Three Books Down, Nine To Go

When the new year came, I decided to create very realistic goals aka doable goals.

I did NOT want to make a list of things that would stress me out and/or make me feel bad if I don’t accomplish them.

I won’t bore you and go into detail about what ALL of my very doable goals were, but the one I will share is this: I said I would read 12 books this year.

And audiobooks don’t count. Sorry to y’all. Lol.

I did make one addition to the goal list on my birthday.

I decided I wanted to play a rec sport, so I started with pickleball with the family.

Baby.

I did not know how unathletic I was. Lol.

None of my kids like being my partner, which is rude as hell but fair. My baby daddy aka my husband is cool with it though. It’s the coach in him.

Praise God for his genes because all of my kids do most athletic things pretty well.

I do still recommend it though, especially for the mamas with kids. It’s fun, easy to start, and gives everybody something to do together.

The year started off a bit chaotic, with me moving out of the studio and back into my house, only to get ready to move out of my house and into a whole new state.

The state and city may have changed, but more on that later...

Back to the reading goal.

12 books this year, which meant only one book a month.

I started off strong. Month one, I chose a very easy read: a romance novel. Lol.

Now, I will admit I am not a romance girl. I don’t really like romantic comedies either, but I figured, whatever Terrell, let’s do some things you wouldn’t normally do.

So I read Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan.

Then month two came.

Then month three.

Then month four.

And … I hadn’t read anything else.

Well, that’s not completely true.

I had read plenty.

Just nothing with chapters.

I had read the comment section on Instagram and TikTok, which is so so so sad lol. 

But an actual book? No.

I don’t know if you all have been following me on Instagram, but I have been working out of the library lately.

Yes, I have a home office and more than enough areas in my house to work, but the library feels like a free co-working space.

A lot of interesting characters, to say the least, but I like it.

And being around so many books, so much information, so many people quietly reading, studying, researching and thinking (except for that one couple who comes in there and fusses every other day.)

Outside of them, I find the place very inspiring and chic

So I told myself, Terrell, grab a book or two and get caught up as quickly as possible.

In one week, I read two books: This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan, another romance. Sigh. Maybe I’m not a thug. Maybe I’m just an unrealized lover girl. I also read Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark.

I enjoyed both, so now I’m three books down.

I am about to start Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo.

Next on my list is Kindred by Octavia Butler.

I also have Worthy by Jada Pinkett Smith on the list, and let me say this before anybody starts..I am not really into celebrities and their business like that. But a writer/columnist I enjoy recommended both hers and Will’s book, and I trust her taste, so I’m going to try it.

I also reserved Martyr! because it was trending on Twitter. I was influenced. Told yall I be reading the comments. 

Somebody also recommended The Count of Monte Cristo, which is apparently a classic I should have already read and I somehow had never heard of it. 

But I looked it up and that book is long.

Like long long, so maybe later on that one.

When I started searching for recommendations, I naturally went to Goodreads to look for more books by Black authors.

What I noticed was that a lot of the reviewers were not Black.

And let me be clear, bad reviews and good reviews can come from anyone and be legit. There are bad and good critics of all backgrounds. 

But I am always a little skeptical when non-Black people critique our art.

Not because they can’t have fair and honest review, but because the lens matters TO ME. 

The things we catch, the things we understand, the jokes, the history, the references, the way something feels familiar even when it is not being explained to us kind of matters.

I saw Harlem Nights, one of my favorite movies, has like 27% on Rotten Tomatoes.

That was enough for me to cut off other people’s opinions about black art!  and I am dead serious. 

Sometimes I need a “what did Black people think?” tab.

So now I need recommendations.

Preferably Black authors and/or writers of color.

I want good stories.

Something I can enjoy.

Something that makes me want to keep reading.

Not necessarily something that I have to dissect to heavy.  My life is doing enough of that right now. Lol.

So that got me thinking....Maybe a TD Book Club?

We can start with what I’m reading now and keep it simple. 

And if enough of y’all are interested, I’ll figure out the easiest way to do it.

Maybe Instagram or facebook first, since that’s where most of us already are. Nothing extra or complicated.

If it grows into something more, we can move it somewhere that makes sense.

But for now, I just want to know: if y'all want to read with ya girl?

And what should I add to my list?

Because I’m three books down, nine to go.