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With the coronavirus pandemic causing many public schools, private businesses to close, and New York Public Library (NYPL) closing for the rest of the month, people working from home, etc. there has never been a perfect time to read books to fight boredom while you’re stuck at home.
The good news is, even though NYPL is closed you can still borrow ebooks and audiobooks. Don’t let coronavirus bore you. I’m currently reading the ebook of Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. And I placed a hold for the audiobook of Binti also by Nnedi Okorafor.
Last year, I read 17 books. I don’t see it as a lot though because I used to read at least 48 books a year (4 books a month). But I guess that was when I didn’t have a lot of things taking up my time or maybe I was just too good then in making out time to read.
But this year, I’m reading 20 books and probably more. I read Children of Blood and Bone in January and thoroughly enjoyed it. Some people call Tomi Aderemi the next J.K. Rawlings but I think she’s a formidable force of her own and can only be the next Tomi Aderemi. I just finished reading Children of Virtue and Vengeance last night. I didn’t really enjoy it as much as the first book. I was more annoyed and irritated with this second book. In fact, I’m not even looking forward to the third book that is scheduled to come out in 2021.
I also read The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table in January. As a career black woman, I felt so heard and spoken for. I encourage every woman of color who aspires to one day sit at the table to read The Memo. And if you’ve already secured the seat you still need to read it to understand why it’s important you bring other women of color to the table with you.
February introduced me to Audible – I took the 30-day trial and successfully read 4 books before my trial expired. I strongly considered staying on, but most books I read are fiction and I enjoy reading them myself not listening to someone read them to me. I only enjoy listening to nonfiction books read by the authors. Which was why I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Becoming read by First Lady Michelle Obama herself. I tried using Audible for Children of Virtue and Vengeance and the woman’s fake African accent turned me off.
Enough of my gist, below are all the books I’ve read, currently reading and plan to read this year. My hope is that these books will help keep your mind off coronavirus and keep you entertained, warm and fuzzy. The books are in the order I’ve read them and plan to read them. Check out my Goodreads to read my short review of some of the books.
1. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
2. The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table by Minda Harts
3. Becoming by Michelle Obama
4. Career Rehab: Rebuild Your Personal Brand and Rethink the Way You Work by Kanika Tolver
5. Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams
6. Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes
7. Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi
8. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
9. Binti (Binti, #1) by Nnedi Okorafor
10. Home (Binti, #2)
11. The Night Masquerade (Binti, #3)
12. The House of Erzulie by Kirsten Imani Kasai
13. The Power of Project Leadership by Susanne Madsen
14. Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosley
15. Mindset: The Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
16. Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by Bell Hooks
17. Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom by Keisha N. Blain
18. Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
19. The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women by Elaine Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda McLean
20. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Thanks for reading as always! Please let’s connect on Instagram @lamodeexpo_se and Twitter @lamodeexpose to further the conversation.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, all opinions are my own. I only recommend products I use personally and believe will be beneficial to my readers.
