I am Cretian, I am Male!

"And I'm Having Your Baby"
part 1
part 2

It had been a fortnight since their talk. Some talk. It had gotten ugly almost instantly. Their quarrel was brutal. Krell told Trekia he was pregnant and while he expected her to be shocked or numbed, what he didn’t expect was for her to go all sexist and traditional on him. She took a deep breath and then said that she wanted Krell to come with her to see her parents. She would have them draw up a contract immediately and she would take care of him and their offspring.

Krell lost it. What, you roll around in the grass a few times with a female, get knocked up and she assumes the guy wants to get married? He wants her to save her from shame and make him a respectable, male Cretian! What a crock of dung! Because she was upper caste and an attractive female she assumed that Krell would want to be contracted to her for the rest of his life? He hissed at her. He told her she wasn’t worth two dead flies to him and under no uncertain terms would he have her as his provider. He told take her double humped, three-footed tail and slither off under some rock and don’t look back.

Trekia just stared. Her mouth gaped but silent. He knew he had been cruel. Yes, he had a right to be angry but there had been no reason to have gone off. He had treated her as if she were an enemy combatant. Trekia blinked hard and turned away.

Krell stood there that night shaking and panting hard for several minutes. He climbed back to his post and thought hard about what he was going to do with his life and the one he was carrying.

Cretian pregnancy cycles were fast and furious. There was no time to waste. The following evening meal, he told his family. His mother was unbelievably stoic and silent. The blood completely drained from her face. She stood up and left the room. His brothers’, after recovering from shock, pleaded with Krell to accept Trekia’s offer or terminate the pregnancy. He refused. Eventually, they accepted his decision and told him they supported him. His father, was teary-eyed, but held it together. He said he loved him and then he went fishing. His sister, well, she unleashed the wrath he had expected. She hissed at Krell. Told him she had always known he’d turn out to be worthless and she only hoped that he disappeared quickly before shaming the whole family. Then she stormed out of the module.

Continued.... (this is a link, folks)

C.O.R.A Diversity Roll Call: Week #4

This is week #4. Things are going well but we want to grow so do join us for this week's assignment. May is designated Asian Heritage Month. For this post I opted to answer:
5) Don't know much about Asian writers? Explore and then report on what you discovered.

Thanks to Aerin at In Search of Giants, I was introduced to Ellen Oh. Aerin posted a link to Ellen's current giveaway of Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon for Little Lov'n Monday. Because of Ellen's comments, I'm taking a serious look at Ms. Pon's book and I'm thrilled to learn about Ellen's book, Seven Kingdoms. See there really is a method to my madness.

Ellen Oh
Ello 2
The Enchanted Inkspot
Aspiring Writer, lawyer, mom to 3 gorgeous girls

Because I'm stoked about connecting with Ellen, leave a comment on this post and I'll do a drawing for any book from our Prize Bucket at Color Online. And by the way, you still have time to answer any unanswered quiz at Color Online. There are more than 50 books in the Bucket so check out the quiz.If you don't know about Ellen, get over there. Deadline for this special C.O.R.A drawing is May 4th.

6) If you are familiar with writers, please share a few recommendations. Please cite country/ethnicity. Asia is a lot of ground to cover.
Short list of writers I know and enjoy:
(Korean-American) An Na . Titles include: A Step From Heaven
(South Asian-American) Hina Haq. Title: Sadika's Way
(South Asian-American) Tanuja Desai Hidier Title: Born Confused
(Japanese-American) Cynthia Kadohata Title: Kira-Kira
Short list of reads in my tbr:
(Chinese-American) Ji-li Jiang Title: The Girl With The Red Scarf
(Japanese) Sakie Yokota Title: North Korea Kidnapped My Daughter

Join us, post your entry at C.O.R.A Diversity Roll Call

NaPoWriMo #15

heaven is

round and fat and toothless
she grins at you just because



PAD #15 For today's prompt, I want you to take the title of a poem you especially like (by another poet) and change it. Then, with this new altered title, I want you to write a poem. I chose Dickinson's Hope Is

Confession Tuesday

In light of Body Image Week being hosted by a variety of teen book review bloggers, I confess that I have been a closet eater for years. Since I was a little girl I'd sneak and hide food. I'd wait until no one was around to get snacks or make extra meals. Why I thought I was actually hiding makes little sense since it was clear by my size that I enjoyed eating. I've never quite broken the habit but I have had success, sometimes I've been more successful than at other improving my dietary habits.

As an adult, I don't want to be thin. As an African American woman, our body image is different from the rail thin white models we're all bombarded with. Still, for a long time I desperately wanted that brick house body. We like to joke our men like a little meat on the bone, but nobody needs to carry an excess of thirty pounds which is clinically classified as obese. I actually was an amateur bodybuilder for a few years. (Yes, I competed and actually placed respectably). Anyhoo, my current challenge is to take off the ten plus pounds I packed on during my early morning runs to Checkers during my midnight shift. I got into a quite damaging habit. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror (the tight pants alone wasn't enough to motivate me to stop) and I was instantly depressed.

Being older and coming from a family plagued with short life spans often curtailed by disease and poor dietary habits, I know my body can't take this weight. Fortunately, I've got more than vanity pressing me. So, I'm off for a walk shortly and when I come home, my guy will encourage me. Still, I'd really like to get to a place where I stop overeating. However, in order to stop overeating I'd also have to learn how to better cope with stress and disappointments. To read more about Body Image Week visit My Favorite Author.

To read more confessions, check in with January.

Little Lovin' Monday

Little Lov'n Monday is a day we celebrate the work of fellow bloggers. Post a link to an article, contest, interview, poem- anything you think deserves a little lov'n. Get some lov'n back. Share some love and be entered in LLM Giveaway. Deadline is April 30. 1 winner will be chosen this week. Congratulations to Doret, winner (4/25)! Check her out at The HappyNappy Bookseller.

Okay, so some of you don't have links to share. The goal is to share some love. Commit to visiting 5 blogs and leaving comments. If you do that, let us know. You might not care about winning a book, but I'm thinking you're a cool person who cares. Tell us that you shared some lov'n. Thanks. Winner will choose a prize from the list:

Don't Get It Twisted by Paula Chase (YA)
Every Time A Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams-Garcia (YA)
Life Is Funny by E.R. Frank (YA)
Blue Hour Poems by Carolyn Forche
Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir

Earn 1 entry for leaving a link to a post you think we should check out. Earn extra entries:

+5 for saying you visited folks and shared some love
+3 for posting LLM icon/link in your sidebar
+2 for writing a post about LLM
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

Check Out These Links, Leave Some Links.
Silver Phoenix Giveaway @ Ello 2
What's an ARC @ Shelf Space
4 Manuscripts and 73 rejection letters @ Naki
Adults Reading YA @ Reverie
Mothers' Day Booklist @ White Readers Meet Black Authors
Body Image Week@ My Favorite Author
The Eight Beatitudes For Authors @ Readers Room
"What Penn and Teller Can Teach Us" @ Geoffrey Philp's
"Color Up For Summer" @Crazy Quilts- Request for Recommended writers of color.
"Nikki Grimes: One Woman Hurricane" - Call for Book Donations at Readergrlz
Cartoonist, Jonathan Zapiro (C.O.R.A post) @ PopCulture Shock comic blog
"Poetry Is The Human Voice" at Afrogeek Mom and Dad

The Sunday Salon

Well, my week started out promising. I have a huge stack of books from the library. Received a couple of books in the mail. Then it began to rain and my allegeries kicked up.

A good week despite not finishing Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga which I am throughly enjoying. It's a beautiful novel set in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in the 60s. The narrator, Tambu is considerably honest in relaying her feelings about her brother's death, the opportunity his death provides her and her keen perception and resentment of the role of women in a traditional African society. Through Tambu, the reader gets an intimate account of the repurcussions of colonization.

In the mail I got a copy of From The Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson and Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.

This week, I'm hosting C.O.RA. Diversity Roll Call at Color Online. Roll Call is a weekly meme designed to add color to our reading lists. I invite you to join us. This week assignment focuses on Asian, South Asian and Asian American writers. May is Asian Heritage Month.

Every week, I post literature and women studies quizzes at Color Online. Each month, one participant wins a free book. Come by. You might discover a new read and it's a chance to win a free book. And speaking of free books, participate in Little Lov'n Monday, and earn a chance to win a free book for showing a little lov'n for a fellow blogger.

Now I'm off to see what other Salon participants are reading.

I'm Having Your Baby- 3ww continued

Continued...

Before his next shift, Krell went to see a certain general to call in a very large chip. Being a night guard had its perks. Having caught said general rolling around in the bush with a fellow general, Krell was sure the general would do all he could to avoid a nasty divorce and public scandal. Krell explained to the general that he needed an honorable discharge immediately. Say it was due to medical or whatever credible reason he had to, but he needed it done now.

And here he sat, finishing out his last night of duty. He sighed heavily, wondering how had his life spiraled out of control. Sure, he wanted more, wanted differently. Two ebolutions ago when he had signed his enlistment papers for required military service, he knew this wasn’t the life he wanted. He didn’t want to be the contracted male of a female who was obligated to care for him and their offspring. He didn’t want the very beige, suburban life that his parents had willingly accepted.

That restlessness in the pit of stomach is what had led him to the rebels in the first place. While he still didn’t hold the same romantic notions they held, he knew he didn’t want the traditional life either. Despite how it happened, this was Krell’s opportunity to choose his own path. He laughed, “Why is my life playing out like a bad b-rated reel?”

He didn’t know why, but he felt Trekia would come tonight. This whole confidence and assurance was new. Everything was new. Like how with little provocation he could go off on a tirade or break down into a crying fit. These emotional swings were worse than his premenstrual symptoms and before now, he didn’t think anything could be worse than emotional deviant he became during his cycle.

He needed to see Trekia. He owed her an apology. While he had no desire to be contracted, he did care for her. He wanted to tell her about his decision to have their offspring; that he was leaving soon for the commune outside the city. He wanted her to know that if she still wanted him, she could find him there and together they’d decide if they wanted to spend their lives together. He’d tell her he wanted a partner, not a mother figure demanding to be obeyed. He would not be anyone’s underling. Either they were equals or they were nothing.

"Krell?"

"Trekia"

"We need to talk."

Each week at 3WW, Thom posts 3 words. This week's words are quarrel, opportunity and service. Then we have at it. This is the conclusion of a three part story. To read more entries, go here.

In My Mailbox (2)

The stars must be aligned in my favor. I'm waiting on several books in the mail, but I have a ridiculously huge pile of library books waiting for me, and I didn't get much reading in this week for a combination of reasons, the least of which it's allegery season. Anyhoo, I got two books this week. To see what others got this week, check in with Kristi at The Story Siren and Marcia at The Printed Page.

I got a reader's request, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult from Frugal Reader. It seems we only had one Picoult title, My Sister's Keeper in our library and the regular visitor really enjoyed it so I requested four Picoult titles from the trading site. If you're looking for a good place to trade books, check out frugalreader. com.

If you're a regular reader at BES, you know I'm a huge Jacqueline Woodson fan. Not only do I really enjoy her work, but our community of readers seem to like her as well. I get a lot of mileage out of her work for a few reasons: her YA appeals to both older middle schoolers through older high school. The slim volumes appeal to reluctant readers who are intimidated by books with too many pages. Because her books deal with serious issues, my older readers don't feel like they're reading books too young for them.

