Nota Bene
Good Note {One}
I try my best to read diversly for twelve months out of the year. I must take in stories, both fiction and nonfiction, from varying ethnicities and cultural experiences. As a staunch advocate for empathy and inclusion, reading from a diverse array of authors seems like a no-brainer.
I also realize that, as a white woman, reading diversly is the bare minimum.
I chose a variety of books for February, written by Black authors, because this is Black History Month. If you were to look at my Good Reads you’d see this isn’t the only time of year I read the work of Black Authors–I just want to be clear about that. With all of the unhinged things going on in this world today though, I wanted to be extra intentional about reading this month.
I chose six books and I’ve read five and a half of them.
Lucky for us I recommend them all! With ten days left in February, and 316 left in the year, these would be great choices for your reading plans.
Somebody’s Daughter (memoir) by Ashley C. Ford:
This was a powerful story of a difficult childhood and how the details of her parents and their choices impacted her life. Relatable, heartbreaking, and healing read!
Maame (fiction) by Jessica George:
Whenever I read stories where other cultures put so much pressure on children, costing them crucial years of their lives, I am left feeling many things. This story was a later-in-life coming of age that many of us can relate to. Even more so though, this is a story that should cultivate some empathy and perspective widening. Beautiful!
Year of Yes (nonfiction) by Shonda Rhimes:
YES. YES, read this book! I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a big fan of Shonda’s work. This book was published nearly a decade ago and I put it off that long for that reason. I like to think that, in the end, it worked out because so much of what Shonda shared I was at a place in life where I needed to hear. If you’re a creative, or just really anyone in need of some motivation and uncomfortable self-realizations, this is a GREAT read for you!
Such a Fun Age (fiction) by Kiley Reid:
This book has been sitting on my TBR for years. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to read it, that’s just the way of these piles sometimes. I LOVED this book! It was a great read! I loved the characters and the interactions and relationships between them. Along with being a great read though, came internal questions of my whiteness and how my sometimes best intentions may not come across this way. What I realized is that, in those situations, it becomes necessary to look deeper into the roots of those intentions. All in all such a fun, lovely, and relevant story!
The Nickel Boys (fiction) by Colson Whitehead:
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel will likely stay with me for the rest of my life. Inspired by real events and also an Academy Award Nominated film*, this book is a powerful story so essential to the United States History. An absolutely devastating and beautiful read! (*I decided to watch the film after I finished this book and I’m really glad I did it in this order. The film is captivating and visually stunning–so artistically shot. That being said, it will make very little sense if you aren’t familiar with the book. It makes an essential (IMO) companion to the book, but it’s the best film on its own.)
The Book of Delights (essays) by Ross Gay:
This is the book I haven’t finished yet but only because I’m savoring it. With each chapter being a short essay, this book is very easy to take in bite-size portions. Every time I sit down with this book my life is better for what I read, in one way or another. Already a believer in noticing things that bright light, Ross’s essays have inspired me to take my noticing a bit deeper–to ponder them more thoughtfully.
In Closing…
One of my favorite essays of Ross Gay’s, so far, is entitled Nota Bene. Nota Bene translates to Good Note. In my own journaling, after reading that afternoon, I pondered what I wanted to take away from this month’s authors…
I want to continue reading diversly, but I want to share about it more.
I want to take on my moments with intention unlike I’d really known before. If I put a bit of something in my mouth, I want to connect with myself about the flavor and sensations it brings. This doesn’t have to be anything other than a conversation and connection with myself.
I want to grow more and more aware of my intentions, and what they stem from, as a white woman in the U.S.
I want to continue, in curiosity and eagerness, exploration of human stories.
I want to forever remember Shonda’s story. May her retelling be a trigger, reminding me to chase the yeses.
It is because of Ross’ essay that I decided to make the min-month note a Nota Bene. A good note check-in where I can share delights. This helps me be accountable while hopefully inspiring someone else along the way.
Have you read anything lately that impressed something in you that you’ll carry on this journey?