#Books Set in New York African Literature

[elaineadu-poku]

Zainab Takes New York: A Ghanaian Diaspora Tale – Book Review

Happy New Year and all that jazz. I’m pleased to report that I’ve completed my first book of 2025. It had been on my to be read pile on my Kindle for nearly 4 years to met embarrassment – and yes you’ve guessed it, this is my reading equivalent of going back to the gym – NOT ONLY WILL I READ MORE BUT I WILL ALSO DOCUMENT THIS READING. I guess this means I have at least one new year’s…

[spellsword177]

LGBTQ Book Recommendations

In the year that has seen the heartwarming second season of Heartstopper comes the news two school districts in the US states of Florida and Oregon have banned the graphic novels and a public library in Mississippi removed the works from the shelves claiming they were somehow “pornographic.”  It never seems to fail; every time there is societal progress, you have a wave of those throwing up restrictions trying desperately to pull everything and everyone back. 

This heinous attack on LGBTQ literature, works on the African American experience, and tragic historical events are why we fight back everyday to keep these works available for all who seek their content especially during Banned Books Week.  It’s not about corrupting or grooming the youth; it’s about truth, love, life, compassion, and understanding one another.  What follows are seven LGBTQ books by seven different authors you may want to consider reading beyond Heartstopper, Fence, and Love, Simon.  Remember, just because your favorite book isn’t here doesn’t mean I didn’t like it or you shouldn’t give try.  Always enrich your perspective by trying a variety of works in the plethora now available.  Happy Banned Books Week!

1.  Boy Like Me by Simon James Green – I first ran across this author when I read his book Alex in Wonderland a few years ago being greatly amused by the antics of boy working a summer job.  It is very fitting to begin with this recent release set in a UK High School back in 1994 during Section 28 banning books on gay relationships.  The main character, Jamie, is lead to such a disguised novel where he finds a connection to his own personal truths and to a mysterious other person who feels the same way.  Will Jamie ever find this other person or will they be forever shunned by their small community?  It’s always a important to remember where we’ve been so that we can better guide ourselves to where we need to be.

2.  The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg – Two boys operate a food truck Coq Au Vinny for the summer out in the heat of Mesa, Arizona.  Max, a baseball jock, is trying hard to forget a rough experience with a college boy while hanging out with his friends and working.  Geeky Jordan, is trying to raise the money with his late father’s old food truck and keep his mother from spiraling while hanging out with his gal pals.  Along the way they find friendship and love while working through their past traumas and current struggles.  Easily one of my favorites.

3. Check, Please!  Book 1:  #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu – Join baking vlogger Erik “Bitty” Bittle from Georgia as he makes his way through the first two years playing hockey at Samwell University in New England.  Originally an online comic, this first volume in a two part set explores Bitty’s time interacting with the team and getting closer with their Captain, Zimmerman.  This was a charming story with entertaining characters, and, of course, the love of hockey.  Be sure to also read Check, Please!  Book 2:  Sticks & Scones.

4.  Lions Legacy by L.C. Rosen – Tennessee “Tenny” Russo had tried to leave his adventuring days with his father’s reality show behind and have a normal life with his mom in Greenwich Village.  Two years later, his boyfriend is cheating on him, his “Good Upstanding Queer” friends don’t care, and his dad comes back into his life with a potential lead on the Rings of the Sacred Band of Thebes.  Tenny could stay miserable in New York or join his father in Greece to recover a lost piece of queer history to share with the world.  A wonderful, thrilling story heavily influenced by Indiana Jones exploring struggle of keeping LGBT history from being swept under the rug or modified to fit a heteronormative viewpoint.

5.  Thunder by Dylan James – Teenage Grant Peters and Logan Summers have been long neighbors and rivals on the rodeo circuit in the upper plains of the United State or Canada.  With his parents thinking of selling the ranch due to a drop in profits, Grant is desperate to find a way to keep competing with his beloved horse Thunder.  He stumbles across evidence of a cougar attack and is drawn into an investigation along the property line with his nemesis, Logan.  Along the way, the boys develop a connection and uncover a secret hidden from both families.  Will they make it out alive?

6.  Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson – When Virgil Knox stumbled into the town center of Merritt, Florida battered, bloody, and raving about the monster that attacked him, nobody would believe him, not even his own grandparents.  Already struggling to make friends in his dad’s hometown after his parents’ divorce, Virgil knows what he saw and finds himself reliving that night.  Can Virgil find a way to move on with his life?  Will the monster find him again?  Is he on his way to becoming one himself?

7.  In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens – Prince Tal has a secret.  Fire mages are not to be trusted ever since his ancestor used the ability to fight wars against the other kingdoms and practitioners of other magic, the ability has been shunned.  The mysterious castaway Athlen also has a secret that enables him to somehow survive the deep oceans.  Together the boys will survive pirates, kidnapping plots, shapeshifters, and a grand political plot threatening the kingdom and Tal’s sister, the queen.  Can they stop a war before it’s too late?

[mariacallous]

Nearly 65 percent of Italians believe a cabal of multinational corporations control the world and are “responsible for everything that happens to us,” according to a survey conducted in 2021. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may not be among those surveyed, but she has proved similarly susceptible to conspiracy theories. 

Meloni is the first Western European leader to espouse the great relacement theory, which claims that, instead of an organic movement driven by poverty and war, immigration to the West has been engineered. It seems to suggest that the world’s political and business elite are meeting somewhere in secret to increase the flow of immigrants, and not just to avail the benefits of cheap labor but rather to replace the white race with brown and Black people. This set of ideas was coined in 2011 by Renaud Camus, a French writer, but has been adopted by white supremacists in several European nations and in the United States.

Matthew Feldman, a writer and specialist on right-wing extremism, said the great replacement theory is flexible enough to be used by conservatives in a watered-down form and dangerous enough to provide motive for terrorist attackers, which “we have seen in too many cases in the last five years,” he told Foreign Policy over the phone from London.

Amongst the theory’s supporters are extremists behind some of the most racist attacks in the recent past. The perpetrator of the Christchurch attack against Muslims in New Zealand in 2019, in which 51 people were killed, had titled his manifesto “The Great Replacement.” Last year, the man who shot dead 10 Black people in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, had posted a 180-page racist diatribe with repeated endorsements of the idea. Former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson has brought it up hundreds of times and alluded to a political angle, suggesting that members of the U.S. Democratic Party are behind immigration to replace the electorate with voters from developing nations, since they tend to vote Democrat. 

The association with extremists has forced Meloni to tweak the language and refer to it as “a plan for ethnic substitution,” of European citizens, “desired by big capital.” Feldman said that “ethnic substitution” was merely “a synonym for great replacement.”

He said that even Meloni can’t use that exact wording, “because her political opponents would immediately say, ‘wait a minute, are you using the same phrase as terrorists?’” 

Meloni has “on at least 15-20 occasions” publicly referenced the idea of a “plan for ethnic substitution,” said David Broder, who teaches history at Syracuse University in Florence and has most recently written a book called Mussolini’s Grandchildren: Fascism in Contemporary Italy.

Broder said that members of Meloni’s party—Fratelli d’Italia, or Brothers of Italy—positively cite literature such as Jean Raspail’s 1973 novel The Camp of the Saints, “a kind of precursor to the ‘racist’ great replacement theory.” 

The theory assumes “that a purportedly homogeneous Italian ‘ethnicity’ risks being eclipsed by Muslim and African newcomers,” Broder said. He pointed out that Meloni has spoken in favor of immigration of white Christians of Italian ancestry from Venezuela. 

In addition to religious intolerance, the Italian prime minister’s penchant for unsubstantiated conspiracies was also on display when she attacked billionaire philanthropist George Soros, long a bogeyman for the far right, as “the financier” of mass immigration. She has accused the Italian left of encouraging “an invasion” of immigrants and gifting them with citizenship through ius soli—a principle that grants citizenship to anyone born in a country but in Italy is applied only in special circumstances to the children of immigrants.

Since the election campaign last year and becoming prime minister, however, Meloni has had to weigh her words more carefully, if only to appear less controversial to Brussels. Italy needs billions of euros of COVID-19 recovery funds from Europe in financial assistance, which may be stalled if she appears to be oppopsing the bloc’s more progressive values. 

Since 2022, “Meloni has tended to break the theory down into several distinct slogans,” added Broder, “focusing on the threat of low birthrates, or the defense of national identity.” 

José Pedro Zúquete, a professor of social sciences at the University of Lisbon and the author of The Identitarians, said, “Even if she has stopped talking about ‘ethnic replacement,’ it is not far-fetched to think that it is this fear is a driving force of her policies, both in regard to immigration and natality.” 

A declining birthrate in Italy has become the fig leaf with which Meloni now disguises her anti-immigrant and racist ideology, observers say. (Italy has one of the lowest birthrates in Europe and recorded the steepest decline last year. For the first time, it fell below the 400,000 mark to 393,000, recording a fertility rate of 1.24 children per woman, far below the 2.1 replacement level at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.) 

Italian political experts believe that while Meloni herself has had to rein in her racist and conspiratorial insinuations, she has given a free hand to her party members, a reflection of her policy aims behind closed doors. 

Late last month, as the Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said that Italians risked “ethnic replacement” by immigrants as the birthrate in Italy declines and declared that was “not the way forward,” Italian opposition retorted that his comments smacked of white supremacy and reminded them of the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. Lollobrigida happens to be a member of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party—and her brother-in-law.

The Italian government has decided to improve social welfare for Italian mothers to encourage them to have more babies in what would be seen as an innocuous national policy if not for Meloni and her party’s racist underpinnings. On one hand, Meloni backs a pro-natalist agenda and wants to reduce value added tax on baby products, such as nappies and milk bottles, and make child care affordable. On the other, she effectively opposes citizenship for babies born in immigrant families. On one hand, she advocates for Italian mothers to enter the workforce; on the other, she only insists Italian women take up jobs so immigrants don’t.

Italy urgently needs nearly 200,000 farmworkers, as well as hotel staff and baristas for coffee shops in espresso country. Meloni says that Italian women, not immigrants, should fill these vacancies. “The way to resolve this is not migrants,” she said, “but that great, unused reserve which is the female workforce.” 

Pedro Zúquete said that Meloni is pushing for a new immigration law that will be “much harsher” on irregular immigration. 

She has threatened a naval blockade to stop migrants from crossing the Mediterranean Sea in the guise of protecting them from drownings, and signed a pact with Libya, despite the treatment meted out to immigrants in the war-torn country. Dunja Mijatović,  high commissioner of the Council of Europe, has condemned Italy’s memorandum of understanding with Libya, which “plays a central role in facilitating the interceptions of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants at sea, and their subsequent return to Libya.”

At the European Council meeting on migration in February, Meloni said that “redistribution [of migrants] has never been my priority,” and that the EU’s Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism has not worked. 

The mechanism was established to reduce the pressure of refugee arrivals in coastal states such as Italy, Greece, and Malta and relocate them to other European countries on a voluntary basis. As of January 2023, only 207 people have benefited from the scheme, mainly owing to the reluctance of other EU states to accept immigrants. 

According to Frontex—the EU border and coast guard agency—since 2016, the EU witnessed the biggest rise in irregular immigration last year. Around 330,000 crossings were detected, a 64 percent increase from the previous year. 

In absence of a fair division of immigrants across Europe and further guided by the conspiracy theory of the great replacement, Meloni was full of praise for the British conservatives’ policy to deport asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel on small boats to their country of origin or Rwanda, a “safe” third nation. 

Whilst visiting the United Kingdom about a week ago, Meloni said the British government was handling “traffickers and illegal migration” very well. “I’m following your work and I absolutely agree with your work and I think there are many things that we can do together,” she said to Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister. 

Italy, unlike the U.K., is a part of the EU. Unless power in the continent shifts more to the far-right, Meloni will have to operate within limits. 

Pedro Zúquete, however, felt that as European societies become more multicultural and multiethnic, “we can assume that the ‘great replacement’ frame of analysis will become more prevalent in mainstream conservative narratives.” 

Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has its roots in the Movimento Sociale Italiano (Italian Social Movement), created by Mussolini’s supporters. She speaks of being a woman, a mother, and a Christian, committed to defend God, country, and family. But her support for racist theories implies that she means only her family and those who look like her, excluding those who practice a different faith or simply look darker, even if they feel equally Italian or contribute equally to Italian society. 

[bookeysnewsletter]

Bronx Masquerade: An Engaging Audiobook Journey Through Teen Voices and Identity

Part 1 Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes Summary

"Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes is a novel-in-verse that follows the lives of a group of high school students at a predominantly African American school in the Bronx. The story is framed around a class project in which students are encouraged to share their poetry and personal experiences.

The central character is Wesley, a student who becomes inspired to start a weekly open-mic poetry reading in his English class, led by their teacher, Mr. Budd. Through their poetry, each student reveals their struggles, fears, dreams, and the complexities of their lives, including issues of identity, family, culture, and socioeconomic challenges.