From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun deals with sexual orientation, first love and new love and race. One of the things I love about Woodson's work is that while her main characters are ususally African American, race typically informs but is often not the central theme of the book. In Woodson's work, we see whole and functioning families. And we see diversity in families. In this particular novel, it's a family of two but the mom is not a victim and the son is not caught up in a major crisis well not until his mom tells him she's in love. I got the paperback which is really small and that's probably a plus for our readers. I'm glad though, when I read it, the library copy was a hardcover. Much easier on my old eyes.

Lov'n The Sun

From The Notebooks of Melanin Sun
Jacqueline Woodson
Blue Sky Press
1995

Loved it! Melanin Sun is the only child of EC, a beautiful single mom working full-time and attending law school at night. Their relationship is close, the kind of relationship every parent wants to have with her child, especially a single mom of a black son. Melanin is dark, very dark. He's gifted and shy. In his own words he wears 'alone.' He has his close childhood buddies and he's got his first serious crush at almost fourteen. Besides trying to work up the nerve to talk to Angie, who is sooooo fine, he has no real worries until his mom brings home Kristen. Now, Melanin was quite happy that his mom showed no interest in marrying some guy, but when his mother reveals she loves Kristen, who is white on top of everything else, Melanin loses it. The revelation is not easy for Mel and there are some pretty tough words exchanged and a lot of hurt feelings, but their bond is strong.

One of the things I love about Woodson's work is that while her main characters are usually African American, race informs but is often not the central theme of the book. In Woodson's work, we see whole and functioning families and we see diversity in families. In this particular novel, it's a family of two: the mom is not a victim and the son is not caught up in a major crisis- well not until his mom tells him she's in love.

Another thing I appreciate about the author's work is that she typically doesn't wrap up stories fairy tale style. She's realistic and real can also mean hopeful. Woodson's narrative is uncluttered but the work has depth. Her writing style exudes a kind confidence that renders emotions palpable without being contrived or romanticized. Her characters engage in candid dialogue. This slim volume will appeal to reluctant readers and the subject matter will appeal to a broad audience from middle school through high school.

To read more books that address LBGT concerns, check out Lee Wind at I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I read?

Allegery Blues

Friends,
I'm sorry for no updates. It's been raining all day. I'm achy and sleepy.

C.O.R.A Diversity Roll Call

Edwidge Danticat
Born January 19, 1969
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

I wanted to raise the voice of a lot of the people that I knew growing up, and this was, for the most part, poor people who had extraordinary dreams but also very amazing obstacles. ~Edwidge Danticat

My apologies to Ali for being so tardy with my post. I honestly had difficulty making up my mind about the country. Ultimately, I went with a favorite author and that is how I decided on the country. My feature writer is Edwidge Danticat. I recommend her work her regularly when asked about favorite authors. Ms. Danticat was born in Haiti and raised in New York. She has an impressive body of work. My favorite is The Farming of Bones, a novel about a Haitian servant in a Dominican Republic household. The writing is lyrical, at times surreal and compelling. Today, I picked up her YA novel, Behind the Mountains from the library. What little I know about Haiti I have learned through Ms. Danticat's work. Literature provides an intimate way to learn about a country's history, culture and people. Far more engaging to me than reading history.

For a while I went through a period of reading island writers and the one I continue to read is Ms. Danticat. If you're interested in storytelling traditions of different cultures, I highly recommend her celebrated work, Krik?Krak!

When you write, it's like braiding your hair. Taking a handful of coarse unruly strands and attempting to bring them to unity ... Some of the braids are long, others are short. Some are thick, others are thin. Some are heavy. Others are light.
- Krik? Krak! Learn more about Ms. Danticat here.

Geography: Haiti, in the West Indies, occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. About the size of Maryland, Haiti is two-thirds mountainous, with the rest of the country marked by great valleys, extensive plateaus, and small plains.

Find more Roll Call entries here.

Library Loot

I have a huge stack of books at the moment so another week of restraint. I picked up new books because I'm currently reading a pretty heady piece of literature after which I'm going to need something light or possibly in-between. One book that was on hold for me came in and the others were books that have been on my tbr for sometime. To see more entries visit Eva at A Striped Armchair or Alessandra at Out of the Blue. The loot:

Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang. Next month is Asian Heritage Month. I'm gearing up for it. Andromeda at a wrung sponge had reviewed it favorably. I don't read enough nonfiction but when I do, I often pick up a memoir. Looking forward to this.

Behind The Mountains by Edwidge Danticat. I'm a huge Danticat fan and this week's C.OR.A Roll Call assignment asked us to pick a country and discuss works and native authors we like from that country. What I know about the Haiti I've gleaned from books. I'm hoping this YA title moves quickly and easily.

M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman. I was introduced to this writer's work last year. Not a single read has disappointed. I wanted to read this book sooner but it had not been available. When I saw it today, I scooped it up. Gaiman is a master storyteller. If you like fantasy, it's a no-brainer. If you read very little fantasy and looking for an author who illustrates how much fun it is, Gaiman is your guy.

Last, I picked up Heaven by Angela Johnson. Recently read and talked about how much I enjoyed A Cool Moonlight. This slim volume should be just the kind of read I need behind something substantial.

3WW

"An Age Old Tale"
First installment is here.

Krell swore an oath to himself. He would not give into her deceit nor indulge his own desires. It had been three shade cycles since he saw her last. He worried why she had stayed away. Had he been dumped?! The thought stung. Just then he saw her. Her scales glistened and her eyes, polished Khoal bore into him. She moved languidly as if world was hers for the taking. Reflexively his tail began to stiffen but he held his resolve.

"Trekia we must talk."

"Can't we talk afterwards?"

"There's not going to be an afterwards . We need to talk."

