Zora Neale Hurston

Mary Helen Washington

Henry Louis Gates

a good copy, there is slight rip from tag in left corner where “zora” begins. book is otherwise not damaged / written in / nor highlighted.

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

California

Fair and long-legged, independent and articulate, Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person -- no mean feat for a black woman in the '30s. Janie's quest for identity takes her through three marriages and into a journey back to her roots.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

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Junot Díaz

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

Finalist for the 2012 National Book Award A Time and People Top 10 Book of 2012 Finalist for the 2012 Story Prize Chosen as a notable or best book of the year by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The LA Times, Newsday, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, the iTunes bookstore, and many more... "Electrifying." –The New York Times Book Review “Exhibits the potent blend of literary eloquence and street cred that earned him a Pulitzer Prize… Díaz’s prose is vulgar, brave, and poetic.” –O Magazine From the award-winning author, a stunning collection that celebrates the haunting, impossible power of love. On a beach in the Dominican Republic, a doomed relationship flounders. In a New Jersey laundry room, a woman does her lover’s washing and thinks about his wife. In Boston, a man buys his love child, his only son, a first baseball bat and glove. At the heart of these stories is the irrepressible, irresistible Yunior, a young hardhead whose longing for love is equaled only by his recklessness--and by the extraordinary women he loves and loses. In prose that is endlessly energetic, inventive, tender, and funny, these stories lay bare the infinite longing and inevitable weakness of the human heart. They remind us that passion always triumphs over experience, and that “the half-life of love is forever.”

This Is How You Lose Her

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Zadie Smith

From the MAN BOOKER PRIZE- and WOMEN'S PRIZE-SHORTLISTED author of Swing Time, On Beauty and Grand Union

'BELIEVE THE HYPE' The Times

'The almost preposterous talent was clear from the first pages' Julian Barnes, Guardian

'Street-smart and learned, sassy and philosophical all at the same time' New York Times

'Outstanding' Sunday Telegraph

The international bestseller and modern classic of multicultural Britain - an unforgettable portrait of London

One of the most talked about debut novels of all time, White Teeth is a funny, generous, big-hearted novel, adored by critics and readers alike. Dealing - among many other things - with friendship, love, war, three cultures and three families over three generations, one brown mouse, and the tricky way the past has of coming back and biting you on the ankle, it is a life-affirming, riotous must-read of a book.

White Teeth

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From the beloved and award-winning author Junot Díaz, a spellbinding saga of a family’s journey through the New World. A coming-of-age story of unparalleled power, Drown introduced the world to Junot Díaz's exhilarating talents. It also introduced an unforgettable narrator— Yunior, the haunted, brilliant young man who tracks his family’s precarious journey from the barrios of Santo Domingo to the tenements of industrial New Jersey, and their epic passage from hope to loss to something like love. Here is the soulful, unsparing book that made Díaz a literary sensation.

Drown

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Americanah

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From the MAN BOOKER PRIZE- and WOMEN'S PRIZE-SHORTLISTED author of Swing Time, White Teeth and On Beauty

'A pleasure from the first page to the last' Evening Standard

'A glorious concoction by our most beguiling and original prose-wizard' Independent on Sunday

'Full of humour, the search for love and the fear of death... A touching, thoughtful, deeply felt rite-of-passage novel' Sunday Telegraph

The Autograph Man follows one Alex-Li Tandem: a twenty-something Chinese-Jewish autograph dealer turned on by sex, drugs and organised religion. From London to New York, love to death, fathers to sons, Alex tries to discover how a piece of paper can bring him closer to his heart's desire. Exposing our misconceptions about our idols - about ourselves - Zadie Smith delivers a brilliant, unforgettable tale about who we are and what we really want to be.

Autograph Man

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Tomás Rivera

Evangelina Vigil

Tomas Rivera's original Spanish-language novel plus a new translation into English by Evangelina Vigil-Pinon. ...y no se lo trago la tierra won the first national award for Chicano literature in 1970 and has become the standard literary text for Hispanic literature classes throughout the country. It is now an award-winning, motion picture entitled And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him.

Y No Se lo Trago la Tierra / And the Earth Did Not Devour Him

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James Baldwin

Stories

Contains eight short fiction stories about men and women who are struggling in their own ways to survive the traumas of life.

