Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America; Essays | 
It‘s been ages since I did one of these.
1. HERE FOR IT by R. Eric Thomas
2. A GAME FOR SWALLOWS by Zeina Abirached
3. RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER by Sarah Polley
I was gonna do honourable mentions but there‘s like six books I could probably switch out with any of the three listed above, not even counting conversational cookbooks, soooo… 🤷♀️
#ThreeListThursday #TLT
pickThomas talks about growing up in Baltimore, finding himself in college, and trying to find his way as a Black, gay man. Very funny and touching.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This had me crying and laughing in the car! Overall, it was a delight. R. Eric Thomas turns even his darkest moments into reasons to laugh and seek joy. "Here For It" is a celebration of life and living authentically. He writes about family, struggling with faith, not fitting in, coming out, becoming a writer, making mistakes, falling in and out of love, and remaining hopeful during dark times. I highly recommend the audiobook!!
^^P232 “so much to dance about”
Pxvii “Every story, whether truth or fiction, is an invitation to imagination, but even more so, it‘s an invitation to empathy. The storyteller says ‘I am here. Does it matter?‘”
P11 “The comedic surprise I‘m always trying to get to in the column is hope.”
Dystopia trend, appeal of apocalypse: p219 “How are we supposed to tell the people we love that we love them if we‘re not five minutes from being destroyed?”
pickSmart, hilarious, sometimes a little too cute observations on “how to save your soul in America” from R Eric Thomas‘s gay, Black, funny-as-hell perspective. Coming of age, coming out, family, faith, pop culture, Pride parade, all things Whitney, identity, queer iconography, work, Black History Month, love. References from “A Raisin in the Sun” to Mr. Rogers‘ opera. P60 “A little Malcolm X-y, a little Music Man-y. What more could you want?” 🤣 2020
pickConfetti for my first finished book of 2023! 🎉 This is a very hilarious collection of essays. If you need a good laugh, I‘d recommend!
pickLoved this! Had heard good things about it from so many corners of the bookish internet but had somehow forgotten that Thomas was the guy behind the Black History Month satirical piece that caused such a stir years ago! (Link to an interview that includes that backstory in comment below.) So that was a fun surprise as I listened. Loved how he wrote about race, identity, sexuality, Christianity, and more. (LOL-inducing on audio!)
Today in the lead-up to Gay May we have a non-exhaustive selection of nonfiction I‘ve loved and would recommend to anyone among you who wants to join me in reading all (or mostly, or more) queer books next month.
The tagged book is THE FUNNIEST THING EVER HOLY CRAP. The rest are as highlighted in the comments. #gaymay
#Booked2022 - Winter
I submitted my form, but am just now getting around to posting my reads!
1. Here For It! covered many themes, but one that kept repeating was his grappling and coming to terms with the intersections between his religion and his identity as a gay man.
2. Dead Dead Girls
3. Land of Big Numbers
4. The Annual Migration of Clouds
5. I bought two different titles to choose from, and haven't had a chance to read either. 👇
#GIVEAWAY Open to US #NYWD22 participants only!
To show my appreciation for your continued support of #NewYearWhoDis, I‘ll be hosting a giveaway for those who took part this year. 🎉
You‘ll win 1 book of your choice from a smaller, curated selection of my favorite reads from 2021. Be sure your posts are tagged #NYWD22 & @monalyisha — I‘ll be re-reading your posts & choosing the one that earns the biggest smile. Totally subjective, I know. 😉
pickDelightful. Joyful and sad, full of both fun, light frivolity, and deep, thoughtful ruminations on politics, social justice, and religion. Feels like one of those nights sitting with your closest friends talking about absolutely everything until the wee hours and the bottom of the wine bottle/tea pot/coffee pot/bag of chips/all of the above (whatever your indulgence of choice!)
Thank you @monalyisha for putting this one on my reading list #NYWD22
"The feeling of being alone, I've found, is the poison that has no taste. It seeps in slowly and easily; it never seems unusual. Isolation presents as an undesired state but nothing serious, nothing permanent, until the lonely nights become lonely months. Community goes from being a distant goal to a forgotten idea."
#NYWD22 @monalyisha
Anyone who drops a Clue reference into a chapter heading is my kinda person. Loving this #NewYearWhoDis pick so far @monalyisha The blend of laugh out loud humour, thought provoking commentary, and heartbreaking moments (I've already cried once) is beautiful and perfect. I want him to be my friend.
Next up! One for #NewYearWhoDis, and my hold on What Strange Paradise finally came in and there's a long hold list so it's gone straight to the top of my pile!
@monalyisha they match! Though at this point it may be the champagne talking 😂
Thank you @monalyisha for all the fabulous goodies! My stepdaughter read the letter you sent as I opened up your gifts and then stole the picture of Moxie. I‘m going to trust you on the white chocolate because I feel the same about it. The soap smells delicious, but I haven‘t opened the body butter however I love juniper. And that bookmark is gorgeous! I‘m super excited about both of the books! Thank you! #bestof2021
pickI really enjoyed and had fun with this collection of essays, which ranged in topics from faith, coming out, discovering oneself, suicide, love, and disappointment. R. Eric Thomas was entertaining, funny, thoughtful, and seemingly genuine about his strengths, flaws, and character.
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a fun, but somewhat uneven, collection of essays and stories. His perspective as a Black, gay, Christian man is unique, and the essays are pleasant and entertaining enough, but many of his insights felt familiar (I‘ve felt the same way or read other pieces with similar sentiments), and I‘m guessing they won‘t stay with me. I think I expected more from a book with the tagline, “How to save your soul in America.” 🤷♀️
Honestly, I felt my heart rate slow down just taking this quiz. I desperately want to know what you all would get. 💕
https://bookriot.com/this-soothing-quiz-will-tell-you-what-feel-good-book-to-rea... #BookRiotQuiz #WhatToReadNext #QuizRecommendations
pickA glorious mish-mash that recognizes political realities & pop culture frivolities and gives them nearly equal weight. Because, as Thomas says, “It‘s important to revel in the small things that make us joyful, to indulge when possible and not problematic, to steal laughter and hoard it.”