Krell climbed down from his post. He told her to recline. The dull ash on his scales and worried expression on his face told her something was wrong. She lowered herself and curled her tail around full rear.

He sighed and then he began.

Each week at 3WW, Thom assigns three words. This week we're to use deceit, indulge and oath. I won't leave folks hanging with this story. I'll tie it up in 3 no more than 4 installments. To read more submissions, go here.

NaPoWriMo

untitled

what is this cruel affair that woman
must bear the brunt of a man's despair?

when his anger grows in her belly
and his bruises bloom on her cheeks

what is this cruel affair?

when she tastes the metallic of her own blood
on her tongue does the meek receive her savior's wafer?

where is her salvation?

*No prompt. Just trying to crank them out for the challenge. Can't tell you where this came from. Don't feel awkward if you think it's a brain fart. I'm a big girl. I can take it. There is something here.

NaPoWriMo #21

At twenty before plus one,
my daughter bloomed
in my womb. My birth canal
was our shared rite of passage.


Is there a rite of passage in our lives that doesn’t get much attention? For example, we tend to celebrate success and bury failure. What if we honored our mistakes? We tend to endorse transformation and overlook the ordinary. What is important enough in your own life to warrant a ceremony? What do you value and how could you pay it homage?

smells like rain

i like listening to the wind sing
echoes of late night murmurs
and the sound of beads pounding
against the sill

i like the feel of her heartbeat thumping

against my chest and the breeze
fresh seawater and salt
wet light raining all over me


One of the rare times I've been published. This appears in Maxis Review, Marygrove Press.

Today is Poetry Friday. To read other's contributions, go here.

Confession Tuesday

At times I wonder how others perceive me (not that that prevents me from plowing ahead with any particular behavior or argument). Am I perceived as a pot-stirrer (I am), a critic (I am), a procrastinator (guilty), disorganized (my entire life), a rebel (I'd like to think with a cause), a wannabe writer and poet (given any day, I try). These are pretty obvious flaws or personality traits, but does anyone suspect I don't like crowds despite my gregarious nature? Anyone know that I don't always want to talk; that I like to listen? Would anyone know that if you commented on how much I talked, you'd pierce a childhood hurt that's never really healed?

I'm rambling today because I'm feeling out of sorts. Next month marks a milestone for me that I'm not likely to go into detail about, but every year about two weeks prior to my anniversary, I get exceptionally weirded out. I have dreams, get reflective and anxious.

Anyone else have anniversaries that weird them out and the foreshadowing comes like clockwork?

Want to join us in the confessional? Find others at Poet Mom's.

Little Lov'n Monday

Little Lov'n Monday is a day we celebrate the work of fellow bloggers. Post a link to an article, contest, interview, poem- anything you think deserves a little lov'n.

Get some lov'n back. Share a link and be entered in LLM Giveaway. Deadline is April 24. 1 winner will be chosen this week. Congratulations to Thom, last week's winner. Check him out at Surface Tension.

Winner will choose a prize from the list:
Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat- this is the book to win.
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede
Gossamer by Lois Lowry (Hardcover)
June-Tree: New and Selected Poems by Peter Balakian
Missing Mom by Joyce Carol Oates
Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir
Paradise by Toni Morrison

Earn 1 entry for leaving a link to a post you think we should check out. Earn extra entries:
+3 for posting LLM icon/link in your sidebar
+2 for writing a post about LLM
+2 for leaving a comment about a post you've read
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

Check out the following links:
Bullying Leads to Child Suicide at I'm Here. I'm Queer. What...
Seventh Annual Fire Escape Contest at Mitali's Fire Escape (teens)
"Now That I am Forever With Child" at Thinking Aloud (Roll Call entry)
Interview with poet Sarah Cortez at LaBloga
Cover Stories + Elizabeth Scott contest at Melissa Walker's
Amazon Fails with Gay "Book Burning" at Sarah Ockler's

NaPoWriMo #20

rebirth

she sat across from me, puffed up-
a breakout threatening to surface.

for me, our exchange was a pimple,
a reminder that I'd never have perfect skin

to her, I was poking at a boil that wasn't there;
she wasn't angry.

PAD prompt #20 is rebirth.

The Sunday Salon

I've been looking for a way to better organized my posts, develop a posting schedule and figure how I want to talk about what I'm reading. After several weeks reading a variety of book blogs, I've decided I really don't have the time or desire to write lengthy reviews. I read at one blogger's site reviews that read more like annotations, and I've decided that's the way I want to go. I want to spend more time reading and less time writing impressive reviews. Besides there are some great reviewers out there and I don't want to try to match their skill set. Having said all that, I am very happy that Sunday Salon provides me with a scheduled day to talk about what I've been reading, gives me some guidelines for what to discuss and a network of people to share my thoughts with.

Recently I read Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice (One World/Ballantine, 2008). If you enjoy mother/daughter relationship books, you'll enjoy this one. While the issues are complex, the story reads like a conversation. Shay is the daughter of a recovering alcoholic. She comes home for break after a meltdown during her last year of graduate school. Nona is still in the early years of her recovery. She's diligently worked on her issues and her behavior, is raising a small child and has attempted make amends with her daughter, but Shay is resentful. Shay wants to continue blaming Nona but she doesn't want to address how her mother's alcoholism has impacted her. She won't admit she doesn't know how to get her life back on track.

Brice has done her homework. Both Nona's and Shay's behavior are authentic. With only a few years clean, Nona behaves like many people in early recovery. She has a garden. She pays attention to her diet and she keeps herself wrapped in positive messages. And Shay behaves like a child of an alcoholic: she has poor interpersonal skills, she acts out when she is distressed and she distrusts everyone.

