Best 'Morose' Reads of 2012

This picture has nothing to do with anything...just makes me laugh (image: flickr - Bede Jackson)

Selected from the books I read and reviewed in the year 2012. 

Worthy of Mention: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

by James Weldon Johnson

Review here.

Chosen for explaining the emotional torment of a man living a lie in order to survive. Its sad yet honest reflection on the question of race sheds light on a dark issue that is rarely acknowledged. 

3. Man Gone Down 

by Michael Thomas

Review here.

Chosen for its gloomy depiction of a broken man in a broken family, trying to make the American Dream. The utter hopelessness in the stream-of-conscious narrative is raw, poetic and intellectual. 

2. Drowning Ruth 

by Christina Schwarz

Review here.

Chosen for its somber portrayal of a family stripped down by shame, secrets and mental illness. The subtle mystery lining the flashbacks reveal imperfect characters that are perfect to read about and relate to. 

1. Coal Black Horse 

by Robert Olmstead

Review here. 

Chosen for its powerful language, and vivid and organic imagery of death. A seemingly impossible journey during a time of war instills unforgettable lessons upon anyone who reads them. 

Top Ten Tuesday - Non-fiction Reads On My Radar

This week's topic: Top Ten Non-fiction Reads On My Radar

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish. Basically, you create a list tailored to the week's topic and share it with other readers by linking up at The Broke and The Bookish. You can find out more information here.

Generally speaking, I don't read a lot of nonfiction. However, I always try to read at least one nonfiction piece every once in a while. The last nonfiction I read was The Devil in the White City (review here). Before that--I can't remember--so it's time to get some lined up for the future.

Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries by Jon Ronson
A friend wants me to read this with him. I said okay before I even knew what it was about, but after doing a quick search, it actually sounds very interesting.

Bailout: An Inside Account of How Washington Abandoned Wall Street While Rescuing Wall Street by Neil Barofsky 
Yes, I know. There are a thousand and one books, documentaries, arguments, etc. on the economic bailout. But I saw this guy on some mid-morning television show giving an interview on his book and he persuaded me to jot down the title to look up later. Will I still watch the movie on Netflix about the bailout?--absolutely.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
 I am an introvert. I talk when necessary. Small talk annoys me, 9 out of 10 times. I don't need the spotlight on me at all times. This book tells me I have power--I'm going to read it.

Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness?: What it Means to Be Black Now by Toure
I personally don't believe that post-blackness will ever exist. Just like I don't believe we live in a post-racial society...However, I do think the term 'black' or 'blackness' is very fluid and diverse because Black people are a very diverse people. I'm more interested in Toure's opinion of what it means to be Black now. Most people (including Black people) have this set in stone idea of blackness, when in reality many Black Americans are living considerably different experiences that what's considered Black--you know the stereotypes.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Hirsi Ali is such an intriguing person and so charismatic. I have to know her story. How anyone can pass on her testimonial is beyond me.

So that's it. Only five. I knew I didn't have ten because like I said, I rarely read nonfiction.
Have you read any of these yet?

Top Ten Tuesday - Alien Abduction

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish. Basically, you create a list tailored to the week's topic and share it with other readers by linking up at The Broke and The Bookish. You can find out more information here.

This week's topic: Choose a Past Topic - Books I would save if I were to be abducted by aliens.

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Assuming these aliens aren't hostile, and they'll let me read (before dissecting me) I would bring this book because of its anthropological/observational elements as they relate to aliens on another planet. It's also probably the best Sci-Fi book I've ever read.

Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
No explanation necessary.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
I would bring books that demonstrated certain aspects of humanity--good and bad. This is one of those for me.

The Invisible Man by H.G Wells
Just a really short, entertaining piece of science fiction.

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Humanity book. Also sitting atop my favorites list at the moment.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
I would bring some lengthy reads and Ayn Rand wrote interesting stuff. I think this qualifies as a humanity piece as well.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Another favorite.

Various foundational religious texts.
I would (if I could) try to explain them and their influence on humans to the alien abductors.

Title of another lengthy book.
I can't think of anymore at this exact moment. What's a lengthy book (let's say 600+ pages) that you enjoyed reading?

Title of another humanity book.
I need one that displays some decent to good aspects of humanity. Any suggestions?

You might be wondering why I chose this topic (out of all the possible past topics). Well, I'll tell you.

There are many things in life I feel I can deal with or am capable of dealing with; certain natural disasters, issues at the workplace, criminals, Redskins' fans, bad hair days...ghosts, zombies, etc. But one thing I cannot deal with--Aliens. I have an unnatural fear of aliens, "extra-terrestrials". A completely absurd fear, I might add. I want nothing to do with them (unless I'm killing them in video games) Alien movies?--No! I don't watch those UFO specials on tv, ever. I didn't always have this fear...thank you M. Night Shyamalan. Do I think I'll be abducted by aliens? Odds are pretty low. But just in case...I'll know what books to bring.

Banned 2012

It's Banned Books Week, so I thought I'd share some fun lists/facts.

The most banned and/or challenged books of 2012 in the USA:

The Color of Earth by Dong Hwa Kim
Nudity, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Nudity, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Offensive Language, Racism

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Anti-Ethnic, Anti-Family, Occult/Satanic, Insensitivity, Offensive Language, Violence

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Insensitivity, Nudity, Racism, Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit

Gossip Girl by Cecily Van Ziegesar
Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
Nudity, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Offensive Language, Racism, Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

My Mom's Having a Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide by Dori Hillestad Butler
Nudity, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

ttyl, ttyn, l8r, g8r (Internet Series) by Lauren Myracle
Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to age group


...I think insensitivity is the most questionable term out of all the reasons for ban/challenge. Also, does anyone else think these reasons are sometimes exaggerated? --I think so, but that's based off the other banned books I've read.  I've only actually read a few of the books on this list. I'm very curious about The Color of Earth and The Absolutely True Diary of a  Part-Time Indian. 

Top Ten Tuesday - Series I Haven't Finished

Hola. We're trying something new today.

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish. Basically, you create a list tailored to the week's topic and share it with other readers by linking up at The Broke and The Bookish. You can find out more information here.

This week's topic: Series I Haven't Finished

I tend to avoid series but here it goes...

1) Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

No explanation necessary.

2) The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson

I read the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and....it was okay. It kind of bored me. I tried the audiobook of the second book and it bored me as well. Just not for me I guess.

3) The Easy Rawlins Mysteries by Walter Mosley

I've read the first two books: Devil in a Blue Dress and A Red Death. I just haven't gotten around to the others. It's a good series. I was introduced to it through a reading challenge. It's a cross between "private eye" adventures and social commentary. Very interesting. 

4) The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin

Another instance where I just haven't gotten around to finishing it. I've read A Wizard Earthsea. It's a really good young adult fantasy series. I love Le Guin's writing, so I'd recommend it to just about anyone. 

5) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

I feel like I don't need to explain why I haven't finished this series yet. The books are so long! Very good. But very lengthy reads. I've only read A Game of Thrones. I started A Clash of Kings and I'm a little over halfway through. 

Okay, so I only have five, the majority of which I've started in the past year.