Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Should Be Required Reading

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s topic: Top Ten Books That Should Be Required Reading

Labor Day weekend was a fun one for me. I got to meet six amazing authors at the Ladies of Literature event at ATL Black Pride: Skyy, Fiona Zedde, Sheree L. Greer, LaToya Hankins, Anondra “Kat” Williams, and Robin G. White. These women were fabulous and full of creativity. The one thing they stressed to aspiring authors who want to be published is to just WRITE. You can’t be published if you don’t write.

But the women also stressed the importance reading as a building block to writing. Your work is tremendously better if you learn the nuances of writing from those who’ve done it, and find your own way to tell your story.

That’s why I thought this Top Ten Topic was right on time. These books, if you’re a writer or simply a lover of Black lesbian fiction, should be required reading and a must for your bookshelf. These women know how to turn a phrase and keep the pages turning.

so with no further ado (and in no particular order):

1. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde

2. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

3. Bliss by Fiona Zedde

4. Choices by Skyy

5. Once and Future Lovers by Sheree L. Greer

6. The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor

7. Passing by Nella Larsen

8. Fire & Brimstone by Laurinda D. Brown

9. Water in a Broken Glass by Odessa Rose

10. The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez

2 thoughts to “Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Should Be Required Reading”

  1. It was a pleasure meeting you this weekend during the Ladies of Literature event. I totally agree with the books you have mentioned, especially Zami: A New Spelling of My Name and Bliss. Keep up the good work of spreading the word about black lesbian literature.

    1. I really enjoyed myself at the event, and I’m glad I got to meet so many of you. I hope we get to do it again. 🙂

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