Family Legacies Across Continents and Generations

The Color Line by Igiaba Scego 

literary fiction 

Other Press, October 2022 

Rebels, infidels, invaders, patriots, anarchists, immigrants, migrants are all considered suspicious "others" by their various adversaries. Two women, Lafanu in the late 1800s and Leila in 1992 through 2019, wrestle with labels of otherness imposed upon them by societies and cultures that evolve, atrophy, and regress on issues of freedom and autonomy and inherent safety for people who are Black, Brown, female and/or otherwise considered less worthy of having their humanity and its complexity recognized and respected. The Color Line examines and celebrates people who refuse to internalize racism, sexism, misogyny and other biases to step forward into dangerous, unknown, forbidden places and spaces. 

Lush emotive prose in this English translation from its original Italian transports the reader. At the end, the author's note followed by pictures of actual significant landmarks mentioned in both timelines add to the richness of the historical context and sources of inspiration. 

[note: although not gratuitous, racial slurs and other hate speech consistent with the attitudes of colonial imperial conquest and white supremacy appear occasionally throughout the 1800s sections and more rarely in the contemporary passages]  

For You When I Am Gone, Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story by Steve Leder 

nonfiction 

Avery, June 2022 

From the introduction: 

This book invites you... to generate the material from which you can create an ethical will so that the people you love will never have to guess... when you are gone. 

Each of the twelve chapters asks one question, offers a relevant quote, provides a contributor's real-life circumstance and their deeply personal response to it within the context of the question. Their honesty and vulnerability make this text emotionally intimate, riveting reading. It challenges and inspires everyone to compose their own ethical will. In the epilogue the author shares his in an act of brave generosity that echoes and reinforces the power of the previous chapters. 

Weekly Reading Binge 

Stephen R. Donaldson's work is a sentimental go-to read ever since my 12-year-old self stumbled across the "Thomas Convenant" series at the public library many, many years ago. Farrah Rochon always delivers fully developed characters, engaging conflicts, humor, emotional intimacy, sexual heat and all the feels.