Rating: 
Summary: BLACK BOOK LOVER 2004 TOP 10
Review: AS THE NEW YEAR IS UPON US, I OFFICIALLY OFFER YOU MY LIST OF THE 10 BEST BOOKS THAT I'VE READ IN 2004. THIS IS OUT OF ABOUT 84 BOOKS THAT I'VE READ THIS YEAR. EVERY SINGLE BOOK ON THIS LIST IS A MASTERPIECE WORTH BUYING. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED WITH GREAT LITERATURE LIKE THE FOLLOWING:
"THE DARKEST CHILD"--Delores Phillips
The finest, most dramatic debut I've read in years. Top notch and gut-wrenching. This is by far the best book of 2004.
"BRICK LANE"--Monica Ali
Superb entry into a world foreign yet all too familiar. Flawless, beautiful writing.
"HOTTENTOT VENUS"--Barbara Chase Riboud
A True Story. Which makes this book all the more shocking and tragic. By now you've heard of the kidnapped and dehumanized South African woman paraded in the 1800's Europe as a "freak" because of her huge posterior and the apron over her genitals. Chase Riboud chronicles the tale perfectly and makes it far more interesting than just history. The fact that "Sarah" was like a Pop Superstar of her day makes it all the more chilling in my opinion. A definite Must-Read.
"FLESH AND THE DEVIL"--Kola Boof
Totally original, unexpected black love story. Chock full of African history, U.S. black history, fantastic plot twists, pulsating sex, equally dazzling "lovemaking", brilliant observations about race, color and sexism and plenty of risk-taking by the sensational Sudanese-born Kola Boof, truly a NEW STAR in the "epic" sense. Fabulous!
"DOUGLASS' WOMEN"--Jewel Parker Rhodes
If ever a fictionalized story of a real person's life/real events makes you totally believe inch and detail of the fiction writer's imagination--this one is it!! Jewel Parker Rhodes is turning out to be one of our most ardent writers of historical fiction, her brevity and flair for honest human emotion making her just a little BETTER, in my opinion, than the queen of historical black fiction--Barbara Chase Riboud. You can't go wrong with "DOUGLASS' WOMEN", it's sensational.
"ERASURE"---Percival Everett
I know. I'm late reading this one. But it's classic, fantastic, the greatest book ever written about being a "black" writer today. SUPERB. 10 Stars.
"A DISTANT SHORE"--Caryl Phillips
Great novel about "human beings" ripped apart in their own world and then thrown together in new equally dreadful surroundings. A black man and a white woman are juxtaposed in England with terribly beautiful insight by the writer. It's a hard book to explain, except that it's about human beings finding their real true minds. Superb!!!! I give this one 10 stars.
"DRINKING COFFEE ELSEWHERE"--Z.Z. Packer
The breakout debut of the new Alice Walker and Toni Morrison rolled into one. Z.Z. Packer is outrageously talented and brilliant. These sparse, witty, intelligent, insightful short stories will bring you to tears, make you laugh and truly astonish you.
"THE KNOWN WORLD"--Edward P. Jones
This book starts off kind of "slow", but once you get into it, it's quite shocking, easily one of the most important stories told in a decade. Jones deserves all the accolades and awards he's received for this masterful masterpiece of the new century.
"LOVE"--Toni Morrison
Still the undisputable greatest writer writing. Toni Morrison offers up one of her very best novels, the most underrated and overlooked novel of the year. Absolutely meszmerizing, a bute.
Rating:
Summary: What a Tragedy!
Review: I am not a black woman, but I agree with RAWSISTAZ. This book was so good. It reminded me of Jean Toomer's "CANE" or something Sylvia Plath would write. I am so disgusted to learn that this book was forced out of print by Muslim fundamentalists in Morocco and I pray that Kola Boof can soon find an American publisher for her work. She is a controversial woman, but she really needs to be heard. My daughter and my son both read this book and they loved it as well. Very strong writer!
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not great
Review: I sought out Long Train to the Redeeming Sin: Stories About African Women after reading about Kola Boof in the NYT. Regardless of whether or not the reader buys into Boof's fantastic claims about her personal life (I for one, do not) I still believe that reading this collection of short stories and poetry is a worthwhile undertaking for anyone with an interest in womanist fiction.
