Hooked on Books discussion

Members Starting the BR: Amanda and Jackie
Challenge: Book Quest Adventures
Book: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates


Anyone is free to join in this Buddy Read! Happy Reading!

I've gotta read this one in the next couple days for zoo

Started this one. Very powerful right away, has me rage cleaning my house lol.

The author is the narrator and I feel like that adds a lot of power and oomph, especially since he’s writing to his son. Though I will probably buy a copy at some point, I’ve already heard a lot that I would highlight

I recently read a book about the dehumanization of Palestinian victims and Coates is pulling on a lot of parallels that are really making me think. With civil rights movement material taught in school (view spoiler)[ it really does make you think to realize that everything we learn/see is nonviolent protestors getting beaten and still “fighting”. It made me think 1. Why did I never notice this before? Why is this such a huge revelation to me? It shouldn’t be and 2. Why do we require them to be victims even when they’re fighting for their rights. Definitely a lot of food for thought lately. (hide spoiler)]

I'm starting this one today.

I finished. I have mixed feelings about this book. As an older adult, I have seen the fight for racial equality throughout my entire life. I have seen great improvements in some areas and in others, nothing seems to change. There was nothing in this book that was new to me but it just left me feeling so sad.

One of my best friends is black. We have been friends for close to 40 years. We worked together, raised our families together, comforted each other through the loss of loved ones, and lived our lives as closely as you can with someone outside of your own family. I want very much to ask her to read this book and give me her perspective. She's not much of a reader so I doubt she would but I may try to convince her.

I think the part that affected me the most was the death of Prince Jones and the visit with his mother by Coates. This was a woman who had come from a very humble and certainly biased background and had become extremely successful. And yet, though she raised her son in very different circumstances from her own upbringing, he was killed simply because he was black and in the wrong place at the wrong time. That is something that should never happen.

I wish I had answers.

Very very beautifully said Jackie. I wish I had the answers too

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