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In honor of Black History month, we celebrate literature by African-American authors and /or featuring African-American protagonists. I Love Fluff! Snow Falling on Cedars, Cold Mountain, and other literary titles have swept the nation with their popularity. But sometimes we’re just too busy to dive into a dense book. I Love Fluff titles provide a light, fun read for those moments when you want a good book but just don’t have the time or the desire to have to think while you read. Sometimes a little fluff is just what you need! Check out our selected titles in this month’s feature, I Love Fluff! African-American Life in the South The African American experience in the South has not always been pleasant, to say the least. Being plucked from families, forced to work on plantations, and then to abide by the Jim Crow laws was enough to damage even the strongest soul. But, despite the promise of good paying jobs and better living conditions in the North, many African Americans chose to stay in the South to enjoy its sweet treasures. You can enjoy them also by reading some of this month’s book feature…African American life in the South.   Here is an excerpt from former former President Bill Clinton's review of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:
My favorite book - the one that inspired me the most when I was growing up and that I would recommend to all readers - is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Set in the rural South during the 1930s - a time when justice often took a back seat to the color of a person's skin - the novel tracks the journey of its characters and their society as they find new meaning in the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality upon which our great nation was founded. By getting to know the different characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, you, too will find new meaning in these values and understand why our nation's rich diversity is one of our most profound blessings. Read more Celebrity Reviews  
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“My mother, Ginger, has always been the reader in our family. I have fond memories of going to the paperback book exchange with her as a child. My sisters and I found out early on that if we were grounded and it was “book day”; we’d be off the hook. All we had to do was make noise while she was reading to be told “go outside”. She used to have a big pile of Harlequin Romance novels; she’d easily finish 3 or 4 books in one sitting. If Dad was out of town; she’d finish 10-12 in one day. Reading has always been a presence in my life, although I don’t really remember reading that much as a child; could have something to do with living in Central Florida and being outside every minute. Oh, I read all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, but I don’t remember reading impacting me until I read “Interview with a Vampire” by Anne Rice. I was 11 or 12 years old when I read that book and was convinced the entire thing was true. Who could make that stuff up? Happily, with many trips to our local Library, I found that many, many people could make that stuff up, and MORE. My reading tastes are morphing all the time. I used to read primarily historical fiction; always makes me feel like I’m not wasting time, its history. I still enjoy historical novels, especially mysteries, biographies, history, mythology, and my new crush; the political book. The past decade has seen so many talented writers turning their attention to the way our government runs our lives. I usually read a fiction and nonfiction book at the same time. Although I love these political books, they frustrate me, and that’s when I turn to fiction for some relief. Currently I’m reading In the Night of the Heat by Blair Underwood and We Who Dared to Say No to War: American Antiwar Writing from 1812 to Now by Murray Polner and Thomas E. Woods, Jr. Reviewing books is so enjoyable to me. I’m often asked what I’m reading and why I like it; I could bend your ear all day long. I find writing the reviews or performing Podcasts, to be different because you’re not face to face with the interested party. I find it easier to be short and to the point in these formats. By the same token, I’m always interested in what you’ve been reading and why you liked it, or didn’t. Stop by to see me at Myers Park and we’ll talk. |
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Judy Goldman is the author of two novels, Early Leaving and The Slow Way Back. She has won numerous literary awards, including the Sir Walter Raleigh Fiction Award the Mary Ruffin Poole First Work of Fiction Award, the Gerald Cable Poetry Award, and was a finalist for the Southeast Booksellers Association's Best Novel of the Year. She is also the author of two books of poetry, her work has been published widely in literary journals, and her commentaries have aired on public radio. Born and raised in Rock Hill, S.C., she and her husband live in Charlotte. They have two married children and twin granddaughters. 
Gina, who works at the newly renovated Myers Park Branch, is an enthusiastic reader and reviewer. She has reviewed a variety of fiction and non-fiction for adults. Here are her thoughts on reading and writing reviews: 