The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries.
– Descartes
In Stephen King’s book On Writing, the best-selling author wrote, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time (or the tools) to write.” Here are books that enlightened me in 2024.
Black Magic
The Boys from Biloxi
Build the Life You Want
Oath and Honor
The Trespasser
The Warmth of Other Suns
Isabel Wilkerson’s awesome documentary presents resonant stories of human will. “The drama, poignancy, and romance of” of four people who migrated from the Jim Crow south is heartening and must be remembered.
View a short [100-second] video synopsis.
Will
- Jazzy Jeff opening opportunities for Smith when DeeJay skills were so important to HipHop’s birth
- Smith’s intent to kill his tough-love father by pushing the aged and frail man’s wheelchair down steps
- His moments of cowardice
- The Christian-inspired grandmother who called him, ‘Lover boy.’
More Honorable Mentions:
- Astor, by Anderson Cooper [how a family goes from rags to riches and falls]
- Crook Manifesto, by Colson Whitehead [a marvelous re-calling of 1970s Harlem]
- Golden Buddha, by Clive Cussler [an engaging adventure story]
- My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy, by Clint Hill [a secret service agent’s warm remembrances]
- Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman [marvelous reminders]
- Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart, by Alice Walker [exquisite and evocative poetry]
A huge thanks to Succeed and Soar’s 2024, the first “Authors Speak” contributors. They enriched by sharing their writing processes.
- Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa
- Barbara Jean Miller
- Sally Weiner Grotta
- Hilary Hauck
- Edda Fields Black
- Yona Harvey
- Jess Simms
- Polly McCann
Succeed and Soar!
Sandra Gould Ford
Presenting art to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thing and inspire.
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