Going to Meet the Man

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Kenzaburo Oe

John Nathan

First pub. 1964. Author's most dramatic work, won him the prestigious Shincho Literary Prize. In the novel the narrator tells how he responds to the birth and problems posed by his handicapped child. Recipient of the 1994 Nobel prize.

Personal Matter

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David Levithan

This collection of linked poems from David Levithan, the author of the New York Times bestseller Every Day and the groundbreaking classic Boy Meets Boy and the co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson (with John Green), will introduce you to a world of unforgettable and emotionally resonant voices.
 
Here's what I know about the realm of possibility--
it is always expanding, it is never what you think 
it is. Everything around us was once deemed 
impossible. From the airplane overhead to 
the phones in our pockets to the choir girl 
putting her arm around the metalhead. 
As hard as it is for us to see sometimes, we all exist 
within the realm of possibility. Most of the limits 
are of our own world's devising. And yet, 
every day we each do so many things 
that were once impossible to us.

Enter The Realm of Possibility and meet a boy whose girlfriend is in love with Holden Caulfield; a girl who loves the boy who wears all black; a boy with the perfect body; and a girl who writes love songs for a girl she can't have.

These are just a few of the captivating characters readers will get to know in this intensely heartfelt new novel about those ever-changing moments of love and heartbreak that go hand-in-hand with high school. David Levithan plumbs the depths of teenage emotion to create an amazing array of voices that readers won't forget. So, enter their lives and prepare to welcome the realm of possibility open to us all. Love, joy, and these stories will linger.
 
 
A MARGARET A. EDWARDS AWARD WINNER
AN ALA TOP TEN BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS
A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK FOR THE TEEN AGE
 
"Luminous . . . each voice sings with hope, humor and possibility." --Time Out New York Kids

The Realm of Possibility

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J. D. Salinger

The "brilliant, funny, meaningful novel" (The New Yorker) that established J. D. Salinger as a leading voice in American literature--and that has instilled in millions of readers around the world a lifelong love of books. "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth." The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caufield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days.

The Catcher in the Rye

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Six Essays

“[Smith’s] slim collection of essays captures this peculiar moment with startling clarity. . . . The personal and political intermingle for a powerful indictment of America’s social systems.” —TIME, The 100 Must-Read Books of 2020 “While quarantined amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Smith penned six dazzling, trenchant essays burrowing deep into our contemporary culture of disease and upheaval and reflecting on what was ‘once necessary’ that now ‘appears inessential . . .’” —O, The Oprah Magazine, Best Books of 2020 “Smith does more than illuminate what we're going through right now. She offers a model of how to think ourselves through a fraught historical moment without getting hysterical or sanctimonious, without losing our compassion or our appreciation for what's good in other people. She teaches us how to be better at being human.” —John Powers, Fresh Air Deeply personal and powerfully moving, a short and timely series of reflective essays by one of the most clear-sighted and essential writers of our time. Written during the early months of lockdown, Intimations explores ideas and questions prompted by an unprecedented situation. What does it mean to submit to a new reality--or to resist it? How do we compare relative sufferings? What is the relationship between time and work? In our isolation, what do other people mean to us? How do we think about them? What is the ratio of contempt to compassion in a crisis? When an unfamiliar world arrives, what does it reveal about the world that came before it? Suffused with a profound intimacy and tenderness in response to these extraordinary times, Intimations is a slim, suggestive volume with a wide scope, in which Zadie Smith clears a generous space for thought, open enough for each reader to reflect on what has happened--and what should come next. The author will donate her royalties from the sale of Intimations to charity.

Intimations

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Offers an updated definition of feminism for the twenty-first century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness.

We Should All Be Feminists

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Zakiya Dalila Harris

A Novel

"Riveting, fearless, and vividly original" (Emily St. John Mandel, New York Times bestselling author), this instant New York Times bestseller explores the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.

Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she's thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They've only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust.

Then the notes begin to appear on Nella's desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW.

It's hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there's a lot more at stake than just her career. Having joined Wagner Books to honor the legacy of Burning Heart, a novel written and edited by two Black women, she had thought that this animosity was a relic of the past. Is Nella ready to take on the fight of a new generation?

"Poignant, daring, and darkly funny, The Other Black Girl will have you stressed and exhilarated in equal measure through the very last twist" (Vulture). The perfect read for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace.

The Other Black Girl

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first anchers book edition, september 2017

no tears, just normal wear on cover but not folded corners nor stains. listed as “good” for these reasons instead of “excellent” (i reserve this condition for new/er books).