These essays are full of so many of my favorite things! R. Eric will help you work through sad truths & shamelessly hoard your laughter.
If you‘re wondering if I‘m eating Nutella at this exact moment: I am.
“Literally every word that everyone says in Church is a very compelling story that frequently involves both scandal and magic.”
pickThomas is a black gay christian, and it took him awhile to settle into what that looks like for him. The stories span his awkward coming of age, the mess of young adulthood, and into impending middle age with humor. He has a love for pop culture, Whitney Houston, food, and party overplanning that will win you over. The writing is pee-your-pants hysterical and I just love him so much. Perfect on audio!
pickAudio gaming to finish this book off. I enjoyed listening to this memoir. I didn‘t know who he was, this book was my February or March horoscope read and that‘s why I looked it up. A lot of parts made me laugh out loud and some were okay. Listening to R. Eric read was the best part, he‘s delightful to listen to
pickFunny, insightful and illuminating. Really enjoyed this book. Books that explore growing up in the church and growing up gay are on my TBR this year. Added to that, this one is about growing up in the black church. And then experiences of different church experiences from then on, including a particularly hilarious Easter egg hunt story. I haven‘t been reading all that much non fiction but did enjoy this one. My first book of 2021. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It‘s been a real long time since I posted, but I‘ve been reading! And some books I‘ve really loved too. Bulk posting coming up ❤️
The photo that started it all
pickI started this ages ago and finally finished it. I liked most of it and it‘s definitely a pick. I would however skip the epilogue personally.
pickI enjoyed this on audio. Very funny but also deeply introspective look into R Eric Thomas and his struggles with his intersectional identity. I recommend!
pickNot the most enthusiastic🤘🏽but 🤘🏽nonetheless. Quick memoir abt growing up, learning abt racial matters, being gay, and Whitney Houston. This wasn‘t his funniest work but it was a solid short read. Also, cute cover 💗
#BlackAuthors #LGBTQ #2021
Stats time! I read way fewer comics and way more audiobooks than usual, thanks to how the pandemic affected my library usage. In a typical year, I get most of my comics from random shelf-browsing. This year, I could only get what I knew to request.
Also of note: I flew right on past my TBR reduction goal. Whee! The end is in sight!
pickI found Here for It to be both touching and funny. I especially loved the part where he talks about the place repeated stories have in families. Thanks @britt_brooke ! I started Tim Curry‘s version of A Christmas Carol as my walking book. Driving home from swimming, I saw a rainbow — apparently it rained while I was in the pool. I walked before I swam, and it did look like there was a possibility it might rain, so I‘m not surprised. #audiowalk
Pretty sure I‘ve had this on hold since the pandemic started. 😂 glad to finally get it.
so-soThis one started off strong, with Thomas detailing his childhood and his relationship with his parents. But as the book kept on, it just didn‘t keep up its initial momentum. I didn‘t dislike it, but I also know it won‘t stick with me. That said, I think Thomas has a great voice and I look forward to hearing more from him.
@britt_brooke posted about this and it looked like fun. My library had it, so now it‘s tonight‘s reading.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ These essays are just delightful! Writer, and pop culture expert, R Eric Thomas speaks candidly about being a gay black man and the many intersections of his life. He‘s married to a white minister! You want to hear these stories. The religious aspect especially. Thomas is a very thoughtful, funny storyteller. Just what I needed!
pickAudiobooks are not my preferred format, but this was my second one to start out the month! I'm not sure how this showed up on my radar, but it was pretty funny... definitely good as a background listen.
#TeamReadNosedReindeer @StayCurious
pickLoved this book! Listening to Eric read it himself was super entertaining and enjoyable. He is so funny and genuine.
so-soThis book is salmon. Other people love it, but it‘s just not my taste. I picked it up and put it down 4 times over 3 months, which isn‘t a good sign with me.
I don‘t read internet columns often, so this is my first exposure to his humor and we just didn‘t jive. I lost interest, especially during the lost years of his 20s. I feel that he tried to bring in too many themes plus it was a memoir of his entire first 38 years. It ended strong though.
pickIs their a rating beyond pick? Like pick plus? Because that‘s where this book belongs. I totally want to hang with R Eric Thomas after reading this memoir in essays that is by turns heartfelt and hilarious. What a wonderful black, gay human he is and what a fabulous book he has written!
This book is hilarious yet introspective.
bailedPutting this humorous essay collection in #hibernation because...tbh, Dad‘s roommate tested positive for Covid. Dad did not test positive. He‘s still coming home tomorrow, but as a precaution, we‘re all quarantining until October. At this point, I don‘t feel like laughing, and I want to give this collection a fair chance. Sigh.
Such a busy day today as we prepared for Dad to return home, but I‘m glad it‘s happening. 🥳🥳 So I put on my new purple socks, and I‘m going to read until bed (except for folding laundry 😜).
Does anyone else‘s laundry pile never go away?? 🤣
pickI was not already familiar with Thomas‘s work and what he was famous for writing. He was Witty and quick. His main topic areas weren‘t really made for me but I liked the writing style and voice.
This time I preordered my prizes for @Andrew65 ‘s readathon, so I was able to get this nice shot at sunset. 📚💖
Look at the perfectly still bunny by the bench! My yard is kind of like the book now that I don‘t have a dog. @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB 🐰🐰
