Awesome video! Shoutout for doing your reviews outside! We all need to get out into nature more! I appreciate how you structure your reviews (basic plot without spoilers, themes you noticed, and overall thoughts of the story). It works very well! You are very engaging to watch. I look forward to watching more of your reviews!
You just popped up in my recommended and I was intrigued and ended up watching all 3 videos 😄 welcome to booktube! I like your book picks and taste so I immediately subscribed. I don’t know if you like sci-fi books, they are not my genre but I kept seeing Project Hail Mary in a lot of videos so I picked it up and WOW!! It was my number 1 book of 2023, couldn’t put it down, I 100% recommend it even if you don’t read sci-fi, because I don’t either and that book just ignited the fire back in me to read more.
You are a natural at describing the books you read considering this is only your third video. I've added all three to my Libby Wishlist (my holds are already maxed out!). I hope you keep reading and filming content.
I love the vibe of your channel. It's soooo down to earth and cozy. Love the outside feel very down to earth. This channel is a whole vibe. Makes me proud to be a book lover 💕❤️💕❤️💕
Wow, you reviewed these books so well without giving any spoilers! Looking forward to your channel updates and I hope you stick with it! #rootingforeverybodythatsBlack
I normally don't read thrillers, but you've got me adding First Lie Wins to my list. I just finished Sula last week and i agree that it was great. It had me hooked.
So happy to have bumped into your video. Very entertaining and informative to watch without spilling the goods. Lol. Not sure if you ever read silent patient but I just got done with it and it was amazing ! ( I’m getting back into my reading groove)
I'm really enjoying your videos, and I definitely need to pick up something by S.A. Barnes now! You might like Kindred by Octavia Butler, if you haven't read it. It's about a Black woman in the 1970s who keeps getting pulled back in time to the antebellum South. Butler's writing style is pretty straightforward, but the themes and the moral questions she's asking in the book are super complex and thought-provoking.
Great reviews! I love the way you break down the themes of the books. Can’t go wrong with S.A. Cosby, he’s an amazing writer! I read all of his books and they have all been 5 star reads for me. Razorblade Tears is incredible!! I just requested Sula from my library.
I'm so so glad you enjoyed Sula and pushed through it to give it a chance! Also S.A. Cosby has been on my tbr for a minute! Maybe it's time I finally pick it up :)
babe, the way i just finished “sula” by toni Morrison now im reading, “Song Of Solomon” (which i recommend highly) this my first time on you’re channel and i was thinking while watching through the first book that oh my gosh, “i think he would love Toni Morrison.” and @4:52 when I saw Sula, i almost jumped up! i’m definitely subscribed now five, thank you so much for making this video, sharing your love for reading. 💗
Man your channel and content style is so original and down to earth. Absolute breathe of fresh air. Growing to love your channel a lot! Thanks for sharing
I have Sula high up in my TBR pile and I'm even more excited to read it now. Also added First Lie Wins to the neverending wishlist, I hadn't heard of it before but you sold it well! :D Love what you're doing with your channel. Keep it up! Also, crying is allowed! Let everyone know! :D
The way you described First Lie Wins made me bump it to the top of my tbr! I love Toni Morrison - read Beloved in college and it was so layered and beautiful.
You just popped up this morning on my feed maybe because I was looking at reading journal videos 🤦🏽♀️ Now I am supper motivated to start my reading journey. Thanks for sharing ❤
Yo, if you liked the ride of Sula, ( and I know you're into the time period of Gatsby-) you should try Nella Larson's novel Passing. That book hit me like a falling building. I didnt realize how much that book would throw me, it found me at a pretty integral time as realized my racial identity as a Black/White person. Much recommend, dude. Powerful read. Hard read. Worthwhile read. Love to see you out in the world, and that hoodie/specs combo is rad. The man wasn't lying about the fits lol
I struggled to understand and read Toni Morrison's writing at first. It felt like math lol where all of a sudden it made sense. I love her books! The Bluest eye, Beloved, and Mercy are all ones i also enjoyed and recommend.
I've read everything by SA Cosby except Blacktop Wasteland, and it's on my list. I love the way he writes. The structure always feels like a crime noir novel, and his description of people and places is amazing. He's A master storyteller.
Throughly enjoyed your reviews! I read Love by Toni Morrison years ago and still think about it to this day. I’ll have to read Sula soon. Thanks for the recommendation!
I loved blacktop wasteland too! luckily, S A Cosby has a number of novels out! All Sinners Bleed was his most recent release (2023) and I gave it 5 stars! His stuff is so good. Great video and reviews!
