Reading to survive & to thrive!
Itās been a minute. Hello to everyone checking out this page for the first time. Welcome to my world.
As usual, Iāve been reading a lot and I have a few choice apps that I use to read on because theyāre the ones that bring me joy.
My favourite apps to read on are:
Apple Books
Reeden App
Libby
Iām a hardcore digital iPad/iPhone reader mainly because it helps me to stop scrolling on bs websites like IG that just contribute to internal violence, which we do not need to engage in. I have a Substack that I started up for my reading notes but Iām honestly just trying to get around the layout on there so Iāll kick it for awhile longer. Fuck, if itās good enough for Frank Ocean, itās good enough for me.
Anywayā what am I reading..
Lately, Iāve been reading A LOT of Clarice Lispector. Iām obsessed with her. Her mind is something else. Itās the interjections for me as well. Sheās a trip. Iām currently reading Near to the Wild Heart and even tho I like it less than: both the Hour of the Star and A Breath of Life, it still hits
Iāve been reading this incredible work of weird girl fiction called Honey by this author Imani Thompson. If Iām keeping it a whole bean with you, Iām in love with it. The main character is giving Joe from You. Sheās giving ā ninjas donāt deserve to live and honestlyā the weird girl rage inside is FEASTINGGGG.
Finally, Iāve also been working my way through Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salihā itās an NYRB, it slaps, itās about a man who returns home to his village only to find a strange man there whose past is some bullshit. Thereās a lot about the ways of colonialism of course, the story is told in a very lyrical and almost haunting sort of way. Itās brings about the same feelings as Cyprian Ekwensiās work in me. Foreign and fascinating. Ekwensiās work being way more sparkling tho.
Alright letās talk music memoirs/biographies and also poetry collectionsssssā
Yo CALEB FEMIIIIII, bro! Sisterrrrr! His writing is so damn good. Like his writing is doing my head in innit. 𤣠okay but no for real ā his poetry is beautiful, reflective of a real life that feels so similar to Rexdale to hoods in Toronto. His photography is giving Taking Myself Hostage. Itās hitting me because I relate to it, relate to the essence of it. Itās fantastic. I feel like Iām living in this book. Thereās so much imagery that just works you know. It goes hard. I have so many poems that are just favourites out of this collection and Iām not even halfway
Monument ā Iāve beeeen hearing about this book, one of my good friends read it and loved it. Iām reading it right now and itās galvanizing my spirit and breaking my heart. It does feel like itās a monument. So many questions are asked, Iām only at 22% in and sheās asking questions that got me asking questions as well! I been googling trying to learn her history as well!
Fab 5 Freddy is good, but I got a little sidetracked from it, so I went to Cosmic Music and Iāll tell you what. I have loved Alice Coltrane for years, one of the first YouTube videos I ever made talking about music back in 2010 was me talking about Alice Coltrane and how she got swagger jacked; and how incredibly influential she is as her own artist. Anyway, I just cracked this book. Iām very excited to read it.. the opening was fantastic so far. The author talks about their trip to India to go to their friendās wedding and how they decided to visit the ashrams where Alice Coltrane was and then they put those things into context with the California wildfires; way more eloquently than I do here ā anyway. Itās fire. The opening was fire and Iām excited to read more.
How have I been? Iāve been working hard. Reading. Doing all my jobs and due diligence. I fractured so many times trying to streamline. I realize now that if shit aināt broke donāt fix it. Just keep going. Sometimes itās hard to see that tho.
Iām quietly reading the Iliad as well. Real ones know Iām quietly reading a zillion books. Iām a mood reader we canāt help it. Still book clubbing, itās one thing from the pandemic Iāll never give up, also Iāve met some of my best friends that way, so itās whatever.
Iāll come back with more frequent updates and some notes on books finished, etc. Hereās a small list of finished books that I havenāt really put up on the GR yet.
I put some sweat stickers over some books I read privately that I aināt finna talk about.
Havenāt reviewed the two poetry books in the top row. Havenāt reviewed full of myself, or Lindy Westās book just yet. Both of which were fantastic.
I loved the Godfather, havenāt reviewed that yet. The housemaid was iight. Havenāt done my Lispectorās yet.. will eventually get to it.
Anyway thatās mostly from the last month. I hope youāve been enjoying your reads, whatever youāre reading and if youāre not readingā what the fuck are you waiting for. Oh snapā I almost forgot to say how Patriarchy Blues bitch!!! Whew. That was too good.
Yo I tried to try the Fable app, I canāt do that shit. Way overstimulating. Deleted it. I tried to do the Storygraph app and can never latch on. I might try again. Anyway, will catch you on the next page.

