Fabricated controversy aside, I truly enjoyed much of the prose presented in this slim volume. The book gets off to a slow start as the first story in the collection is a poorly written fable that was a struggle to get through. I almost gave up reading there and then. Luckily, I continued and found that several of the other stories in the collection made the whole thing worthwhile despite the occassional grammatical lapse and/or poor editing.
Unfortunately, it is very rare to come across a writer, male or female, who writes with earnestness about the innate beauty of women who are fortunate enough to possess unaltered African features: from coal black skin, to proud broad noses, plump sensual lips, dark almond eyes and hair unlike anything else on earth. This is the one sincere message that permeates each of Boof's stories. She truly celebrates the twofold nature of black beauty be it nurtured and loved or cursed. On the whole, the poetry here leaves a lot to be desired in my view but one line from "African Women's Middle Passage" struck a chord with me. Boof writes of one woman that she is "so black she reminded them of bondage absolute."
The other stand out stories include:
"Magic Wand," (an Iman-like supermodel shares her views on life and love with a young up-and-comer)
"Boy Magic," (about a young female victim of AIDS in prison)
"Black American Diva Girl," (an African woman feels shamed by her husband's request that she relax her hair)
"Day of the Vow," (a South African teenager struggles with mixed emotions when she learns of her rapists engagement)
Included at the end of the book is an interview with Kola that should have been omitted all together but in my view, there's enough good material in the book to overlook the shortcomings.
Rating:
Summary: University of Pennsylvania
Review: I would never have chosen to read a book like this but I'm glad my Political Science professor made us read it.
The stories of the African women in this book have touched me greatly being that I'm a white male with little knowledge about the details on issues like female genital mutilation or colorism among Africans. I felt very moved by the stories "Boy Magic" and "Day of Vow" in particular and I enjoyed the exploration of why they circumcise the females in the first story "The Lioness". Overall the book made me very curious to seek out and date a black girl now because I never thought of their beauty in such magical terms as Kola Boof describes their beauty. I had to give the book five stars because it is rare to find a book by an African woman who is so proud to be African and writes so poetically about black women's lives.
I felt great respect for black women all over the world after I finished reading this book. Kola Boof is a very prolific writer and very different from other black writers.
Rating:
Summary: Africa's Darkest Secrets
Review: Long Train To The Redeeming Sin is a book for all willing to accept and envelope truth in their hearts. The book tells the stories of African Women and their coming of age as the most unwatered, least wanted, least desirable, vulnerable yet powerful women of the world. Their being forced to be "whitenized", their being chattel as seen through the eyes of Black men, the disallowment to enjoy their freedoms and live life to the fullest. Kola's honest, truthful heart blooms in this novel, feeding the insecurities of Black men, shattering the shackles of Black women, letting the essence of her soul, reach the pinnacle of the highest mountains and the deepest oceans. The Black Woman's responsibility has been to carry the Black Man's burden on her shoulders...she is the beginning of all. This are her trials. Be prepared to follow her journey and live life as seen through the Charcoaled-One; the Blue-Black.
Through it all, she's been betrayed, hurt, shattered and ripped from the very seams of the earth. Listen to Her voice, Her heart, Her dreams, and follow Kola's footsteps where you will be transported to another world: the Black Woman's World.
Rating:
Summary: Africa's Darkest Secrets
Review: Long Train To The Redeeming Sin is a book for all willing to accept and envelope truth in their hearts. The book tells the stories of African Women and their coming of age as the most unwatered, least wanted, least desirable, vulnerable yet powerful women of the world. Their being forced to be "whitenized", their being chattel as seen through the eyes of Black men, the disallowment to enjoy their freedoms and live life to the fullest. Kola's honest, truthful heart blooms in this novel, feeding the insecurities of Black men, shattering the shackles of Black women, letting the essence of her soul, reach the pinnacle of the highest mountains and the deepest oceans. The Black Woman's responsibility has been to carry the Black Man's burden on her shoulders...she is the beginning of all. This are her trials. Be prepared to follow her journey and live life as seen through the Charcoaled-One; the Blue-Black.
Through it all, she's been betrayed, hurt, shattered and ripped from the very seams of the earth. Listen to Her voice, Her heart, Her dreams, and follow Kola's footsteps where you will be transported to another world: the Black Woman's World.