Loved your review on S A Cosby. I first heard of this author from President Obama as he is one of his favorites. Your review has peaked my interest...will definitely check it out!
I finally read first lie wins after seeing your book haul. I was just as intrigued as you. Were it not for a buddy reader, I would have finished in a few hours. It really was a good book.
You absolutely MUST read Razorblade Tears by S A Cosby. I read it probably a year and a half ago and still think about those characters. It’s probably one of my most recommended books ever.
I love the reviews you have for these books, really made me want to pick them up. Glad you had such a great experience with the ones you recently read. The review on the S.A. Cosby book has such a great perspective, I have had 2 of their other books on my radar recently and I definitely want to pick up one of the three thanks to your review. I heard Razorblade Tears will really bring out the emotions and All the Sinners Bleed was one of the top books from 2023.
You definitely sold me on Blacktop Wasteland, I would love to read that. I also picked up Sula at a used bookstore and just haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I so agree with you about the style of how some books are written - it can be dense or feel of a different time, and can make it really hard to get through. But those are also the books that often end up being SO incredible you never forget them! That's some of the best feelings you can get from reading, in my opinion :) Can't wait to read both, thank you for sharing!
SA Cosby is incredible. I have yet to read Blacktop, but Razorblade Tears was one of my favorite reads of 2022. You talking about Blacktop just bumped it to the top of my list. Stay awesome man!
My absolute favourite books are: The master and Margarita, Lord of the Flies and The picture of Dorian Gray 😊 You could try one of them. The Master and Margarita was banned, burned and the author wrote it again. Epic story
im so glad i found your channel! we absolutely need more diversity in the booktok/tube community online because every perspective is so valuable. im definitely putting cosby on the list. id love to hear some james baldwin reviews! please keep it up!
Once I heard the intro I knew it was about Sula. I tried to read it a few years ago and ended up dnfing. Toni Morrison is an incredible writer though. I read the bluest eye last year and was shook.
I just read Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby and it left me wanting to read everything else he’s written! Similar with Toni Morrison, I recently read her short story called Recitatif and it made me want to read all her books. Blacktop Wasteland is definitely on my list, The Bluest Eye is the next Morrison I’m gonna read but Sula sounds really good, adding that to my list. Great video, thank you!
Came across your channel today and instantly subscribed after watching your mini book haul. I love your vibe and the way you talk about books. It’s really dope to see guys especially getting into reading and openly talking about it. I definitely put all your books down on my GoodReads that I hadn’t read yet. Book recommendation for you would definitely have to be The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It’s really well written, emotional. The narrator of the story is essentially death/ the grim reaper, (and you’ll see why), it was really really cool getting to read from death / the grim reaper’s perspective. Not only does the narrator tell you the story, but they talk directly to you as the reader too, which is really cool to experience if you ask me. Another recommendation is The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. It’s a shorter poetry book but the poems are powerful, really emotional and thought provoking. If you read it along with the audiobook, the author narrates it! I think you’d really enjoy the poetry in there. Definitely check them out, hopefully I can see you talk about it in your future videos! Sending you good vibes!
S.A. Cosby is an incredible storyteller. I highly recommend his books Razorblade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed. I think I will add First Lie Wins to my 2024 TBR. Thank you for the recommendations!
Yes, he is an absolute beast of a storyteller. I’ve seen those books and will surely be adding ‘em to my 2024 TBR. No problem at all, thanks for watching!
I really want to get to Sula this month. Last year I listened to The Bluest Eye by her and Razorblade Tears by SA Crosby which was one of my favorite books last year. I just listened to The Fire Next Time by James Baldwn. Amazing (and disappointing) how relevant it still is today. Glad I read it and would recommend. I'm enjoying your channel and glad you are here.
Im so happy you loved Blacktop Wasteland!! I think you’d love all of S.A. Crosby’s other books honestly. You mentioned wanting to read more black authors so I’m sharing a few of my other favs (on top of S.A. Crosby of course). Kiley Reid, Alyssa Cole, N.K. Jemison.