Among the characters are:

  Diondra, who grapples with her self-image and the pressure to conform.

  Tanisha, who confronts feelings about her beauty and relationships.

  Raul, dealing with the challenges of living in a neighborhood plagued by violence.

  and others, each bringing their unique voice and perspective to the discussion.

As these students share their poetic reflections, they find solace and kinship, breaking down barriers and forming connections that enrich their understanding of themselves and each other. Throughout the book, themes of self-expression, vulnerability, and the power of art resonate, ultimately highlighting the importance of community and the transformative power of sharing one's voice.

The novel captures the essence of the teenage experience, the search for identity, and the courage it takes to embrace one's truth, making it a relevant and impactful read for young adults.

Part 2 Bronx Masquerade Author

Nikki Grimes is an acclaimed American author of children's and young adult literature. She was born on October 20, 1950, in New York City. Grimes has written numerous books, including poetry, contemporary fiction, and biographies, often addressing themes related to social justice, identity, and the African American experience.

"Bronx Masquerade," which was published in 2002, is one of her most notable works. The novel is structured as a series of interconnected poems and narratives that revolve around a diverse group of students in a high school English class who share their personal stories through poetry. The book has received critical acclaim and is widely taught in schools for its themes of self-expression, understanding, and the power of poetry.

In addition to "Bronx Masquerade," Nikki Grimes has written several other notable works, including:

1. "Street Love" (2006) - A novel in verse about a young couple in Harlem.

2. "Tyler's Undoing" (2013) - A story about relationships and redemption.

3. "Words With Wings" (2013) - A poetic exploration of dreams and imagination.

4. "One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance" (2017) - A collection of poems that connects African American literature of the past with contemporary themes.

Regarding the best editions, "Bronx Masquerade" has been published in several formats, including hardcover, paperback, and as an e-book. While the choice of the "best" edition can depend on personal preference, the hardcover edition often features higher quality materials, and some editions may include additional resources like discussion questions or author notes that can enhance the reading experience.

Overall, Nikki Grimes' work is highly regarded for its lyrical style and powerful themes, making her one of the prominent voices in contemporary children's literature.

Part 3 Bronx Masquerade Chapters

"Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes revolves around the theme of self-expression and identity among a diverse group of high school students. Set in the Bronx, New York, the novel is structured as a series of interconnected poems, each reflecting the thoughts and feelings of different characters in a classroom during an open mic poetry event.

The main content of the chapters features various students sharing their personal struggles, dreams, and aspirations through their poetry. Each character grapples with issues such as race, family dynamics, socio-economic challenges, and the desire for acceptance. As they express themselves, the students form deeper connections with one another, breaking down barriers and discovering shared experiences.

Throughout the book, the act of writing and performing poetry serves as a transformative outlet for the characters, allowing them to confront their fears and ultimately find their voices. The themes of resilience, community, and the importance of understanding and empathy resonate throughout the narrative, highlighting the power of art as a means of connection and self-discovery.

Part 4 Bronx Masquerade Theme

Bronx Masquerade Theme

"Bronx Masquerade," written by Nikki Grimes, explores themes of identity, self-expression, and the power of poetry as a form of communication among the youth. Below, I will identify several chapters that reflect these themes, analyze how they are presented, and then discuss the theme in a broader social and cultural context.

 Chapters Related to the Theme

1. Chapter 1: Troy - This chapter introduces Troy, who feels pressure from his friends and family. Through his voice, the theme of identity is presented as he grapples with who he is versus who others expect him to be.

2. Chapter 4: Dionte - Dionte's reflections on his life and his dreams illustrate the struggle for self-acceptance. His poetry becomes a tool for self-expression, highlighting the power of finding one's voice.

3. Chapter 12: Lupe - Lupe uses her poetry to express her vulnerabilities and her relationship with her mother. This chapter emphasizes the theme of identity through the lens of family, tradition, and the diverse experiences of young women in contemporary society.

4. Chapter 15: Angela - Angela discusses her insecurities and her desire to break free from social norms. Her chapter provides an insight into how societal expectations can shape one’s identity and how poetry offers a sanctuary for self-expression.

 Thematic Presentation

In these selected chapters, Grimes presents the theme of identity through the varied perspectives of the characters. Each character uses poetry as a medium to voice their thoughts, struggles, and aspirations.

1. Voice and Authenticity: The characters articulate their innermost feelings through poetry, revealing layers of their identities. Troy’s frustration with external expectations highlights the conflict between one's true self and societal perceptions.

2. Connection and Understanding: In each chapter, the act of sharing poetry in the classroom fosters empathy among peers. Characters who might otherwise seem distinct begin to resonate with each other's stories, showcasing the unifying power of shared experiences.

3. Individual vs. Collective Identity: While each character has their own distinct journey, the collective experiences shared in the classroom contribute to a broader understanding of cultural identity. Lupe and Angela's stories, for example, delve into themes of family and gender roles within their community.

 Cultural Context

The themes in "Bronx Masquerade" resonate within a broader social and cultural context that addresses issues of race, class, and identity in urban America.

  Cultural Diversity: The students in the Bronx represent a tapestry of cultural backgrounds, with each character’s poetry reflecting their unique experiences and challenges. This diversity illustrates the complexities of growing up in contemporary urban settings, offering a microcosm of the larger societal struggles.

  Power of Poetry: In a society where young people often feel voiceless, poetry becomes an essential outlet for self-expression and exploration of identity. It serves as a means for marginalized voices to be heard, empowering characters to break through stereotypes and societal limitations.

  Youth Resilience: The narratives highlight the resilience of youth in challenging environments. As they navigate personal and societal challenges, their journeys signify hope and potential, demonstrating that self-acceptance and expression can lead to empowerment and community development.

In essence, through the characters' stories, "Bronx Masquerade" presents a multifaceted exploration of identity, reflecting the complexities faced by young people in a diverse society and marking poetry as a potent form of expression amidst these challenges.

Part 5 Quotes of Bronx Masquerade

Bronx Masquerade quotes as follows:

"Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes is a powerful novel that uses poetry and the voices of diverse characters to explore themes of identity, race, and the challenges of adolescence. Here are ten notable quotes from the book that capture its essence:

1. "Some of us wear our masks so well, we forget we’re wearing them."

2. "Life is like a puzzle, each piece a moment that needs to fit together just right."

3. "Words can be powerful, they can heal or hurt, but sometimes they just need to be spoken."

4. "When you stand in front of a crowd, it’s easy to feel alone."

5. "Poetry is like the air—it’s all around us, and sometimes we just need to take a deep breath."

6. "Behind every mask is a story waiting to be told."

7. "Fear can be a prison, but creativity can set us free."

8. "Art is a way to express what we cannot say in words."

9. "Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we fight within ourselves."

10. "In a world full of noise, our voices can either blend in or stand out."

Part 6 Similar Books Like Bronx Masquerade

The following five books explore similar themes:

1. "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander

This novel-in-verse tells the story of twin brothers, Josh and Jordan, who are standout basketball players navigating the challenges of family dynamics, friendship, and growing up. With its rhythmic prose and relatable themes of brotherhood and self-discovery, "The Crossover" captures the emotional highs and lows of adolescence.

2. "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai

This poignant novel, also written in verse, follows Hà, a young Vietnamese girl, as she flees her homeland and adjusts to life in America after the Vietnam War. Through Hà’s voice, readers experience the struggles of fitting in, the challenge of cultural identity, and the complications of family and resilience.

3. "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros

This classic novel consists of a series of vignettes that capture the life of Esperanza Cordero, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago. Through her observations and experiences, the book explores themes of cultural identity, community, and the complexities of growing up in an urban environment, all told with beautiful and evocative language.

4. "Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass" by Meg Medina

In this compelling coming-of-age story, Piddy Sanchez faces bullying from a girl named Yaqui Delgado as she navigates the challenges of high school, identity, and her Puerto Rican heritage. The novel combines humor and poignancy to explore the power of friendship, courage, and self-acceptance.

5. "A Face Like Glass" by Frances Hardinge

While available in a fantasy setting, this novel explores themes of identity and self-perception through the story of Neverfell, a girl born in an underground city where emotions are read on the face. As she seeks to uncover her past and forge her own identity, Neverfell encounters various characters who shape her understanding of beauty and self-worth.

Book Summary Audio  https://www.bookey.app/audiobook/bronx-masquerade

The Crossover  https://www.bookey.app/book/the-crossover

Four Perfect Pebbles  https://www.bookey.app/book/four-perfect-pebbles

Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Bronx-Masquerade-David-W-Moore/dp/0736231358

Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18312517

[litgenchronicles]

Chick Lit: A Genre for the Modern Woman.

What is Chick Lit?

Chick lit is a term used to describe a type of popular fiction that targets young women as its main audience. The term is derived from the slang word “chick”, meaning a young woman, and “lit”, short for literature. Chick lit novels typically deal with topics such as romance, friendship, career, family, and personal growth, often in a humorous and lighthearted tone. Chick lit is not a subgenre of romance, although it may include romantic elements. Rather, chick lit is a genre that emphasizes the heroine’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment, as well as her relationships with other women.

How did Chick Lit emerge and evolve?

Chick lit is a relatively new genre that emerged in the 1990s and gained popularity in the 2000s. Some of the precursors of chick lit include novels by Terry McMillan, such as Waiting to Exhale (1992), which portrayed the lives of four African-American women in their 30s, and Bridget Jones’s Diary (1996) by Helen Fielding, which chronicled the humorous adventures of a single British woman in her 30s. These novels were followed by a wave of similar books by authors such as Candace Bushnell, Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Jennifer Weiner, and Meg Cabot, among others. Chick lit also spawned several subgenres, such as mommy lit, which focuses on the challenges of motherhood, and historical chick lit, which sets the stories in the past.

What are the characteristics and themes of Chick Lit?

Chick lit novels usually feature a female protagonist who is in her 20s or 30s, living in a big city, and working in a creative or glamorous profession. She is often single or dating, and looking for love, happiness, and fulfillment. She is also witty, smart, and independent, but sometimes insecure, clumsy, or flawed. Chick lit novels often use a first-person narrative, with a conversational and confessional style. They also tend to include references to pop culture, fashion, and consumerism.

Some of the common themes of chick lit are:

Finding one’s identity and purpose in life.

Balancing work and personal life.

Navigating the dating scene and romantic relationships.

Dealing with family and social pressures and expectations.

Coping with change and challenges.

Celebrating female friendship and solidarity.

What are some notable examples of Chick Lit?

There are many examples of chick lit novels that have been bestsellers, critically acclaimed, or adapted into movies or TV shows. Here are some of them:

Sex and the City (1997) by Candace Bushnell: A collection of essays that follows the lives and loves of four fashionable women in New York City. It was adapted into a popular TV series and two movies.

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2000) by Sophie Kinsella: The first book in a series that tells the story of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who has a compulsive shopping habit and a knack for getting into trouble. It was made into a movie in 2009.

The Devil Wears Prada (2003) by Lauren Weisberger: A novel that exposes the dark side of the fashion industry, as seen through the eyes of Andrea Sachs, a young assistant to a ruthless magazine editor. It was turned into a movie in 2006, starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2001) by Ann Brashares: A novel that follows the adventures of four teenage girls who share a pair of jeans that magically fits them all. It was adapted into two movies in 2005 and 2008.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005) by Stieg Larsson: A thriller that introduces Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant hacker and social misfit who teams up with a journalist to solve a murder mystery. It was the first book in a trilogy that became an international sensation and was adapted into several movies.

Conclusion.

Chick lit is a genre that reflects the realities and aspirations of many women in the 21st century. It offers entertainment, escapism, and empowerment to its readers, as well as insights into the issues and dilemmas that they face. Chick lit is also a genre that celebrates diversity, creativity, and individuality, as well as the bonds of sisterhood and friendship. Chick lit is not a trivial or superficial genre, but a valid and valuable form of literature that deserves respect and recognition.

[cryingoflot49]

Book Review

Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Mother Night is the darkest novel by this author I have encountered so far. As an early novel, it contains some of the types of characters, situations, ironies, and philosophical explortions that would be developed in his later works. But this is one of his first publications so it isn’t as polished or fully-realized as his subsequent works would be.

Mother Night tells the story of Howard Campbell Jr., a bland, everyday kind of American male. The narrative starts with him writing his final work of literature while confined in an Israeli prison since he is on trial for war crimes during World War II. How he got there is the obvious thrust of the plot. As a young man, Campbell went to live in Germany where he found a German wife and became a playwright of stature. When World War II broke out, his prominence in the theater scene earned him special status with the Nazis who admired his work. They gave him a job writing and delivering speeches in favor of the Third Reich. Campbell justified this to himself because he was also a double agent, working for the American military. After being approached by a spy in a German park, he agreed to lace his radio speeches with hidden meanings that could easily be picked up by commanding officers in the field. So Campbell had the unique distinction of promoting the cause of the allies and the axis simultaneously.

