Nicholas McCane

I really enjoyed this book. I watched the movie a few years ago, so I was familiar with the plot. The book is better and even scarier. I immersed read with the physical book, dim book light, and audiobook. It took me a few days to read it, only because I would read from 2am to 5am. Had me scared of my imagination, lol, and I freaking loved it.

This is my second read from this author, the other being Incidents Around The House. The way he made me feel like I was also blindfolded was incredible. You have to be a really talented writer to pull that off. I’m definitely planning on reading book two (Malorie).

Welp, Tiffany D. Jackson does it again.

I was about to be so upset with her for this one. About a quarter of the way through, I almost DNF’d it. I felt that what was happening was too unrealistic. But something told me she was just messing with us and to hang in there. And I was so right; she played us again. Just like she did with both “Monday’s Not Coming” and “Allegedly”. This is what she does.

The Scammer is about a freshman girl (Jordyn) who decided to attend an HBCU instead of going to Yale. Once there, one of her dormmates moves her brother in with them. This brother (Devonte) is an ex-convict who manipulates and controls their every move. He reminded me of Korey Fields in one of her other book titled “Grown”. I remember disliking everyone at one point.

After one roommate comes up missing, Jordyn seeks help from the only white student on campus.

This is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I can’t say much without spoiling it, but I was going to give this book about three stars. But the way the author turned it around and put two twists on us at the end elevated it to a five-star, but then the attitude of the MC at the end dropped it back down to a 4.25. I mean, is she a villain or a victim? Tiffany D. Jackson is one of my favorite authors. She is the queen of YA and an evil genius. I highly recommend reading it.

This is not only my first book on witchery, but it’s also my first book by Brom. I was super excited to read this. I immersed read with the hardcover and audiobook.

The setting takes place in New England, Connecticut, during the year 1666. You can tell by those three sixes that this book is about to be on some bullshit, lol. Anyway, people are accusing a recently widowed woman named Abitha of being a witch. That same year, an ancient spirit awakens, and the locals refer to him as Slewfoot, demon, and devil. Together, Abitha and Slewfoot start a battle between good and evil, which threatens to destroy the whole damn village.

This book started out pretty slow, and it has very long chapters. I was also reading three books, so it’s probably my fault. Either way, it took me a while to get through it. But once I got towards the middle, I was hooked.

The artwork is absolutely beautiful. Creepy but beautiful nonetheless. I loved the descriptions and depictions throughout the book. The folklore, the creatures, and the tone and setting were perfect. I loved Abitha and Sampson, who are the protagonists. It was a great revenge story, but I kept thinking, “Should I really be rooting for them”? And I disliked Abitha’s weak-ass husband and hated his brother Wallace, who is the antagonist. I thought the epilogue was unnecessary and felt the ending was fine without it.

There are some very disturbing scenes in this book. But now I am clear on why God flooded this planet in the past. I am all for women’s empowerment, but someone should have nuked this whole place (with her in it).

In case you couldn't tell, I loved it!

First, may the author rest in peace. He passed away in January 2025. Here’s my spoiler-free book review.

This is a haunted house story about a guy named Henry who has created an AI half-formed robot named William. No one knows about William because Henry keeps him locked in the attic. Even his pregnant wife, Lilly is unaware of it. Henry suffers from agoraphobia, which keeps him in the house.

One day (Halloween) Henry introduces William and their smart home to two of Lilly’s co-workers. Things go from strange to worst.

I liked that this was fast-paced and that the chapters were short, but I did not enjoy the book all that much. The plot was nice, but it was something about the execution that bothered me. I got bored about half-way through and stopped caring for the characters. However, I enjoyed the plot twist right at the very end. This was Mason Coile’s first book. I liked his follow-up book “Exiles”. I gave that one five stars.

This book was incredible. I read this book for two reasons. 1. It was my mother’s favorite book (Rest in Peace) and two, I’m a fan of the movie. However, I did not expect what this book offered. This was so much better than the movie. I immersed read with both the physical and audiobook (which I recommend).

This book is told mostly through the letters of the main character, Celie. The Color Purple is about an African American woman living in the early 1900s in the South. She suffered abuse in silence, but ended up reclaiming her voice through healing, love, and self-liberation. It’s about how she bonded with other strong women like her sister Nettie and Shug Avery.

The Color Purple is raw and powerful. I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it. What a beautiful book!

I chose this book after reading Katabasis. This is a short novella (104 pages). This book is about a guy named Soren who dies of cancer. He ends up in hell because he’s Mormon and didn’t choose the “true” religion. What’s the true religion, you may ask. Read the book, and you’ll find out.

This version of Hell features an enormous library containing every book that could ever be written. Each soul has to find one book that exactly records their life on Earth. There are strict rules, which makes this task seem impossible. How long will a task like this take? You’ll have to read it for yourself.

I enjoyed it. What a quick, interesting read!

As I read this memoir, I imagined I was in a better America in the future where our government officials were mature, educated adults. I then imagined reading this history book and being shocked at how politics used to be back in the 21st century.

