Reading is fundamental (and good for the soul)

Sean Jacobs just published his top five books for 2008 on one of my favorite blogs, Africa is a Country.

His selections include a literary collection that represents the global diversity of our evolving world including a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Junot Díaz, the paternal memoirs of America's choice for change, a French translation of the fictional tale of a child solider in Liberia and Sierra Leone, a story of "passing" in Apartheid South Africa (from an author Nobel Prize Laureate Toni Morrison calls seductive, brilliant and precious); and a non-Wire-esque coming of age story of a B-more native as he travels into manhood.

I'm still a bit behind in the game of catch-up when it comes to the written word. However, I am adding all but one of these, which I've already read, to the long list of books I need to consume.

Also, in an effort to dwindle that list, I've started reading How to Rent a Negro by the beautiful and amusing Damali Ayo. A tongue-in-cheek tale of how non-people of color can look hip, hot and culturally aware by simply adding a black person to their daily répertoire, How to Rent a Negro is a must read for those of us who cringe when asked "Can I touch your hair?" or stand victim to the ever popular "tanned skin test" (also known as "I'm darker than <insert name of token African descendant here>" test). More to come on that subject.

This article was written on 20 Dec 2008, and is filled under A Day in the Life of a Winner.

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Reading is fundamental (and good for the soul)

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