The twisted thing about this all is that Campbell is entirely apolitical. He only agrees to these arrangements so he can stay in Germany to be with his wife who dies soon after the war starts. At the beginning of the war, Campbell begins work on a statement about his apolitical stance, a play called A Nation of Two meant to explain that his only commitment in life is to his marriage, not to any political cause. He feels no hatred towards anybody whether they be Jews, Germans, Americans, Russians, Black people or anything. He feels no lyalty to them either. You could say that he has never reached full development as a human being. Campbell is also the kind of man who never says “no” to anybody. He acts under no agency of his own and lets himself be manipulated by anybody he encounters. The only exception to this is when he writes. In this way, Vonnegut draws a sharp distinction between Campbell’s public persona and his vacuous inner life. This dichotomy is set up to drive one point home that Vonnegut wants to make about human nature.

True to this author’s writing style, the narrative jumps around from place to place and from time to time. After the war ends, the U.S. military sneaks Campbell into New York City where he settles down in a brownstone attic, a place that becomes like a prison cell. In the apartment below lives a Jewish doctor and his mother who are both Holocaust survivors and below them, an elderly painter named Kraft that Campbell befriends. He doesn’t know it at first, but this man is a Soviet secret agent who has plans for Campbell as he acts as the deus ex machina of the novel.

Kraft secretly arranges for a dentist named Jones to show up at Campbell’s apartment. Jones is a middle-American crank, a white supremacist who listened to Campbell’s speeches via shortwave radio during the war. He regards Campbell as a hero. He shows up at the attic with his friends, a Nazi named Krapptauer, a Catholic priest named Keeley, and an African-American man he calls the Black Fuehrer. Later, when Jones is confronted by the police as to how he could be friends with a Catholic and a Black man, two groups of people he claims to hate, he says they are friends because they all have the same enemy, the Jews. Again, we are given another piece of the puzzle that Vonnegut constructs for the reader. He also brings a woman who says she is Helga, Campbell’s German wife. But nothing about her is as simple as it seems on the surface.

Helga turns out to be, in actuality, her sister Resi. After revealing this secret to Campbell, they agree to stay together as man and wife. Resi is yet another character who has contradictions in her personality. Aside from deceiving Campbell about her identity, she is also a secret agent for the communists. One thing she reveals to him that a Russian soldier, while fighting in Germany, found a trunk full of Campbell’s writings. He took them to the USSR and published them under his own name where they took off in popularity. His success as a writer is actually beyond his control, happens without him knowing about it, and even without his making any effort at getting published. Vonnegut is telling us that our work can have consequences beyond our reach, taking on a life of their own, and going places we never intended them to go. All the more reason we need to be careful.

Meanwhile, Krapptauer dies of exhaustion after climbing a staircase and Campbell agrees to give a speech at the funeral in front of a group of neo-Nazi teenagers despite his inner repugnance to their cause. Campbell remains characteristically unemotional and without affect throughout the whole book. As he meets up with Helga/Resi and the white supremacists at the funeral, his past is paraded in front of his eyes so that he sees the unintended consequences of his actions. He describes himself as being numb and emotionally dead. He is unable to reconcile the conflict of being a hero to Americans, Nazis, and Communists all that same time and he is also unable to fully engage with the atrocities of the Holocaust that he helped perpetuate. The simplest thing to do is to suppress his emotions, shut off his mind, and plunge himself into a catatonic stupor of anhedonia.

Campbell’s turning point comes when he gets stalked by an American soldier named O’Hare who confronts him in his attic. O’Hare represents a whole other side of Vonnegut’s world view. After returning from the war and being given a medal then sent on his way, he sinks into misery and poverty, becoming an alcoholic and moving from one dead-end job to another without purpose or glory. He expected to live the life of a war hero and instead becomes a bum and a loser. His solution is to hunt down and kill Campbell, the known Nazi war criminal.

Campbell, after coming face to face with his past, is ready to take control over his own life and atone for his sins. He fights off O’Hare and turns himself in to the Israeli embassy to be put on trial in Tel Aviv. He solves all his contradictions and liberates himself by voluntarily going to prison.

So what does it all mean? First off, Campbell exemplifies how we are what we do. In the eyes of society we can be different things to different people. We play different roles in a play depending on who we are talking to. This was written in the era of the sociologist Erving Goffman. To the American military, Campbell is an agent who helped them win the war. To the Nazis he is an effective propagandist. To the Soviets, he is celebrated as a writer of subversive literature, clandestinely sending subtle messages of resistance to the citizens of the oppressive Communist state. He was all of these and none of these at the same time. The fact that he believes in no political ideology is irrelevant during his trial because it is by his public persona that he get judged. Our inner lives, our true, selves, are of little or no consequence in how the public perceives us. However, the one thing we do know about Campbell’s inner life is the he was madly in love with his wife Helga. And so we are forced to ask the question of how far would we go to stay together with the person who matters most. Campbell did what he had to do to keep his marriage, his sacred bond, alive. Given this contradictory bundle of actions and motivations, are we still at liberty to judge Campbell as a person who is either good or bad?

The public personas that Vonnegut portrays are contradictory and confusing though. Each character’s flaws and virtues are on full display so we can examine why people do the confusing things that they do. Kraft, the Russian spy, sought a career in the Soviet secret service so he can live in America. Resi pretended to be her sister Helga so she can be with the man she had loved all her life. The Jewish doctor helped Campbell, the Nazi propagandist, because he learned from the Holocaust that helping people in need was better than judging them. The white supremacist Jones can be friends with a Catholic and an African-American because he believes they are all fighting for the same cause, no matter how idiotic that cause may be. O’Hare wanted to kill Campbell so that people who think of him as a nobody would see him as somebody. What Vonnegut is saying is that people are complex and life is confusing. To eliminate this confusion, people try to see the world in either/or dichotomies of black vs. white or good vs. evil. But this only muddies the waters more, creating more confusion and sometimes causing people to make bad decisions. Whether we support the axis or the allies, we are all coming from the same place and that place is one of confusion. Vonnegut isn’t asking us to forgive or sympathize with the Nazis, rather, he is asking us to admit that the confusion of life can lead people astray, causing them to do the wrong things and sometimes even terrible things. Asking us to examine the human side of Nazis is always a risky business, but I think Vonnegut is saying it is a necessity if we are going to prevent other atrocities like the Holocaust in the future. We don’t want to become like the Nazis we oppose. Vonnegut himself survived life in a prison camp during the bombing of Dresden. The trauma of this experience made him feel like equalized with people on all sides of the war and led him to write the kinds of novels he did for the sake of preventing future wars. The sincerity of his endeavor shines through in books like this and that is why he can get away with posing such controversial questions.

Mother Night is not perfect and I wouldn’t recommend it as the first Kurt Vonnegut novel anybody should read. He follows the dictum of showing without telling a little too carefully, and at times the narrative is so opaque that it might benefit from a little bit more explanation. There is a lot to unpack in this story and it may require some second-order thinking after you finish it. It is not his most direct writing. The flaws are few and minor though and Vonnegut would later iron out such wrinkles in other books.

Mother Night is a probe into the darkest regions of human motivations. It is a probe that levels all of its characters by stripping away all their appearances and exposing the messes inside them and around them. It shows how people are thrown into a world of confusion while making futile attempts at understanding it, shooting wildly in the dark, and bungling everything up further while tricking themselves into thinking we are on the side of the good. But it is impossible to know if we are really doing good so all we can do is keep doing what we do while hoping it is right. The ontological foundation of our existence is one of chaos and nonsense, but we can only forgive ourselves when we are courageous enough to admit that we made mistakes in our judgments, however terrible those mistakes may be. This is the bitterest of pills tp swallow, but one that may be necessary if we are to make progress as a species. And whatever you do, don’t be a man like Howard Campbell Jr., a man with no convictions, living without will and making no effort to take control over his life, getting blown around in whatever direction the wind takes him. Being informed and knowledgeable doesn’t guarantee you won’t make bad decisions, but at least it increases the chances that you might get something right.

[doyouknowthisbook-poll]

FINAL RESULT: The majority of voters haven’t read this book, but enjoyed this excerpt. 😊

The Bluest Eye is a 1970 novel by Toni Morrison. It was Morrison’s first novel. From Wikipedia: “The novel takes place in Lorain, Ohio (Morrison's hometown), and tells the story of a young African-American girl named Pecola who grew up following the Great Depression. Set in 1941, the story is about how she is consistently regarded as "ugly" due to her mannerisms and dark skin. As a result, she develops an inferiority complex, which fuels her desire for the blue eyes she equates with "whiteness".

Literary critic Lynn Scott argues that the constant images of whiteness in The Bluest Eye serve to represent society's perception of beauty, which ultimately proves to have destructive consequences for many of the characters in the novel. Scott explains that in the novel, superiority, power, and virtue are associated with beauty, which is inherent in whiteness. She further asserts that white beauty standards are perpetuated by visual images in the media as well as the attitude of Pecola's family.

The novel received minimal critical attention when first published; however, it was placed on many university reading lists in black-studies departments, which promoted further recognition. Morrison was praised for her handling of difficult themes: critic Haskel Frankel said, "Given a scene that demands a writer's best, Morrison responds with control and talent." The first major sign that the book would succeed was an extremely positive review in The New York Times in November 1970. Despite initial controversies surrounding the subject matter of The Bluest Eye, Morrison was eventually recognized for her contributions to literature when she received the Nobel Prize in 1993, over 20 years following the original publication of the novel.

The Bluest Eye has frequently landed on American Library Association's (ALA) list of most challenged books because it contains offensive language, sexually explicit material, and controversial issues, as well as depicting child sexual abuse. The ALA placed it on the Top Ten Most Challenged Books Lists for 2006 (5), 2014 (4), 2013 (2), 2020 (9),and 2022 (3). Ultimately, it became the 34th-most banned book in the United States 1990–1999, the 15th-most banned book 2000–2009, and the 10th-most banned book 2010–2019.”

Do you know which book this is from?

Please reblog the polls, but KEEP IT SPOILER-FREE to make people read the excerpt with an open mind 💖📚 Title and author will be revealed after the poll's conclusion.

Note: The alt-text is too long for Tumblr, so the alt-text for this poll is below the cut.

It had begun with Christmas and the gift of dolls. The big, the special, the loving gift was always a big, blue-eyed Baby Doll. From the clucking sounds of adults I knew that the doll represented what they thought was my fondest wish. I was bemused with the thing itself, and the way it looked. What was I supposed to do with it? Pretend I was its mother? I had no interest in babies or the concept of motherhood. I was interested only in humans my own age and size, and could not generate any enthusiasm at the prospect of being a mother. Motherhood was old age, and other remote possibilities. I learned quickly, however, what I was expected to do with the doll: rock it, fabricate storied situations around it, even sleep with it. Picture books were full of little girls sleeping with their dolls. Raggedy Ann dolls usually, but they were out of the question. I was physically revolted by and secretly frightened of those round moronic eyes, the pancake face, and orangeworms hair.

The other dolls, which were supposed to bring me great pleasure, succeeded in doing quite the opposite. When I took it to bed, its hard unyielding limbs resisted my flesh-the tapered fingertips on those dimpled hands scratched. If, in sleep, I turned, the bone-cold head collided with my own. It was a most uncomfortable, patently aggressive sleeping companion. To hold it was no more rewarding. The starched gauze or lace on the cotton dress irritated any embrace. I had only one desire: to dismember it. To see of what it was made, to discover the dearness, to find the beauty, the desirability that had escaped me, but apparently only me. Adults, older girls, shops, magazines, newspapers, window signs—all the world had agreed that a blue-eyed, yellow-haired, pink-skinned doll was what every girl child treasured.

"Here," they said, "this is beautiful, and if you are on this day "worthy' you may have it." I fingered the face, wondering at the single-stroke eyebrows; picked at the pearly teeth stuck like two piano keys between red bowline lips.

Traced the turned-up nose, poked the glassy blue eyeballs, twisted the yellow hair. I could not love it. But I could examine it to see what it was that all the world said was lovable. Break off the tiny fingers, bend the flat feet, loosen the hair, twist the head around, and the thing made one sound—a sound they said was the sweet and plaintive cry "Mama," but which sounded to me like the bleat of a dying lamb, or, more precisely, our icebox door opening on rusty hinges in July. Remove the cold and stupid eyeball, it would bleat still, "Ahhhhhh," take off the head, shake out the sawdust, crack the back against the brass bed rail, it would bleat still. The gauze back would split, and I could see the disk with six holes, the secret of the sound. A mere metal roundness.