The fact that this is our current reality is ridiculous, embarrassing, and sad. This book truly moved me. It was well-written, and Kamala Harris did not hold back. Although this is one-sided, I felt like we (she) were the only people with common sense trying to take on a ringmaster who can put on one hell of a performance. OMG, what occurred in those 107 days is an absolute disgrace. No matter your position, we should all agree that the last few decades of politics have been dysfunctional, to say the least. But now, the politicians are even worse.

Memoirs are my favorite genre, so if you’re on the right and think this book was total BS, recommend another memoir about the last presidential race. I’ll read it. This book deserves all the stars.

I jumped into this book not knowing anything about it, and I suggest you do the same. This book took off from the beginning. Then it goes in a completely different direction, which blew my mind. I was on the edge of my seat. This book is about fear and what can happen if you let it control you. The ending wasn’t the best because it left me with questions, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. This was my first book by this author, and I loved it. I will definitely read more of his work. What a unique experience!

I’m a big fan of this author. After reading several of her books, I finally got to read her debut. I really enjoyed this one. There were a few plot flaws, and I really disliked everyone, but I tried to clear my head and just enjoy the book. With that being said, this was a great read. Tiffany D. Jackson really knows how to keep the reader engaged. And I could not figure out who murdered the baby. I read some people didn’t enjoy the ending, however; it worked for me. My feelings immediately after reading it were 5 stars, but after thinking about it more, it’s closer to a 4. I still can’t figure out which character I disliked the most lol.

So far I’ve read:

Allegedly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Monday’s Not Coming: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Weight of Blood: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Grown: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Blood in the Water: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I couple read this with my wife! After hearing so much about this series, I couldn’t wait. “Before I Let Go” was my introduction to romance, and I loved it. With that being said, I couldn’t wait for Soledad’s story.

This book is about how Soledad’s world shatters after being betrayed by her husband (Edward Barnes). Soledad now has to rebuild her life as a mother and a woman who deserves the world.

I enjoyed “Before I Let Go” more than this one, but this was still a great read. The first half grabbed me, but the second half felt a little repetitive. Also, I felt like Judah Cross was too perfect. Josiah Wade from the first book felt more realistic. However, making Judah the father of two autistic sons warmed by heart. I loved that addition to the book.

Kennedy Ryan is an amazing author, and it felt great being in Skyland again. Can’t wait to read “Can’t Get Enough” (Book 3). I’m trying to see what Hendrix Barry has going on.

You can read these books as standalone novels, but I recommend reading them in order.

Okay, so I’m going to tell you right now, this book will not be for everyone. I have been seeing a lot of critical reviews and people who have claimed to DNF. I have read all of her books, so let me tell you what I think. My aim is to be as objective as possible. Spoiler free. They marketed this book as an enemy-to-lovers story and a book about Hell. And although this is present, it’s more like a backdrop. This is more of a dark academia that takes place in Hell. So let me make this clear: this is not a romance story.

The main characters are Alice and Peter. They are both PhD students who study analytic magic at Cambridge University. Their advisor dies in a horrible freak magic accident. Instead of mourning like you and I would have done, both Alice and Peter used magic to enter Hell to bring him back. They need his recommendation so they can get good jobs.

Both main characters are a little unlikable, but they will grow on you. And, to be completely honest, the professor is unlikable also; he didn’t grow on me. There were villains in Hell that I liked, and there were some that I didn’t like so much. However, the plot is outstanding; I enjoyed its magic system, and I felt like it was easy to read. And no, you do not need to read Dante’s Inferno (Dante Alighieri), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll), The Bell Jar (Sylvia Plath), or The Wasteland (T.S. Eliot). So just relax; everything should make sense in context.

I think most people who have an issue with this book probably dislike R.F. Kuang’s version of Hell. I think many people expected it to look different and felt like this Hell was boring. But this is Alice and Peter’s Hell. In this world, Hell looks different to everyone. It depends on who you were and what your life was like. So, this is Hell for nerds. Take that into consideration before jumping into this book. Check your expectations.

There are parts in this book that drag. But if you have read this author’s other books, then you should expect some backstory. Every book in The Poppy War Trilogy dragged at some point, and so did Babel. You should also expect this from Dark Academia. Yellowface didn’t drag, but that was literary fiction. R.F. Kuang did what R.F. Kuang does. Although I predicted the ending, I still enjoyed it. I actually enjoyed it a little more than Babel. With that being said, I’m giving this book 4.25 stars.

Earlier this year I read Buck, by the same author. That book was a masterpiece, but it left me with a few questions. The book, Buck, was about a teenager named Malo, whose older brother (Uzi) went to the penitentiary. His dad ended up leaving, and his mother went through severe depression. I was so glad to hear that the author followed it up with “Nephew”.

This book contains a series of letters from Malo to his brother’s 18-year-old son Nasir, who was shot nine times and lay unconscious in a hospital.

This book has the same premise as “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin and “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I gave both five stars.

