******Star Ratings******
1= Would not recommend
2= OK, would recommend
3= Pretty Good, recommend
4= Very Good, recommend
5= Excellent, recommend
March 2022
Book Club Selection
Trust a Novel
by Daines L. Reed
Hosted by: Monica
Star Rating: TBD
Tamara Hayle, a private investigator, receives a visit from Cecil Jones, her ex-best friend's son. He wants her to find out who killed his mother, Celia Jones. She takes on the case, but shortly after, Cecil is murdered too. Soon, Tamara is searching for the people who killed Celia & Cecil, which takes her throughout the city of Newark, New Jersey.
November's Book Club Selection
The Man in 3B
By Carl Weber
Hostess: Alethea
October's Book Club Selection
Salvage the Bones
By Jesmyn Ward
Hostess: Marilyn
September's Book Club Selection
Stand Your Ground
By Victoria Christopher Murphy
Hostess: Tracey
August's Book Club Selection
Parable of the Sower
By Octavia Butler
Hostess: Diahann
July's Book Club Selection - No Meeting
June's Book Club Selection
The Short and Tragic Life of
Robert Peace
By Jeff Hobb
(Not an African American author,
but voted on as an exception)
Hostess: Tami
May's Book Club Selection
Hiding in Plain Sight
By Nuruddin Farah
Hostess: Sabrina
April's Book Club Selection
Joy
Victoria Christopher Murray
Hostess: Samara
March's Book Club Selection
Unbreak My Heart
By Toni Braxton
Hostess: Larrie
February's Book Club Selection
Ruby
By Cynthia Bond
Hostess: Shelly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 Book Selections
September's Book Club Selection
One Day It Will All Make Sense
By Common
Hostess: Mary Davis
Shared Thoughts Overall Reaction: 4 Stars
Synopsis of One Day It Will All Make Sense: Common?s memoir deals with the way he was raised by a loving mother, his relationship with his pro-basketball father, his love affairs, and details how he became the conscious rapper that he is today.
August's Book Club Selection
Half Blood Blues
By Esi Edugyan
Hostess: Diahann Lawton-Brown
Shared Thoughts Overall Reaction: 3.5 Stars
Synopsis of Half Blood Blues: Story takes place between Berlin & Paris in 1939-1940 & Berlin 1992. It?s the tale of The Hot Time Swingers, a German American jazz band. The main characters, bassist Sid, drummer Chip Jones, & prodigy Hiero Falk who survived the Nazi death camp and could play his trumpet superbly, go against Hitler?s ban on their music, and continue to play, going through a lot of obstacles to do something that is deep within their souls. Swing to 1992, where a recording the group made way back in the day has made Falk a legend. Sid, the narrator, tells of the group?s tensions and the secret he has been hiding for years.
July's Book club Selection
Iced
By Ray Shell
Hostess: Tami Cleckley
Shared Thoughts Overall Reaction: 5 Stars
Synopsis of ICED ? Cornelius Washington, a forty something year old crack addict, writes in his diary about his introduction to drugs and crack addiction. Chronicles his life while an active drug abuser.
June's Book Club Selection
The Secret Lives of the Four Wives
By Lola Shoneyin
Hostess: Sabrina Mitchell
Shared Thoughts Overall Reaction: 5 Stars
Everyone loved this book and it is highly recommended!!!!
Synopsis of The Secret Lives of The Four Wives: Bolanle, an educated woman marries Baba Segi, who has three wives. The wives hate Bolanle and attempt to do mean things to her to get her to leave. Meanwhile, Bolanle can?t get pregnant by her husband, who supposedly already has 7 children. When Bolanle and Baba Segi seek help for her fertility issues, a big secret unfolds, which changes their lives forever.
May's Book Club Selection
Mahogany Butterfly
By Aleisha Jenkins-Bey
Hostess: Samara Scott
Shared Thoughts overall reaction: 1 Star
We thought this book was intended for a much younger audience. It was very predictable. Subject matter was common since
Synopsis of Mahogany Butterfly: Neena Smith, a young woman who has self- esteem issues has sex with a lot of young men and tries to sort her way through life.Shared Thoughts reaction to the book: On the whole, we really didn?t like it. This book wasn?t well written at all, for a much younger audience.
