We begin with revisiting Eric Jerome Dickey's Cheaters and whether or not it held up for us many years later. We also discuss reading slumps and how we deal with getting back in the groove after being caught in one. This bulk of this week's episode finds us discussing contemporary books that we feel should be considered classics in the years to come. 

This week we're discussing Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere, but first...the news! Articles discussed below:

Prize for Thrillers with No Violence Against Women?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/26/staunch-prize-launched-for-thrillers-that-avoid-sexual-violence-against-women

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/31/staunch-prize-thrillers-no-violence-against-women-sophie-hannah?CMP=twt_books_b-gdnbooks

How to Make Money Self-Publishing Short Romance Novels on Amazon: https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2018/02/make-money-writing-romance-novels.html

15 New Theatre-Related Reads Out This Spring: http://www.playbill.com/article/15-new-theatre-related-reads-out-this-spring

Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira are adapting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah for TV: https://www.avclub.com/lupita-nyongo-and-danai-gurira-are-adapting-chimamanda-1823405299

Thread bout there being more black book reviewers: https://twitter.com/brownbookworm/status/968614017790021635

This week we’re discussion Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward, but first the news! Links to stories discussed below:

Updated: Did This Book Buy Its Way Onto The New York Times Bestseller List?

Are Book Blurbs Helpful or Harmful?

National Book Awards Longlist

In this week's episode, we discuss the launch of the Better Than the Movie book club. We pick our first selection, Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat. We also talk about our nostalgic favorites looks from childhood. From Ann M. Martin to Lois Lowry, we discuss some of our our faves that shaped our literary trajectory.

In this week's episode we tackle the genre of urban fiction aka hood lit. From the origins of Iceberg Slim novels to its stronghold on the Amazon Top 100 African American fiction list, we discuss our gripes with it as well as its...unique traits. We also spend a bit of time reminiscing for authors of days of yore, specifically Trisha R. Thomas, Sheneska Jackson and Lolita Files and we finally get to the root of Jeanette's Zane issues.

Intro/Outro music courtesy of Chief waKil. Song: "Good Things"

We have a special guest! Christina Jones is a writer of contemporary romance and romantic suspense who speaks with us regarding her writing career, diversity in publishing, romance stereotypes/tropes, and her Serendipitous Love book series.

If you're looking to read more contemporary romance from indie writers of color, check out some authors that Christina recommends: Love Belvin, Nia Forrester, Te Russ, Danielle Allen, Jacinta Howard, Candace Shaw, Perri Forrest, Chicki Brown, Delaney Diamond, Chelle Ramsey, Britni Danielle and Adrienne Thompson.

Intro/outro music courtesy of chief waKiL (Song title: "Love").

Oh hai. It us. We back. Kickin' mad shit in ya ear for the new year. (I'm sorry for that.) We're talking reading, writing, and podcasting goals for 2018 in addition to the news stories below...

No more library fines for most young readers in L.A. County

WHAT TO READ WHEN 2018 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Fred Bass, Who Made the Strand Bookstore a Mecca, Dies at 89

Jacqueline Woodson has been named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

Last of Philly's Black Owned Bookstores Making a Comeback

This week Jeanette and Tahmeka are discussing the world of indie publishing and highlighting some folks for y’all to check out.

Articles Discussed in News:

Books for Girls, About Girls

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/17/childrens-books-for-girls-publishers-writers-gender-imbalance

Big Little LIes

http://www.avclub.com/article/murder-only-one-big-little-lies-many-mysteries-252304

Kerry Washington, Warner Bros. to Adapt 'The Mothers': http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-kerry-washington-adapt-mothers-984828?utm_source=twitter&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

Chimamanda and the Trans Community

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-adichie-transgender-20170313-story.html

Her New Book:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/books/chimamanda-ngozi-adiche-dear-ijeawele.html

Books N Bros’ 11-year-old founder wants to help boys love reading at an age when they often don’t: http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/books-n-bros-11-year-old-founder-wants-help-boys-love-reading-age-when-they-often-don-t#stream/0

Authors Highlighted:

