Donna's Book Addiction

With this unflinching account, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson invites readers into her life and world, tracing her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court within the span of one generation. Review This memoir of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson paints a vivid and inspiring portrait of her journey as the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. It offers a rich blend of personal history, family legacy, and historical context. Her family’s story—from her grandparents’ experiences in the segregated South to her parents’ dedication to education and advocacy—provides a profound backdrop to her accomplishments. Ketanji Onyika means “Lovely One” instilled in her a love for the law, as a federal public defense Attorney. She has a type A perfectionist personality.    Her husband, Patrick is a top general surgeon. Two beautiful daughters, Talia and Leila.  Justice Jackson’s life is a testament to resilience and excellence. Growing up...

The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake, a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick. The story has historical markers such as the Fugitive Slave Act. The author notes that while doing research, she learned of the history of David Ruggles from the mid 1800s, who  ran the nation’s first African American bookstore and journal in Florence and is said to have assisted more than six hundred fugitives on the Underground Railroad. Also, David Drake, a real-life potter following the end of his enslavement. This is a multi-generational narrative packed with themes of resilience, identity, and reckoning with history. It’s s layered with personal and historical tensions, where family legacies collide with personal tragedy and societal prejudice. Ebby seems caught between her heritage and her present struggles. Her evolution from effortless beaut...

Review This was a deeply emotional and reflective experience with Sadeqa Johnson’s novel, The Yellow Wife .   This is my first novel read by Sadeqa Johnson. The novel captures the pain and resilience as well as the strength of Pheby Brown as a character. It captures Pheby’s journey, her sacrifices, resourcefulness, and determination to protect her children, is compelling and a testament to the powerful storytelling.  As I read the story of Pheby Brown and learned that this fictional account of real historical events, people and places was the inspiration for Sadeqa Johnson really scored points with me. As Pheby came to terms with her fate and making her life better she made "Masre Rubin"  promise to never sell her son away from her and to not take a wife as long as she resided at his jail, his allegiance is to her.  I appreciated that the author referred to Master Rubin Lapier as the “Jailer” as to not amplify his persona as a worthy human being.  Pledging her ...

  🌿My Review: Medgar and Myrlie married a year after they met, on Christmas Eve 1951, and the author stresses that the book is a love story. I was shocked to read that Medgar Evers was not listed among the Civil Rights Leaders of the Past and Present in publications and catalogs, overshadowed by so many momentous events. Medgar Evers, with Myrlie as his partner in activism and in life, were doing civil rights work in the single most hostile and dangerous environment in America, Mississippi, says the author. Again, history shows how white supremacy strived to keep Blacks dumb, docile and out of history books and school teachings. As Medgar and his brother Charles gathered a group of fellow Black veterans became the first Blacks from Decatur to register and vote in the July 1946 Democratic primary, but whites declared that they would be justified in going to any extreme to keep Blacks from voting, including murder. This was inciting violence against blacks and no jury would indict n...

James by Percival Everett is In development as a feature film to be produced by Stephen Spielberg. James is an instant New York Times Bestseller and longlisted for the Booker Prize. A reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. I enjoyed the narration by Dominic Hoffman. His voice is clear, and commanding. He also narrates for author James McBride, books such as Deacon King Kong and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. Wonderful job! “Safe movement through the world depended on mastery of language, fluency.” - Chapter 2; page 21 The author appears to be correcting a wrong in this book by bringing awareness to the hate, racism that so consumed and consumes the views of hatred towards one or other races and religion. Everett says in chapter 2 that ‘…they enjoy the correction and thinking you’re stupid…’ and ‘Religion is just a controlling tool they employ and adhere to when convenient.’ If enough of them kill you, it’s not a crime, they’re innocent… If you...