#maurice carlos ruffin

[clowncloud]

reading maurice carlos ruffin we cast a shadow n for the most of the book i found the writing somewhat lacking? somewhat juvenile? tho tht may be the um like thought process of the character more than the writing style but an unexpected thing happened n i think now the writing improved a bit tho im disappointed tht the thing wsnt talked abt more again it may be the character n not the writer but i feel like a lot of things are left unsaid n sometimes it works bc u can clearly infer what happened but other time it feels a bit lazy

[libraryleopard]

Adult historical fiction novel set in 19th-century New Orleans prior to the Civil War

Ady is a young girl enslaved alongside her mother, Sanite, to a businessman from the French Quarter

Sanite raises Ady on stories of their family's origins and rebellion until the two of them are separated

Alone and hopeless, Ady stumbles into a friendship with Lenore, a free Black woman who runs an inn, and learns of a secret network of Black female spies called the Daughters

Coming-of-age story that explores rebellion, sisterhood, and the process of uncovering history

Black lesbian main character

Read as an ARC

[litandlifequotes]

When did knowledge become so heavy?

We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

[weltysymposium]

We're getting excited for the 36th annual Eudora Welty Writers' Symposium!

[jolieeason]

WWW Wednesday: February 21st, 2024

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme Sam hosts at Taking on a World of Words. The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next? Here is what I am currently reading, recently finished, and plan to read from Thursday to Wednesday. Let me know if you have read or are planning on reading any of these books!! Happy…

[judgingbooksbycovers]

American Daughters: A Novel

By Maurice Carlos Ruffin.

[musingsofmonica]

February 2024 Diverse Read

February 2024 Diverse Reads:

•”My Beloved Life” by Amitava Kumar, February 27, Knopf Publishing Group, Historical/Literary/World Literature/India

•”Whiskey Tender: A Memoir” by Deborah Taffa, February 27, Harper, Personal Memoirs/Women/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/Native American & Aboriginal

•”I Love You So Much It's Killing Us Both” by Mariah Stovall, February 13, Soft Skull, Contemporary/Coming of Age/Friendship/African American/Women

•”Private Equity: A Memoir” by Carrie Sun, February 13, Penguin Press, Personal Memoirs/Women in Business/Business/Finance/Wealth Management/Investments & Securities

•”Village in the Dark” by Iris Yamashita, February 13, Berkley Books, Mystery & Detective/Police Procedural/Thriller/Suspense/Women

•”Redwood Court” by Délana R. a. Dameron, February 06, Dial Press, Literary/Coming of Age/Women/African American/Southern

•”Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange, February 27, Knopf Publishing Group, Literary/Cultural Heritage/Native American & Aboriginal

•Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop

Hwang Bo-Reum & Shanna Tan (Translator), February 20, Bloomsbury Publishing, Contemporary/City Life/World Literature/Korea

•”Dreaming of Ramadi in Detroit: Essays

Aisha Sabatini Sloan, February 20, Graywolf, Essays/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/African American & Black/LGBT/Anthropology/Cultural & Social

•”The Things We Didn't Know” by Elba Iris Pérez, February 06, Gallery Books, Literary/Coming of Age/World Literature/Puerto Rico/20th Century

•“The Fox Maidens” by Robin Ha, February 13, Harperalley, Comics & Graphic Novels/Historical/Fairy Tales/Folklore/Legends & Mythology Fantasy/Romance/LGBT/World Literature/Korea

•”Hope Ablaze” by Sarah Mughal Rana, February 27, Wednesday Books, Magical Realism, Poetry/Religious/Muslim/Social Themes - Activism & Social Justice

•“ASAP” by Axie Oh, February 06, Harperteen, YA/Romance/Contemporary/Coming of Age/Asian American

•”Smoke and Ashes: Opium's Hidden Histories” by Amitav Ghosh, February 13, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Nonfiction/Historical/Travelogue/Memoir/Family History/Essay in History/Globalism/Capitalism

•”Fathomfolk” by Eliza Chan, February 27, Orbit, Fantasy/Action & Adventure/Dragons & Mythical Creatures/East Asian Mythology 

•”Ours” by Phillip B. Williams, February 20, Viking, Literary/Historical/African American/Magical Realism