While the story is predictable, it is still compelling. Anyone who has dealt with addiction either as the addict or a family member, will relate to this. Readers can easily empathize and be judgemental with both characters. At times, a reader might favor one character over the other, but ultimately you want reconsilation for them. You want them to heal. I think most women who have had a strained relationship with their mothers will relate. I think the author was smart to keep this story straightforward and personable, too. It made this kind of relationship easier to examine; it gives the reader space to inject herself. And for some, it just might be a catalyst for revisiting relationships of their own. I enjoyed it.

I also read Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson (Puffin, 2009). When a new boy comes to Frannie's all black school, she learns a lot about what she believes in and who she is. She discovers her own meaning of hope. The new boy who goes by Jesus Boy is appears to be white with long flowing hair. He used to live on the other side of the highway in the white part of town but it wasn't a good place for his black parents. Samantha, Frannie's religious best friend wants to believe Jesus Boy is Jesus. Trevor, the class bully who's absent father is white, wants to pound JB. At home Frannie's deaf brother, Sean, tries to explain to her about bridges to other worlds and her mom finds out she's having a baby after losing two others.

Race, faith, loss and disabilities is a lot to tackle in one children's book, but Woodson pulls it off. There is an accessibility and subtlety here that is indictative of Woodson's body of work. One reviewer complained there was little action in this book. Well, this isn't an adventure book. It's about relationships and self-discovery.
It's about hope. It's about tolerance and acceptance. It is about the nuances of how we relate to one another and how we respond to changes in our intimate worlds. While Woodson writes for children and young adults, her works, like adult literature are examinations of character. Often adult ideas about children's fiction inhibits adults' ability to recognize what Woodson accomplishes in her work: keen observations about character and dynamics that shape our relationships. Children, on the other hand only want to read a good story. Woodson is a deft writer who provides depth that enriches a read even for the reader who is unaware that it is there.

I'm currently reading Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga (Seal Press, 2004). I've read a few African writers: Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Beverly Naidoo. There is a lyrical quality in all of these writers' work. I haven't gotten far into this novel, but I already know it will be a good read. I like the construction, the pacing, setting and the underpinnings of the conflicts central to the novel. Looking forward to sharing more with you all in the near future.

I've picked up several books from the library. Not sure what I'll read next, but check out my Library Loot and In My Mailbox posts to see my options.

Now I'm off to see what other Salon participants are reading.

In My Mailbox (7)

This week was very light for mail so I went shopping. I went to my favorite used bookstore, Read It Again Books. I have an insane credit amount with them. Figured I use some of it. Picked up lots of kids books and one very good piece of literature I'm going to offer to next week's Little Lov'n Monday winner. If you haven't checked out LLM, you should. It's easy to win and you're supporting your fellow bloggers at the same time. In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at Story Siren. Also check out Mailbox Monday at The Printed Page, hosted by Marcia.

This week's stash:
Somewhere In The Darkness by Walter Dean Myers. I've been trying to read more books with male leads by men authors. I'm Myers fan, so I bought this at Read It Again. Jimmy Little, a fourteen-year-old boy, and his estranged father are reunited after nine years. The father is dying of a kidney ailment and has escaped from prison to share the truth of his past and to re-establish a relationship with his son. Jimmy embarks on a physical and psychological journey as he and his father explore their pasts.

Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia and Good Work, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish. Our current elementary coordinator brings his girls into the library every week, and they are big on funny serials. Got these on trade at Frugal Reader.

Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwige Danticat. Ms. Danticat is a young, gifted writer. This is one of her earliest works. It isn't her best, but it does demonstrate skill that she later hones in The Farming of Bones. I read that twice and I think I'm do for a reread on this as well. I rarely reread so that says plenty about Ms. Danticat's work. This will be offered for Little Lov'n Monday. Political violence, secrets and strained relationships.

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger. This was purely impulse. Cool cover and I read Parrotfish by Ms. Wittlinger. She's a solid writer. Since his parents' divorce, John's mother hasn't touched him, her new fiancé wants them to move away, and his father would rather be anywhere than at Friday night dinner with his son. It's no wonder John writes articles like "Interview with the Stepfather" and "Memoirs from Hell."
How I Survived Being a Girl by Van Drannen. I think I've heard of this but the cover and title combined said, buy it so I did.

Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Lunch Walks Among us by Jim Benton. The cover was too good to pass up and remember what I said about serial?

I've Been Touched by A Fairy

Serena gave me an Enchanted Blog award!

The only requirement for this award is that you share it with whomever you like, sharing the love is always a good thing. The blog has to show only one characteristic, caring. So, start sharing this enchanted award with five other bloggers. Let your bloggers know they have received this enchanted award. (Remember, fairies are fickle wee things, don't incur their displeasure by ignoring their gift.)

It's always cool to be recognized by a peer. I believe in paying it forward and I like to acknowledge as many people as possible so I try to pick new recipients when I have the opportunity to recgonize others. This time I choose:

1. Edi at Crazy Quilts. Librarian by day (we won't speculate how wild and crazy she is outside of work), CQ is chock full with informative posts and great reference links. Edi is also a regular, welcomed friend here.

2. Eva at A Striped Armchair. Since taking on the library, I spend an inordinate amount of time reading YA and children's books. When I want a fine literary read, Eva is among the few reviewers I check in with first. Her reading habits are diverse and her reviews are the kind of essays professors hope for.

3. Christine at Balanced on The Edge. Christine wears a few hats and one of my favorites is poet. In her work expect the unexpected. Often she describe an image in a way that makes you pause. She is a friend who takes time to come by and makes you feel good when you come by her place.

4. Mitali at Mitali's Fire Escape. Mitali demonstrates a real commitment to diversity. She not only writes multicultural literature meant for all readers' enjoyment but she is an outspoken advocate for writers of color.