April's Book Club Selection
NO BOOK!!!! It's Our Anniversary Celebration
Dinner at Delta's - Play at Crossroads Theater "Lift"
March's Book Club Selection
A Cupboard Full of Coats
By Yvvette Edwards
Hostess: Shelly Oliver-Hollis
Shared Thoughts overall reaction - 4 Stars
Synopsis of A Cupboard Full of Coats: Jinx has been feeling guilty about her mother?s death since she died. She has withdrawn from everyone including her son. When Lemon arrives at her doorstep, he brings back haunted memories and a lingering passion that she & Lemon once shared. Through Lemon, Jinx comes to realize what really took place leading to her mother?s death, which makes Jinx comes full circle & get on with her life.
February's Book Club Selection
Mistress, Inc.
By Niobia Bryant
Hostess: Alethea Hardin
Shared Thoughts overall reaction - 3 Stars
Synopsis of Mistress Inc ? Jessa Logan Bell had an affair with Eric, one of her girlfriends? husbands. When Jessa tries to end her affair with the married man, Eric tries to kill Jessa, but ends up killing himself.
Her story makes national headlines, and Jessa becomes a sought after celebrity with everyone wanting to hear her side of the story. Shunned by her friends, Jessa tries to seek redemption by seeking a closer relationship with God & asking her friends for forgiveness. Her journey toward atonement is full with many twists & turns.
January's Book Club Selection
Men We Reaped
By Jesmyn Ward
Hostess: Marilyn Drakeford
December's Book Club Selection
MO" META BLUES
The World According to Questlove
By QuestLove
Hostess: Tracey Hodges
November's Book Club Selection
The Book of Joshua
By Iris Bolling
Hostess: Mary Davis
Shared Thoughts Overall Reactions: 3 Stars
October's Book Club Selection
Yes, Chef...A Memoir
By Marcus Samuelsson
Hostess: Johaly Johnson
September's Book Club Selection
Americanah
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
Hostess: Tami Cleckley
August Book Club Selection
Before I Forget
by Leonard Pitts
Hostess: Diahann Brown-Lawton
Shared Thoughts Overall Reaction: 4.8
Everyone agreed that this was a very good book. Well written and very interesting. Loved how the author brought the story together without leaving the reading trying to figure anything out. Great read!!!!
July's Book Club Selection
Farther Than I Meant To Go, Longer Than I Mean to Stay
by Tiffany L. Warren
Hostess: Samara Scott
Shared Thoughts overall reaction....3.5
This book was really Hot/Cold to the members. Either it was really liked or it really wasn't liked that much. No one hated the book, but the reactions were very mixed. This book was very well written and had the feeling of a book of short stories.
June's Book Club Selection
Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
Hostess: Sabrina Mitchell
Shared Thoughts overall reaction.... 3 Stars
Most of us thought this book was only okay. Characters should have been more developed. There were important subject matters like HIV which could have been elaborated on.
May's Book Club Selection
Fish and Grits by Tina Smith-Brown
Hostess: Alethea
Shared Thoughts overall reaction.... 3.5 Stars
Everyone enjoyed the book. It was especially nice having the Author, Tina Smith-Brown skyped in (she is HILARIOUS) !!!!
This book was an urban lit book that showed the perspective of children growing up in dysfunction and the challenges they faced. There was plenty of LOVE shown in the book compared to the drugs, sex and violence you would normally find in this genre of literature.
April's Book Club Selection
The Cutting Season by Attica Locke
Shared Thoughts overall reation.... 3.5 Stars
Very slow start, but enjoyable.
March's Book Club Selection
The Secret She Kept by Reshonda Tate Billingsly
Hosess - Tracey
Shared Thoughts overall reation.... 4 Stars
This book speaks about a serious illness that came across in a humorous nature, which could've been explained more and had the great possibility of educating readers. Overall, enjoyable read
February's Book Selection
The Edge of Darkness by Beverly Jenkins
Hostess: Mary D.
Shared Thoughts overall reation.... 2 Stars
A little action, a little adventure and a little love story!!!
