top of page
A New York Tate of Mind
A New York Tate of Mind
In which this reader and explorer reviews books, muses on literary (and other) matters, and shares some of her adventures.
Home: Welcome
My 1-5 rating system:
1 = I did not like it and would not recommend it.
2= It was fine. Read it if the subject matter interests you.
3 = I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
4 = I really liked it, and think you should read it!
5 = One of the best books I've read.
Search
Review: Conjure Women
3/5 stars Conjure Women, by Afia Atakora (2020) An impressive debut of historical fiction, the book is set on a large plantation in the...
tatedecaro
Oct 12, 20212 min read
73 views
0 comments
The Book Thieves 2022 Line-Up
My book club, The Book Thieves, met last night to choose all of our books for 2022, and I'm excited to share the list! If anyone is...
tatedecaro
Oct 8, 20214 min read
57 views
0 comments
Review: Nights When Nothing Happened
3/5 stars Nights When Nothing Happened, by Simon Han (2020) This book is a slow, ponderous burn. I found myself feeling distracted at...
tatedecaro
Sep 3, 20212 min read
39 views
0 comments
Review: Brown Girl Dreaming
4/5 stars Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson (2014) Earlier this year I read Woodson's 2020 novel Red at the Bone (click to read...
tatedecaro
Aug 27, 20212 min read
48 views
0 comments
Review: Prison Diary of Ho Chi Minh
3/5 stars The Prison Diary of Ho Chi Minh, by Ho Chi Minh (1943) Translated from the Vietnamese by Aileen Palmer My mom is going through...
tatedecaro
Aug 20, 20212 min read
1,048 views
0 comments
Review: Long Division
2/5 stars Long Division, by Kiese Laymon (2013) This one's a thinker. The book is two separate but very intertwined stories. One starts...
tatedecaro
Aug 6, 20212 min read
38 views
0 comments
Review: Love in Color: Mythical Tales
2/5 stars Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold, by Bolu Babalola A collection of folktales retold with a modern...
tatedecaro
Jul 15, 20212 min read
25 views
0 comments
Review: Home Fire
4/5 stars Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie (2017) To say this book is based loosely on the Sophocles play Antigone makes it sound loftier...
tatedecaro
Jun 2, 20212 min read
202 views
0 comments
Review: Homegoing / Transcendent Kingdom
3-5/5 stars - Homegoing (2016) & Transcendent Kingdom (2020), by Yaa Gyasi I just finished reading Transcendent Kingdom, and realized...
tatedecaro
May 25, 20212 min read
37 views
0 comments
Review: Red at the Bone
4/5 stars Red at the Bone, by Jacqueline Woodson (2019) Sometimes it seems much more challenging to write a review of a book I loved than...
tatedecaro
May 13, 20212 min read
43 views
0 comments
Review: Such a Fun Age
2/5 stars Such a Fun Age, by Kiley Reid (2019) This is a tough one to review. I think the premise is interesting and important......
tatedecaro
Apr 21, 20212 min read
30 views
0 comments
Review: Gods of Jade & Shadow
2/5 stars Gods of Jade and Shadow, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2019) This book is set in the 1920's in Mexico, but mostly it draws on...
tatedecaro
Apr 8, 20212 min read
30 views
0 comments
Review: Out of Darkness, Shining Light
2/5 stars Out of Darkness, Shining Light, by Petina Gappah (2019) This is a book of historical fiction that tells the story of the people...
tatedecaro
Mar 23, 20212 min read
21 views
0 comments
Review: Parable of the Sower / Talents
3/5 stars Parable of the Sower (1993) & Parable of the Talents (1998), by Octavia Butler Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought....
tatedecaro
Feb 19, 20214 min read
209 views
0 comments
Review: Raybearer
4/5 stars Raybearer, by Jordan Ifueko (2020) "In the global empire of Aritsar, love-starved Tarisai is compelled by her mother to join...
tatedecaro
Jan 23, 20212 min read
49 views
0 comments
Review: Empire of Wild
4/5 stars Empire of Wild, by Cherie Dimaline (2019) This is a really fun and unique YA fantasy/thriller... A fairytale-like story from a...
tatedecaro
Jan 12, 20212 min read
29 views
0 comments
Review: Luster
4/5 stars Luster, by Raven Leilani (2020) This book was beautifully written, with a splash of dark humor, but also so hard to read. It's...
tatedecaro
Dec 30, 20202 min read
31 views
0 comments
Review: The Death of Vivek Oji
4/5 stars The Death of Vivek Oji, by Akwaeke Emezi (2020) The Death of Vivek Oji is heartbreaking, but so beautiful. This book was tough...
tatedecaro
Dec 17, 20202 min read
38 views
0 comments
Review: 12 Years a Slave
3/5 stars Twelve Years a Slave, by Solomon Northup (1853) This is the true story of one man's experience of slavery in the South, as a...
tatedecaro
Nov 17, 20202 min read
24 views
0 comments
Review: The Nickel Boys
4/5 stars The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead (2019) Tough read, but worthwhile. This is a sad story, but so well written. It is based...
tatedecaro
Nov 12, 20202 min read
30 views
1 comment
Home: Contact
Home: Subscribe
bottom of page