5. Linda at Linda's Poems. Linda is a teacher and a poet. It's really hard to top this folks. I am a vocal advocate for teachers. My own writing is average, but I believe I have developed a real understanding of quality work and let me tell you, Linda is a fine poet.

Library Loot

I had a really good time at the library today. I picked up several books last week so today I restrained myself but not denied. I got books that have been on my tbr list. I'm a very happy chica. On to the books:

Skin Deep by E.M. Crane is one of those titles that has been on my tbr for a year. I confess the cover alone was enough for me to pick this up today even though I couldn't remember why I put the book on my tbr list. All Andrea has to do is show up every day and life basically plays out as scripted. Then one day Andrea accepts a job. Honora Menapace–a reclusive neighbor–is sick. As in every other aspect of her life, Andrea’s role is clear: Honora’s garden must be taken care of and her pottery finished, and someone needs to feed her dog, Zena. But what starts out as a simple job yanks Andrea’s back-row seat out from under her.

I am embarrassed to say that down to the bone by Myra Lazara Dole has also been on my tbr and wish list forever. I have been unsuccessful in getting it on trade and until today, I had not seen it in our library. I may have to break down it buy it used. I won't be buying it from Amazon. If you haven't heard, read the link about Gay Book Burning link in my LLM post. Here's what it means to be a tortillera.
It means you're a girl who loves girls. Which means you get kicked out of Catholic school faster than Mother Superior Sicko can say "immoral."

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia. Read great reviews and no suprise there. I was already a fan. I've read Every Time A Rainbow Dies, Girls On The Home Front and No Laughter Here. Williams-Garcia is writer I intend to read through her entire body of work. Jumped explores the serious issue of girl violence in schools.

A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar is a new author for me. I can't remember where I first saw it mentioned. I have a strong affinity for coming of age stories and multicultural literature so this was an easy sale. It is a great example, along with Junot Diaz’s writing, of how the voice of a narrator can make you fall in love with a character and what she might have to say before the story really even begins. It is a bildungsroman, starring Nidali, a spunky charismatic firecracker of a girl, who is born in Chicago, grows up in Kuwait and then after war displaces her, moves to Egypt, and then after more difficulties moves to Texas. ~reader review

Library Loot is hosted each week by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Alessandra at Out of the Blue. See more book selections here.

NaPoWriMo #17

Missing Mrs. Gavin

Last week Mrs. Gavin moved. I felt uprooted by
her leaving. She had been Drakewood's historian,
35801's unofficial senior R.A., our resident gardner
and welcoming committee of one.

Mrs. Gavin said after her surgery she never felt
quite like herself again. It was if she woke up
and suddenly she was old.

She never said how old, but if you listened to her stories
about her life and about the complex, you knew
Mrs. Gavin had lived many seasons.

More than thirty years ago, she had planted a tree
behind our building. The last few years, it looked
ill; it was no longer thriving.

Still, we had the best grounds, thanks to her.
Every year she planted, weeded and cared
for her garden. With the passing seasons,
Mrs. Gavin had grown on me.

Seeing her come and go, working in the yard,
talking with her before church or listening to her
explain at length what needed to be fixed
had become part of what made home home.

Mrs. Gavin had become my surrogate grandmother.
Her inquiries and her kind exchanges enriched
my daily routine. Her leaving was like plucking
a piece from a completed puzzled.

Who will I take cards and cookies
to at Christmas time now?
Who will make sure our garden grows?


Prompt at readwritepoem: Instead of “missing someone/something,” maybe you’d like to write about “something missing.” My neighbor really did move and I miss her. She's not too far and I plan to visit her. In between visits, I look forward to working on revisions. I'd like to share a finished draft with her. Before leaving, she told me how old she is, but I won't be sharing that here. :-)

Also participating in Poetry Friday. Find more reads here.

worducopia: Roll Call: Around the World

Week #3
Ali at Worducopia is hosting this week's Roll Call. She writes: For this week's C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll Call, let's travel around the world together! Choose a country or region and tell us a little bit about it, including, of course, an author or two who hail from there.

Join us. Post a submission on your blog and leave a link with Mr. Linky at
Worducopia.

napowrimo #14

love smells good

like Nautica and Tide
and warm clothes
from the dryer
morning coffee kisses

PAD #14 write a love poem or anti-love poem

The Absence of Color

Check out Doret's rant/poem about the marginalization of authors of color at The HappyNappy Bookseller. I share Doret's frustration. I really want representatives of the publishing industry, members of major teen blogging sites and teens to explain to me why there is so little attention paid to writers of color. I want to know why the dominant culture thinks all readers can inject themselves into stories with white characters but many white readers reject books with black faces on the covers. And I say black in this instance because there seems to be greater crossover with Asian characters.

Not long ago, I shared in one of my meme posts, a book about a teen girl and the drama of getting the guy. Pretty standard storyline. I have seen a ton of reviews about this same kind of book promoted on teen blogs but not a single reader commented about this book and in my mind, I do think no one was interested because the characters were black.

Every book with people of color as main characters, isn't focused on race. Race may inform a read but even if race is central, why assume you can't relate? In the YA blogging community there is always talk about supporting authors: promoting their books and buying them. So where is the love for writers who don't look like the majority?

Please go by Doret's and comment. Doret reviews YA across the board which is why I love her blog. For YA, she is my first stop. I get the majority of my new YA reads from her blog. She reviews new releases and the not so new, children's and YA, and the authors are black, white, Latino, gay, heterosexual and every other theme you could be interested in. I find real diversity at The HappyNappy Bookseller. And that kind of diversity is sorely missing in the blogosphere.

3WW

Krell sat brooding on his perch on the high wall. He was furious. He had given into her again. This was the third shade shift he had spent with her. He swore he wouldn't let her seduce him again but what young, cold-blooded Cretian could resist her? Trekia was double humped, and she had a three foot long tail! Now, modern Cretian males like to think they are sosphisicated and above banal instincts but the truth was, length does matter.

