“The Twelve Tribes Of Hattie” Ayana Mathis

The Legacy of the Great Migration from the 1920′s to the 1980′s infuses this cutting,emotional collection of linked stories.

The central figure of Mathis’s debut is Hattie, who arrived in Philadelphia in the 1920′s as a teenager, awed by the everyday freedoms afforded blacks outside of her native Georgia. But the opening story, “Philadelphia and Jubilee” is pure heartbreak, as pride and poverty keep her from saving her infant twin children from pneumonia. Though Mathis has inherited some of Alice Walker’s sentimentality and Toni Morrison’s poetic intonation, her own prose is appealingly earthbound and plainspoken, and the books structure is ingenious: It moves across the bulk of 2oth century, with each chapter spotlighting one of Hattie’s nine surviving children. ( The title’s “twelve tribes” are those nine children, plus the infant twins and a granddaughter who’s central to the closing story.) Each child’s personal struggle is a function of the casual bigotry and economics challenges in the wake of Jim Crow.   Floyd is a jazz trumpeter and serial philanderer who awakens to his homosexuality; Six is a tent-revival preacher who comes at his profession cynically, as a new way to escape his family; Alice is the well-off wife of a doctor with a co-dependent relationship with her brother, Billups and so on .

The longest and most disarming story features Bell, who in 1975 starts a relationship with one of Hatti’s former boyfriends, highlighting the themes of illness and oppressiveness of family. Mathis will occasionally oversimply dialogue to build drama, but she’s remarkably deft at many more things for a first-timer: She gracefully shifts her narratives back and forth in time; has an eye for simple but resonant details; and possesses a generous empathy for Hattie, who is unlikable on the surface but carries plenty of complexity.

An excellent debut that finds layers of pathos within a troubled clan

Hello IYBC ,

Please show your support on 20 June 2013 at 6:30pm, Inez will present  and facilitate our June 2013 IYBC book selection ”The Twelve Tribes Of Hattie” by Ayana Mathis

We will meet at the Augusta Richmond County Public Library  823 Telfair St. Augusta, Ga 30901

Thank you for your support and commitment to IYBC

 

 

“What Looks Like Crazy On A Ordinary Day” by Pearl Cleage 16 May 2013

In a remarkable debut novel that sizzles with sensuality, crackles with life affirming energy and moves the reader to laughter and tears,author Pearl Cleage creates a world rich in character, human drama and deep compassionate understanding.

After a decade of luxury living in Atalanta, Ava Johnson has returned to tiny Idlewild, Michigan–her fabulous career and power plans smashed to bits on one dark truth: Ava has tested positive for HIV. But rather than a sorrowful end, her homecoming is a new beginning. Because , in ten-plus years since she left, all the problems of the big city have invaded the sleepy community of her childhood. Because dear friends and family sorely need her help in the face of impending trouble and tragedy, Ava cannot turn her back on them. And because more importantly, Ava Johnson is inexplicably and undeniably falling in love.

Hello IYBC,

Please show your support on 16 May 2013 6:30 pm at

The Augusta Richmond County Public Library 823 Telfair St. Augusta, Ga 30901

I will present “What Looks Like Crazy On A Ordinary Day” by Pearl Cleage.

I thank you in advance for support and commitment to IYBC

“Our Kind Of People” Inside Of America’s Black Upper Class by Lawrence Otis Graham

Hello IYBC,

Graham an African-American attorney went undercover as a busboy at an all-white Connecticut country club and wrote about the experience first in New York magazine and then in Member of the Club his 1996 book of essays. Now he switches his attention from the white to the black elite. Graham spent six years researching the history of the African-American upper crust and this is both a through work of social history and a thoughtful appraisal of his own place in the black social hierarchy. Graham makes clear that the black elite has always been strongly shaped by the peculiar intertwined American preoccupation with color and class noting that in the past most members of the elite they were “superior to other black and whites” Stressing the importance of surrounding themselves with “like-minded people.”

The black elite enrolled their children in certain social clubs wich were training grounds for the social graces and created the foundation of a black old-boy network. Graham stops short of offering an apology for behavior that is hard to characterize as anything that snobbish (he himself had a nose job) when he was 26 so that he would have less “Negroid” look) But does  bemoan a dwindling interest in tradition and he suggests that it wasn’t such a bad thing to grow in the 1960′s and 70′s without the “sense of anger” and dissatisfaction the rest of black America” expressed in those years. Graham has produced a book that casts an unblinking eye on America’s black elite, cataloguing its achievement while critically analyzing its shortcomings it is a must read by anyone interested in African-American history and the impact of idea’s about social class on our society.