Re-creates the 1960s struggle of Biafra to establish an independent republic in Nigeria, following the intertwined lives of the characters through a military coup, the Biafran secession, and the resulting civil war.

Half of a Yellow Sun

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Lily Meade

"From its glorious first line to the final page, The Shadow Sister heralds an exciting and exquisite new voice. Lily Meade has arrived!" --Angeline Boulley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter

Sometimes people are lost from you, no matter how much you wish they weren't and before you can even begin to know how big of a hole they'll leave behind.

Sutton going missing is the worst thing to happen to Casey, to their family. She's trying to help find her sister, but Casey is furious. She knows Sutton is manipulative, meanwhile everyone paints a picture of her perfection. People don't look for missing Black girls--or half-Black girls--without believing there is an angel to be saved. 

When Sutton reappears, Casey knows she should be relieved. Except Sutton isn't the same. She remembers nothing about while she was gone--or anything from her old life, including how she made Casey miserable. There's something unsettling about the way she wants to spend time with Casey and watch her goldfish swim for hours.

What happened to Sutton? The more Casey starts uncovering her sister's secrets, the more questions she has. Did she really know her sister? Why is no one talking about the other girls who have gone missing in their area? And what will it take to uncover the truth?

Perfect for fans of:

 * Ace of Spades and House of Hollow
 * Emotional suspense
 * Speculative fiction, including Hoodoo
 * Diverse books featuring strong female leads
 * Sister stories with complex family dynamics

The Shadow Sister

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Akwaeke Emezi

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi is a good fit for those seeking a heartwarming and reflective story about self-discovery, grief, and love, with a hopeful and emotional journey that explores themes of identity, healing, and second chances.

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by The Washington Post, Oprah Daily, Vulture, Harper's Bazaar, Thrillist, Essence, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, Marie Claire, Parade, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Refinery29, Business Insider, The Guardian, Financial Times, PopSugar, Book Riot, LitHub, Bookish, LGBTQ Reads, and more!

"A deeply heartfelt romance novel." --Marie Claire

"Riveting...emotional." --Book Riot

A New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and "one of our greatest living writers" (Shondaland) reimagines the love story in this fresh and seductive novel about a young woman seeking joy while healing from loss.

Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again.

It's been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she's almost a new person now--an artist with her own studio and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it's time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn't ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career.

She's even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the overwhelming desire Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person in the house who is most definitely off-limits--his father.

This new life she asked for just got a lot more complicated, and Feyi must begin her search for real answers. Who is she ready to become? Can she release her past and honor her grief while still embracing her future? And, of course, there's the biggest question of all--how far is she willing to go for a second chance at love? Akwaeke Emezi's vivid and passionate writing takes us deep into a world of possibility and healing, and the constant bravery of choosing love against all odds.

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Books Listed

Following

Followers

Zora Neale Hurston; Mary Helen Washington; Henry Louis Gates

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Junot Díaz

This Is How You Lose Her

Zadie Smith

White Teeth

Junot Díaz

Drown

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Americanah

Zadie Smith

Autograph Man

Tomás Rivera; Evangelina Vigil-Piñon

Y No Se lo Trago la Tierra / And the Earth Did Not Devour Him

James Baldwin

Going to Meet the Man

Kenzaburo Oe; John Nathan

Personal Matter

David Levithan

The Realm of Possibility

J. D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye

Zadie Smith

Intimations

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

We Should All Be Feminists

Zakiya Dalila Harris

The Other Black Girl

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Half of a Yellow Sun

Lily Meade

The Shadow Sister

Akwaeke Emezi

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

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Zora Neale Hurston; Mary Helen Washington; Henry Louis Gates

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Junot Díaz

This Is How You Lose Her

Zadie Smith

White Teeth

Junot Díaz

Drown

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Americanah

Zadie Smith

Autograph Man

Tomás Rivera; Evangelina Vigil-Piñon

Y No Se lo Trago la Tierra / And the Earth Did Not Devour Him

James Baldwin

Going to Meet the Man

Kenzaburo Oe; John Nathan

Personal Matter

David Levithan

The Realm of Possibility

J. D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye

Zadie Smith

Intimations

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

We Should All Be Feminists

Zakiya Dalila Harris

The Other Black Girl

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Half of a Yellow Sun

Lily Meade

The Shadow Sister

Akwaeke Emezi

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

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