Dani and Mollie from the Black Chick Lit podcast join me to discuss Jessie Redmon Fauset's third novel, "The Chinaberry Tree". A fascinating novel that explores the lives of three black women in a small suburban town in early 1900s New Jersey. The novel explores their desire for respectability and security through marriage. But a family secret lingers in the background of their lives and threatens to disrupt all their dreams. In the first 30 minutes we have a spoiler free discussion of the book and Molli and Dani provide great insights on how Faucet’s classic work share similarity to some contemporary literary genres. The remaining portions of the discussion dig deep into the characters and the dynamics of life depicted in this novel. Dani and Molli bring great wisdom and fun to the discussion of this novel. Black Chick Lit is a bi-monthly podcast that talks books by and about black women. Each month, they host an in-depth look at a title written by a black woman and its author. Dani and Mollie read across genres and forms, including literary fiction, non-fiction, YA, poetry, and urban fiction. Previous episodes include Queen Sugar, by Natalie Baszile; The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas; and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. In between book discussion episodes, they host Black Chit Lit Chats. Each month, they ask listeners to share their opinions about different aspects of reader life. Check out this episode where we discuss books every black woman should read.

I Found This Great Book

Discussing "The Chinaberry Tree" by Jessie Redmon Fauset with Mollie and Dani of Black Chick Lit

The Shoemaker Murder can be found in the anthology “Spooks, Spies, and Private Eyes” edited by Paula L. Woods. A collection of mystery, crime, and suspense fiction by Black authors. You can purchase you own copy of this anthology by going to www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/145. The Shoemaker Murder is a locked room mystery set in Harlem in the early 1900s. Johnson, the shoemaker, lies dead on his shop floor. He was hit brutally in the back of the head with a hammer. The door of the shop was locked from the inside, the transom was nailed shut, and everyone around the shop swore that no one entered or existed the shop before and after the murder. Detective Sergeant Henry Burns oversees the case. A tall Black man with a keen eye for details. He begins questioning everyone in proximity of the scene of the crime and thoroughly inspects the building. He discovered a possible way in the shop but how did the murderer exit without leaving a trace and leave all the doors locked from the inside? Detective Sergeant Burns strikes upon the answer, brings his suspect in for questioning and sets a trap that leaves the murderer no choice but to confess.   This is a quick read and overall, an enjoyable story. It is not the most complex locked room mystery you will read. It helps if you are familiar with the types of access points homes in the 1900s would have had. You definitely see how Detective Sergeant Burns has a gift for observation and deductive logic. When he explains how he knew who to bring in for questioning it will make sense. This story is significant because of its author. George Schuyler is a noted writer of the Harlem Renaissance and beyond. Known for his scathing articles and fiction, which exposed corruption and fraud among whites and blacks. I first became aware of Mr. Schuyler from his book, “Black No More.” This book satirizes American racism, and no one is safe from his biting wit. Schuyler was also the author of several mysteries and crime fiction that were published under his name and pen names. “Black No More” is widely available but many of his other works are a little harder to find. In the 1930s, he wrote some of the earliest known political thrillers by a Black author. I found one collection of these political thrillers on archiver.org. Another collection of stories “Ethiopian Stories” is harder to find and can be quite expensive. Let’s hope as these works become part of the public domain they can be reprinted and made available for all people interested. His autobiography is widely available. where he details his life as a conservative.

The Shoemaker Murder by George Schuyler - Featured Mystery Short Story

In this short story, Hurston features the trail of Laura Lee Kimble and her fight for justice. We also learn of a lifelong friendship between two women.

The Conscience of the Court by Zora Neale Hurston

Featured mystery author Teddy Hayes. Creator of the Devil Barnett Detective Mystery Series. Teddy Hayes - Black Mystery Authors - I Found This Great Book

Teddy Hayes - Featured Mystery Author

The first in a series of short stories I will feature. I discuss "Since You Went Away" by Frankie Y Bailey. A locked room style mystery set on a train going from New Orleans to Chicago in 1946. https://ifoundthisgreatbook.com/142

Since You Went Away by Frankie Y. Bailey - Featured Mystery Short Story

My discussion of the Hurston short story Hurricane. This short story from the "Complete Stories" collection is an excerpt from Hurston's novel "Thier Eyes Were Watching God" You can listen to all my discussions of Hurston's short stories at https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/zora

Hurricane by Zora Neale Hurston

I feature mystery author Jake Lamar. Author of the American Mysteries in Paris series.

Jake Lamar - Featured Mystery Author

I am joined by Alicia – The Pretty Brown Eye Reader to discuss “Plum Bun” by Jessie Redmon Fauset. We have an in-depth discussion of Faucet’s story which explores the life changing consequences for a Black woman, Angela, and her sister, Virginia, when Angela decides to pass for white.

Discussing "Plum Bun" by Jessie Redmon Fauset with Alicia - The Pretty Brown Eye Reader

My discussion of Zora Neale Hurston's short story, "High John De Conquer." A story written as a gift of hope to the United States during the challenging times of World War II.

High John De Conquer by Zora Neale Hurston

Featuring mystery author Solomon Jones. He writes thrilling amateur sleuth and police procedurals. Check out his book at: https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/136

Solomon Jones - Featured Mystery Author

I had so much fun talking with Cheryl Head about her latest book in the Charlie Mack Motown series, “Warn Me When It's Time”. We dig deep in discussing her sleuth Charlene “Charlie” Mack. Cheryl shares insight into her research methods for the latest book that deals with hate groups in Detroit. These are just some of the great things we talked about. https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/138 We discussed: 00:43 -----We talk Bouchercon and Cheryl's involvement as a board member 02:34 -----Cheryl gives us insight into the cast of characters who surround and support her sleuth Charlie Mack 11:33 ----- We get insight into what motivates Charlie Mack 16:11 ----- We talk about the challenges and conflicts Charlie Mack faces being "othered" while working in law enforcement 18:26 ----- We discuss how Charlie's girlfriend being a police officer changes the dynamics of the story and breaks standard troupes 20:51 ----- Cheryl shares how her sleuth, Charlie Mack, has an expansive mind and how her sleuth is breaking down boundaries by living her life 26:17 ----- We talk about the relationships between the local police, federal agents, and Charlie Mack's investigative team 35:02 ----- We discuss the research that went into the latest book, "Warn Me When It's Time", and its focus on hate groups 45:14 ----- Cheryl Head shares information on her writing process 47:03 ----- We talk about Cheryl's new project to write a literary mystery 50:47 ----- We geek out on a discussion of the works from the Harlem Renaissance and the lives of Black people then compared to now 54:15 ----- We geek out some more as we talk about the Julie Moody-Freeman's Black Romance Podcast 55:59 ----- Cheryl Head discusses the forward she wrote for the reissue of Nikki Baker's "Long Goodbyes" and the impact Nikki Baker's works had on her life and writing 59:00 ----- We talk about the impact of Charlie Mack being a queer black woman who is the central sleuth in a great mystery series 

A Conversation with Cheryl Head – Author of the Charlie Mack Motown Series

I had the magnificent pleasure to talk with historical mystery author Nekesa Afia about her new book "Dead Dead Girls". A mystery set in the Harlem Renaissance. https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/135 We discussed: 01:25 – Nekesa shares why she selected 1920s Harlem as the setting for her mystery 03:03 – We learn how Nekesa's sleuth Louise Lloyd was created 06:22 – We talk about how the reader will gain a new insight into Harlem and the 1920s 07:36 – Nekesa share more on the events that have had an early effect on Louise 10:35 – We learn the sources of Louise's courage 13:34 – Nekesa gives us insight in Louise Lloyd's life when she is not on a case 16:19 – The Zodiac club plays a key role in the story and Nekesa shares the vivid image she has for this club. 18:27 – We discuss the wonderful relationships between the characters in Dead Dead Girls 22:54 – Nekesa Afia shares insight into her writing process

A Conversation with Nekesa Afia - Historical Mystery Author

Published in 1942 in The American Mercury The original version of this story is titled “Now You Cookin’ with Gas Includes a “Glossary of Harlem Slang” which was originally call “Harlem Slanguage https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/zora The narrator begins telling us about Jelly. A young man who is a pimp. Now in 1942 the team pimp did not mean what it means today. A pimp in this story was a man who lived off the kindness of women due to his ability to romance and seduce them. I guess we would use the term Gigolo now. The story starts with Jelly realizing that it has been a day or so since he had a free meal and his stomach was growling. As Jelly is on his way to find a working woman to gift him with a meal, he runs into a fellow pimp named Sweet Back on 132nd street. The two men engage in a battle of words and bluffs powered by egos that were not backed up by strength or money. The exchange between the two men is funny and tragic at the same time. The humor comes from the rhythm and poetry of the slang. The way they push up against the edge of a real confrontation while knowing that neither of them wants to really fight. Also, you realize early on that these two men are telling bigger lies that anyone ever told on the porch of Joe Clark’s store. The tragic part of the story is the fact that these two men are unable to live a life half as big as their egos. The fact that they plan to live off the kindness of women has its own serious issues, but the fact that they seem to be executing their plan so poorly adds another level of sadness to their lives. Hurston captures all this through the dialog between Jelly and Sweet Back. It really becomes apparent when they try to persuade a young lady who is passing by to join one of them for a meal. Of course, they needed her to pay for this meal. As you can expect, both men strike out. Sweet Back tries to save face by implying that the young woman was not worthy of him. Jelly on the other had has a moment of reflection about his former life down south and his life choices in Harlem. Both versions of this story are in “The Complete Stories” along with the two versions of the glossary. The glossary is a treasure to read on its own. While it was easy to grasp the meaning of the slang as you were reading, there were some words and phrased that stumped me. The glossary comes in handy. I loved this story, and I preferred the original over the published version. Hurston captured the life and energy of the sporting life men of Harlem in her dialog. While neither Jelly nor Sweet Back were noble men, you still feel slightly sorry for them. Very slightly. When reading this story, I could visualize these two men blowing smoke at each other knowing full well that they both had nothing to back it up. We see the same scene played out often in life when people will go through extraordinary measures to save face and protect their egos. I can recommend this story if you can put your 2021 mind on pause and see that Hurston is poking fun at male bravado. You will laugh at some parts and roll your eyes at others, but you will have an enjoyable read.

The Story of Harlem Slang by Zora Neale Hurston

This week's featured mystery author is Alexia Gordon. The author of the Gethsemane Brown Mysteries. https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/133  

Alexia Gordon - Featured Mystery Author

This week I feature mystery author Rachel Howzell Hall. An award-winning mystery author. https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/132

Rachel Howzell Hall - Featured Mystery Author

"I Found This Great Book" is a podcast and website dedicated to sharing books that I have found that I feel will be great reads. The podcast includes interviews with authors of all genres. I have fun talking with authors about their books and we dig into interesting things about the books, the author's background and what new books might be coming soon. You will also want to check out the website www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com because I will post reviews and news about other books I think are great.

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I Found This Great Book

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