This month I want to read the works of black authors. I know there is a lot out there, but main stream media doesn’t always highlight books by people of color. I’m here for any suggestions! I love sci-fi, thrillers, mystery, some fantasy, and general fiction.
Some books by black authors I’ve read and loved:
Parable of the Sower
Parable of the Talents
Beloved
Reformatory
My Sister the Serial Killer
Thanks!!
by Annoying_Rhymes
15 Comments
Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison is a must read in my opinion.
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma !!!
So far I’ve only read Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby, but I see some of his other books recommended as well so he would be a good author to look into! Some other recs:
– Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
– Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
– Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
For fantasy check out David Anthony Durham’s Acacia.
Other authors I really like:
Toni Morrison
Ben Okri
Samuel Delany
Zadie Smith
Walter Mosley
Literally anything by Colson Whitehead. He won Pulitzer Prize for both Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys. He is a great writer with great range.
The Broken Earth Trilogy by NK Jemison
*Chain Gang All-Stars* by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
All Sinners Bleed
S.A. Cosby was mentioned. If you listen to audiobooks, be sure to listen to his. Adam Lazarre-White is the narrator and takes them to another level.
The Wormwood trilogy by Tade Thompson is worth looking for. The first book won a Best Sci-Fi novel at the Arthur C-Clarke awards.
SciFi/Fantasy:
Nnedi Okorafor – Try “Lagoon” or “The Book of Pheonix”
N.K. Jemesin – All three books in “The Fifth Season” won a Hugo award. Absolute materpiece
Tade Thompson – His “Rosewater” trillogy is the big one, but I really liked “The Murders of Molly Southborne”
General Ficton:
Brandon Taylor – “Real Life” is his first. Was nominated for the Booker Prize.
Akwaeke Emezi – writes across genres and does it well every time. “Freshwater” is quite surreal fantasy. “The Death of Vivek Oji” is probably the easiest entry point
Caleb Azumah Nelson – “Open Water”
Tade Thompson – “Open City” – feels like a walk through the streets of New York.
Percival Everett. The Trees, Dr. No, Erasure and James are all highlights. His books are all well written and dripping with satire.
Their Eyes Were Watching God–Zora Neale Hurston
The Blacker the Berry by Wallace Thurman. I wanted to read something from the Harlem Renaissance era so I picked this up and am reading it now. I’m enjoying it so far.
Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan