Nicholas McCane
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a neighborhood called the Back of the Yards (the streets call my neighborhood Moe-Town). It’s right next to Englewood. I was born in 1980. I grew up during the crack epidemic in a neighborhood run by the notorious Almighty Black Peace Stone Rangers. Since drugs, gangs, and crooked police surrounded me, I spent my time dodging bullets and handcuffs.
I had no time to focus on politics, and why Chicago was this way. I just wanted desperately to survive and get out. Author Natalie Y. Moore is a Chicago native (and lifelong south sider) who has written several books about this. Payback (Southside Collection), The South Side, and The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation are a few.
In this book, she gives us the rundown of Chicago. It is told as a blend of memoir and investigative journalism. She talks about the Al Capone days, segregation of schools and neighborhoods, food deserts, poverty, racism, politics, projects, stereotypes, and the beloved Mayor Harold Washington. I read the physical copy as a listened to the audiobook.
I felt like she was talking to me, giving me knowledge that I had always wanted to know. I really enjoyed this read and can’t wait to read her other works.
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a neighborhood called the Back of the Yards (the streets call my neighborhood Moe-Town). It’s right next to Englewood. I was born in 1980. I grew up during the crack epidemic in a neighborhood run by the notorious Almighty Black Peace Stone Rangers. Since drugs, gangs, and crooked police surrounded me, I spent my time dodging bullets and handcuffs.
I had no time to focus on politics, and why Chicago was this way. I just wanted desperately to survive and get out. Author Natalie Y. Moore is a Chicago native (and lifelong south sider) who has written several books about this. Payback (Southside Collection), The South Side, and The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation are a few.
In this book, she gives us the rundown of Chicago. It is told as a blend of memoir and investigative journalism. She talks about the Al Capone days, segregation of schools and neighborhoods, food deserts, poverty, racism, politics, projects, stereotypes, and the beloved Mayor Harold Washington. I read the physical copy as a listened to the audiobook.
I felt like she was talking to me, giving me knowledge that I had always wanted to know. I really enjoyed this read and can’t wait to read her other works.
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a neighborhood called the Back of the Yards (the streets call it Moe-Town). It’s right next to Englewood. I was born in 1980. I grew up during the crack epidemic in a neighborhood run by the notorious Almighty Black Peace Stone Rangers. Since drugs, gangs, and crooked police surrounded me, I spent my time dodging bullets and handcuffs.
I had no time to focus on politics, and why Chicago was this way. I just wanted desperately to survive and get out. Author Natalie Y. Moore is a Chicago native (and lifelong south sider) who has written several books about this. Payback (Southside Collection), The South Side, and The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation are a few.
In this book, she gives us the rundown of Chicago. It is told as a blend of memoir and investigative journalism. She talks about the Al Capone days, segregation of schools and neighborhoods, food deserts, poverty, racism, politics, projects, stereotypes, and the beloved Mayor Harold Washington. I read the physical copy as a listened to the audiobook.
I felt like she was talking to me, giving me knowledge that I had always wanted to know. I really enjoyed this read and can’t wait to read her other works.
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a neighborhood called the Back of the Yards (the streets call it Moe-Town). It’s right next to Englewood. I was born in 1980. I grew up during the crack epidemic in a neighborhood run by the notorious Almighty Black Peace Stone Rangers. Since drugs, gangs, and crooked police surrounded me, I spent my time dodging bullets and handcuffs.
I had no time to focus on politics, and why Chicago was this way. I just wanted desperately to survive and get out. Author Natalie Y. Moore is a Chicago native (and lifelong south sider) who has written several books about this. Payback (Southside Collection), The South Side, and The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation are a few.
In this book, she gives us the rundown of Chicago. It is told as a blend of memoir and investigative journalism. She talks about the Al Capone days, segregation of schools and neighborhoods, food deserts, poverty, racism, politics, projects, stereotypes, and the beloved Mayor Harold Washington. I read the physical copy as a listened to the audiobook.
I felt like she was talking to me, giving me knowledge that I had always wanted to know. I really enjoyed this read and can’t wait to read her other works.