Grown people frowned and fussed: "You-don't-know-how-to-take-care-of-nothing. I-never-had-a-baby-doll-in-my-whole-life-and-used-to-cry-my-eyes-out-for-them. Now-you-got-one-a-beautiful-one-and-you-tear-it-up-what's-the-matter-with-you?"

How strong was their outrage. Tears threatened to erase the aloofness of their authority. The emotion of years of unfulfilled longing preened in their voices. I did not know why I destroyed those dolls. But I did know that nobody ever asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Had any adult with the power to fulfill my desires taken me seriously and asked me what I wanted, they would have known that I did not want to have anything to own, or to possess any object. I wanted rather to feel something on Christmas day. The real question would have been, "Dear Claudia, what experience would you like on Christmas?" I could have spoken up, "I want to sit on the low stool in Big Mama's kitchen with my lap full of lilacs and listen to Big Papa play his violin for me alone." The lowness of the stool made for my body, the security and warmth of Big Mama's kitchen, the smell of the lilacs, the sound of the music, and, since it would be good to have all of my senses engaged, the taste of a peach, perhaps, afterward.

Instead I tasted and smelled the acridness of tin plates and cups designed for tea parties that bored me. Instead I looked with loathing on new dresses that required a hateful bath in a galvanized zinc tub before wearing. Slipping around on the zinc, no time to play or soak, for the water chilled too fast, no time to enjoy one's nakedness, only time to make curtains of soapy water careen down between the legs. Then the scratchy towels and the dreadful and humiliating absence of dirt. The irritable, unimaginative cleanliness. Gone the ink marks from legs and face, all my creations and accumulations of the day gone, and replaced by goose pimples.

I destroyed white baby dolls.

But the dismembering of dolls was not the true horror. The truly horrifying thing was the transference of the same impulses to little white girls. The indifference with which I could have axed them was shaken only by my desire to do so. To discover what eluded me: the secret of the magic they weaved on others. What made people look at them and say, "Awwwww," but not for me? The eye slide of black women as they approached them on the street, and the possessive gentleness of their touch as they handled them.

If I pinched them, their eyes—unlike the crazed glint of the baby doll's eyes—would fold in pain, and their cry would not be the sound of an icebox door, but a fascinating cry of pain. When I learned how repulsive this disinterested violence was, that it was repulsive because it was disinterested, my shame floundered about for refuge. The best hiding place was love. Thus the conversion from pristine sadism to fabricated hatred, to fraudulent love. It was a small step to Shirley Temple. I learned much later to worship her, just as I learned to delight in cleanliness, knowing, even as I learned, that the change was adjustment without improvement.

[justforbooks]

Virginia Esther Hamilton was born on March 12, 1936. She was an African-American children's books author. She wrote 41 books, including M. C. Higgins, the Great (1974), for which she won the U.S. National Book Award in category Children's Books and the Newbery Medal in 1975.

Hamilton's lifetime achievements include the international Hans Christian Andersen Award for writing children's literature in 1992 and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for her contributions to American children's literature in 1995.

Hamilton was the youngest of five children born to Kenneth James and Etta Belle Perry Hamilton. She lived in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Her family had lived there since the 1850s, when her grandfather, Levi Perry, was brought into the state as an infant via the Underground Railroad. Hamilton's family encouraged her to read and write widely. She received a full scholarship to Antioch College but later transferred to Ohio State University.

She met poet Arnold Adoff while living in New York City, and married him in 1960. The two later returned with their children to live on the farm where Hamilton was raised. Adoff supported the family by working as a teacher, so Hamilton spent her time writing and had two children.

In 1967, ''Zeely'' was published, the first of more than 40 books. Zeely was named an American Library Association Notable Book and won the Nancy Bloch Award. Hamilton published The Planet of Junior Brown, which was named a Newbery Honor Book and also won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1971. M. C. Higgins, the Great (1974) won the Newbery Medal, making Hamilton the first Black author to receive the medal. The book also won the National Book Award, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award and The New York Times Outstanding Children's Book of the Year.

In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Hamilton's name and picture.

The Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth has been held at Kent State University each year since 1984.

The American Library Association established in 2010 the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award:

To recognize an African American author, illustrator, or author/illustrator for a body of his or her published books for children and/or young adults who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution. The Award pays tribute to the late Virginia Hamilton and the quality and magnitude of her exemplary contributions through her literature and advocacy for children and youth, especially in her focus on African American life, history and consciousness.

Her novel The Planet of Junior Brown was adapted for the 1997 film The Planet of Junior Brown, directed by Clement Virgo.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[uwmspeccoll]

Magnificent Women Monday

For today’s edition of Magnificent Women Monday, we present Belinda by Anglo-Irish writer Maria Edgeworth, illustrated by legendary interpreter of classic fiction Chris Hammond (other significant works include illustrations for Jane Austen’s Emma and Sense and Sensibility). Belinda was first published in 1801 by Joseph Johnson of London. Our copy was published in 1896 by Macmillan in London and New York, and includes an introduction by the Victorian novelist Anne Thackeray Ritchie, the eldest daughter of William Makepeace Thackeray.

Maria Edgeworth was one of the first realist writers in children’s literature, with her books often espousing moral lessons to their audience. In fact, her first published work in 1795 was Letters for Literary Ladies, encouraging women to continually challenge the power of men with wit and intelligence. The novel Belinda is notable for its controversial depiction of an interracial marriage between an English farm-girl and an African servant, lending itself to the publishing preferences of Joseph Johnson, known for championing radical thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft and economist Priscilla Wakefield.

Chris Hammond (Christiana Mary Demain Hammond ), whose illustrations we highlight here, trained at the Lambeth School of the Art through at least 1881 and learned much of her repertoire surrounding figure drawing there. She later presented in exhibits at both the Royal Academy and The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours in 1886. Although she prescribed to ‘Cranford Style,’ which celebrated ‘old England’ in a sentimental manner by focusing on historical correctness, her dedication to the subtleties of facial expressions and gestures set her apart from other artists of the time, such as Hugh Thompson and Charles Brock. Her skill was in placing emphasis on individuality and variety, compounded by movement in the background of the illustrations, such as doors opening or bystanders straining to hear, and utilizing diagonal arrangements and steep recessions to emphasize movement and to convey the a changing state of mind. 

-- Emily Birz, Special Collections Writing Intern

[queerchoicesblog]

Do you know any LGBT shows that are good?

Hi Nonny 👋🏻

Thanks for stopping by, hope you're safe and healthy in the midst of all this chaos!

As for your question, here you can find a list I reblogged a few months ago.

I would seriously recommend Gentleman Jack: if you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favour and watch it!

I remember some nice gay/lesbian/bi plotlines in series like Sense8 (2015), Orphan Black (2013), Babylon Berlin (2019 BUT I wouldn't recommend it if you're a minor cause it's very explicit), Downton Abbey (2010; watch the movie for a gay happy-ish ending though) and well yeah, Black Sails but that one was already mentioned in the list, right?

I saw enthusiastic comments about Half of It (2020), Netflix hit movie featuring the ever successful story of the introverted gay gal finding love in the gay female jock. It's not my cup of tea but if you like baby gay coming of age movie, go for it, sweetie ✌🏻

Any other good wlw shows that cross my mind and weren't mentioned before?

If you follow my blog you should get an idea of what I recommend but here you go, honey:

Dickinson (2019) on the writer we all know and love;

Vita & Virginia (2019), my current obsession a movie about the affair between the two writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf;

Ça va sans dire Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) and basically the whole filmography of Céline Sciamma: lucky you if you're French!

Sex Education (2019): haven't seen it yet but I've heard it's not bad;

Elisa & Marcela (2019), a lovely biographical movie about the incredible story of the first lesbian marriage in Spain;

OBVIOUSLY Carol (2015), the lesbian movie but check the book too if you like the story: hauntingly beautiful! *sighs*

How not to add Disobedience (2017): Rachel Weisz is sufficient reason though beware, grab a tissue!

Tell It To The Bees (2018) a BEAUTIFUL yet heartbreaking lesbian romance set in 1950's Scotland; (hope you checked it out @scottishqueer!)

Summerland (2020): another period love story set during WWII. Haven't seen it yet but my good friend @redhead-mess posted a lot about it and I trust her judgement. Most likely my next obsession 🤷🏼‍♀️

As for shows/movies featuring gay characters/romances:

Well of course I should quote Maurice (1987) starring Hugh Grant and taken from E.M. Forster novel, a classic of queer literature;

I would suggest Love, Simon (2018) about a gay teen named Simon while I'm not sure I would go with Call Me By Your Name, especially if you're a minor since the story involves a minor and a young adult which is kinda problematic;

Boy Erased (2018) is an heartbreaking story of a gay boy sent to a conversion therapy camp. Good movie but it breaks your heart, yeah;

A Single Man (2010) if you're up for more heartbreak though...

Pride (2014) LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie!

There are many documentaries too worth watching (most of them are on Netflix too):

The Life And Death of Marsha P. Johnson (2017) cause you must know what this wondrous human being and pillar of the LGBTQ community did;

A Secret Love (2020?), a real lesbian romance spanning across a decade of secrecy;

Last but not least: do yourself another favour and watch Pose (2018-) a gorgeous series about New York City's African-American and Latino LGBTQ & gender-nonconforming ballroom culture in the 80's and early 1990s.

Speaking of that, I would also recommend another movie, The Danish Girl (2015) telling the (real) story of Lilli Elbe, one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery. Since I don't know you, I must warn you that although personally I enjoyed the movie (heartbreak aside), the role was assigned to a cisgender man and some finds it problematic. If you are among them, feel free to ignore my last comment and focus on Pose instead!

That's all, I think?

Hope you can find something useful here and if anyone wants to add tips, please reblog and share your lore: I'm always eager to know more good lgbtq shows to watch!

[rockislandadultreads]

Non-Fiction Reads: African American Literature

Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho

An urgent primer on race and racism, from the host of the viral hit video series “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” “You cannot fix a problem you do not know you have.” So begins Emmanuel Acho in his essential guide to the truths Americans need to know to address the systemic racism that has recently electrified protests in all fifty states. “There is a fix,” Acho says. “But in order to access it, we’re going to have to have some uncomfortable conversations.” In Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man, Acho takes on all the questions, large and small, insensitive and taboo, many white Americans are afraid to ask—yet which all Americans need the answers to, now more than ever. With the same open-hearted generosity that has made his video series a phenomenon, Acho explains the vital core of such fraught concepts as white privilege, cultural appropriation, and “reverse racism.” In his own words, he provides a space of compassion and understanding in a discussion that can lack both. He asks only for the reader’s curiosity—but along the way, he will galvanize all of us to join the antiracist fight.

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making, from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy. In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil. Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office. Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden. A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective—the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of “hope and change,” and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible. This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.

From Slave Cabins to the White House: Homemade Citizenship in African American Culture by Koritha Mitchell

Koritha Mitchell analyzes canonical texts by and about African American women to lay bare the hostility these women face as they invest in traditional domesticity. Instead of the respectability and safety granted white homemakers, black women endure pejorative labels, racist governmental policies, attacks on their citizenship, and aggression meant to keep them in "their place." Tracing how African Americans define and redefine success in a nation determined to deprive them of it, Mitchell plumbs the works of Frances Harper, Zora Neale Hurston, Lorraine Hansberry, Toni Morrison, Michelle Obama, and others. These artists honor black homes from slavery and post-emancipation through the Civil Rights era to "post-racial" America. Mitchell follows black families asserting their citizenship in domestic settings while the larger society and culture marginalize and attack them, not because they are deviants or failures but because they meet American standards. Powerful and provocative, From Slave Cabins to the White House illuminates the links between African American women's homemaking and citizenship in history and across literature.

Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms by Shellye Archambeau

*Named a Best Business Book of 2020 by Fortune and Bloomberg* Full of empowering wisdom from one of Silicon Valley's first female African American CEOs, this inspiring leadership book offers a blueprint for how to achieve your personal and professional goals. Shellye Archambeau recounts how she overcame the challenges she faced as a young black woman, wife, and mother, managing her personal and professional responsibilities while climbing the ranks at IBM and subsequently in her roles as CEO. Through the busts and booms of Silicon Valley in the early 2000s, this bold and inspiring book details the risks she took and the strategies she engaged to steer her family, her career, and her company MetricStream toward success. Through her journey, Shellye discovered that ambition alone is not enough to achieve success. Here, she shares the practical strategies, tools, and approaches readers can employ right now, including concrete steps to most effectively: Dismantle impostor syndrome Capitalize on the power of planning Take risks Developing financial literacy Build your network Establish your reputation Take charge of your career Integrate work, marriage, parenthood, and self-care Each chapter lays out key takeaways and actions to increase the odds of achieving your personal and professional goals. With relatable personal stories that ground her advice in the real world and a foreword by leading venture capitalist and New York Times bestselling author Ben Horowitz, Unapologetically Ambitious invites readers to move beyond the solely supportive roles others expect them to fill, to learn how to carefully tread the thin line between assertive and aggressive, and to give themselves permission to strive for the top. Make no apologies for the height of your ambitions. Shellye Archambeau will show you how.

