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Friday, March 29, 2024

Planning ahead with our summer book list

CSMS Magazine Staff Writers

Reading is one of the best creative forms of entertainment. It enriches someone’s self esteem, builds self-confidence and truly instills the intellectual ability to sound intelligible with ease. Avid readers, such as the CSMS Magazine loyal readers, do understand the magic of reading, which is the most important of the four skills of integration. Knowledge is power, and it can only be achieved through the magic of reading. There are so many books out there to read, one wonders if he is ever going to be able to read them all. Just like in music, there is a multitude of genres in literature.

            No one can fall in love with all forms of literature. That is why we always encourage our readers to choose their niche and stick to it. The more one likes what he reads, the more he becomes a better reader. Reading MUST be an enjoyable adventure. That is why, every summer, we put out a book list that we recommend our readers to put in their summer shopping baskets.

            Since our staff writer, Gyna Jean-Pierre, published her article about planning ahead for this upcoming summer last week, there has been a surge in solicitations for our regular summer list. Usually, we publish the list towards the beginning of summer when spring is being slowly replaced by the hectic charm and hazy atmosphere of summer—when the flower gardens have already been fully grown, when the lawn is exotically green again and when the self-satisfaction can only be compensated through the reading of a very interesting and inspiring book right on the back porch overlooking the exotic garden.

            So, the following list is a recommended summer reading chosen by our Book Review committee in collaboration with the CSMS Magazine Book Club.

  1. 1.      Wandering Star, a novel by Nobel Prize winner J.M.G. Le Clézio translated from French into English by C. Dickson. This book is a moving story of human misery written through the prism of war, refugees in the pursuit of infinite salvation. Published by Connecticut based Curbstone Press. 
  2. 2.      Brother, I’m Dying, a new memoir by Edwige Danticat. One that must not be missed.  Read our interview with Edwige in our Poetry and Literature section for more info regarding Brother.  
  3. 3.      Masters of The Dew, an old classic by Jacques Roumain who is perhaps the 20th century most brilliant and intriguing writer.  
  4. 4.      General Sun, My Brother, another classic and truly gut wrenching by Jacques Stephen Alexis, Haiti’s Romanesque and revolutionary writer gone too soon, assassinated by the Creole fascists of Duvalier in the Fall of 1961.  
  5. 5.      Alicia Maldonado: A Mother Lost, a novel by Ardain Isma. This book continues to be a must read. It has been rated five stars on Amazon and on Barnes and Noble websites.  
  6. 6.      Gringolandia, an impressive novel by Lyn Miller-Lachmann. This book touches a very difficult subject—the subject of living under brutal dictatorship (Augusto Pinochet of Chile) and inevitable remembrance; the scars of torture and the daily consequences of its aftermath. Published by Connecticut based Curbstone Press.  
  7. 7.      One Hundred Years of Solitude, a classic by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  
  8. 8.      Any Small Goodness, a teenage novel by Tony Johnson. Published by Hampton Brown Publishing.  
  9. 9.      Julie of the Wolves, a teenage novel by Jean Craig Head. Published by Hampton Brown. 

10.  Bagdad, Mon Amour, a collection of poetry by Salah Al Hamdai, an Iraqi poet who lives in Paris. Published by Curstone Press. 

11.  Margerita, How Beautiful the Sea, an impressive novel written by Sergio Ramirez. This book gives one a real glimpse of Central American literary landscape. 

New in French 

  1. Critique de la Francophonie, a thesis by Tontongi tackling the pertinent Creole/French debate. This book is available On Amazon.
  2. 2.      Une Jour Tes Pantoufles, a beautiful collection of poetry by Jeanie Bogart. Available on Amazon.  

Note: The first four books can also be purchased in French, for those of you who are more fluent in French. 

Also see Wayne Karlin is back in Marble Mountain: a book review 

My Daughter’s Eyes: An interesting book to read`

Heaven of Drums: A book that brings to light African presence in Argentina’s history

Jimmy Carter is under fire 

Closed For Repairs: a book that offers a glimpse of life in urban Cuba

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