September Poetry and Prose

A poem or two or fourteen!

1. “Find Work” by Rhina P. Espaillat
2. Letter to Brooks: Spring Garden by Major Jackson
3. Of Modern Books by Carolyn Wells
4. This Is Not a Small Voice by Sonia Sanchez
5. Breakage by Mary Oliver|
6. “My heart and my flesh sing” by Sean Singer
7. Cross by Rajiv Mohabir translated by the author
8. September by Joanne Kyger
9. Translation by Erika L. Sánchez
10. Déjà Vu by Carmen Giménez
11. Lacao by Rosabetty Muñoz translated by Claudia Nuñez de Ibieta
12. Dynamic Disks, 1933 by Raymond Antrobus
13. Dust-Dipped by Inua Ellams
14. Quartet for the End of Time by Alison C. Rollins

A book or two!

1. The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter
2. The Trees by Percival Everett

Clearly we were locked in on the poetry this month. Similarly, the two books I read in September had me fully sat! I read the first book of an ongoing series called The Burning by Evan Winter in the summer of last year. I listened to the audiobook on Libby and remember really enjoying it. The second book just became available for me and I was instantly brought right back into the world Winter has created. This is an epic fantasy that is inspired by Winter’s experience growing up in Africa and pieces of African history. His second book doesn’t shy away from the fighting, the turmoil and difficult decisions, while exploring more internal reflection. This time around we are shown more of the inner workings of many of the characters’ minds. We end on a positive yet also ominous note, and I am excitedly waiting for book three to drop hopefully next year. The narrator (Prentice Onayemi) for the audiobook does an excellent job, and I highly recommend listening for at least part of it if you can.

The other book I was able to get through in a day! The Trees is such a great book and Everett has a very unique skill in weaving humor and darkness together. Emmett Till’s “ghost” is back to haunt the family of his accuser, “Granny C.” It escalates from there, and the investigation expands across the country. I highly recommend this book. This was my Service95 book club book and we are backkkk baby!

On that note, we have completed our goal of 30 books by 30 years old! I am super proud of myself. I realize I have lots of time to spare, but I will not stop reading just yet. Maybe I’ll put together a little reflection or ranking or something for you all. Bye for now!

Book Goal Tracker: 30/30 !!