Constance Burris: https://www.amazon.com/Constance-Burris/e/B00P42MYIU

Renaldo Christopher: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Renaldo+Christopher&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Renaldo+Christopher&sort=relevancerank

DL White: https://www.amazon.com/DL-White/e/B00RM4Q3J4

Alexandra Warren: https://www.amazon.com/Alexandra-Warren/e/B00U6XWUYA

Love Belvin: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Belvin/e/B00CZDLZO0

Té Russ: https://www.amazon.com/T%C3%A9-Russ/e/B008HSBE34

Danielle Allen: https://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Allen/e/B00JT0JUZS

Indie Love in the A Event Info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indie-love-in-the-atl-2017-tickets-28541142325

After a lengthy hiatus we're back talkin' books. Join us as we discuss Kimani coming to an end and what's currently on our TBR lists.

We're discussing books set out West!

Articles discussed in news:

Tahmeka’s Literary Heart and Literary Brain Have A Conversation

http://www.documentjournal.com/article/junot-diaz-and-toni-morrison

A Joy Luck Club TV Show

http://blog.angryasianman.com/2017/05/a-joy-luck-club-television-series-is-in.html

Well Read Black Girl Conference Kickstarter

http://www.themillions.com/2017/06/well-read-well-written.html

Why Literary Journals Don’t Pay

http://www.themillions.com/2017/05/why-literary-journals-dont-pay.html

This week's episodes finds us discussing humorous books written by women writers from all walks of life, but mainly comediennes. We discuss books from Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Issa Rae, Helena Andrews, and a host of others. We also briefly speak about whom we would like to see a book of this ilk from in the future.

It’s been a minute, but we back with the jumpoff. This week we’re talking villains. But first…the news! Links to articles discussed below:

New Books in August 2017: http://blog.mahoganybooks.com/new-books-in-august-2017/

LeVar Burton Sued for Using His Reading Rainbow Catchphrase on His Podcast

http://www.vulture.com/2017/08/levar-burton-sued-for-using-his-reading-rainbow-catchphrase.html?utm_campaign=vulture&utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1

Ava DuVernay, Charles D. King’s Macro & Victoria Mahoney To Adapt Octavia E. Butler’s Sci-Fi Novel ‘Dawn’ For TV

http://deadline.com/2017/08/ava-duvernay-octavia-butler-dawn-tv-series-victoria-mahoney-macro-1202145539/

The Toxic Drama on YA Twitter

http://www.vulture.com/2017/08/the-toxic-drama-of-ya-twitter.html?utm_campaign=vulture&utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1 

In this episode we talk about a hodgepodge of items, culminating in a little rant about piracy & An American Marriage. Items discussed in this week's show:

Jesmyn Ward's Two Book Deal: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/76000-s-s-signs-jesmyn-ward-to-two-book-deal.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=9a5d492df5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-9a5d492df5-305326373

Tayari Jones' BIG news: http://www.oprah.com/inspiration/an-american-marriage-by-tayari-jones-oprahs-book-club-2018

It’s Jeanette & Tahmeka, talking’ books.

News discussed this episode:

Hilary Banks- Sweet Blackberry: http://www.sweetblackberry.org/

Author of An Untamed State Pulls Book From S&S: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarrylee/roxane-gay-pulls-book-from-simon-schuster-in-response-to-mil?utm_term=.euQj3qgm2#.ogOaJ2RNp

Paul Beatty Is Not New to This: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/22/paul-beatty-trumps-america-has-always-existed?CMP=share_btn_fb

Silent Book Club  https://www.pw.org/content/dear_readers_you_are_not_alone

Marley Dias: 12-Year-Old Founder Of #1000BlackGirlBooks Gets A Scholastic Book Deal: https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/stories/marley-dias-12-year-old-founder-of-1000blackgirlbooks-gets-a-scholastic-book-deal 

This week we’re talking Zadie Smith’s Swing Time.