[abitterlifethroughcinema]

THE St. Jordi BCN Film Festival ’21 FILM REVIEWS

VOL. I: What’s Good!

by Lucas Avram Cavazos

YOUR #VOSEng take on upcoming international cinema premiering in Catalonia & Spain soon

To begin with, for a fellow who has for years been used to screening or viewing hundreds of movies annually, thereby spending hella time in cinemas, a global pandemic has been a true shock to the dork’s system. It has been a testament to the mindset of ‘the show must go on’ to see so many of our local and other European film festivals pushing back against the virus and powering through what could be deemed a safety issue by many. But basta! For starters, temp checks and hand sanitiser stations plus mandatory mask wearing have made a true return to movie going a half-wonderful respite. And so many thanks to Conxita Casanovas, Marien Pinies, David Mitjans, Cines Verdi BCN, Institut Francaise, and Casa Seat plus ALL the industry, press and movie lovers for making one of my favourite film festivals back to life for the half-decade anniversary. And I’m not just saying that for shits n’ giggles.

As an educator and broadcaster, history not only steeps itself within the confines of my classes, sessions and weekly radio/livestream shows, but every single one of us are literally living and walking and thriving through history, even as I scribe. So congratulations to anyone reading this, because you are Destiny's Child’ing it all over this place like drum n’ bass! On to the festival and cinema though please…

The St. Jordi BCN Film Festival revolves around the celebrated St. George’s/Day of the Book holiday here in Catalonia and so all the movies are based upon literary and historical works and facts. Red carpet moments and celebrities also make up the soirees and this year proved even better than others, with the likes of Johnny Depp and Isabelle Huppert being hosted by Cines Verdi, Institut Francaise and Casa Fuster. Depp, dressed as his character (I believe!) from his latest premiere Minamata -reviewed below- even mentioned that he would have loved to stay longer if he could keep Casa Fuster all to himself. And the day after her premiere for Mama Weed -also reviewed below- Huppert was seen being gorgeous at another film screening and then meandering about Gracia. But let’s speak about some of the movies that piqued my interest and will hopefully do the same to yours.

Petit Pays by Eric Barbier ####

Winner of Best Film at this year’s festival awards, Petit Pays tells a quasi-true story of family struggle during the Hutu vs Tutsi massacre that befell the gorgeous countries of Burundi and Rwanda in the early-to-mid 90s. But that is just the mere slice of what the plot truly entails. Focusing on little Gaby (Djibril Vancoppenolle) and his wee sister Ana (Dayla De Medina) as they make their way through childhood/pre-teen years, the plot thickens when the genocide starts to spill over and touch their lives, hectically lived with their Belgian father (Jean-Paul Rouve) and Rwandan mother (Isabelle Kabano, winner of the Best Actress award at this year’s festival). Truth be told, they do live in the lap of African middle class pleasantries, but as the film tenses up, reality sets in for all involved, including us viewers. The harsh reality that director Barbier fuses into the novel adaptation by French-Rwandan rapper/author Gael Faye seeks to display to the audience the truth of a genocidal history and how the sins of the parents always come back to burden or visit the children.

Where to watch: debuts in local cinemas 28/05/21

Promising Young Woman by Emerald Fennell ####

Oscar-nominated and local premiere hit Promising Young Woman had a stellar reception at this year’s festival and what a tour de force it turned out to be. The film plot revolves around medical school dropout Cassie Thomas (Carey Mulligan), who turns 30 and passes her time working at a trendy coffee shop but completely unmotivated whilst also continuing to live with her increasingly-worried parents. Years after her best mate killed herself, Cassie drags the guilt and loss along with her…until a blast from the past shows up, gets his coffee spat in and then falls head over heels into what will turn into a revenge tale beyond one’s craziest notions. A tale of loss that touches on modern themes in a frighteningly understandable way is few and far between these days. Fennell’s work here puts her on the map for sure.

Where to watch: in local cinemas NOW

Minamata by Andrew Levitas ###-1/2

This year marks 50 years since a collective understanding by world powers finally began to comprehend the enormity that factories create against Mother Nature and living creatures. It’s New York and 1971 when we find W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp), Life magazine photo journalist and one awash in a realm of problems. Then, adding to that drama, we find him suddenly embroiled on a task and mission that is presented by a couple of his fans, without his awareness that he has also stumbled onto a truth beyond wills. Environmental devastation affecting the innocent in Minamata, Japan is where we eventually spend the plurality of the film, and if you can get through the end scene of it without tears or shame of what mankind has wrought, you’re a tougher kid than I.

Where to watch: in local cinemas as of 30 April

Mama Weed by Jean-Paul Salomé ####

I cannot even begin to explain how much I absolutely enjoyed screening this film by the gifted and curious director Salomé, but it is without a doubt the tour de force work of ageless French star Isabelle Huppert that summons one to watch and compels them to laugh and engage. Undoubtedly, adapting any work of art from literature is never an easy undertaking, but the bringing to life of Patience Portefeux, a judicial interpreter for France’s investigation division, turns out to be crown jewel by Huppert. Serving up comical thrills, blithe acting when under insane pressure by duel forces and fierce Arab queen fashions, this film will have you white-knuckled, perplexed and laughing, all in tandem. THIS is an early-in-the-year film that deserves some attention!

Where to watch: in local cinemas NOW

My Salinger Year by Philippe Falardeau ###-1/2

Based on the like-titled autobio novel by Joanna Smith Rakoff, the movie stars Margaret Qualley as Joanna, an aspiring writer and young upstart in an NYC lit agency, whose tasks include many things, including answering the many fan mail letters that come for the agency’s fave writer J.D. Salinger, he of the oft-loved US American coming-of-age novel Catcher in the Rye. Even this guy connected to Holden Caulfield as a youth so when Joanna one day fields a call from Salinger and then gets caught trying to find endearing manners to respond to these grand fans, an incident leads to a coming-of-age awareness experience for Joanna and we the audience are the ones who are all the better for it.

Where to watch: in local cinemas on 4/6/21

[thebritishmonarchycouk]

On this day in Royal history

7 January 1536

Katharine of Aragon died

👑 Katharine was Queen of England from June 1509 until May 1533 as the first wife of King Henry VIII.

◼ Catherine of Aragon (Spanish: Catalina de Aragón), also spelled Katherine, she also signed her name as 'Katharine' and for this reason I prefer use this version of her name.

◼ Katharine was  born at the Archbishop's Palace in Alcalá de Henares near Madrid, on the night of 16 December 1485. She was the youngest surviving child of King Ferdinand II of Aragon & Queen Isabella I of Castile. 

◼ Katharine was quite short in stature with long red hair, wide blue eyes, a round face, & a fair complexion. (although in the majority of movies or tv shows you will find she is generally portrayed as having dark brown hair)

.

◼ She was descended, on her maternal side, from the English royal house; her great-grandmother Catherine of Lancaster, after whom she was named, & her great-great-grandmother Philippa of Lancaster were both daughters of John of Gaunt & granddaughters of Edward III of England. Consequently, she was third cousin of her father-in-law, Henry VII of England, & fourth cousin of her mother-in-law Elizabeth of York!

◼ Katharine studied arithmetic, canon & civil law, classical literature, genealogy & heraldry, history, philosophy, religion, & theology. She had a strong religious upbringing & developed her Roman Catholic faith that would play a major role in later life. She learned to speak, read & write in Latin, & spoke French & Greek. She was also taught domestic skills, such as cooking, dancing, drawing, embroidery, good manners, lace-making, music, needlepoint, sewing, spinning, & weaving.

◼ Katharine was betrothed to Henry VII’s infant son Arthur, at the age of three. They first met on 4 November 1501 & married 10 days later at Old St Paul’s Cathedral – both were 15 years old. They lived at Ludlow castle where she became Princess of Wales. Just six months later Arthur was taken ill with sweating sickness & died.

◼ When Katharine of Aragon travelled to London, she brought a group of her African attendants with her, including one identified as the trumpeter John Blanke. They are the first Africans recorded to have arrived in London at the time, & were considered luxury servants. They caused a great impression about the princess & the power of her family. Little is known of John Blanke's life, but he was paid 8d per day by Henry VII, & a surviving document from the accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber records a payment of 20 shillings to "John Blanke the blacke trumpet" as wages for the month of November 1507, with payments of the same amount continuing monthly through the next year. He also successfully petitioned Henry VIII for a wage increase.

◼ In 1507, she held the position of ambassador for the Spanish Court in England, becoming the first female ambassador in European history

◼ After Arthur’s death she was subsequently promised to Arthur’s younger brother Henry VIII, five years her junior, partly to avoid having to return her 200,000 ducat dowry. They married in a private ceremony in the church of the Observant Friars outside Greenwich Palace in 1509. She was 23 years old & the king was a few days away from his 18th birthday.

◼ Her marriage to Henry had depended on Pope Julius II granting a special dispensation because canon law forbade a man to marry his brother’s widow. Katharine testified that her marriage to Arthur was never consummated & as such was not valid.

◼ Katharine became pregnant six times providing two sons & a daughter. The other children died at birth. Both sons were named Henry Duke of Cornwall, however neither survived more than a few months. Her surviving daughter later became Mary I of England, Elizabeth I’s half sister.

◼ Henry appointed Katharine Regent, or Governor, of England while he went to France on a military campaign. King James IV of Scotland declared war on England & when the Scots invaded she ordered Thomas Lovell to raise an army in the midland counties. Katharine rode north in full armour to address the troops, despite being heavily pregnant at the time. After the English victory at the Battle of Flodden, she sent Henry a piece of the bloodied coat of King James who had died in the battle.

◼ Katharine’s badge depicts a pomegranate, an ancient symbol for fertility & regeneration & in the Christian church is a sign of Christ’s resurrection. It would have been seen as a promise of heirs that her marriage should have brought. Her motto was ‘Humble and Loyal’.

◼ The controversial book ‘The Education of Christian Women’ by Juan Luis Vives, which advocated women’s right to an education, was dedicated to & commissioned by her in 1524, for the education of her daughter Mary.

◼ When Henry VIII became tired of Katharine & her inability to produce a male heir he asked the Pope to annul the marriage, claiming the earlier dispensation to be was invalid. Thomas Cranmer encouraged Henry to overrule the pope & so the links with Rome were severed as Henry declared himself Supreme Head of a new Church of England. Newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer declared Henry & Catherine’s marriage null & void. Henry then married Anne Boleyn.

◼ Katharine refused to accept Henry as Supreme Head of the Church in England & considered herself the King's rightful wife & queen, attracting much popular sympathy. Despite this, she was acknowledged only as Dowager Princess of Wales by Henry. After being banished from court, she lived out the remainder of her life at Kimbolton Castle, & died there on 7 January 1536, her tomb is situated in Peterborough Cathedral. English people held Katharine in high esteem, & her death set off tremendous mourning.

◼ In late December 1535, sensing her death was near, Katharine made her will, & wrote to her nephew, the Emperor Charles V, asking him to protect her daughter. She then penned one final letter to Henry, her "most dear lord & husband":

My most dear lord, king & husband,

The hour of my death now drawing on, the tender love I owe you forceth me, my case being such, to commend myself to you, & to put you in remembrance with a few words of the health & safeguard of your soul which you ought to prefer before all worldly matters, & before the care & pampering of your body, for the which you have cast me into many calamities & yourself into many troubles. For my part, I pardon you everything, & I wish to devoutly pray God that He will pardon you also. For the rest, I commend unto you our daughter Mary, beseeching you to be a good father unto her, as I have heretofore desired. I entreat you also, on behalf of my maids, to give them marriage portions, which is not much, they being but three. For all my other servants I solicit the wages due them, & a year more, lest they be unprovided for. Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things.

Katharine the Quene.

