May Book Selection - Just Wanna Testify by Pearl Cleage

May's book selection is Just Wanna Testify by Pearl Cleage and the discussion will be hosted by Monique.


Book summary:
Familiar faces and places meet fresh twists and turns in this enthralling novel from acclaimed author Pearl Cleage.

Atlanta's West End district has always been a haven and home to a coterie of unique characters -- artists and thinkers, dreamers and doers. Folks here know one another's names, keep their doors unlocked, and look out for their neighbors. Anyone planning to sell drugs, vandalize, or rob a little old lady should think twice before hitting this part of town. And Blue Hamilton, West End's unofficial mayor and longtime protector, will see to it that you do. Blue wears many hats here, including adored husband to Regina, dear nephew to Abbey, and doting father to Sweetie and another little one on the way.

Blue is also the man you pay your respects to if you're looking to set up shop in this urban enclave -- just ask Serena Mayflower, whom Blue sees striding down Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard wearing skin-tight black leather pants, thigh-high boots, and bright red lipstick. This tall, slender, ethereally beautiful woman and her four equally striking sisters make up the Too Fine Five, a quintet of international supermodels who have arrived in town for an Essence magazine photo shoot.

But Blue's gut tells him that there's more to these Mayflower mademoiselles than their affection for full moons and Bloody Marys. With the help of his beloved Regina and their close friends and relations in West End, Blue vows to uncover the women's secret intentions -- and prove once and for all that there is no greater force on earth than the power of love.

A mesmerizing slice of not-so-everyday life, brimming with wicked wit and spiced with a few supernatural surprises, Just Wanna Testify showcases Pearl Cleage's masterly storytelling at its soulful and satisfying finest.

Discussion Questions for "Unzipped"

Here are the the discussion questions for "Unzipped", the February book selection. Be prepared to discuss them!

1. Did you like the book? If not, why?
2. Did the book fulfill your expectations?
3. What did you think about the plot?
4. What did you think about the characters?
5. Did the book end the way you thought it would?
6. Was it an easy read?  Did it take you long to get into the book?
7. Where there any characters in this book that you can identify with?
8. Are they any characters that remind you of people you may know?

February Book Selection - Unzipped by Noire

This month's selection is Unzipped by Noire and the discussion will be hosted by Dana.

Book summary

Have you ever had everything you love snatched from your hands in the blink of an eye? Do you know what it’s like to watch helplessly as those you cherish burn to a crisp? Have you ever heard a mournful cry for street justice and then realized that the only person left to heed the call was you?

Pearl Baines is a straight Harlem stunna. She and her twin sister, Diamond, are chased by some of the most notorious ballers in New York City. But while their father, ex-gangsta Irish Baines, devotes his life to rehabilitating young thugs, his sexy twin daughters fall hard for the glamour and glitter of strip clubs and street life. Unlike Diamond, though, Pearl is able to shake off the trappings of the hood in search of a better future. After graduating at the top of her class, Pearl becomes an FBI agent and plans to get as far away from the grime of Harlem as possible. But fate is cruel and the streets always get their due. On what should have been the happiest night of her life, Pearl’s family perishes in a ball of merciless flames—flames intentionally set on the orders of Mookie Mason, her father’s archenemy and the most ruthless gangsta in Harlem.

Crazed with grief, Pearl becomes unzipped. Hell-bent on retribution, she prepares for battle in New York’s urban jungle. With the help of Menace, an ex-lover who once trampled all over her heart but was deeply loyal to Irish Baines, Pearl puts her FBI training and tactical skills to work in a murderous mission designed to do what her father wasn’t able to: take down Mookie Mason, and his entire crew, one at a time.  

About the author

Noire is an author from the streets of New York whose hip-hop erotic stories pulsate with urban flavor. Visit the author’s website atwww.asknoire.com or e-mail the author at noire@asknoire.com.

Welcome!

Welcome to the homepage for Mocha Sistahs Read  Book Club. This site will host all of our upcoming and current book club selections, dates for discussions and other information. Stay tuned for more announcements. If you are interested in joining our online bookclub, please email mochasistahsread@gmail.com and the club leader will contact you.