The Reading Diva

Relax in Paradise Desmond O'Grady and Robert Sherrill . Congratulations to Robert Hass for winning the Wallace Stevens Award (and the $100,000 that goes with it).  Congratulations also go out to the American Book Award winners. The UK children's laureate (who happens to be Black) received racist taunts after calling for diversity in children's books. Here is a New York Times review of Brown Girl Dreaming . Speaking of children's books, check out an expert of Zero Degree Zombie Zone by Essence editor Patrik Henry Bass.  Headline on the top of the article's a little misleading. Check out this new app that helps you find children's and YA books from African-American authors. Here is an article (with audio) from NPR that talks about the struggle of achieving diversity in publishing . Kobo is introducing a waterproof e-reader.  Didn't know there was a need for such things. If you were watching the Emmys this week, you probably saw this ne...

Barnes and Noble and Samsung released their Nook tablet  this week.  Those who have been reading the blog for a long time know  I bought a Nook Color (the first tablet Barnes and Noble came out with) when it came out four years ago.  Even though I raved about it then, it is now showing its age (and the lack of power that it never really had).  I have been wanting to get an iPad for a long time because I have an iPhone and my work computer is a Mac. And I have been buying more ebooks on Amazon (I have the Kindle app on my phone, but small screens can be a struggle). But the $179 price for the Nook tablet had me thinking about buying one, compared to the $400+ price tag for an iPad.  But my coworker (who owns and knows everything Apple) talked me off the ledge.  So I guess I will wait and see what the new iPads will have next month. Relax in Paradise Simin Benbahani  and Samil al-Qasim . Congrats to all of the Hugo Award winners ! Congrat...

I received a new book in the mail, so it's time for another edition of Mailbox Monday! The book I received last week is Beyond the Velvet Rope by Tiffany Ashley.  As a matter of fact, I thought about buying this book a few weeks ago at Books A Million!  Thanks to Rock Inked for the book! Are you interested in this book?  Hit me up in the comments sections!

So like this famous scene from Network, I am mad as hell. I'm mad as hell because a young African-American man can't walk the streets without being shot by police.  And people can't peacefully protest about said incident because police are coming out in riot gear and snipers.  And also try to block journalists from doing their jobs. I'm mad as hell because a man who brought so much light and laughter to millions lost his battle to mental illness. I'm mad as hell because it was announced that Malaika Adero at Atria was laid off this week .  This may cause a huge blow to the African-American literary scene, because a lot of the African-American themed books that are released are from Atria. Unless the books are from Strebor or Cash Money, most likely Malaika had a hand in it.  I'm also mad that Publishers Weekly buried this news to the bottom. And I really should be happy because my baby cousin came into the world on Wednesday. But I'm still mad (and...

The mailbox received four books last week, so it's time for another edition of Mailbox Monday! I was so happy to receive an advance copy of Jason Mott's upcoming book The Wonder of All Things ! I enjoyed his first book The Returned (and the ABC show Resurrection , which is based on the book). And this book  has been picked up by Lionsgate  to become a movie!  Thanks to Rock Inked, Inc. for the book! I also won a signed copy of Indulge Me Tonight by Altonya Washington on Goodreads. Two books also came from Harper Books , which will be released in October: Us Tinseltown Are you interested in any of these books?  Hit me up on the comments sections!  Thanks to the publishers, authors and PR people who provided the books!

Today's Friday Reads is a An Untamed State by Roxane Gay.  It's about a woman who is kidnapped in her parents' home country of Haiti and her family's efforts to get her back.  This is the Book Club Groupies' latest selection and I suppose to have this book done by tomorrow in time for book club meeting (wish me luck). Lately, Roxane has been getting a lot of attention for the other book she released this year, Bad Feminist.  Check out her interview with NPR here .  Read about why she's a Bad Feminist here . And read about her recent unpleasant trip to Best Buy . Relax in Paradise Billie Letts  and Dorothy Salisbury Davis . Time to vote for the African-American Literary Awards ! Deadline is September 7! J. K Rowling sent a letter to a Texas girl who lost her parents and siblings in a shooting. Looks like libraries are struggling with ebooks . Why I am not surprised? Sony e-readers are going in the way of Walkmans, Diskmans and mini-CDs.  What ...

Received another book in the mail over the weekend, which means it's time for another edition of Mailbox Monday! I received this autographed copy of A Pinch of Ooh La La from author Renee Swindle after winning it on Facebook. Is this a book you would like to read?  Hit me up on the comments section!  And if you need more convincing, read Read For Pleasure's review of the book!

Congrats to all of the PEN Literary Award winners! A Devil in A Blue Dress is coming to Broadway ! Don't know if Walter Mosley named his book after the song. Here are movie trailers for Horns  and Mockingjay . Eva Green may be staring in the movie adaptation of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children .  Tim Burton's directing. Warner Brothers and director Brett Ratner have acquired rights for The Goldfinch . We are coming to the dawn of the age of the celebrity bookseller . Tia and Tamara are the latest set of celebrities that are getting in the book writing game.  Their targets: middle school students. I read about Rachel Howzell Hall's book on Ebony's website a few weeks ago and got it from the library.   Here is a profile on her that was on NPR. Speaking of Ebony, they have been recommending some good books lately.   Here's some evidence. Check out this interview from one of my favorites, Tayari Jones. A teacher who survived Sandy...