[aaliyahsnigerianlitlitblog]

10 Nigerian Fiction Novels

FRESHWATER by Akwaeke Emezi.”This impressive debut novel is dark, powerful and provocative. It is, in many ways, about the complexities of a divided self, construction of identities and multiple realities. It focuses on a young Nigerian woman, Ada, who develops separate selves within her.As she grew, Ada became a source of deep concern to her family with her exhibition of volatility. When she came of age and moved to America for college, the group of selves within her grew in power. It soon became clear that something had gone terribly wrong.“ (Channelstv.com)

MY MIND IS NO LONGER HERE by Nze Sylva Ifedigbo.”Osahon – a man who is haunted by a dark past. Donatus, a graduate obsessed with a single-minded resolve to be better than his father. Haruna, the doctor who could not save his and Chidi – an unemployed graduate who wants to become wealthy at any cost.The world of these four men become entangled with Yinka, the front man for a powerful trafficking syndicate in this intriguing novel. It’s the story of a nation in the midst of decay and of men willing to risk it all in a bid to chase dreams beyond their reach”. (Channelstv.com)

WHEN TROUBLE SLEEPS by Leye Adenle.”When Trouble Sleeps is a thriller that plunges into the dark world of greed, political intrigue, blackmail, murder and sex workers.The novel’s protagonist, Amaka, in this sequel to the award-winning Easy Motion Tourist, returns to continue her one-woman crusade to protect vulnerable women while seeking out ways to bring justice to abusers and corrupt politicians.The self-appointed saviour of Lagos’ sex workers, Amaka may have bitten off more than she can chew this time as she finds herself embroiled in a complex political scandal that rocked the state and everything dear to her.Caught in a game of survival, against a backdrop of corruption, sex, and violence, Amaka must find a way to outwit those gunning for her life.” (Channelstv.com)

THE EXTINCTION OF MENAI by Chuma Nwokolo.”Twins separated at birth discover their true identities many years later.Brothers Humphrey, a London writer, and Zanda, a journalist in Abuja, Nigeria, are descendants of a Nigerian tribe whose members were subjected to drug tests that killed thousands.In this stunning novel, Chuma Nwokolo moves across time and continents to deliver a story that explores power relations expressed through the competing narratives that record the life and death of a civilization”.(Channelstv.com)

LAGOS NOIR Edited by Chris Abani.”The award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir, comprises of new stories, each set in a distinct location within the geographic area of the book.Lagos Noir joins the series with a set of exciting new stories by some of Nigeria’s most brilliant writers like Nnedi Okorafor, E.C. Osondu, Jude Dibia, Chika Unigwe, A. Igoni Barrett, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Uche Okonkwo, and Leye Adenle.This anthology stands out because of its unique and philosophical approach to crime in Lagos – one of the world’s fastest growing cities. It’s a must-read for lovers of crime stories”.(Channelstv.com)

CHILDREN OF THE BLOOD AND BONES by Tomi Adeyemi.”This young adult fantasy novel that is the first of a trilogy, is loaded with West African mythology, captivating magic and consummate plots that highlight themes like racism and oppression.This book stretches the boundaries of imagination with its fascinating action scenes and incredible creatures.It debuted at number one on The New York Times best-seller list for young adult books and is currently being developed as a movie by Fox 2000/Temple Hill Productions”.(Channelstv.com)

DISOWNED by Nina Anyianuka.” This is a collection of five stories of sadistic abuse, violence and an almost institutional sexual cruelty towards young girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa where the society is built on the power of men and timidity of women.The stories are told by five fictional Nigerian women who recount their personal experiences in their own voices. Issues ranging from sexual abuse and child molestation to prostitution, widowhood and domestic violence are tackled head-on in this book.Though deeply emotional and dark, Nina’s fast-paced and light-hearted writing approach makes the book enjoyable to read and difficult to put down”.(Channelstv.com)

AFONJA – THE RISE by Tunde Leye.”This is an exciting novel that makes a brilliant attempt at capturing and narrating the legendary story of the battle for supremacy between Prince Aole Arogangan, the newly selected Alaafin of the empire and Afonja, the powerful provincial chief of war, Ilorin.Afonja had been promised the office of Aare Ona Kakanfo of all the Oyo forces by the Oyo chiefs in order to secure his support for Aole’s ascension. He would stop at nothing to take what he believed was his by right.Afonja – The Rise is the story of how the clashes of these two men and the intrigue of the others around them transformed what was a slow decline into a race of the empire towards its collapse.Leye’s brilliance as a writer manifests in this thrilling historical fiction“.(Channelstv.com)

EMBERS by Soji Cole.”This book won the Nigeria Prize for Literature 2018. It’s dramatic literature that focuses on frightful contemporary experiences in the dreaded Sambisa Forest and one of the Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) Camps in Northern Nigeria.Soji Cole, who is a member of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ibadan as a teacher of playwriting at the Department of Theatre Arts, held nothing back in creatively constructing a tale that couldn’t be more relevant in today’s Nigeria”. (Channelstv.com)

WE WON’T FADE INTO DARKNESS by TJ Benson.”An abusive father is forced out of safety to find his runaway son in a world where males are going extinct and female monarchs have resorted to drastic methods to ensure continuity of the Nigerian race.An Ogbanje travels to a near post-apocalyptic Nigeria from the past with a solution even she is not aware of. A white boy who lives in Lagos seizes a banned book from one of his father’s Nigerian household serfs and their friendship yields disastrous consequences in Passion Fruit.We Won’t Fade into Darkness is a collection of fascinating stories whose common thread is hope. TJ Benson who is a Nigerian writer and creative photographer makes a statement with this brilliant book”. (Channelstv.com)

[xmasqoo-haineke]