This article was published by Publishers Weekly, 1998- 12-14

Please show your support on  18 April 2013 6:30pm at Augusta Richmond County Public Library located on 823 Telfair St. Augusta, GA 30901

Thomas Patterson will facilitate ”Our Kind Of People’ Inside Of America’s Black Upper Class by Lawrence Otis Graham.

“Dare Dream Do” Remarkable Things happen When You Dare To Dream Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson, popular Harvard Business Review blogger, has a goal: to help us identify and achieve our dreams. Her belief is that we can each achieve greater happiness when focusing both on our dreams and on other people in our lives. In this inspiring book, Johnson directs her attention to teaching women, in particular a three-step model for personal advancement and happiness. She encourages us to DARE to bodily step out, to consider disrupting life as we know it. Then she teaches us how to DREAM, to give life to the many possibilities available, whether to start a business, run a marathon, or travel the world. She shows us how to “date” our dreams ( no need to commit ) and how to make space for dreams. Finally Whitney’s model brings out the business woman in her; she teaches to “DO”. to execute our dreams. She showcases the importance of sharing dreams with others to give them life, creating your own “dream team” Rich with real stories of women who have dared to dream.  DARE DREAM DO offers a practical frame-work to realize ones potential.

Although Whitney focuses on the stories of women her blog is popular with men as well, and her advice speaks to either gender.

Hello IYBC,

Please show your support on March 21, 2013 at 6:30 pm

The Augusta Richmond County Public Library, 823 Telfair Street Augusta, GA 30901

Our facilitator will be Renee Coleman, she will present

“Dare Dream Do” Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare To Dream. The author is Whitney Johnson

“Running from Solace” Nakia R. Laushaul

Hello IYBC,

Thank you for your support in hosting our February 2013 author Nakia R. Laushaul. We had a wonderful time, I am ever so humbled and grateful that you choose IYBC for a evening of “Dialogue With Passion.

Thank you Nakia for your presence and bringing” Solace” to IYBC

These are the closing remarks from Theodore Tuston our facilitator for the evening:

” I want to thank the members of IYBC and the visitors that attended our February book club meeting. I felt that everyone could relate in one way or another to this book.  This book brought back memories of things they had not thought about in a number of years. Regardless Running from Solace” placed light on a subject that most have difficulty talking about but we all know it runs deep in our society. This  is problem that a lot of time can link this issue from generation to generation.”

Next question,  ” WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?”

“Running from Solace” Nakia R. Laushaul

“ The trouble with most if us we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter. The way we respond to criticism pretty much depends on the way we respond to praise. If praise humbles us, then criticism builds us up. If praise inflates us, then criticism crushes us. Be real be open, be teachable that’s how you grow.”

Hello IYBC,

This quote does not come close to the journey that Nakia R. Laushaul shared with us on 21 February 2013. “Running from Solace” we all can agree that catapulted us from the” familiar”

Memories  we declared  “closed, not open for business”  just bypassed the benedictions that we declared with the utmost convictions of our conscience with the “do not disturb sign” only to find us in a state of purgatory.

“Diverse Dialogue With Passion”  was a mere fraction of the comments that were shared among the IYBC members. “Running from Solace” dared us to show up on Thursday evening. We gave permission and entry to our thoughts when we purchased and down loaded this novel. How do I keep my strong composure and stoic demeanor, because I must be there for my IYBC members. I am not only a defector of my past but a survivor.  Nakia I love you, but girlfriend I got this. 

When Nakia arrived in August, GA on 20 February 2013 on my 52nd birthday, Theodore and I went to meet her at her hotel. On my way I had already decided that this just going to be a simple “meet and greet” I like many of you one you started reading “Running from Solace” could not put the book down. I was still in control of my emotions, and I refuse to “gush” all over her. I reminded myself she may have written “Running from Solace” but I was a witness and an unwilling participant in a dysfunctional family. I am not your “average bear” so it’s a wrap.  She and I decided to go out to dinner. She immediately disarmed me. This young lady was not only intelligent, articulate, and beautiful she was true, real and inhibited. She is a friend I just met.