Awww, I hope books help you learn to cry. There is so much strength in crying. Any man on the street can be too hard to cry. But to let a tear fall, to give yourself the release your body craves? That some real man shit! Here is some advice you didnt ask for: Do you want to be like the men who told you not to cry, are they aspiration worthy? Or do you want to be your own man who feels what he needs to feel, even when it’s hard and overwhelming? You come out a better person when you feel what you need to feel. And books are such an amazing way to practice this. You will be a better partner, lover, friend, family member when you let yourself be who you need to be. I hope by the time I’m through all your videos you will have more comfort with feelings. I work for a crisis hotline and young black men are killing themselves because they can’t cry. So I’ll always butt in where I don’t belong in this topic. All said with love and support. ❤
Love a good book review! Also, I think my (college) students would love your content. Getting right to it, the Elston title sounds good enough for me to request a purchase of it for my library's collection. So, I appreciate your review on that 🫡 I tried reading Sula once and then I had to read it over again. Man, that was almost 20 years ago, five 😂 idk 🤷🏾♀️ I might have to give it another shot. Haven't read Blacktop Wasteland, but it's on my list. I read All the Sinners Bleed, last year and purchased my own copy. Wonderful story and I connected to it, because Virginia has a special place in my heart. I definitely recommend it. Another black title I recommend is Behind Her Lives, by Briana Cole. I think it might be one of those you don't want to put down. It has some red herrings and good twists. 5 stars 🌟 I also recommend, The Violin Conspiracy, by Brendan Slocumb. It's another black title that I highly recommend. Fantastic story of a black, male violinist who came from humble beginnings. His instrument disappears and a wild tale unfolds. 5 stars 🌟 Bonus recommendation, is The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides. Literally everybody's favorite suspense novel from a few years ago. 5 stars 🌟
It's so refreshing to see a Booktuber who enjoys a wide variety of books just like I do! Also YASSS for book reviews out in nature 😊 If you're taking suggestions (cheeky, I know) I would love to hear some of your thoughts on American literature. I haven't read much beyond The Great Gatsby and a little bit of Steinbeck and would love some ideas.
Your channel is going to blow up for sure! You are a natural at this and so down to earth! I would love to see a review on dark matter by Blake crouch if you haven’t read it yet. It’s mind blowing! Try to go into it blind if possible
I love “Blacktop Wasteland,” it’s one of my favorite books by SA Cosby. You should read “Razorblade Tears” also. It’s even better than Blacktop imo. I also think you might like the IQ series by Joe Ide. Those books follow a young Black man who solves mysteries in his community. It has the same fast-paced gritty cinematic feel as books by S/A Cosby
I own Razorblade Tears by S A Cosby but haven’t read it yet. A few books I’ve read over the past year that you may enjoy are As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, and to bring you back to your scholastic book fair days, there are some awesome middle grade fiction titles. Two of my favorites from the past year or so are The Probability of Everything and The Last Cuentista. All four of these suggestions gave me a lot to think about which seems to be what you enjoy!
I feel you on Cosby definitely super good! Somebody already recommended Beloved by Morrison, and, since you mentioned being open to horror I will second Beloved. It's a haunting at its realest. I'd love to hear your take on it. It's challenging too but worth it, and, partially based on a true event. ✨
Crosby made me cry when i read Razorblade Tears. His writing is so good, though his stories aren't what i normally gravitate towards. Maybe I'll check out Blacktop Wasteland, since you recommend it so highly.
Enjoying your content a lot! I was a huge reader in elementary/middle/high school but fell off during college and after. I so happened on a video from Bookish Realm here on YT (Awesome RU-vidr!) and started reading again. I picked up They Called Us Enemy by George Takei - fantastic book! Highly recommend. And I've been getting back in to reading ever since. 😊
What great reviews! I can’t wait to get First Lie Wins. I’ve not heard of this book & you made it sound fantastic! And Blacktop Wasteland is amazing-everything by S.A. Cosby is. Looking forward to more of your videos
your previous video, the book haul one, came up on my recommendations and and I just loved the diversity of genres, so I checked your channel to see your other videos. here I am now subscribed. First Lie Wins was already on my list and I'm so glad so hear you liked it so much, and you just made me add two more books to the list. thank you!
I really enjoyed Blacktop Wasteland! Between that and Razerblade Tears I was stressed lol. Definitely would love to be able to read them again for the 1st time. Great Job on your channel, keep showing up as your authentic self 😊
I have First Lie Wins on my bookshelf and with your review I'm even more excited to read it. Also, may i suggest putting the titles and authors in the description for easy reference. I just subscribed to your channel, can't wait to see more reviews!
Those books all sound like good reads. I’ve heard great things about Cosby. I always highly recommend Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. I think it might be classified a YA, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a quick read, and packs a punch.
All of these books were great in their own way! S.A. Cosby is an excellent writer & I want to read more of his work. I’ll definitely look into that recommendation and give it a read. Thanks!!
Not you posting a book haul & your next video is a review of three of those books! You sir are winning booktube!!! I read Razerblade Tears last October & now need to read the other books my S.A. Cosby!