Per aspera ad astra (phrase meaning) … Not to be confused with "Per ardua ad astra." … * *  * "Ad astra per aspera" redirects here. For other uses, see Per aspera ad astra (disambiguation). Disclosure: This article may need additional citations for verification.  Find sources: "Per aspera ad astra" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2020)  "Per aspera ad astra", from Finland in the Nineteenth Century, 1894 Per aspera ad astra (or, less commonly, ad astra per aspera) is a popular Latin phrase meaning "through hardships to the stars". The phrase is one of the many Latin sayings that use the expression ad astra, meaning "to the stars". Contents 1 Uses 1.1 Governmental entities 1.2 Military and government 1.3 Literature 1.4 Music 1.5 Anime 1.6 Educational and research institutions 1.6.1 Australia 1.6.2 Austria 1.6.3 Botswana 1.6.4 Ecuador 1.6.5 Estonia 1.6.6 Honduras 1.6.7 India 1.6.8 Jamaica 1.6.9 Japan 1.6.10 Macau 1.6.11 Maldives 1.6.12 New Zealand 1.6.13 Nigeria 1.6.14 Norway 1.6.15 Pakistan 1.6.16 Paraguay 1.6.17 Philippines 1.6.18 Romania 1.6.19 Russia 1.6.20 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.6.21 Slovakia 1.6.22 Slovenia 1.6.23 South Africa 1.6.24 Sri Lanka 1.6.25 Sweden 1.6.26 Tajikistan 1.6.27 Ukraine 1.6.28 United Kingdom 1.6.29 United States 1.7 Fraternities and sororities 1.8 Popular culture 1.9 Others 2 See also 3 References 4 External link Uses[edit] Various organizations and groups use this expression and its variants. Governmental entities[edit] Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin[1] State of Kansas (Ad astra per aspera)[2] Municipality of Cheribon, Netherlands East Indies[3] City of Gouda, The Netherlands[4] Honored Scientist of Armenia[5] Military and government[edit] Department of Civil Aviation, Thailand[6] Military Technical Academy in Bucharest, Romania[7] National Defence Academy of Latvia[8] South African Air Force[9] Spanish Air Force Hon. Julie Payette, 29th Governor General of Canada[10] Royal Life Guards (Denmark) Literature[edit] In Kenta Shinohara's Astra Lost in Space, it is inscribed on a plaque on the bridge of the ship that the crew subsequently decided to name the Astra.[11] In Kurt Vonnegut's The Sirens of Titan, it was quoted as both the motto of Martian Imperial Commandos, a unit within the larger Martian Army, in addition to being the motto of Kansas, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way. In Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", it was quoted as the motto of Maycomb, during the school play. In James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man"[12] In Pierce Brown's "Red Rising" book series it is a common phrase used by the Golds of The Society. In M.L.Rio's "If We Were Villains" it is the motto of the Dellecher Academy. Music[edit] The subtitle of Moritz Moszkowski's set of fifteen Études de Virtuosité for piano, op. 72 (published 1903). The subtitle of Charles Villiers Stanford's Piano Trio No. 3, Op. 158 (1918). The title of the fourth album by ambient music duo Stars of the Lid (1998). The subtitle of Sergei Bortkiewicz's 3rd piano concerto (1927). The title of a song by Spiritual Beggars from their album Ad Astra (2000). The title of a song by Haggard (band) from their album "Eppur Si Muove" (2004). Acceptance has an instrumental track on their Phantoms album titled "Ad Astra Per Aspera" (2005). The title of the second album (2011) by Abandon Kansas. Per Aspera Ad Aspera, the name of a best-of album by the band ASP (2014). The title of a march by Ernst Urbach op. 4 (1906). The title of an album of marches by the Royal Norwegian Air Force Band. The title of a composition by Hasaan Ibn Ali from his second Atlantic recording, never released, the master tapes of which were destroyed in the Atlantic warehouse fire of 1978.[13] The subtitle of an instrumental song by the symphonic metal band Nightwish (2020). Anime[edit] Mentioned in anime Astra Lost in Space on the Ark Series Spaceship which is later named as ASTRA. Educational and research institutions[edit] Australia[edit] Queenwood School for Girls, Mosman NSW Woodville High School, Adelaide Albury High School, Albury, New South Wales[14] Girton Grammar School, Bendigo, Victoria Austria[edit] Universität Klagenfurt Botswana[edit] St. Joseph's College, Kgale Ecuador[edit] Instituto Nacional Mejía,Quito, Ecuador Estonia[edit] Keila-Joa Boarding School, Türisalu[15] Jakob Westholm Secondary School, Tallinn[16] Honduras[edit] Escuela Nacional de Música, Tegucigalpa Instituto Salesiano San Miguel, Tegucigalpa India[edit] Clarence High School, Bangalore, Karnataka, India - Motto of Redwood House (Ad Astra) St. Augustine's High School, kalimpong, District:Darjeeling, India Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi, India The Frank Anthony Public School,Kolkata,India The Frank Anthony Public School, Delhi, India - Motto of Ranger House St Joseph's High School, Dharwad, Karnataka, India Antonio D'souza High School, Mumbai, India Technology Research and Incubation Centre, Dimapur, Nagaland Jamaica[edit] Immaculate Conception High School, St. Andrew Mount Alvernia High School, Montego Bay Japan[edit] St. Francis Church, Tokyo, West-Hachioji, Gnosis Essene (HP) Macau[edit] Postgraduate Association of University of Macau, Macau Maldives[edit] MNDF Fire and Rescue Services Training School, K.Viligili New Zealand[edit] Rotorua Boys' High School, Rotorua Nigeria[edit] Ilupeju College, Ilupeju, Lagos Lagos Secondary Commercial Academy, LASCA Kalabari National College, Buguma, Rivers State Oriwu Model College, Igbogbo, Ikorodu Norway[edit] Stavanger Cathedral School, Stavanger Sortland videregående skole, Nordland Lillehammer videregående skole Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Pakistan[edit] St Patrick's High School, Karachi St. Patrick's College, Karachi Paraguay[edit] Universidad Autónoma de Asunción Philippines[edit] Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Quezon City St. John Paul II College of Davao, Davao City Rosevale School, Cagayan de Oro City Juan R. Liwag Memorial High School, Gapan City Cagayan State University, Tuguegarao City Romania[edit] Mihai Eminescu High School,[17] Suceava Colegiul National "Andrei Saguna" Brasov[18] Colegiul National "Doamna Stanca" Fagaras[19] Alexandru Papiu Ilarian High School,[20] Targu-Mures Andrei Mureşanu High School,[21] Bistrița Márton Áron Főgimnázium [ro], Csíkszereda (Liceul Teoretic "Márton Áron", Miercurea-Ciuc) Ovidius High School,[22] Constanta Military Technical Academy,[23] Bucharest Russia[edit] School no. 1259, Moscow Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[edit] Saint Vincent Grammar School, Kingstown Slovakia[edit] Faculty of Informatics and Information Technologies of Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava Slovak Organisation for Space Activities Slovenia[edit] Prva gimnazija Maribor, Maribor Gimnazija Jesenice, Jesenice Gimnazija Škofja Loka, Škofja Loka South Africa[edit] Pietersburg Hoërskool[24] Tembisa Secondary School South African Air Force[25][circular reference] Ribane-Laka Secondary School Chistlehurst Academics and Arts School Sri Lanka[edit] St. Paul's Girls' School, Milagiriya, Colombo District, Western Province Sweden[edit] Västmanland Air Force Wing[26] Tajikistan[edit] Gymnasium #1 after V. Chkalov, Buston, Khujand, Sugd region Ukraine[edit] Space Museum dedicated to Korolyov in Zhytomyr Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Bucha Ukrainian gymnasium United Kingdom[edit] The Royal School, Haslemere, Surrey Colfe's School, Greenwich, London Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend, Kent Dr. Challoner's Grammar School, Amersham, Buckinghamshire British Lawn Mower Racing Association United States[edit] California State University East Bay, Hayward, California[27] Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina[28] Cornelia Strong College, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina Coventry High School, Coventry, Rhode Island East Hampton High School, East Hampton, Connecticut Greenhill School, Dallas, Texas[29] Irvington Union Free School District, Irvington, New York Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, Texas Lake View High School, Chicago, Illinois Lyndon Institute, Lyndon Center, Vermont Macopin Middle School, West Milford, New Jersey Miami Central High School, Miami, Florida Midwood High School, Brooklyn, New York Mirman School, Los Angeles, California Morristown-Beard School, Morristown, New Jersey Mount Saint Michael Academy, Bronx, New York Satellite High School, Satellite Beach, Florida Seven Lakes High School, Katy, Texas Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey[30] Trinity Prep, Winter Park, Florida[31] Townsend Harris High School, Queens, New York University High School, Fresno, California University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee Oak Harbor Academy Private School, Lemoore, California Fraternities and sororities[edit] Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity[32] Sigma Gamma Phi – Arethusa Sorority[33] Korp! Amicitia – Estonian student sorority. Freemasons-Knight's Templar, 32nd Degree K.Ö.St.V. Almgau Salzburg - Austrian Catholic Student Association[34] K.a.V. Danubia Wien-Korneuburg im ÖCV - Austrian Catholic Student Association Popular culture[edit] Appears on the hull of the ship 'Searcher' in the second season of Buck Rogers. Garrison Keillor routinely references the phrase as the only Latin phrase he cared to remember on A Prairie Home Companion.[35][36] Per Aspera Ad Astra is a Soviet Russian science fiction film by Richard Viktorov, written by Kir Bulychov. Rip Torn says this phrase to David Bowie in the film The Man Who Fell to Earth. Tomo Milicevic of the band 30 Seconds to Mars has a tattoo on his right forearm reading 'per aspera et astra', with the band's logo in the background in red. Aspera! Per aspera! Per ardua! Ad astra! is the refrain of the song "Aspera" by Erin McKeown on the album We Will Become Like Birds. American singer, rapper, dancer, actress, and songwriter Kiely Williams has "Per aspera ad astra" tattooed on her right forearm. Title of a play depicting the history of the fictional Maycomb County in To Kill a Mockingbird, in which the translation is given as from the mud to the stars. Title of a song by Haggard, from the album Eppur Si Muove. The name of an album by Abandon Kansas. It is one of many hidden messages in the 2009 video game The Conduit. Motto of the Martian Imperial Commandos in Kurt Vonnegut novel, The Sirens of Titan. Title of a song by Seattle-based band Acceptance. Title of a song by Goasia, appearing on the album From Other Spaces (Suntrip Records, 2007) Appears on right side shoulder patch in Star Trek Enterprise, on the "newer" uniform style shown on the series finale. In Star Trek The Next Generation it is shown to be the motto of Starfleet. The official motto of Solforce in the videogame Sword of the Stars. The phrase is used as the name of the tenth track on the score for the film Underworld: Rise of the Lycans by Paul Haslinger. Title of a song by the band Spiritual Beggars from their album Ad Astra. Title of a song by the band Die Apokalyptischen Reiter from their album Samurai. The final mission (Chapter 15) in the Mafia II video game In a tattoo piece in The Raven The phrase has been spoofed slightly by the band Ghost in the song "Per Aspera Ad Inferi" from their album Infestissumam[37] literally meaning "Through hardships to hell".[38] Title of a background music from the Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire video games which plays during a voyage into space. In the 2015 film The Martian, at the end of the film astronaut Mark Watney is giving his first lecture to the Astronaut Candidate Program and the phrase appears embedded in the central floor area of the lecture hall around a logo In Bioware's Mass Effect 3, this phrase is set in the middle of the wall of names dedicated to the fallen crew members of the main ship, the SSV Normandy SR2. Title of character leveling achievements in Mistwalker's mobile game Terra Battle Found in the Gravity Falls Journal #3, penned on the title page. Appears on the journal both in the show and on the real-life replica.[39] The title of a Pee Wee Gaskins album (2010). The title character in Ottessa Moshfegh's novel Eileen accepts and smokes a Pall Mall and refers to the motto on the package translated as "Through the thorns to the stars." On the ship the students find in Astra Lost in Space, there is a plaque with this saying on it. The motto of the Golds in Pierce Brown's Red Rising Series. Ad Astra is a 2019 American science fiction film by James Gray. Appears in the logo of the Universal Paperclips Advanced AI Research Group. Others[edit] As part of the official team crest of Arendal Football As part of the team crest of the former Collingwood Cricket Club. A plaque honoring the astronauts of Apollo 1 at the launch site where they perished. A tribute exhibit to the Apollo 1 Astronauts "Ad Astra Per Aspera - A Rough Road Leads to the Stars" opened on January 27, 2017, the 50th anniversary of the loss of the crew, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Inscribed on the crest of Pall Mall cigarettes packages[40] The theme of "POR CC XXI" by Kolese Kanisius Jakarta Part of a custom paint job in World Of Tanks Tradewinds Swiss[41] Space Development Network[42] Part three of the book Jepp who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh has the phrase as its title.[43] Appears in Morse code on the track titled "Sounds of Earth" on the Voyager Golden Record that has copies aboard the Voyager 1 & 2 spacecraft that are currently in interstellar space. [44] See also[edit] Per ardua ad astra ("Through adversity to the stars") Per ardua ad astra, additional uses with reference to above article Ad astra per aspera, additional uses Per aspera ad astra, references this article References[edit] ^ "Decorations of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin". Archived from the original on 2008-08-29. ^ "Seal of Kansas". Kansapedia. Kansas Historical Society. March 2014. Archived from the original on 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-06. ^ "Nederlandsch-Indische Gemeentewapens" (PDF). NV Mij Vorkink. September 1933. Retrieved 2019-07-23. ^ "Gouda in the official Dutch heraldic records". High Council of the Nobility (Hoge Raad van Adel), The Hague. Retrieved 2019-10-28. ^ "Honored Scientist of Armenia" (PDF). Retrieved Sep 24, 2020. ^ Department of Civil Aviation Emblems Archived April 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ^ "Academia Tehnica Militara". Mta.ro. Archived from the original on 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ http://www.naa.mil.lv/en.aspx ^ "The South African Air Force Emblems". Saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "OSGG/BSGG @RideauHall Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2017-10-04. ^ Kenta Shinohara (w, a). Astra Lost in Space 2: 24/4 (2016-08-23), Viz Media ^ Joyce, James. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. p. 222. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-07-18. ^ "Albury High School". Albury-h.schools.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Keila-Joa Boarding School". Keila-joa.edu.ee. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Jakob Westholm Secondary School". westholm.ee. Retrieved 2014-11-05. ^ "Colegiul Național Mihai Eminescu". cn-eminescu.ro. Retrieved 2014-02-23. ^ "Colegiul Naţional "Andrei Şaguna", Braşov". Saguna.ro. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Colegiul Naţional "Doamna Stanca", Braşov". Doamnastanca.ro. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Colegiul Naţional Alexandru Papiu Ilarian". Papiu.ro. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Colegiul Național Andrei Mureșanu". Cnam.ro. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Liceul Teoretic Ovidius". liceulovidius.ro. Retrieved 2014-07-01. ^ "Military Technical Academy Bucharest". www.mta.ro/. Retrieved 2017-11-08. ^ "Pietersburg Hoerskool". Pieties.co.za. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ South African Air Force ^ Braunstein, Christian (2005). Svenska flygvapnets förband och skolor under 1900-talet (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 8 [dvs 9] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. p. 44. ISBN 9197158488. SELIBR 9845891. ^ "California State University East Bay". Csueastbay.edu. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ Campbell University: General Information Archived July 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ^ Greenhill School: Statement of Philosophy Archived 2009-01-06 at Archive.today ^ "Stevens Institute of Technology: About Stevens". Stevens.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Trinity Prep School: myTPS Portal". Trinityprep.org. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Beta Sigma Psi 2006 National Convention, see page header". Convention.betasigmapsi.org. 2009-12-27. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Sigma Gamma Phi at SUNY Oneonta". Oneonta.edu. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ Almgau, 2014 (7 May 2011). "Startseite - ALMGAU". K.ö.St.V. Almgau Salzburg im MKV. ^ "transcript from the September 17, 2011 episode of A Prairie Home Companion". ^ Rev. Andy Ferguson. "Church Street United Methodist Church: February 20, 2001". churchstreetumc.blogspot.com. ^ "Ghost B.C. Store". Myplaydirect.com. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "A Nameless Ghoul From Ghost B.C. Speaks About 'Infestissumam', the Devil + More". Loudwire. Retrieved 2013-08-04. ^ Noble, Barnes &. "Gravity Falls: Journal 3|Hardcover". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2020-02-25. ^ "Pall Mall". History of Cigarette Brands. Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2013-12-21. ^ "Test Tradewinds Swiss". ^ "(CA) Who owns the phone number? - Identify the Owner of a Phone Number 123". ownerphonenumber.online. Retrieved Sep 24, 2020. ^ Jepp who Defied the Stars, p. 225, at Google Books ^ "Voyager - Sounds on the Golden Record". voyager.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved Sep 24, 2020.

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The Best Spy Novels to Read While Stuck at Home

Forty, page-turning spy novels, to Keep you on the edge of your seat. Marked by an exhilarating pace, plenty of dramatic twists, and richly drawn complex protagonists, spy novels are about as riveting as it gets in the library. And while all the excitement of double agents and espionage keeps you at the edge of your seat, these books also offer insight into fascinating and troubling historical periods.

In the name of thrilling reading, no matter what time of year and to wrestle with larger philosophical questions of betrayal, human connection, and the legacy of international conflict, I rounded up 40 of the best spy novels around, to read while stuck at home. Written by former CIA and other intelligence agents and some of the most prolific literary minds of all time, get to know the best spy novels below.

Here are my picks for the best spy novels you have to read while stuck at home.

Rosalie Knecht, Who Is Vera Kelly?

1962 in New York City's Greenwich Village and Argentina. A radio show host is struggling to make ends meet and fit into the underground gay scene when she gets recruited by the CIA to wiretap a crooked congressman in Argentina, and works her way into a radical group of students planning a coup. Think coming-of-age meets historical fiction with a strong female protagonist.

Jason Matthews, Red Sparrow

Modern-day Russia. Dominika Egorova is forced into becoming a secret agent that uses her sultry beauty to seduce an American CIA officer. When she develops genuine feelings for him, her loyalties begin to shift and the plot thickens.

Gina Apostol, Gun Dealer's Daughter

1980s Marcos-era Philippines and modern-day America. Though this book doesn't follow a linear chronology, it reflects Sol's fragmented memory and trauma. As a young woman limited by the comfort of her wealth, she seeks to overthrow the Marcos regime. Spying on the American generals and Philippine elite from her own fancy dinner table, Sol's loyalties struggle between her family, homeland, and her insurgent student friends. Politically charged, lyrical, and eye-opening, this is a must-read.

Helen MacInnes, Agent in Place

New York, Washington, D.C., and the French Riviera during the Cold War. When a Russian spy who's expertly infiltrated Washington society gets his hands on a top-secret NATO memorandum, a high-profile CIA officer's cover is blown in Moscow. Now, everyone is racing against time to uncover who the Russian spy actually is.

Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer

1975 Vietnam and Los Angeles, A half-French, half-Vietnamese double agent relocates to America after the fall of Saigon, and betrayal, both personal and political, ensues. At once a love story and a spy novel about the legacy and evils of colonialism, the Vietnam War, and ensuing refugee experience in the U.S. you won't soon forget The Sympathizer. It's satirical, sharp, suspenseful, and poignant.

Joseph Kanon, Leaving Berlin

Post-WWII Berlin, Germany. Alex Meier is a young German Jew who fled to America at the onset of WWII to escape Nazi persecution. But with the Cold War underway, it's the peak of the McCarthy era, and he's pigeon-holed into working undercover in East Berlin for the CIA. It's the only way he won't be deported. But when he gets there, he finds out that his target is the woman he loved and left behind before the war. It's a thought-provoking and action-packed love story.

Joseph Conrad, The Secret Agent

London, late 1800s. A shop-owner gets wrapped up in an anarchist scheme to bomb the Greenwich Observatory, but the plan goes wrong and throws his life into chaos. It raises philosophical questions and is a literary masterpiece, but that doesn't keep it from being a thrilling, entertaining read.

John Le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Post-WWII Britain. Unhappily retired after a failed mission, an aging officer sets out to catch a traitor who has worked their way into the highest ranks of British intelligence. Full of political and social commentary with a fast-paced plot, there's a reason this is such a classic.

Ian McEwan, The Innocent

Berlin, 1955. A young Englishman living in American-occupied Berlin is commissioned to install the tape recorders that that will wiretap Russians in Soviet-occupied East Berlin. He begins spying on the Americans for the Brits while helping the Americans spy on the Russians. But, he fails as a spy, and the plot becomes more complicated when he falls in love with an older German with a violent, possessive ex-husband.

