-
{Book Review} The Revelation of Dionne Daphne by Mara Brock Akil
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. I want to thank NetGalley for gifting me an advanced copy of this book for review. BOOK REVIEW In my graphic, I stated that I enjoyed reading this book, but I think that may be a little too “happy.” I enjoyed the honesty, realness, and grace with which the story was written. In reflecting on her sexual past,…
-
{Book Review} Yellow Wife: A Novel by Sadeqa Johnson
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. BOOK DETAILS Title: Yellow Wife: A Novel Author: Sadeqa Johnson Publisher: 37 Ink Publication Date: 28 December 2021 Genre: African American Fiction, Historical Fiction, Popular Fiction Format: Paperback Print Length: 288 pages ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from the book) Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels. Her most recent novel, The House of Eve, was an instant New…
-
{Book Review} Patents, Plows, and Persistence: The Legacy of Napoleon Gallien Jr and the Family Whose Faith Tilled the Soil by Dr. Dr. Geralyn Janice
I remember when Dr. Janice first came to me and told me that she was planning to write a book about her great uncle, Napoleon Gallien Jr, aka NAP. Her excitement was palpable. Every time our paths crossed, I found myself waiting, expectantly, for an update. Every shared detail brimming with awe tinged with disbelief. And, when she posted that her book was live on Amazon, I clicked the link and made the purchase. I even shared a video on Instagram of myself with highlighter and pen in hand, ready to take notes. And, today, I share my review for my friend, who shares my passion for history, genealogy, and…
-
My Life Lately: A Little Update
Hey, y’all, hey! I feel like I’ve been missing from this space forever. In fact, the date of my last post is 14 August — almost a whole month ago! A lot has happened since then, so let’s get into it: MY PERSONAL LIFE I’m trying to think what’s been going on personally? Hmmmm… Oh, I binge watched St. Elsewhere and, y’all, I cannot believe how ahead of its time that show was. They dealt with topics like AIDs, racism, transgender rights, and more. I’ve been trying to make it my mission to rewatch my childhood favorites when possible, just to see if things hold up and, so far, I…
You May Also Like
Where Bloggers Live: My Favorite Rainy Day Activities
-
{Audiobook Review} The Tennant by Frieda McFadden, Narrated by Will Damron and Christine Lakin
I cannot stress this enough, I’m a Frieda McFadden fan and will read or listen to any book of hers that comes across my desk. Her characters are twisted and the inner dialogue so diabolical that I cannot help but to enjoy them. I also like that I can listen to her audiobooks at work without any NSFW surprises. For the graphic, I decided to try something new: highlighting a few of the visuals from the book. I picked up this idea from booktok. Digital book journalists like to use graphics to help them remember details of books and I thought it’d be fun to do that here. Let me…
-
{Audiobook Review} The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick, Narrated by Lisa Flanagan
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for providing me with a free copy of this book for review. As an undergraduate, I had a wonderful English professor who introduced me to vintage chick lit. Though the term “chick lit” can be used derisively, I use it to refer to literature written by, for, and about women. In this course, I read The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, so a book about a women’s book club centered around Friedan’s work naturally grabbed my interest. I’m happy that I was selected as a reviewer, as this novel is everything I hoped it’d be. BOOK DETAILS Title: The Book Club for Troublesome…
-
February 2025 Wrap-Up
Hey, y’all, hey! How are things going? I know I’m late with last month’s wrap-up but I’ve had a hard time sitting down long enough to get this post written. It feels like by the time I get home, get the dogs fed, and make dinner, it’s time for bed. Do you feel that way too? I need more hours in the day. Even though I know I probably wouldn’t use them to relax or do something fun. deep sigh What would you do if you had extra hours? WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED My Bingo Card hasn’t changed at all since last month, still I accomplished a lot. Mostly work stuff,…
-
{Book Review} Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review. This book cover is absolutely stunning. The vibrant flower crown and the model’s lovely brown complexion beautifully capture the essence of the story within, which centers around Black women and the integral role of flowers and herbs. The model’s serene expression is so tranquil, it’s as if I can almost hear her gentle exhale. The cover provides a nice introduction to the stories of Queen Luella, Mother Rita, and Nikki. BOOK DETAILS Title: Happy Land Author: Dolen Perkins-Valdez Publisher: Berkley Publication Date: 8 April 2025 Genre: Historical Fiction, Popular Fiction Format: Paperback Pages:…
-
January 2025 Wrap-Up
Did 2025 have the worst beginning ever or what? And it seems to be spiraling towards the ground at a dizzying pace. Part of me wants to totally check out, but the other part of me knows I need to pay attention. I also refuse to be held hostage by the crazy that pops off every single day. I plan to focus on the things that are important to me: my faith, my family and community, and free and open access to information in all of its forms. I will protect my peace and I’d advise you to do the same. We cannot allow ourselves to become overwhelmed or complacent,…
-
Reading for My Mental Health
As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support. “Reading is political.” Or, at least, it has always been so for Black people. Enslaved people were forbidden to learn to read because the enslavers knew and understood the power of the written word. As Frederick Douglass said: “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” Reading teaches you empathy, expands your vocabulary, helps you develop…