•”Neighbors and Other Stories” by Diane Oliver, February 13, Grove Press, Short Stories/Literary/Historical/African American & Black

•”Greta & Valdin” by Rebecca K. Reilly, February 06, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, Literary/Romcom/Family Life/LGBT/Cultural Heritage/World Literature/New Zealand/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/Russian-Maori-Catalonian/Indigenous/Polynesian 

•”The American Daughters” by Maurice Carlos Ruffin, February 27, One World, Historical/Civil War Era/Saga/African American/Women

•”My Side of the River: A Memoir” by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez, January 13, St. Martin's Press, Personal Memoirs/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/Hispanic & Latino/Public Policy - Immigration

[desperatecheesecubes]

[rockislandadultreads]

Black History Month: More Fiction Recommendations

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Eleven-year-old George Washington Black - or Wash - a field slave on a Barbados sugar plantation, is initially terrified when he is chosen as the manservant of his master’s brother. To his surprise, however, the eccentric Christopher Wilde turns out to be a naturalist, explorer, inventor, and abolitionist. Soon Wash is initiated into a world where a flying machine can carry a man across the sky, where even a boy born in chains may embrace a life of dignity and meaning, and where two people, separated by an impossible divide, can begin to see each other as human.

But when a man is killed and a bounty is placed on Wash’s head, they must abandon everything and flee together. Over the course of their travels, what brings Wash and Christopher together will tear them apart, propelling Wash ever farther across the globe in search of his true self. Spanning the Caribbean to the frozen Far North, London to Morocco, Washington Black is a story of self-invention and betrayal, of love and redemption, and of a world destroyed and made whole again.

We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin 

"You can be beautiful, even more beautiful than before." This is the seductive promise of Dr. Nzinga's clinic, where anyone can get their lips thinned, their skin bleached, and their nose narrowed. A complete demelanization will liberate you from the confines of being born in a black body - if you can afford it.

In this near-future Southern city plagued by fenced-in ghettos and police violence, more and more residents are turning to this experimental medical procedure. Like any father, our narrator just wants the best for his son, Nigel, a biracial boy whose black birthmark is getting bigger by the day. The darker Nigel becomes, the more frightened his father feels. But how far will he go to protect his son? And will he destroy his family in the process?

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

Kiara and her brother, Marcus, are scraping by in an East Oakland apartment complex optimistically called the Regal-Hi. Both have dropped out of high school, their family fractured by death and prison. But while Marcus clings to his dream of rap stardom, Kiara hunts for work to pay their rent - which has more than doubled - and to keep the nine-year-old boy next door, abandoned by his mother, safe and fed.

One night, what begins as a drunken misunderstanding with a stranger turns into the job Kiara never imagined wanting but now desperately needs: nightcrawling. Her world breaks open even further when her name surfaces in an investigation that exposes her as a key witness in a massive scandal within the Oakland Police Department.

Real Life by Brandon Taylor

Almost everything about Wallace is at odds with the Midwestern university town where he is working uneasily toward a biochem degree. An introverted young man from Alabama, black and queer, he has left behind his family without escaping the long shadows of his childhood. For reasons of self-preservation, Wallace has enforced a wary distance even within his own circle of friends - some dating each other, some dating women, some feigning straightness. But over the course of a late-summer weekend, a series of confrontations with colleagues, and an unexpected encounter with an ostensibly straight, white classmate, conspire to fracture his defenses while exposing long-hidden currents of hostility and desire within their community.

[misterjt]

If forced to choose one person to represent the physical embodiment of New Orleans, Big Freedia is a strong pick in my book. Yes, worldwide legends like Beyoncé and Drake have her on speed dial, but the electric, gender-fluid “Queen of Bounce” retains real respect here from locals. And while New Orleans has a reputation for flash and debauchery, those who know the city's soul understand that the other side of its beauty is something equally softer, more serene, just like our Freedia.

—Maurice Carlos Ruffin on The Queen of Joy, Empress of Peace

[sams-special-space]

2023 Reads!

Here's my list of everything I've read for 2023! I'll be updating it regularly as the year goes on.

I'm currently in the middle of going through my backlog of books I've read and posting reviews, which will then be linked on the list! If you see a book on the list you're interested in hearing my thoughts on, shoot me an ask or a DM and I'll respond asap.