STBC had mixed reviews but all agreed that younger audience (tweens - 20's) would enjoy this book.
January's Book Selection
The Sexy Part of the Bible by Kola Boof
Hostess - Tami
Shared Thoughts overall reation.... 3 Stars
Great book discussion with varied views and interpretations of this book. Thought provoking, interesting, strange were words used to describe this book.
2012 Book List
***December***
Anniversary Celebration
and
Holiday Grab Bag
No Book Selection
November's Book Selection
Passing Loveby Jacqueline Luckett
Hostess - Diahann
Shared Thoughts overall reaction..... 5 STAR
Most of us loved it! The story takes you back & forth between the 1950s and present day Paris with all its glamour and Jazz. Very well written.
October's Book Selection
Fly On The WAll by Trista Russell
Hosted by Samara
Shared Thoughts overall reaction..... 2 STARS
(would reccommend to younger audience)
Book didn't get good reviews by members. Thought it was for a younger audience and very predictable.
September's Book Selection
On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
(Hosted by Sabrina)
Shared Thoughts overall reaction..... 4 STARS
This book gave a very different view on the subject of "PROSTITUTION" from Africa to Europe.....great read!!!!
August - Bay Blood by L.A. Banks (Andrea)
Shared Thoughts overall reaction..... 2 STARS
Most of the members didn’t enjoy this book ,but those who did enjoy it were very enthusiastic.
July - No Meeting.....Check out the pictures from our
LITERARY LUNCHEON in the PHOTO GALLERY
June - Inside Rain by Monique Mensah (Alethea)
Shared Thoughts overall reaction..... 4 STARS
Most of the members enjoyed the novel and were especially surprised by the twist at the end. This book dealt with family and mental illness.
May- The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden (Marilyn)
Shared Thoughts overall reaction.....6 STARS
(WOW, that's more than a 5 star rating)
Surprise. Surprise….Everyone liked it. On a scale of 1-10, most of us would rate it higher. From the perspective of the "Mistress", a different view of how slavery was.
April - Breathe for me by Terri Whitmore (Tracey)
Shared Thoughts overall reaction.....3 STARS
This was an enjoyable book for most of the members. The few who didn't like this novel felt the ending was too "fairy tale-ish". This book is highly recommened for a younger audience. Everyone liked it!!!!! Interesting take on the "Mistresses" perspective from the days of slavery.
March - Peace from Broken Pieces by Iyanla Vanzant (Tami)
Shared Thoughts overall reaction.....4 STARS
Most of the members liked the book and saw the lessons Iyanla was seeking to teach in this book. The few who weren't too crazy about it still had a strong opinions and reactions to this work of non-fiction, labeling Iyanla as a fraud. This book brought out a lot of emotions during the meeting and caused us to think about and ponder over our own life choices.
February - Babylon Sister by Pearl Cleage (Mary)
Shared Thoughts overall reaction.....3 STARS
Most of the members viewed the book as ok. Book was very "wordy" and author took too long to get to her point. Overall concensus was that the book was a very slow read.
January - Silenced by Kia Dupree (Samara)
Shared Thoughts overall reaction.....3 STARS
Very well written, Urban Fiction novel. Mixed reactions from members since everyone isn't into "hood" books. Interesting plot with different perspectives of how life can be in dsfunctional families and urban neighborhoods.
2011 Book List
December ..............Last Days of Ptolomy Grey by Walter Mosley (Diahann)
November.............Redeeming Waters by Vanessa Davis Griggs (Alethea)
October .............. Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King, Jr (June)
September ...... Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones ( Tracey B.)
August ........... God Ain't Blind by Mary Monroe (Tara S.)
July ...............Shared Thoughts 2nd Annual Literary Luncheon
Donna Grant and Virginia DeBerry, Pat G'orge Walker, Donna Hill, Tamika Newhouse, Veona Thomas and Special Guest Poetress Aleia K. Moore
June ................Chocolate Sangria by Tracy Price Thompson (Carla)
May .................Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Author called in) (Tara P.)