Rating:
Summary: Bessie Smith's blues tradition
Review: Many in the media, including the New York Times, have been calling Kola Boof "the African Garbo". I disagree. I see her work and provocative persona to be more in the tradition of the great blues singer Bessie Smith. Readers of this powerful, ugly, coarse and beautifully magical short story collection will agree that Kola Boof is a blues writer. The fact that she's from Africa, but very much American makes her art all the more thrilling and unique. As a black woman, I found great validation and inspiration from reading this poignant collection. I advise anyone who comes across this book, but especially black women, to pick it up immediately. It's more than worth your time. Some of us (see Laurie posted a review!!) have also read advance copies of Kola Boof's full length novel "Flesh and the Devil". I also give that book five stars and encourage people who are looking for something new, strong and meaningful to purchase that daring, HOT novel. Kola Boof's work is very groundbreaking and I love it that's she's so underground.
Rating:
Summary: Bessie Smith's blues tradition
Review: Many in the media, including the New York Times, have been calling Kola Boof "the African Garbo". I disagree. I see her work and provocative persona to be more in the tradition of the great blues singer Bessie Smith. Readers of this powerful, ugly, coarse and beautifully magical short story collection will agree that Kola Boof is a blues writer. The fact that she's from Africa, but very much American makes her art all the more thrilling and unique. As a black woman, I found great validation and inspiration from reading this poignant collection. I advise anyone who comes across this book, but especially black women, to pick it up immediately. It's more than worth your time. Some of us (see Laurie posted a review!!) have also read advance copies of Kola Boof's full length novel "Flesh and the Devil". I also give that book five stars and encourage people who are looking for something new, strong and meaningful to purchase that daring, HOT novel. Kola Boof's work is very groundbreaking and I love it that's she's so underground.
Rating: 
Summary: Courage of Conviction
Review: Sudanese-American writer Kola Boof is a vibrant and, occasionally, strident voice in afro-centric literature. LONG TRAIN TO THE REDEEMING SIN: Stories About African Women is an eclectic collection of poems and short stories that spans from the historical, to the mystical, to modern day Africa. The characters and plots are moving and relevant to the thoughts and issues of women on the African continent, but they are equally relevant to African-American women in helping us to understand the effects, both positive and negative, of American culture on African women as personified by the story entitled Black America Diva Girl. Further, Ms. Boof exploits the myth of the superiority of Anglo characteristics in Day of Vow where we meet the beautiful and tragic Zorina who questions "...if she was good enough to demand to be treated with affection and tenderness."
Ms. Boof's writing bubbles like a fountain with energy and, sometimes, incredible rage and grief. Although, the text could still use a good editing for typos and grammar errors, her skill as a storyteller is not to be denied. This book is insightful and innovative. Every woman, regardless of race or culture, should read it.
Rating:
Summary: BACK IN PRINT...for 2004!!
Review: Thank the powers that be! I'm a white woman in love! This is my favorite short story collection EVER. And I'm not even a "Sista". Sorry all. I love this book and I so admire Kola Boof's valiant struggle. I have been a fan ever since I saw her on FOX NEWS and read about her online. She is such a gifted artist and a brave political thinker. I am so awed by her life story and her determination to be herself. WARNING: As herself--she is not like any other type of black woman you have ever read. She is from Africa. Her books make you uncomforable. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. She poses naked on the back of all her book covers, so let that be a warning. She is NOT the status quo type of author. She's kinda "touched". She wants to abolish men's religions and start a women's religion! But I love this book of stories so much. I can't wait for her novel "Flesh and the Devil" to come out next month. I hear its pretty wild, and although I've warned that she cuts White Women a new "a--ole" in that book, I still gotta read it. I love you Kola if you read this. It's Laurie at Stanford University!! Your books tell it like it is. They entertain and they are so incredibly different from everything else on the market. You have no competition, because you are one of a kind. A true African goddess. Please come to Stanford University when you start doing readings!! I give this short story collection 5 stars. MY FAVORITE STORIES in the book are "Day of Vow", then "Black America Diva Girl", then "The Lioness", then "Boy Magic". Each one of those stories would make a good movie or a good novel all by themselves. ENJOY!!! But beware. It's the strange world of Kola Boof!!!
|
