A. Idle Book Reviews

Howard Fineman debuted as an author in 2008 with The Thirteen American Arguments. Detailing centuries of disagreements, Fineman solves the complex equation where America equals a paradox. You see, this country cannot exist without divergence. What pushes us to greatness is not hate, but debates.

Josh Kaufman uses the Greek mythical creature, hydra, as a metaphor for achieving one’s goals. Along the lines of The Alchemist, this story teaches many a lesson without sounding self righteous. As it turns out, you can learn quite a lot by following one fictitious character on their journey to greatness.

Anita Kopacz frames the spiritual path of kidnapped Africans as they journey through the Middle Passage. The historical storytelling of Yemaya, Goddess of the sea, acknowledges the strength enslaved people maintained through African religions. Their spirituality further strengthened the pride of those who, on the surface, were stripped of everything material. Shallow Waters is teaching a new gener...

Ernest J. Gaines maps another take to the ‘wrongful convicted black man’ narrative. The character of Jefferson is given the painful task to await his own death in a jail cell. Those around him encourage Jefferson to align himself with God & dignity. We have all heard stories of injustice before, what makes this special is the explanation of the ripple effect it has on a community.

Alexandra Andrews’ debut novel hit the market this past March. It follows the naive Florence Darrow as she navigates the literary world in NYC. Ultimately we end up with a couple unexplained mental breakdowns, a few dead bodies & a nice publishing deal. Odd doesn’t begin to cover this plot…

Julia Quinn gave us the gift of the Bridgerton Book Series. Shonda Rhimes gave us the Bridgerton Netflix Series. And both gave us the gift of Regé-Jean Page as Simon Bassett. In turn I read The Duke & I to placate my Bridgerton withdrawal. Although this is just a book review, spoilers lay ahead for the series as well.

Communication is led by headlines & social media posts. Alas “How to Write Short: Word Craft for Fast Times” has legitimacy. Roy Peter Clark delivered a 240 page explanation on concise writing. In honor, this description is complete. Enjoy the review!

Mike Duncan lays out the events in the Roman Republic from 146 BC to 78 BC. Often we are taught the importance of Julius Caesar, but not the events preceding his fall. In truth, Rome was a hot mess! In no way was I expecting to learn of such atrocities that continued for decades. The imperialist nation accomplished almost too much, with too little concentration on caring for the land (& people) co...

Michelle Williams walks us through her personal battle with depression in this reflective memoir. She explains how her faith based foundation interacts with her therapeutic ventures to provide her the best opportunities to remain mentally healthy. It cannot be easy to be so vulnerable, especially in an era of trolls. But Ms. Williams draws back the curtains on her life, so we can better understand...

Coming off the heels of a successful series debut, it is only right that I review Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff this week. This novel originally blends other worldly happenings with the reality of the 1950’s. Although inspired by H. P. Lovecraft, this is not the work of the late writer. This piece instead structures an anthology-like view of the plot by following a group of black adults as they p...

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells cautions against laziness and overall ignorance. By thrusting himself into the future the Time Traveler exposes a bleak end to civilized humanity as we know it. The depiction of two classes of species is heartbreaking, but intriguing. Wells manages to address social status, degeneration & law breaking time travel in under 100 pages. Standing the test of time, this p...

Pretty Things shows us the psychological impacts of greed. Nina & Vanessa base their entire persona on their respective resentments from childhood. When they later cross cunning Lachlan’s path we see a full display of dysfunction & deception. Not one healthy relationship here folks. As we follow the same story but framed through each set of eyes, we find our culprit [or should I say mark?]. Under...

Neil DeGrasse Tyson released Astrophysics for People in a Hurry in 2017 in an effort to inform us normal people. We get a front row seat to the events immediately after the big bang, framing how the universe came to be so complex. Do not be fooled, this is not an explanation on why things are the way they are. This is simply an astrophysicist’s explanation of what we know thus far.

King of the World captures the inspiring impossibility of Muhammad Ali’s historic wins over Sonny Liston. David Remnick manages to capture a wide vantage point from the news coverage during that period, displaying quite an objective view of Ali’s legendary position in boxing history. Without a doubt, boxing can never be defined without Muhammad Ali’s excellency on full display.

Remembrance is the debut novel from Rita Woods that follows four black women across centuries as they formulate their own freedom. These characters are challenged with manipulating the energy around them to provide peace & protection. Their stories intertwine science fiction with historical facts to redeem those wronged by the horrific system of oppression.

Of Mice and Men is one of those concise classics that everyone should read once in their life. The unyielding dreams of our main characters makes up only half of the story. In recent years the outrageous arguments for this work's place on the 'Banned Book' list has only increased it's notoriety. Let's take a trip back to high school literature to discuss. *Spoiler Alert*

How fitting to review a book on Christopher Columbus in the current state of America. On top of Columbus being beyond problematic.. this book has the nerve to tell the driest version of America's "discovery". I reviewed it so you don't have to read it. Happy 2021.

The Alchemist depicts the familiar journey of success & achievement. We can all learn from the wise words of Paulo Coelho specifically regarding motivation & perseverance. It is up to each and everyone one of use to determine what our personal legend is.. The Alchemist may be the perfect piece to start your new year!

Happy Holidays! This week I take a dive into The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Known as one of the 'Banned Books' in the education world, Morrison eloquently depicts Pecola Breedlove's struggle with internalized racism. 50 years later, this gem can still teach us all lessons on compassion & humanity. *Please be advised: Sensitive topics are discussed*

Throwing it back on a Thursday, we are looking at Twilight's core to determine if the popularity was valid. This episode is centered on comparing the differing perspectives on the Twilight Saga. [Side note: In Stephenie Meyer's defense..I've read this series far too many times & bought multiple copies over the years.] Let's discuss..

Alyssa Cole's talented writing creates an unsettling journey through gentrification. Sticking true to the reviews, this thriller delivers adequate coverage of the [racial] investment in property across the country. This ominous topic is kept alive by the storytelling and character arc Cole has created. 

Eugene Robinson maps the fracturing ideology of Black America through important historical events. Being centered on the notion of blackness, these events frame pivotal points in the evolution of Black diversity. Let's take a look at 'Disintegration: The Splintering of Black America'. .

This week we follow the feminist icon that is Rhiannon Hunter. Her battle through glass ceilings is supplemented by her relationship with love, legacy & commitment. This is a wild ride y’all.

This week we dive into Humble The Poet’s spectacular mind. The notable rapper & poet sparks important conversation on privilege, happiness & opportunity through ‘101 Simple Truths’.

The first ever guest on A. Idle joins us in conversation on Collins’ latest work of art. SPOILER ALERT