When she came to him tonight, she was even more alluring. Her scales were glistening in the moonlight, a vivid red, the color of human blood, and by the gloss of them, she had recently been buffed. Trekia, was high-class, the kind of Cretian female who took her grooming seriously. She kept her scales manicured, razor sharp and emaculate. And her tongue, the first time she parted her exceptionally thin lips and flicked her split tongue at him, Krell thought he'd faint right there. She only had to look up at him, and like an obedient off-spring, he came down from his post. Just being near her, he could feel his tetee glands swelling. He desperately hoped he wasn't going to secrete lubricant all over himself.

She hissed demurely and he followed her behind the boning tree. When they were done, she disappeared like a shadow without a whisper. Krell climbed back to his post and began to fret. In the aftermath of their caledestine meeting, Krell's scales vibrated involuntarily and his tail was still rigid. He talked to no one, to himself.

What if tonight she broke my membrane? What if I've been fertilized? How will I explain this to my family? Tek, Leke and father will moan and be overcome with shame. Mother and Shelea will....I don't know, but their reaction would be severe. How could I be so stupid? Why did I let those idiots talk me into stop taking my hormone suppressant pellets? And having stopped the suppressants, how could I even consider not taking my anti-fertilization grass? What if I am carrying a sac of larvae and in twelve ebo cycles, I'm going to be an uncontracted father!

In Cretian society, coupling had become a matter of the State. Male and females were assigned mates, unless they were the elite and it that case, families contracted unions. Copulation was considered a necessary biological function, but an wholly unpleasant affair that only lower life forms enjoyed. Of course, there was a growing movement among young Cretians and the die-hard old guard that pined for the times when mating was decided by the sexes, and copulation was a deliriously satisfying activity.

And that is how Krell fell into his current dilemma. He had been associating with a few underground members who planned to usurp the State by reproducing out of contract off-spring. They planned to build a commune on the outskirts of the Cretian chartered lands and start a new society. Krell wasn't completely sold, but he did question why citizens were required to take the hormone pellets if they had truly evolved. So now here he sits. He'll have to wait three more shade cycles before his menses is due. If it doesn't come, what will he do? Does Trekia love him? Would she go with him? Mate with him for life and live among the rebels?

Each week Thom posts three words. To read more entries go here.

NaPoWriMo

across my wide screen

fall’s sage and spruce inspire
springtime renewal

This doesn't fit any prompt today. Heard a great interview with Nelson George. I'm writing because. And when I'm inspired, I'll write then, too.

Confession Tuesday

Okay this is going to be quick and dirty. I've got a bee in my bonnet about decorating. I'm looking to renew my writing space because who's not inspired in a pleasing environment? In the wee hours, I'll be blog hopping and commenting.

Little Lov'n Monday

Little Lov'n Monday is a day we celebrate the work of fellow bloggers.
Between now and Monday, post a link to work you've read or written and you think deserves a little lov'n.

Get some lov'n back. Share a link and be entered in LLM Giveaway. Deadline is April 17. 1 winner will be chosen this week.

Earn 1 entry for leaving a link to a post you think we should check out. Earn:
+3 for posting our icon/link in your sidebar
+2 for leaving a comment about a post you've read
Leave a separate comment for each entry. 1 Winner will choose a prize from the list:

Kindred by Octavia E. Bulter
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Airman by Eoin Colfer
Grits Friends Are Forevah by Deborah Ford
Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey

Check out:
Interview with poet, writer, Geoffrey Philip at Poefrika
Magic and Taxing Time at Post-Racial
Sex= Power= Money at Diary of an Anxious Black Woman
Amazon Fails with Gay "Book Burning" at Sarah Ockler's
Amusing Mondays at In Search of Giants
"Dog Catcher" at Surface Tension (fiction)

NaPoWriMo #12

I Come from a Long Line of Pimps, Hoes, Hustlers and Factory Workers

Where I come from everyone originally
came from down south.

I'm from Detroit- born and raised,
a place with neighborhoods called
Paradise Valley, Black Bottom, Palmer
Woods, Sherwood Forest and University
of Detroit District.

We lived nine blocks
from U of D, on the other side-
the working class side.

I come from a line of firstborns.
My grandmother mopped floors
at Bi-County General. My daddy swept
floors at Mound Rd Engine and I
cleaned houses from twelve until
my freshman year at Sienna.

I come from pimps, hoes, hustlers and
factory workers who dreamed
their children would leave overalls
and shiny suits behind and sit at
desks with pressed shirts and
skirts and ties.

And we hope maybe next time-
our children's dreams won't be
deferred; they'll earn degrees
before bringing babies into this world.

I am the child of blue collars
middle class income earned mopping
concrete floors and running numbers.
We hope still for name plates, classrooms
and nurses' stations.

I come from a long line of pimps, hoes, hustlers and factory workers.

I'd Rather Be Broke

She's So Money
Cherry Cheva
Harper Teen
Reprint 2009

Let me say what I like about She’s So Money: love the cover art and the story takes place in Ann Arbor (one of the coolest college towns on the planet). That’s all.

I have been seething for days about why I dislike this book. Let’s start with Camden. He is an asswipe with a capital A. He’s also the school hottie. He sleeps around, drinks, drops sexual innuendos almost non-stop and he can’t be bothered with doing schoolwork. Being responsible is so uncool like why would the hot, rich kid even think about anything other than having fun? Initially, I thought Camden’s character was literary device, satire. Nope, the story isn’t that kind of deep. Maya, who might as well be the completely flat and predictable Asian girl, says in one breath that Camden is repulsive and in the next is secretly swooning over him. In one scene, he kisses her because she so wanted it and who was he to deny her the gift. She not only blushes but she has this eternal dialogue about the significance of their relationship. What the frack!