The list is under the read more since it's pretty long! A few notes: - Bolded titles are favorites - Blue-colored titles are non-fiction

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

The Obesity Myth by Paul Campos

This is Our Rainbow edited by Katherine Locke

Too Bright To See by Kyle Lukoff

Ellen Outside The Lines by A.J. Sass

The Insiders by Mark Oshiro

The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean

The Thread That Binds by Cedar McCloud

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

This Common Secret by Susan Wicklund

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

May the Best Man Win by Z.R. Ellor

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann

Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff

We Cast A Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls

Out In America edited by Michael Goff

The Golden Hour by Niki Smith

Every Body Shines edited by Cassandra Newbould

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch

The Bride was A Boy by Chii

Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa

Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

In The Shadow of the Throne by Kate Sheridan

Act Cool by Toby McSmith

Embrace Your Size by Hara

The Third Person by Emma Grove

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee

Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

You’re The Only One I’ve Told by Meera Shah

The Land of Stories #1: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

A Boy and His Bot by Daniel H. Wilson

Alone by Megan E. Freeman

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

That Sky Blue Feeling Vol. 1 by Okura

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon

Our Dreams at Dust Vol. 1 by Yuhki Kamatani

Our Dreams at Dust Vol. 2 by Yuhki Kamatani

Our Dreams at Dust Vol. 3 by Yuhki Kamatani

Our Dreams at Dust Vol. 4 by Yuhki Kamatani

Other Boys by Damian Alexander

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

Below the Belt edited by Trystan T. Cotten

Amelia Gray is Almost Okay

Unbound by Arlene Stein

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

Nimona by N.D. Stevenson

Our Dining Table by Mita Ori

I Think Our Son Is Gay Vol. 1 by Okura

I Think Our Son Is Gay Vol. 2 by Okura

Are You Listening by Tillie Walden

I Think Our Son Is Gay Vol. 3 by Okura

The Talk by Darrin Bell

I Think Our Son Is Gay Vol. 4 by Okura

Wake Up Little Susie by Rickie Solinger

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Junior High by Sara & Tegan Quin, Illustrated by Tillie Walden

Fat Talk by Virginia Sole-Smith

[clinchcoverenthusiast]

New monthly reads style courtesy of StoryGraph's new monthly cover collage feature!

June was a great reading month with lots of new releases. Rebecca Roanhorse gave my girl Xiala a satisfying ending in the final book in the Between Earth and Sky trio. The last book in the great Lost in Austin series by Christina Berry featured a Mr. Lifto-type MMC (shoutout to Jim Rose Circus-IYKYK). Cat Sebastian knocked it out of the park with You Should Be So Lucky (see what I did there). I knew I had to read Cyn after reading Ibrahim's Bluesky post about how he wrote it at a difficult time in his life (also addressed in this interview here). I enjoyed almost everything but other standouts were The American Daughters, The Mistress Experience, Preferential Treatment, and Triple Sec. Everything was from Hoopla or Libby except for All the Rest, Preferential Treatment, and Cold Hearted, which were KU. Here's everything in chronological reading order:

Capture the Sun (Starlight's Shadow #3) - Jessie Mihalik

Triple Sec - TJ Alexander

Mirrored Heavens ( Between Earth and Sky #3) - Rebecca Roanhorse* **

All the Rest (Lost in Austin #4) - Christina Berry*

You Should Be So Lucky (We Could Be So Good #2) - Cat Sebastian

Nails and Eyes - Kaori Fujino* **

Paladin's Faith (The Saint of Steel #4) - T. Kingfisher

Cyn - Ibrahim Moustafa*

The American Daughters - Maurice Carlos Ruffin* **

Salt in the Wound (Lyoness #0.5) - Sierra Simone

Preferential Treatment (Indecent Proposals #2) - Heather Guerre

Cold Hearted (Tooth & Claw #1) - Heather Guerre

The Mistress Experience (Society of Sirens #3) - Scarlett Peckham

* = author(s) of color

** = main character(s) of color

[libraryleopard]

