Reading is one of my interests, and I have completed the Goodreads annual challenge to read sixty or more books since 2011. Science fiction and science fantasy are my favourite genres.
I've become especially interested in reading books in the sword and soul genre. Other favourite reading interests include history, science, current affairs and general fiction.
There are a number of favourite books in my library.
A speculative fiction murder mystery tale set in North America that Europeans never colonised. Not only was this a great whodunit, but it was also fascinating to see (and feel) how the native American traditions and culture are expressed in this story. The practice of law, development of living buildings and much more are all in keeping with these traditions in this alternative 21st Century.
I am a fan of speculative fiction stories and look forward to reading The Good Lands sequel by B.L. Blanchard.
Hope in the Congo is like hot coal. Take hold, and it will scold you to the bone - Cobalt Red.
I found this book difficult to read because affluent consumer lifestyles and the use of technology causes so much death that the death of a child in the Congo counts for nothing. This is a story that needs to be told.
"Food for Life" had me rethinking some of my ideas on food and should form a valuable basis for making food choices. Part one of the book focuses on our gut, the microbiome and our attitudes to food. The second part looks at various foods, including meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables, fungi and mushrooms, nuts and seeds and more, outlining what we know about their benefits or not.
A couple of essential takeaways were (1) we need to be careful about making generalisations about food and the effect of what you consume will be very specific to each individual, and (2) that we should be cautious of the claims made about the foods we consume without any supporting data.
A worthwhile read which I recommend.
Easy to follow, look at how processed food affects brain health and the impact on society. Recommended reading.
"Ultra-Processed People" is an excellent exposé of Ultra-Processed Food and the industries that support it. This book is highly recommended reading.
This book was a great story based on the lives of Victoria "Abdaraya Toya" Montou and Marie-Claire Claire Felicite Dessalines, two women involved in the Haitian Revolution, and both were very closely associated with Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Victoria "Abdaraya Toya" Montou was born in West Africa and ended up as an enslaved woman on the same estate as Dessalines. Marie-Claire was born free in Haiti and became the wife of Dessalines.
I particularly liked the last chapter, where the author outlines the research undertaken for the book and explains much of the conflicting information she came across. An interesting point she makes is that years before Mary Seacole, Marie-Claire offered nursing services on the battlefield during the Haitian War. Men like Dessalines, Toussaint L'Ouverature, and Henri Christophe are well known in the histories of Haiti, but the women involved are often overlooked and it was nice to see mention of female officers in the Haitian army like Sanité Bélair and Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére.
Overall, I found this book an enjoyable read.
Despite being a young person's book and a short read, I learned much about Britain's forgotten Black airmen.
I was familiar with the story of Ulric Cross and Sam King, as well as James Hyde from the BBC's World War II broadcast "West Indies Calling". But learning about Alexander Patterson, Britain's first known Black pilot working with the Royal Flying Corp in 1913, was an eye opener.
"The Story of Britain's Black Airmen" is another excellent book by K. N. Chimbri with a bibliography for further reading and research.
I learned much about Octavia E Butler from this biography that I didn't know, and this work presents her life exceptionally well through poems and quotes from Octavia herself. This is an engaging read and thoroughly recommended.
I found this an enjoyable tale that navigates modern politics and corruption with an element of humour and many notable characters. A story that shows that sometimes even the worst people may have a redeeming nature.
This is the first book I have read about the impact of loneliness and how it affects us. We learn that loneliness influences the same parts of the brain as physical violence and more. The topic is well presented, and I would recommend this book.
High on the Hog by Jessica B. Harris
After watching the Netflix documentary, I was pleasantly surprised to find much more in the book revealing how Africans and their cuisine have influenced the palate of the western world, particularly in the United States.
With their arrival in the Americas, Africans brought some of the foods, cooking, and farming techniques they had known in their homeland. Wher
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam M. Grant
One of the best books that I have read and this has to be one of my recommendations. The thirty practical takeaways in the "Actions for Impact" chapter are priceless. Adam Grant shows how rethinking and relearning what we think we know can benefit us at home and at work.
Why We Kneel, How We Rise by Michael Holding
Michael Holding covers much, both historical and contemporary and does a great job by drawing on his own experiences and the experiences of others involved in sport. Recommend reading.
Loot by Barnaby Phillips
I have viewed the Benin Bronzes and Carvings at the British Museum in London on several occasions and was somewhat familiar with the story of how these beautiful pieces were stolen from Benin by a British expedition in 1897. But I didn't fully appreciate the entire history and the significance to the people of Benin until reading "Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes" by Bar
Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola
A great debut by Bolu Babalola, imagines love and romance from an African perspective (both historical and modern), based on myths and folktales from around the world. My favourites in the collection included Psyche, Attem, Yaa, Nefertiti, and Siya, but I found all the stories to be a pretty good read. I do look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
An entire book about sleep!
In this book, Matthew Walker highlights a host of ailments we suffer in industrialised societies that are related to a lack of sleep; these include diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. In addition, consider the many accidents in the home, at work or on the road caused by a lack of sleep.
One other area of focus is the role that artifi
Island People by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro
This book is not just a travelogue of the Caribbean. As Joshua Jelly-Schapiro arrives at each island, he offers some background history, it's culture as well as a look at the contemporary lifestyle and politics of the place.
It was interesting to see how the various locations visited (Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Montserrat, Grenada, Barbados, Antig
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Great fantasy saga set in a world based on pre-Columbian America.
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
Each chapter represents a different plot, although we meet the same characters throughout the book. These are primarily the members and friends of the Turner/Green family, as they deal with the worst of Jim Crow era USA at both the earthly and not so earthly level. The fantasy theme is a counter to H. P. Lovecraft's racism.
I didn't have any expectations and thoroughly
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