Colored Television | 
pickThis novel follows a couple, a painter and a writer, with two kids trying to pursue their creative endeavors in Los Angeles. Jane has spent 10 years writing a massive follow up to her first novel but things are not going to plan. Their life is spiraling out of control and desperation drives her to make some terrible decisions. The humor is dark, the issues surrounding race and class are interesting, and the characters are a hot mess.
pickGet outside and be with nature! How to review a book that is outside “my” experience? Yet quite relatable what with career goal challenges, sense of self against expectations of culture, marriage + family dynamic balance quests? I was often in-wrestle with the turmoil going on and hoping for a win for Jane, mother and author, hoping to achieve her dreams. I appreciate the ending and give this a strong pick; a #notfittingin book.
#Dec2024 Book116
pickA humorous novel about writing, race, trying to live above one's means with a protagonist, Jane, who makes poor choices so has to continually lie about them. Though the characters are not likable, there is likely something everyone can relate to - fear of homelessness, moving around frequently, art, teaching, parenting, raising neurodiverse kids, rejection.
My library copy of the book set in front of the color television 📺! Starting now, plane ✈️ take off is 7am so early to sleep and up at 🕓 4 a.m.
pick#ToB25
I have mixed feelings about it this book. I felt a bit irritated by all the stupid decisions Jane makes, one after the other to be successful as a mulatto author in Hollywood, leaving behind so much chaos and damage. I can‘t however pinpoint the moment when I became totally absorbed by the story and finished it in one go. So I must rate it a pick, a light one though!
Repost for @BarbaraBB
#TOBwaiting
In a recent post of @BkClubCare we‘ve been guessing about the ToB longlist, which will be published sometime in November. I thought why not make the most of our anticipation and share the six books we hope to see on that longlist?
It‘ll definitely give us some inspiration for books to check out - whether they make the longlist or not.
These are mine, I hope you‘ll share yours!
bailedI DNF‘d about a third of the way through. I just struggled to relate to or care about any of the characters.
pickJane is a writer on sabbatical who makes relentlessly terrible choices in this entertaining look at race, identity, parenthood, career.
📬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐥 📺
I'm back at home in Lodi, CA, after spending 4 glorious weeks on the beautiful island of Maui. 🌴🌺 I've jumped right back into normal life, but enjoyed perusing books that arrived during my absence, including 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 by 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚. It's the Sept. selection of the 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛. I'm anxious to delve into this “cultural comedy“ that is a GMA Book Club pick.
pickA mulatto (her word) woman is a writer, professor, wife, mother, and feels a bit like she‘s failing at all of it. Overly the course of this sharply funny novel, we watch her painting herself into a corner in many ways. It‘s an uncomfortable read in a good way and kind of kept me off balance. I really liked it.
A dark comedy about second acts, creative appropriation, and the racial identity–industrial complex.
#aardvarkbookclub #coloredtelevision #danzysenna
My stack from Parnassus yesterday!! I really liked ZZ, too, so I picked up her story collection. The other two were fun finds. Night Guest is horror about chronic illness (too close to home 🤔🫣)!! Penance I‘ve seen around here about #metoo in the restaurant industry. Sounds very Mario Batali.
If you have the chance to see Danzy on book tour, I highly recommend it! Can‘t wait to read Colored Television. Pics of my stack from Parnassus tomorrow. Now sleep!
ZZ Packer is on the right, and I picked up her short story collection, too!
pickPerhaps I should have let this one simmer before attempting to review because I just ended up maybe loving a book in which I was extremely uncomfortable reading for the first few chapters. So, I sidebarred for a couple book reviews and some backstory about the author to become, if not comfortable, then able to grasp the language and settle into this story. It turned out to be very interesting and still unsettling. 👇
A dark comedy about second acts, creative appropriation, and the racial identity–industrial complex. This book is the Sept GMA Book Club pick! 💕
New members in the USA can get this book for only $4 at checkout!
#aardvarkbookclub #gmabookclub
A brilliant dark comedy about love and ambition, failure and reinvention, and the racial-identity-industrial complex from the bestselling author of Caucasia. 🎬 Order a copy today!
#aardvarkbookclub