Lauren Wilkinson, American Spy

Burkina Faso. In the FBI, Marie Mitchell sticks out as a young black woman. In American Spy, Marie wades through a sea of a mostly white male intelligence community, and an assignment to Burkina Faso, where she meets Thomas Sankara, revolutionary president of the landlocked, West African country.

John le Carré, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

Cold War-era Germany. British intelligence agent Alec Leamas should be on his way back to London, but one more job—an undercover mission to topple East German intelligence, leads Leamas back into dangerous territory. In an interview with Electric Literature, author Lauren Wilkinson (author of American Spy) calls this spy novel "terrific."

Susan Hasler, Intelligence

Post-9/11 America, during an election year. Intelligence trails Maddie James, a CIA counterterrorism analyst as she pursues an al-Qaida operation with an eccentric team. Meanwhile, the Administration is more interested in maintaining the message that America is winning the war on terror. According to author Susan Hasler, a former member of the CIA, writing the novel was a way to cope with residual 9/11 period anger.

Valerie Plame, Blowback

Cyprus. Young, blonde CIA operative Vanessa Pierson assumes the identify of a financial adviser in Cyprus on a reconnaissance mission. Her target: An international arms dealer, Bhoot, who is believed to be aiding Iran to bolster its nuclear activities. With an assassin on her trail, Blowback is full of fast-paced action scenes, as well as intimate details that the Washington Post describes "might elude a male writer." Blowback is co-authored by former CIA agent Valerie Plame, and Sarah Lovett.

Stella Rimington, At Risk

Britain. British intelligence taps Liz Carlyle, a scrappy counter terror agent to stop a terrorist attack. And the person of interest is traveling under a British passport, an "invisible." Author Stella Rimington relies on her former life as a high-ranking spy to author At Risk, Rimington's debut novel.

Patricia Wentworth, Hue and Cry

London. Before Mally Lee's wedding in six months, she accepts a position as governess to a shipping magnate's young daughter. Upon entering the Peterson grounds, however, Lee will be accused of being a thief and spy. Mally flees, leaving her fiancé in emotional shambles and private investigators in hot pursuit. What has Mally stumbled into?

Irène Némirovsky, The Courilof Affair

18th century Russia. Léon M, son of Russian revolutionaries, is tasked with assassinating the ruthless Valerian Alexandrovitch Courilof, Russian Minister of Education. Fronting as Courilof's personal physician, Léon M works his way into Courilof's summer house, and as his relationship with Courilof grows, learns things are more complicated than they seem.

Stephenie Meyer, The Chemist

United States. A page-turning tale of an ex-agent on the run from her former employer (a clandestine, unnamed agency). To clear her name, she accepts one more job that will put her in an even more precarious position. But, the job goes south. What now?

Jennifer Chiaverini, The Spymistress

Civil War-era America. Elizabeth Van Lew is a Union loyalist living in the Confederacy, and she will risk it all to help build the Richmond underground, break free inmates from Confederate Libby Prison, and gather military intelligence under the pretense of humanitarian aid. In this historical novel inspired by a true story, Van Lew's contributions during the Civil War comes alive.

John Buchan, The Thirty-Nine Steps

Over a century old, and Buchan’s adventure novel still passes muster. The first of five novels featuring an all-action hero with a stiff upper lip, Richard Hannay, this is unpredictable, exciting fare – and will keep you guessing until the last page.

Graham Greene, The Quiet American

A novel depicting French colonialism being uprooted in Vietnam may not sound like the most thrilling you’ve ever heard, but in the hands of English literary giant Graham Greene, anything is possible. Featuring British journalism, undercover CIA agents, illegitimate marriage and a light smattering of car bombs, there is action balanced with considered philosophy – and the book is all the better for it.

Frederick Forsyth, The Day of the Jackal

Telling the tale of a professional assassin – tasked by a French dissident organisation to kill the President of France – Forsyth’s novel was met with praise when it was first published, and remains so to this day. Of course, the 1973 film adaptation starring the suave Edward Fox did nothing to help with the stories success...

Robert Ludlum, The Bourne Identity

We all know Matt Damon’s award-winning portrayal of Ludlum’s most famous character, but how many of us have read the novels? If not, you’ll be glad to know that these tales of amnesia, backstabbing and action are just as thrilling on the page – and that Eric Van Lustbader has added to the cannon, with an additional 11 Bourne books available to read.

Tom Clancy, The Hunt for Red October

Tom Clancy’s debut novel remains his best. Introducing Jack Ryan, the CIA analyst throw into the field, it one again tackles Soviet themes and the adventures of a group of US Navy officers taking possession of a nuclear submarine. It’s thrilling fare, and Clancy’s talent to bring the appeal of classic espionage into modern-day storytelling is impressive to say the least.

Len Deighton, The IPCRESS File

Len Deighton’s first spy novel, like Tom Clancy’s, is also his best. More famous for the Michael Caine-fronted film spun from its pages, this original novel involves Cold War brainwashing, a United State atomic weapons test and an extended sequence in Lebanon – and makes use of spy novel trope to be employed for years to come: that of the nameless protagonist.

John le Carré, The Tailor of Panama

He is Harry Pendel: Exclusive tailor to Panama’s most powerful men. Informant to British Intelligence. The perfect spy in a country rife with corruption and revolution. What his “handlers” don’t realize is that Harry has a hidden agenda of his own. Deceiving his friends, his wife, and practically himself, he’ll weave a plot so fabulous it exceeds his own vivid imagination. But when events start to spin out of control, Harry is suddenly in over his head—thrown into a lethal maze of politics and espionage, with unthinkable consequences...

Eric Ambler, A Coffin for Dimitrios

A chance encounter with a Turkish colonel leads Charles Latimer, the author of a handful of successful mysteries, into a world of sinister political and criminal maneuvers. At first merely curious to reconstruct the career of the notorious Dimitrios, whose body has been identified in an Istanbul morgue, Latimer soon finds himself caught up in a shadowy web of assassination, espionage, drugs, and treachery that spans the Balkans.

Ken Follett, Eye of the Needle

“His code name was “The Needle.” He was a German aristocrat of extraordinary intelligence—a master spy with a legacy of violence in his blood, and the object of the most desperate manhunt in history... But his fate lay in the hands of a young and vulnerable English woman, whose loyalty, if swayed, would assure his freedom—and win the war for the Nazis...“

Olen Steinhauer, The Tourist

Milo Weaver has tried to leave his old life of secrets and lies behind by giving up his job as a “tourist” for the CIA―an undercover agent with no home, no identity. Now he’s working a desk at the agency’s New York headquarters. But when the arrest of a long-sought-after assassin sets off an investigation into a colleague, exposing new layers of intrigue in his old cases, he has no choice but to go back undercover and find out who’s been behind it all from the very beginning.

Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana

MI6’s man in Havana is Wormold, a former vacuum-cleaner salesman turned reluctant secret agent out of economic necessity. To keep his job, he files bogus reports based on Charles Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare and dreams up military installations from vacuum-cleaner designs. Then his stories start coming disturbingly true...

Erskine Childers, The Riddle of the Sands

The classic spy novel by Erskine Childers, credited as the first work of modern espionage fiction. Set in pre-World War I Europe, two British subject, Carruthers and Davies, uncover secret German activity suggesting a prelude to war.

Tom Bradby, Secret Service

What if your next national leader was secretly a Russian spy? Kate Henderson is a high-ranking officer of England's MI6—and a recent undercover operation has revealed explosive intel. Russia has infiltrated the upper levels of UK politics by co-opting a senior politician. To make matters worse, there may be a mole moving through the halls of England's Secret Intelligence Service. With an election looming, Kate is in a race to expose the double agents and save those she holds dear. But who can be trusted? Acclaimed British author and journalist Tom Bradby excels at crafting pulse-pounding narratives set against the backdrop of true-life events. In Secret Service, the author delivers a tense and timely spy thriller where the greatest threat comes from within.

James Grady, Condor: The Short Takes

In this novella, the iconic CIA operative Condor is back in a series of new adventures. New York Times-bestselling author James Grady brings back his famous spy but in a surprising setting. Six Days of the Condor was popular during the paranoid era of the 1970s as Condor was a spy in his prime who ruthlessly and heroically deals with a conspiracy within the United States government. In Condor: The Short Takes, Grady presents an aged Condor who finds himself in a modern setting and with 21st century threats. The original framework is present but the stories are far more intimate and less straightforward. Condor finds himself involved in cyber threats and the 9/11 aftermath; perhaps an even bigger scandal than the Cold War. The master of intrigue brings you six stories that are sure to leave you on the edge of your seat; can Condor soar over the obstacles or will he falter and fall? This is perfect for any fans of the hit original series, Condor!

John Lawton, A Little White Death

A social and sexual revolution was had throughout most of the world during the 1960s, and England was no exception. John Lawton's novel implants remnants of this revolution into the third book of his Inspector Troy series. This novel follows Inspector Troy—despite many career set-backs—as he rises to the head of CID at Scotland Yard. However, before the chief detective can celebrate, he finds himself deep into a scandal reminiscent of the Profumo affair. Troy becomes entangled in a web as he attempts to battle illness, police politics, and the Establishment. He must focus on protecting those affected by the aftermath of the scandal and discover who murdered the two key players in the scandal.

Brian Freemantle, Charlie M

Charlie Muffin came into the British secret service in the early 1950s, when the desperate government was in search of more foot soldiers in the impending Cold War. They decided to look into the middle class for the first time and found what they were looking for in Charlie. Even though he is a working-class, state-educated man from Manchester, Charlie has been one of the most effective agents of the secret service. However, times are changing as Cambridge and Oxford graduates are ready to take over again. They have decided it's time to sacrifice Charlie, but he won't go down easy. This exhilarating novel of double-crossing is excellent for fans of le Carre or Deighton!

Patricia Wentworth, Dead or Alive

In this suspenseful tale by British crime author Patricia Wentworth, Meg O'Hara's husband Robin disappears on the day she plans to divorce him. A year after the presumed body of her dead husband is found, someone breaks into her apartment to leave a shocking message. Now Meg is left to uncover if her husband is dead or alive. As more cryptic messages appear, Meg is certain that someone—maybe even her husband—is trying to get to her...but no one takes her seriously. Well, except for Bill Coverdale. For years Bill has been deeply in love with Meg, so he sets out to get to the bottom of things. Together, they find themselves embroiled in blackmail, forgery, and murder all while facing an unstoppable criminal mastermind.

John Altman, A Game of Spies

In preparation of Germany's invasion of France, England needs to gather classified information on Germany...and there's only one highly skilled spy who can get the job done: Agent William Hobbs. During the bleak winter of 1940, Hobbs meets the naive Eva Bernhardt and seduces her into working for the British secret service. Smitten with Agent Hobbs and disenchanted by Hitler, Eva agrees to seek information from the Führer’s inner circle. As Hobbs and Eva plunge into the world of espionage, intrigue, and deception, Eva quickly transforms into a tough and cynical operative, using her feminine guile and manipulative skills to obtain crucial knowledge. A Game of Spies is a thrilling tale with an even more electrifying conclusion as Eva holds her future, and the future of the entire war, in her hands.

John Lawton, Then We Take Berlin

Meet Joe Wilderness, orphaned by World War II - and certain that this fact will allow him to operate outside of society's bounds and rules for the rest of his life. But when he gets recruited into MI6, he discovers a fast-paced life in Berlin that will force him to go to extremes to accomplish his missions. This stylish thriller is a beloved read, best for fans of Eric Ambler.

Helen MacInnes, The Salzburg Connection

MacInnes may be best known for her first novel, Above Suspicion, but in The Salzburg Connection, written over 20 years later, she had become an expert in espionage beyond compare. In this spy vs spy vs lawyer tale, Richard Bryant, British agent, is one of the few who knows about a secret cache of Nazi information. When he’s found dead, an American lawyer gets caught up in the quest to find the information, before it gets in the wrong hands.

Gayle Lynds, Masquerade

Lynds became popular thanks to a collaborative series with Robert Ludlum, Covert-One, but she had been honing her craft long before The Altman Code’s debut. Like Jason Bourne, Liz Sansborough wakes up one morning to discover that she no longer remembers her life as a CIA agent. Luckily, her lover, Gordon, is there to explain what she has forgotten. But can Gordon–or the world–be trusted? There’s an international assassin after Liz, and she’ll need to figure out whom she can trust quickly.

Chris Pavone, The Travelers

A more recent addition, but one worthy of the list, The Travelers by Chris Pavone sees travel writer Will Rhodes is on assignment for Travelers magazine in the wine region of Argentina when a beautiful woman makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Drawn into a tangled web of international intrigue – like so many thriller protagonists before him – this is a standout in a modern world of throwaway poolside paperbacks.

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