Articles discussed in news section:

John Lewis Book Sales: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bookmark/trump-tweet-sends-john-lewis-book-sales-soaring-964415?utm_source=twitter

Obama’s Secret to Surviving The White House: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/books/obamas-secret-to-surviving-the-white-house-years-books.html

White Lady Anger: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/12/the-secret-lives-of-the-amir-sisters-by-nadiya-hussain-review-what-the-bake-off-winner-did-next

National Book Critics Circle Awards: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/arts/zadie-smith-and-michael-chabon-among-national-book-critics-circle-finalists.html?smid=tw-nytbooks&smtyp=cur&_r=0

We're back! And talkin' books...

Articles discussed in news section below:

Simon & Schuster + That Milo Dudeguy: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-yiannopoulos-book-deal-20170104-story.html

The Millions Most Anticipated of 2017:

http://www.themillions.com/2017/01/most-anticipated-the-great-2017-book-preview.html

In 2017, publishing really needs a blockbuster:

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-publishing-2017-story.html

Friend of the show Ashley stops by to give us some recommendations on (mostly) nonfiction titles regarding race relations. 

White Rage - Carol Anderson: http://amzn.to/2fznsAg

More Beautiful and More Terrible - Imani Perry: http://amzn.to/2fNrIRQ

The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander: http://amzn.to/2fNoLk2

Southern Horrors and Other Writings; The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells - Ida B. Wells & Jacqueline Jones Royster : http://amzn.to/2fVAxbB

Sara Baartman and the Hottentot Venus: A Ghost Story and a Biography - Clifton Crais and Pamela Scully: http://amzn.to/2ePOseO

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration - isabel Wilkerson: http://amzn.to/2ftZyY8

Men We Reaped - Jesmyn Ward: http://amzn.to/2eH6Zww

Passing - Nella Larsen: http://amzn.to/2ey2eC4

Stories discussed in news: 

Claudia Rankine using MacArthur Genius grant to create an institute to study whiteness & its influence on culture: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/19/claudia-rankine-macarthur-genius-grant-exploring-whiteness

Paul Beatty Wins Man Booker Prize With ‘The Sellout’: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/business/media/paul-beatty-wins-man-booker-prize-with-the-sellout.html?_r=0

Take a look: A 'Reading Rainbow' in the digital age: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/80774b3a6e1a4f058cc8e2c7f98a397a/take-look-reading-rainbow-digital-age

Papercuts: A Party Game for the Rude and Well-Read: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/electriclit/papercuts-a-party-game-for-the-rude-and-well-read

This is a new episode of Better Than the Movie.

Stories discussed in news:

Lil Wayne Memoir: http://www.vulture.com/2016/09/lil-wayne-rikers-island-journal.html?mid=twitter_vulture

There’s a Word for Buying Books and Not Reading Them: http://www.ozy.com/acumen/theres-a-word-for-buying-books-and-not-reading-them/71898?utm_source=MF&utm_medium=pp&utm_campaign=pp

Amazon Prime Members Can Read All They Want For Free: http://www.brit.co/score-amazon-prime-members-can-read-all-they-want-for-free/?utm_content=buffer3d909&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Sarah Jessica Parker and Ta-Nehisi Coates, on New Literary Paths: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/05/t-magazine/entertainment/sarah-jessica-parker-sjp-hogarth-tanehisi-coates-black-panther.html?_r=0

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Says Her Feminism Is Different Than Beyoncé's Feminism, But Both Women Are Doing It Right: https://www.bustle.com/articles/188446-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-says-her-feminism-is-different-than-beyoncs-feminism-but-both-women-are-doing

Read a chilling excerpt from the Black Lives Matter-inspired YA novel The Hate U Give:

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/12/the-hate-u-give-black-lives-matter-excerpt?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter

This week we’re reading an idiot & discussing “diversity”. 

Stories Discussed in News Section:

Claudia Rankine Leads This Year’s Class of MacArthur Genius Grant Recipients: http://www.vulture.com/2016/09/heres-2016s-macarthur-genius-grant-recipients.html?mid=twitter_vulture

What I Pledge Allegiance To (Kiese Laymon essay): http://www.thefader.com/2016/09/19/my-mississippi-pledge-kiese-laymon

Who gets to write what: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/opinion/sunday/who-gets-to-write-what.html?_r=2