows My Name by James Baldwin
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
We Do This Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba
You Were Born For This by Chani Nicholas
How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
Goodbye, Again by Jonny Sun
Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim by Leah Vernon
The Battle for Paradise by Naomi Klein
I Am Troy Davis by Jen Marlowe and Martina-Correia Davis, with Troy Davis
Class War, USA by Brandon Weber
Policing the Planet: Why The Policing Crisis Led to Black Lives Matter edited by Jordan T. Camp and Christina Heatherton
Disability Visibility, edited by Alice Wong
Radical Honesty by Brad Blanton
Salvation: Black People and Love by bell hooks
Bonus reading reflections:
I read so much more non fiction than fiction in the last year. I didn't actually realize that until seeing it in this format! I learn so much from reading non fiction, and one thing I love about it is even when I don't love the book (which is true for many on this list), I still learn so much. All that being said, I plan to read more fiction in 2022, because that is important to me as well.
In 2020, I learned how much I like poetry... and totally abandoned that in 2021. But don't worry, I just ordered some June Jordan. Stay tuned for next year's post.
I was in therapy for most of 2021, but I was also supplementing that work with readings about healing, codependency, radical honesty, and more. I think that was just as valuable to me as therapy. Therapy is not accessible to many people, but there's a lot of healing to be had outside of that type of interaction. Many of the answers can be found in books!
Non fiction does not mean lack of emotional response. On the contrary, the book that made me feel the most this year was I Am Troy Davis. I cried through the whole thing. I am begging you to read this book, and learn more about Troy's life and legacy here.
I'm proud of myself for continuing to commit to reading as a source of pleasure as well as a place to learn. Hmu if you wanna read with me in 2022.
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