In my preparation for the book “James” by Percival Everett, I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I will also read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn before I get started. I understand it’s not needed, but I decided to anyway.
This book was published in 1876, but its setting is in 1845. It’s about a young boy full of imagination, mischief, and the thrill of adventure. I enjoyed the way he outsmarted other kids and how he fell in love with Becky Thatcher. The book made me laugh and also frustrated me, but overall, it was okay.
This book mostly sets up Tom and Huck’s characters. Jim (James) has a very minor role in this one. Up next is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
In my preparation for the book “James” by Percival Everett, I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I will also read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn before I get started. I understand it’s not needed, but I decided to anyway.
This book was published in 1876, but its setting is in 1845. It’s about a young boy full of imagination, mischief, and the thrill of adventure. I enjoyed the way he outsmarted other kids and how he fell in love with Becky Thatcher. The book made me laugh and also frustrated me, but overall, it was okay.
This book mostly sets up Tom and Huck’s characters. Jim (James) has a very minor role in this one. Up next is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Lehane takes us back to 1974, where there was a ruling by the district court to desegregate the city public high schools. Roxbury High School was a black school, and South Boston High School was mostly white. Half of the white kids would have to take the bus to Roxbury and vice verse. They had 90 days to prepare.
The book mostly takes place in South Boston. An Irish-American neighborhood that they refer to as Southie. The Irish mob runs this place. About half of the people there are racist as hell, and the other half are poor and just didn’t want to bus their kids to Roxbury. Either way, it was a very dangerous place for an African American.
In the middle of all this tension, someone murders a black male in South Boston (Augustus “Augie” Williamson). We, the reader, follow Mary Pat Fennessy, who is a foul mouth, chain-smoking, alcoholic, racist, single mother of a 17-year-old (Jules). One day, her racist daughter Jules is hanging out with her racist friends, and she comes up missing on the same day of Augie’s murder. So now we (the reader) have to go along with the racist mom as she does whatever to find her racist daughter.
This book has taught me something about myself. I’ve never disliked a character as much as this one. There were plenty of times that I wanted to DNF this. I hung in there because history is history. I love how the author kept Mary Pat's character real. This is an actual place with real people like this. However, I found it hard to root for a person who wouldn’t piss on me if I were on fire. Also, some scenes at the end didn’t seem realistic, but were still entertaining. There was a lot of hatred and racial tension in this book. I can’t count how many times the n-word with the hard R was said. I’m putting my personal feelings to the side and grading this book based on the writing. Four stars, but would not recommend.
Lehane takes us back to 1974, where there was a ruling by the district court to desegregate the city public high schools. Roxbury High School was a black school, and South Boston High School was mostly white. Half of the white kids would have to take the bus to Roxbury and vice verse. They had 90 days to prepare.
The book mostly takes place in South Boston. An Irish-American neighborhood that they refer to as Southie. The Irish mob runs this place. About half of the people there are racist as hell, and the other half are poor and just didn’t want to bus their kids to Roxbury. Either way, it was a very dangerous place for an African American.
In the middle of all this tension, someone murders a black male in South Boston (Augustus “Augie” Williamson). We, the reader, follow Mary Pat Fennessy, who is a foul mouth, chain-smoking, alcoholic, racist, single mother of a 17-year-old (Jules). One day, her racist daughter Jules is hanging out with her racist friends, and she comes up missing on the same day of Augie’s murder. So now we (the reader) have to go along with the racist mom as she does whatever to find her racist daughter.
This book has taught me something about myself. I’ve never disliked a character as much as this one. There were plenty of times that I wanted to DNF this. I hung in there because history is history. I love how the author kept Mary Pat's character real. This is an actual place with real people like this. However, I found it hard to root for a person who wouldn’t piss on me if I were on fire. Also, some scenes at the end didn’t seem realistic, but were still entertaining. There was a lot of hatred and racial tension in this book. I can’t count how many times the n-word with the hard R was said. I’m putting my personal feelings to the side and grading this book based on the writing. Four stars, but would not recommend.
No spoilers
This is some of the best storytelling I’ve ever experienced. It grabbed my attention immediately. The author developed the characters very well. Every single one of them had something that they were dealing with. And when shit hit the fan, they had to make emotionally tough decisions based on their individual circumstances. Because the author gives us a great foundation, readers also become invested. Very well done.
This is more than a book about slavery and vampires. It is about people who seized an opportunity for revenge. You know this book is saying something when vampires aren’t the worst monsters around.
This is a historical fiction horror that takes you to the 1700s. Markus Redmond doesn’t hold back. We get a peek at some horrors many of our ancestors had to endure. It’s raw, so check your triggers.
This is the vampire book I didn’t know I needed. I spent half of the year bragging about “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones (which was a great read also), but this one is slightly better. And included Native Americans. It receives a perfect score.
I buddy read this with my wife. We both loved it and couldn’t put it down.
I put this book in the same category as Ring shout (P. Djeli Clark), The Reformatory (Tananarive Due), and The Ballard of Black Tom (Victor LaValle).
No spoilers
This is some of the best storytelling I’ve ever experienced. It grabbed my attention immediately. The author developed the characters very well. Every single one of them had something that they were dealing with. And when shit hit the fan, they had to make emotionally tough decisions based on their individual circumstances. Because the author gives us a great foundation, readers also become invested. Very well done.
This is more than a book about slavery and vampires. It is about people who seized an opportunity for revenge. You know this book is saying something when vampires aren’t the worst monsters around.
This is a historical fiction horror that takes you to the 1700s. Markus Redmond doesn’t hold back. We get a peek at some horrors many of our ancestors had to endure. It’s raw, so check your triggers.
This is the vampire book I didn’t know I needed. I spent half of the year bragging about “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones (which was a great read also), but this one is slightly better. And included Native Americans. It receives a perfect score.
I buddy read this with my wife. We both loved it and couldn’t put it down.
I put this book in the same category as Ring shout (P. Djeli Clark), The Reformatory (Tananarive Due), and The Ballard of Black Tom (Victor LaValle).
No spoilers
This is some of the best storytelling I’ve ever experienced. It grabbed my attention immediately. The author developed the characters very well. Every single one of them had something that they were dealing with. And when shit hit the fan, they had to make emotionally tough decisions based on their individual circumstances. Because the author gives us a great foundation, readers also become invested. Very well done.
This is more than a book about slavery and vampires. It is about people who seized an opportunity for revenge. You know this book is saying something when vampires aren’t the worst monsters around.
This is a historical fiction horror that takes you to the 1700s. Markus Edmond doesn’t hold back. We get a peek at some horrors many of our ancestors had to endure. It’s raw, so check your triggers.
This is the vampire book I didn’t know I needed. I spent half of the year bragging about “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones (which was a great read also), but this one is slightly better. And included Native Americans. It receives a perfect score.
I buddy read this with my wife. We both loved it and couldn’t put it down.
I put this book in the same category as Ring shout (P. Djeli Clark), The Reformatory (Tananarive Due), and The Ballard of Black Tom (Victor LaValle).
No spoilers
This is some of the best storytelling I’ve ever experienced. It grabbed my attention immediately. The author developed the characters very well. Every single one of them had something that they were dealing with. And when shit hit the fan, they had to make emotionally tough decisions based on their individual circumstances. Because the author gives us a great foundation, readers also become invested. Very well done.
This is more than a book about slavery and vampires. It is about people who seized an opportunity for revenge. You know this book is saying something when vampires aren’t the worst monsters around.
This is a historical fiction horror that takes you to the 1700s. Markus Edmond doesn’t hold back. We get a peek at some horrors many of our ancestors had to endure. It’s raw, so check your triggers.
This is the vampire book I didn’t know I needed. I spent half of the year bragging about “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones (which was a great read also), but this one is slightly better. And included Native Americans. It receives a perfect score.
I buddy read this with my wife. We both loved it and couldn’t put it down.
