Exploring Top Books of Shelfari

One of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, The Known World is a daring and ambitious work by Pulitzer Prize winner Edward P. Jones. The Known World tells the story of Henry Townsend, a black farmer and former slave who falls under the tutelage of William Robbins, the most powerful man in Manchester County, Virginia. Making certain he never circumvents the law, Townsend runs his affairs with unusual... (more)

The Man in My Basement

by Walter Mosley

Hailed as a masterpiece-the finest work yet by an American novelist of the first rank-The Man in My Basement tells the story of Charles Blakey, a young black man who can't find a job, drinks too much, and, worst of all, stands to lose the beautiful home that has belonged to his family for generations. But Charles's fortunes take an odd turn when a stranger offers nearly $50,000 to rent out Charles's basement-and... (more)

On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men Who Sleep with Men

On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men Who Sleep with Men

by J. L. King

Delivering the first frank and thorough investigation of life "on the down low," (the D.L.) J. L. King exposes a closeted culture of sex between black men who lead “straight” lives. The trend is proving to have skyrocketing health consequences for wives and girlfriends unwittingly caught in the double lives of their men: African American women represent 68 percent of new HIV cases, and an alarming one out of 160... (more)

My Fine Lady

by Yolanda Joe

A new novel about a super-talented underdog from the bestselling author of Bebe's By Golly Wow . Imani Holland has talent and hopes but no direction. Her father, who owns a struggling nightclub, sees Imani’s future as a chance to fulfill his own failed dreams. Her boyfriend, Taz, is determined to become a mega-producer, with Imani’s street rapping as his ticket to fame. But Professor Orenthal... (more)

The Future Has a Past: Stories

by J. California Cooper

From the beloved author of Family and A Piece of Mine comes a dazzling new collection of stories featuring ordinary women who discover that love sometimes comes when you least expect it. Vinnie is an overworked and self-sacrificing single mother who gets a second chance at love and independence, in "The Eagle Flies." In "A Shooting Star" a happily married mother of two laments the fate of her beautiful friend... (more)

The Wake of the Wind: A Novel

by J. California Cooper

A dramatic and thought-provoking novel of one family's triumph in the face of the hardships and challenges of the post-Civil War South. The Wake of the Wind , J. California Cooper's third novel, is her most penetrating look yet at the challenges that generations of African Americans have had to overcome in order to carve out a home for themselves and their families. Set in Texas in the waning years of the Civil... (more)

On The Up And Up: A Survival Guide for Women Living with Men on the Down Low

On The Up And Up: A Survival Guide for Women Living with Men on the Down Low

by Brenda Stone Browder, Karen Hunter

Seraph on the Suwanee

by Zora Hurston

This novel of turn-of-the-century white "Florida Crackers" marks a daring departure for the author famous for her complex accounts of black culture and heritage. Full of insights into the nature of love, attraction, faith, and loyalty, Seraph on the Suwanee is the compelling story of two people at once deeply in love and deeply at odds. The heroine, young Arvay Henson, is convinced she will never find true love... (more)

P. G. County

by Connie Briscoe

In the sprawling homes and upscale townhouses of the exclusive, largely African American Prince George’s County, the lives of five women intersect–and the secrets, scandals, loves, and losses that ensue are par for the course where power, beauty, and wealth reside. Barbara is the most influential woman in this swanky neighborhood, but she’s got her hands full–one hand is busy dealing with her husband’s... (more)

Shelfari Book Activity

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The Known World

by Edward P. Jones

The Man in My Basement

by Walter Mosley

On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men Who Sleep with Men

by J. L. King

My Fine Lady

by Yolanda Joe

The Future Has a Past: Stories

by J. California Cooper

The Wake of the Wind: A Novel

by J. California Cooper

On The Up And Up: A Survival Guide for Women Living with Men on the Down Low

by Brenda Stone Browder, Karen Hunter

Seraph on the Suwanee

by Zora Hurston

P. G. County

by Connie Briscoe