I still have to get through this book club discussion. I admit it has my attention, and I read the book a couple of weeks ago so any emotions that were disturbed, I covered them again, but this book  is intense and it caught me off guard,  so for extra insurance I inhaled every thought, emotion, but this time I will throw away the key, because I can’t have books like “Running from Solace” rocking the world I pay the bills in. This is my heart how dare “Running from Solace” impeded my conscience, so I order up a super size of “denial” and binge with my strong, assertive personality.  Can’t Touch This!!!

IYBC and I are having the time of our life, who would think award-winning author Nakia R. Laushaul would be here in Augusta,GA discussing her novel “Running from Solace”  It’s Your Book Club is at it again always reaching out of the norm.

We are half way through our book club discussion, I check the lock on my heart still there, and I remember I threw away the key. I should have done that a long time ago. I under estimated the power of secretes, they “remember”

Theodore our illustrious facilitator for the evening and was doing an excellent job of keeping the “conversation” alive. Theodore reference to Xavier, Genesis and Naomi calling their mother by their first name. This was highly unorthodox. I said to myself, how can he sit there and comment like this is so unusual. I need to talk, but how can I now after making a pact with myself, I threw away the key. I remind myself you are a defector and survivor, besides this is not about sexual or physical abuse, this is just a comment about how removed we are as society that does not respect parents, by calling them by their first names.

I politely bring a “face to the facts” that this is not “brand new” I proceed on because it is obvious that Theodore has led a sheltered life. My mother never allowed me my to call my father “Daddy” I could only call him Robinson, so Theodore it is unfair to say that children just need to be more respectful. I remember I was just a little girl, but my mother always saw me as the other woman so this was her way of keeping me in my place.

I start to feel this panic in my chest, but this pain, I remember this pain, it hurts so bad, this little girl in me is crying so bad my spirit starts to ache. I just know If I have to get this out. I feel week and I just can’t fight anymore. These tears start to flow out of me, I am trembling now. This pain is familiar, but who are you? I keep talking. I tell them if I wanted my father to take me to the store something so simple, my girlfriend Renee has a daughter her name is Savannah, I know at any given moment she can say to her Daddy will you take me to the mall, but I had to go to my mother and say “would you mind if your husband could give me a ride to the mall”?  The tears won’s stop, even when I try hard to be in control, I can’t I am now raw and naked in the Augusta Richmond County Public Library.

I remember Nakia and some of  my IYBC members embracing me with so much compassion and love. I feel my girlfriend Tonya rub my back, Malissa the mother of my beautiful god-daughter Lybertti moves closer to my side. I remembered my birthday and felt it was just ironic Nakia would arrive on that day, I remember her email with the flight itinerary, and the words or her email that instead of skyping she felt compelled to come to Augusta, I felt a chill come over me. This was just not about me being 52 years old.

I am so grateful Theodore chose “Running from Solace” I thank God that he prepared the perfect moment in time, and predestined all of the IYBC members that supported me loved through those moments of the release of pain and hurt, and, Nakia to fly from Houston, TX to Augusta, GA to catch my tears. I love all you, but I say thank you. I now know the meaning of “Solace”

My girlfriend Renee bought me a bouquet of flowers for my birthday there were so many different types of flowers, it was simply breath-taking.  I asked Tonya to bring them to me. I felt peace and clarity and at this moment in time. I just wanted to” smell the roses”

 

“Running from Solace” Nakia R. Laushaul

” If any speak ill of you, flee home to your conscience. If you are guilty, it is just a correction. If you are not, it is a fair instruction. Make use of both of them. Out of an enemy, you can create a secret friend. Conscience is the perfect interpreter of life. No flattery can heal a bad conscience, so no slander can hurt a good one.”

Hello IYBC,

“Running from Solace” by Nakia R. Laushaul is novel that creates a combustion of emotions. It threatens our comfort zone. It moves and motivates us to reevaluate or purpose. Running from Solace perpetuates our conscience to revisit our actions  of the unspoken pain that some of us endured, or bear witness to it.

The impact of “Running from Solace” is a private affair. I can respect that. We are the Keeper of our castle”  When we enter in to our thoughts, we have only ourselves.

I welcome the adversity and conversation that “Running from Solace has presented in my own personal life, I plan on growing and striving from it. Only I have the power to confirm and affirm the impact this book has made in my life. I will exercise this blessing with grace and gratitude.  I have always been told “life is a circle” life is also a journey that travels with time.

Thank you Nakia for writing a novel that provokes us to look at the truth, and realize there is no harm in it.