April ...............Shades of Justice by Linda McKeever Bullard (Marilyn)
March..............32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter (Retha)
February.......Chocolate Sangria by Tracy Price-Thompson (Carla)
January..........Don't Ever Tell by Brandon Massey (Tracey)
2010 Book List
December.................... Perfect Peace by Daniel Black (Tami)
November................... A Hungry Heart: A Memoir by Gorgon Parks (Mary)
October .....................Gone Too Far by Angela Winters (Samara)
September ...............Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Diahann)
August.........No More Tomorrows by Rodney Lofton (Nanette)
July.............No meeting...Literary Luncheon with Nanette Buchanan, Aleia K. Moore, Jihad, Donna Hill, Tami Clckley, Bernice McFadden
June ............Can I Get A Witness by Reshonda Tate Billingsly hosted by Alethea
May................. You, Me and He by Brooke Greene - Collaborative book discussion hosted by As The Pages Turn Book Club Author will be in attendance
April ................Anniversary Celebration...No Book - Broad way Play "RACE" and dinner at Carmines on Broadway
March................What Mother Never Told Me by Donna Hill, who will be in attendance (Carla)
February............Too Good To Be True by E. Lynn Harris (Tracey) - with invited guest book club "As The Pages Turn"
January..............Manhood: The Longest Moan by L. M. Ross (Tami)
2009 Book List
December.........The Women Who Raised Me by Victoria Rowell (Mary)
November------Winter Relaxation Retreat - No meeting
October..............Betrayal by Tami Cleckley (Member of Shared Thoughts) (Samara)
September..........Laying Down My Burdens by Brenda L. Thomas (Andrea)
August................A Different Kind of Love by Nanette Buchanan (Member of Shared Thoughts) (Nanaette)
July....................A Private Affair by Donna Hill (Alethea)
June...................Gotta Keep On Tryin' by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant (June)
May..................Wild Cherry by Jihad (Carla)
April........................Preacher Man Blues by Jihad (Hosted by Tracey) Author will be present
March.......................Midnight: A Gansta Love Story by Sister Souljah (Hosted by Samara)
February......................The Game by Tim Williams (Hosted by Andrea) Author present at meeting
January................. Not With My Son by Hope C. Clark (Hosted by Nanette)
2008 Book List
December..............Zora & Nicky by Claudia Mair Burney (Hosted by Alethea)
November ............Diva's, Inc. by Donna Hill (Hosted by Shanita)
October..................Shared Thoughts 1st Meet and Greet Brunch!!!!!!
September..............Family...Secrets, Lies & Alibis by Nanette Buchanan (Hosted by June) Author both present and joined book club!!!!!
August.................... Something on the Side by Carl Weber (Hosted by Samara)
July............................Secret Sisterhood by Monique Miller (Hosted by Tracey)
June............................Brotherman, The Odyssey of Black Men in America- An Anthology- Various Authors (Hosted by Carla)
May............................Pleasure by Eric Jerome Dickey (Hosted by Andrea)
April .............................Sleeping with Strangers by Eric Jerome Dickey (Hosted by Samara)
March .......................... Color Me Butterfly by L.R. Rawlings (Hosted by Tracey)
February........................
January........................... Waking With Strangers by Eric Jerome Dickey (Hosted by Alethea)
2007 Book List
December.......................... Gumbo an Anthology by Various Authors (Hosted by Andrea)
November..........................Gumbo an Anthology by Various Authors (Hosted by Alethea)
October.............................First Lady by Carl Weber (Hosted by Tracey)
September.........................The Bitten by L.A. Banks (Hosted by Samara)
August...............................The Preacher's Son by Carl Weber (Hosted by Carla)
July....................................Sister Betty! God's Callin' You Again by Pat G'Orge-Walker (Hosted by Andrea)
June...................................Chasing Faith by Stephanie Perry Moore (Hosted by Samara)
May...................................Within the Shadows by Brandon Massey (Hosted by Tracey)
April .................................True Lies by Margaret Hodge-Johnson (Hosted by Alethea)
March................................If you want closure in your relationship, start with your legs by Big Boom (Hosted by Andrea)
February............................What's Done In The Dark by Gloria Mallette (Hosted by Samara)
January..............................Chasing Destiny by Eric Jerome Dickey (Hosted by Tracey)
Book List * Star Ratings * Book Review