I put this book in the same category as Ring shout (P. Djeli Clark), The Reformatory (Tananarive Due), and The Ballard of Black Tom (Victor LaValle).
R.F. Kuang surprised me with this one. It read nothing like her other books. It was fast-paced and kept me interested. I’m glad to share my opinion since there’s been a lot of discussion about this book on social media.
This book is about an unsuccessful author named Juniper Hayward (June) and her associate, Athena Liu (another author). June despises Athena because Athena is successful and she isn’t.
Athena dies from an accident, and June steals one of her unpublished manuscripts. June is Caucasion, Athena is Asian American. Since Athena’s book was about Chinese history, June changed her name to Juniper Song to appear Asian, then published it. Juniper ended up becoming very successful, but it did not come without drama.
The story is told from June’s perspective (first person), and it’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Juniper is an extremely unlikable character, and I couldn’t stop reading it. I rooted against her for the entire book.
R.F. Kuang holds up a mirror to the publishing industry. This book is about race, literary theft, and being an author in today’s climate.
According to reviews, people have found this book funny. I was so upset with the main character that I couldn’t laugh. Probably because I can see this actually happening in America. Overall, I enjoyed it!
I think it would have been a better story if a poor, talented Asian American woman had made it big. Then after dying, had her work stolen by this privileged white lady. I say this because Athena was also privileged, and seemed unlikable to me.
I am now caught up with this author’s catalog. Bring on Katabasis!
R.F. Kuang surprised me with this one. It read nothing like her other books. It was fast-paced and kept me interested. I’m glad to share my opinion since there’s been a lot of discussion about this book on social media.
This book is about an unsuccessful author named Juniper Hayward (June) and her associate, Athena Liu (another author). June despises Athena because Athena is successful and she isn’t.
Athena dies from an accident, and June steals one of her unpublished manuscripts. June is Caucasion, Athena is Asian American. Since Athena’s book was about Chinese history, June changed her name to Juniper Song to appear Asian, then published it. Juniper ended up becoming very successful, but it did not come without drama.
The story is told from June’s perspective (first person), and it’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Juniper is an extremely unlikable character, and I couldn’t stop reading it. I rooted against her for the entire book.
R.F. Kuang holds up a mirror to the publishing industry. This book is about race, literary theft, and being an author in today’s climate.
According to reviews, people have found this book funny. I was so upset with the main character that I couldn’t laugh. Probably because I can see this actually happening in America. Overall, I enjoyed it!
I think it would have been a better story if a poor, talented Asian American woman had made it big. Then after dying, had her work stolen by this privileged white lady. I say this because Athena was also privileged, and seemed unlikable to me.
I am now caught up with this author’s catalog. Bring on Katabasis!
This was a breath of fresh air. A fast-paced original story by an indie author. This book is funny and kept me laughing throughout. It’s perfect for someone like me, who may need a break from depressing heavy reads. It sucks you in from the beginning and never lets go.
This book is about scientists who accidentally brought God to Earth. When all hell breaks loose, Alex (a middle school science teacher) and friends have to figure out a way to bring back peace on Earth.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of the audiobook, and it did not disappoint. Sasha DeVore (the author) is the narrator. She has the perfect voice for this, and it fits her characters very well. This book belongs in the same category as Project Hail Mary. It has a science theme, a funny main character, and an outstanding narrator. I highly recommend this book. Did I mention that she’s an indie author?
This was a breath of fresh air. A fast-paced original story by an indie author. This book is funny and kept me laughing throughout. It’s perfect for someone like me, who may need a break from depressing heavy reads. It sucks you in from the beginning and never lets go.
This book is about scientists who accidentally brought God to Earth. When all hell breaks loose, Alex (a middle school science teacher) and friends have to figure out a way to bring back peace on Earth.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of the audiobook, and it did not disappoint. Sasha DeVore (the author) is the narrator. She has the perfect voice for this, and it fits her characters very well. This book belongs in the same category as Project Hail Mary. It has a science theme, a funny main character, and an outstanding narrator. I highly recommend this book. Did I mention that she’s an indie author?