February is Black History month! But, that doesn't mean we should only read books by Black writers just in February. I am suggesting that if you don't already read books by Black writers, then it's time to add more books with these types of voices and experiences to your future reading lists.
I am currently reading a mix of mystery books this month. They are all cozy mystery books written by African American women. The point of a cozy mystery is that you get to sit back while the main character, who is a very likable person, interacts with all her friends and tries to solve the mystery. The books never go into the horrible details of the crime. But in the end, we do get to know who committed the crime and why they did it.
These books teach us about the different experiences of Black people. Even though all the authors are Black, the stories they write are very diverse. These women come from various walks of life, and you can see that in each book.
If you want to start reading these kinds of books, below are some suggestions to get you going.
A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley
A woman, who lost her husband, is a real estate agent and baker in New Jersey. She has new psychic abilities that help her sense things others can't. One day, something bad happens - her boss gets murdered at work. The story is about how she uses this sixth sense to solve the mystery and uncover the truth. Get ready for a mix of baking, real estate, and detective work!
Level: B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely
Blanche works as a housekeeper in North Carolina, a southern state in America. When her boss leaves town without paying her, she writes a bad check. Then, a judge wants to send her to jail. Instead of going to jail, Blanche runs away. She finds a job with a rich family. She works for them and hides from her legal problems. But things get even more complicated when three people connected to this family are murdered.
Level: B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon
A classical musician becomes a teacher at an all-boys school in Ireland. She tries to prove that her favorite dead composers is innocent. This is a composer who was accused of killing his wife, and then himself. Everyone in the town thinks he is guilty. Except for her! Her investigation is helped along the way by his ghost, who is haunting her small cottage where she is staying.
Level: B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Body and Soul Food by Abby Collette
Two adopted twins, separated at the age of 2-years-old, find each other again as adults. They decide to open a bookstore and cafe together in Seattle, Washington. However, things get really bad when one of their friends is murdered on a train. The police think that they are guilty and they have to work together to clear their name.
Level: B2 (Upper Intermediate)
The characters in these stories have different ways of talking based on where they live in their communities. You'll hear various accents. In "Body and Soul Food," there's a Pacific Northwest American accent. In "A Glimmer of Death," you get more of a New Jersey/New York accent. The characters in "Blanche on the Lam" have a slower speed southern accent. In "Murder in G Major," there's a mix of Irish and American English accents. I even listened to the audiobook and loved how the narrator switched between the two.Â
I really enjoy reading, and I'm excited to share that I'm going to start a micro book club this spring. It's a club where we read in a way that will make the best use of your time and energy as you practice English. If you want to get better at speaking, understanding new words, and saying them right, you can join my telegram channel. In this channel, I'll tell you more about microlearning and keep you updated on how to sign up for the book club. It's going to be awesome!Â
Happy reading!
Check out the video version here:
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