And it only gets better. Camden drags her by her backpack, tells her to get in his car, drives like a maniac (she weakly protests and he responds by jerking the car, increasing the risk of getting into an accident or hurting her), picks up food (the middle age cashier is equally smitten and gives him extra fries) and booze, makes a bee line for the family hot tube, strips to his boxers and tells Asian, geek girl to get comfortable and ‘tutor’ him. A six-pack is enough to make a sane, intelligent girl who knows how to speak up, become a blubbering idiot and a helpless victim to a sexist, self-absorbed moron? This isn't cute or funny. Getting naked in front of a girl you just met is suppose to be a turn on? I think it's compromising. For some, it's enough to say hell, go with it a get naked with him.

And then there are the completely, implausible scenarios that support Maya and Camden’s deeper entanglement. Maya screws up one night at her family restaurant and the next morning, she gets a $10,000 fine from the health department. She decides to take advantage of Camden’s stupidity and accept his outrageous offer to pay her an insane amount of money for tutoring. Now how much reality do you want a reader to suspend here? I’m suppose to believe that two disgruntled customers wield the kind of influence that get the health department to send an inspector the following day (why they were upset is too stupid to even repeat)? I get being scared and desperate, but who thinks she can raise that kind of money tutoring? Earlier, Maya the all-A student freaks out about a test that she’s sure she failed because she didn’t study the night before (come on, an average student knows while taking a test whether she knows the material or not) and this same student who didn’t have time to study for this test becomes the master homework whiz for half a dozen students and starts raking in the cash? Later she enlists friends but that’s not the point.

I loathe damsel-in-distress stories. And even though she originates the tutoring scheme, Camden is the guy with the real plan (pass me the bucket). We don’t need saving and we certainly shouldn’t have to stoop so low to look to guys like Camden to save us. As adults, women will cluck their tongues about other women who end up with losers but I’ll argue stories like She’s So Money is a good example of when the conditioning begins. Are we so attention starved that we want the guy who alternately talks smack about our itty-bitties and then calls us hot? Camden is the kind of guy who will do almost anything wearing panties. I can’t help wondering if he wants to add an exotic Asian to his list of conquests and that’s why Maya is hot. Why are we okay with being objectified, and should we talk about when Maya plays the schoolgirl vixen in order to get a better tip? I wanted to smack her.

I’m not anti-guy or anti-romance or even anti silly comedy. I am anti: girls can’t think straight just because a guy is good-looking, that a smart, articulate girl is so desperate to right a wrong that she thinks a jerk can help her solve her problems, that a girl who has plans and the brains to succeed, will shrink her shirt and flirt for a dollar. I’m a bothered by the reality that a lot of readers will look past or worse say Camden is just being a typical boy. This book has done very well, and it’s done well in part because of lot of readers don’t simply like that Maya is feisty, they’d like to bounce in Camden’s car if they could. Who doesn't want the fantasy that the bad guy is really a good guy we can get? And that is disturbing most of all.

I swear I tried to finish this. I read a ton of reviews that swear this was good. I continued to skim and I get why it's liked but it doesn't work for me.

In My Mailbox (11)

This week was a better week for mail. I picked up on two books from the library. The first listed is from my branch and Nervous Conditions comes highly recommended and it is part of our library collection at Color Online. Visit Eva for Library Loot and Story Siren for In My Mailbox. Marcia at The Printed Page hosts Mailbox Monday.

Donations :

Corregidora by Gayl Jones the tale of a blues singer Ursa, consumed by her hatred of the 19th century slave master who fathered both her grandmother and mother. This is a highly impactive novel wrought with sexual tensions and taboo family secrets. The narrative is interspersed with elliptical stories and memories that bring intense emotions to the surface of the reader's consciousness.

The Strangness of Beauty by Lydia Yuri Minatoya Absolutely beautiful novel about three generations of Japanese women. When Etsuko's sister Naomi dies during childbirth in Seattle, Etsuko takes on the role of mother to the baby, Hanae. After a few years of American life together, Hanae's father decides it's time to send both Hanae and Etsuko back to Japan, so Hanae can learn about her heritage and get to know her maternal grandmother, Chie. The three women, a Japanese woman from a prestigious samurai family (Chie), her ignored American-immigrant daughter (Etsuko),and her American-born granddaughter (Hanae), learn much about each other and the world during their turbulent years together. The setting is pre-World War II Japan, providing not only an incredible background, but the means for a fascinating history lesson as well. The characters are unique, intense, and real. And their interactions (both with each other and with their countries) are some of the most moving demonstrations of emotion I've encountered in a novel in some time . ~Meg, reader

Skywriting by Margarita Engle
Stones From the River by Ursula Hegi
Moonlight of the Avenue of Faith by Gina Nahai
Bird at My Window by Rosa Guy
Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Etta
The Untelling by Tayari Jones

Library:

She's So Money by Cherry Cheva. I picked this up because it has a great cover and good reviews. I'm not enjoying this though. I'm going to finish it and then I'll tell you why I am unhappy with this. Of course, feel free to ask me now.

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
An excellent coming-of-age story of a young peasant girl given the opporunity in both colonial Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and native patriarchial culture, to be educated. She is extremely bright,
ambitious, hard working, and so incredibly observant of all around her, that she makes the best heroine I've read about in a long, long time. Kudos!! Srongly recommend this book to one an all. ~Sheila

From paperbackswap I ordered Brown Girl In The Ring by Nalo Hopkinson after reading a review by Cora at 50 books by People of Color Reading Challenge. Cora, by the way, is a voracious reader and a great reviewer. She's reviewed several Octavia E. Bulter titles which would in part explain my bias.