July reads

*= reread

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

The Route of Ice and Salt by José Luis Zárate

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel

Icarus by K. Ancrum

Housemates by Emma Copley Eisenberg

The Ascent to Godhood by Neon Yang

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reed

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon

Bang Bang Bodhisattva by Aubrey Wood

The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Get in Trouble: Stories by Kelly Link

The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel 

Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect: Police Violence and Resistance in the United States edited by Maya Schenwar, Jo Macaré, and Alana Yu-Lan Price

Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido

Subtle Blood by K.J. Charles

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang

Generation Loss by Elizebeth Hand

This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo*

[weltysymposium]

Videos of This Weekend's Symposium

Did you miss the symposium Oct. 19-21? Never fear, you can watch the archived videos. Each heading is linked to the video in our Facebook group.

Thursday, Oct. 19, 7:30pm Katy Simpson Smith, The Weeds

Friday, Oct.20, 9am-12pm Lee Durkee, Stalking Shakespeare Maurice Carlos Ruffin, The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You De’Shawn Charles Winslow, Decent People K. Iver, Short Film Starring My Beloved’s Red Bronco

Friday, Oct.20,  1:30-4:30pm Ann Fisher-Wirth, Paradise is Jagged Halle Hill, Good Women: Stories Claude Wilkinson, Soon Done with the Crosses Ephemera Prize Reading

Saturday Oct.21,  9:30am-12:30pm Ethel Morgan Smith, Path to Grace Christie Collins, The Art of Coming Undone Ellen Ann Fentress, The Steps We TakeExodus Brownlow, I'm Afraid That I Know Too Much About Myself Now

[booksbydlwhite]

Bookcast Episode 82: Barreling toward an HEA

In episode 82 of The Bookcast by DL White, I'm excited to share the latest updates on my writing journey and I offering some fantastic book and podcast recommendations.  I'm determined to meet my writing deadline, but upcoming work travels might throw a wrench into my writing schedule.  I also shared my recent guest spot on the Book Buzz show. 

Listen to the episode here (Grab a transcript here)

BOOK REPORT

I have read 52 books of my challenge to read 150 books this year. I am a whopping 13 books ahead on my Goodreads challenge and I don’t see slowing down in my future. The books be BOOKING!

READ

One Steamy Night (The Westmoreland Legacy #6) by Brenda Jackson

Hostile Takeover (Blackwood Billions, #1) by Christina C. Jones

American Daughters by Piper Huguley

The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

One Night of Fun: A Forbidden Office Romance by Renee Lux

Taking Chances (McAllister Friends #2) by Té Russ

Unfinished Business (Strictly Professional #2) by Christina C. Jones

Working with Her Crush: A Friends to Lovers Romance (Dynasties: Willowvale Book 1) by Reese Ryan

March Madness by Nicole Falls

Jackrabbit Skin by Ivy Pochoda

The Other Side of the Road by Andrea Bartz

Watch Where They Hide by Tamron Hall

READING

Out of Office by AH Cunningham

Office Crush (formerly Invasion of Privacy) by Imani Jay

Take It (On the Clock #1) by Shae Sanders

PUT DOWN

0!!!

Recs, Raves, Appearances!

The Wordmakers podcast Making Words, hosted by one of my FAVES, the writing ass writer that is Tasha L. Harrison, who is also the ringleader of the Wordmakers gang. Sub to this podcast at Wordmakers . org/ podcast.

The BOOK BUZZ Show, is a video interview show hosted by Cheryl Brooks and others in the book industry. It was a great conversation about HEY LOVER, a book I don’t get to talk about much. We also talked about my writing journey and reading habits, the ULTIMATE romance for me, the challenges of being a self published author and how I engage in self-care while I’m writing. It’s a pretty new show and very well run. I took the opportunity to watch past interviews with some of my fave writers like Sharon C Cooper, Joan Vassar, and Reese Ryan. Search for THE BOOK BUZZ SHOW on YouTube or Facebook. I’ll add a link to my appearance on my website at booksbydlwhite.com/praise.

Thanks for your support!

Thank you so much for joining me for today's chat. Don’t forget to share the podcast if you enjoyed this episode and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, give a girl a rating! I’d really appreciate it. Do not forget that you can support this podcast with your book purchases, by spreading the good word, or by throwing some coins in the hat at bookcast.buzzsprout.com. Every little bit helps.