This was a good read, but I had one issue with it. Sometimes it wasn’t clear who the author was talking to. It was supposed to be addressed to Nasir, but it felt like he was talking to the reader. There were a lot of memorable parts, but some felt regurgitated from Buck.

I'll leave you with a quote.

“It isn’t actually Mississippi; it’s America. There’s no Mason-Dixon Line—it’s America. There’s no such thing as the South—it’s America.”

I’m no stranger to D. Watkins. “Black Boy Smile” was the book that got me back into reading. I gave it five stars. I also read “The Cook UP” which I gave three and a half stars.

This one started out really well. He talked about bad things that affect black people in their everyday lives. How alcohol is bad for them, how men degrade women (outstanding chapter), how rap music poisons the minds of children, the corrupt school system, and bad food options (food deserts).

But then somewhere in the middle, he goes on this wild rant about how all police are bad, especially the black ones. He has a chapter titled “Black Cop Down”. I was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. I understand his pain; I've been there. It’s the reason I decided not to be a doctor, and chose law enforcement instead. The neighborhood needs to see people who are from there and who look/think like them. And who can stop, de-escalate, report, terminate, and/or arrest racist cops. And again, I’ve been there too.

In order to make a change, we need black police officers. And it’s hard out here for us. We catch hell from all sides. Yes, there are corrupt officers, racist officers, and terrible black officers too, but this is not the majority. But as an author, it’s his responsibility to research and tell the entire story. We are out here fighting the fight too.

I love this author’s street-level storytelling. It’s what I enjoy most about his writing. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the book.

“Even though I was born in America, and my ancestors built its infrastructure for free, I’m not a part of the “Our” when they sing, “Our flag was still there!”… I feel like the “our” doesn’t include blacks, most women, gays, trans, and poor people of all colors.”

Wow, Take my Hand sheds light on forced sterilization in America. Medical racism. The main character is Civil, who is a nurse. We follow her as she forms a relationship with two young sisters who have just experienced the unthinkable. True events inspired the book. What happens when two sisters and a nurse take on the government?

This is one of those books that will stay with you. It made me angry, sad, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

“Their bodies were not theirs to give, yet they were taken anyway.”

“History isn’t as far away as we want to believe.”

This was an absolute masterpiece. To prepare for James, I read both The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Although you don’t have to read either, I strongly recommend reading Huck Finn first.

I really enjoyed reading Huck Finn through the eyes of Jim (James). Percival Everett gave Jim the voice he deserves. This was more than a retelling. All my emotions paid me a visit reading this one, and there was a twist that I never saw coming. Because of the hype, this book sat on my bookshelf for a very long time. I just knew it had to be over-hyped. But no, I agree with this being 2024’s book of the year and with the author winning the Pulitzer. The writing was excellent, and the pacing was smooth. The readers needed this book. As expected, there are some heavy scenes. But overall, I highly recommend it.

The only thing I had an issue with was how fast Huck turned anti-slavery. I say that because he was off the chain in the original.

To prepare for reading James, I read both The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and now The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This book was first published in 1884. The book follows Huck as he runs away from his abusive father. He travels with Jim (James) who is a runaway slave. They both encounter a series of incidents as they travel along the Mississippi River. This story is heavy on racism and slavery. They both wanted freedom, which looks completely different for the both of them.

I have avoided this book my entire life, and wouldn’t have read it if I hadn’t wanted to read James so badly. The constant use of the n-word was a bit much, though I expected it. Overall, the story was just okay. I couldn’t wait for it to end. Yes, it captured the time, and yes, it did what it was supposed to do. But it just felt like another American classic that catered to white children. Can’t wait to see what Percival Everett has added to this.

Overall, it was a decent read, but I was so glad when it was finally over. A memoir or autobiography shouldn’t make you like someone less, but it did here. I always liked Will as a TV and movie star, but he appeared extremely arrogant in this one. He repeatedly reminded us of how famous he is. He kept saying, “I’m the biggest movie star in the world”. And I cringed every time he said it.

I also didn’t like the way he treated women (especially his wives), his family, or his fans. And I think he wanted the reader to sympathize with him. The book was enjoyable, but I think it was too early for him to write a book. Seems like he needs a little more self-reflection. I think he was really being honest, but this was too soon. I used to think Jada was the problem, but no, she’s the victim. By the end, I was exhausted. Sorry, Will, but I couldn’t get jiggy with this.

At least once a month, a try to read a memoir. It’s my favorite genre. This is by far the best one I’ve read in 2025. Her story is raw and heartbreaking. I couple read this one with my chapter mate and page partner (my wife). We listened to the audiobook while we read along with physical copies.

This book will grab you from the first paragraph. It’s raw, honest, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and inspirational. We follow Viola Davis’ life from her impoverished childhood to her rise as an award-winning actress. The writing was amazing, and she narrated the audiobook, giving it the cherry on top. This book was incredible. I’ve always been a fan, but I now have an insane amount of respect for her. Check your triggers for this one, please.

Quote: “I owned every single piece of my story. And the moment I claimed it, I was free.”

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a neighborhood called the Back of the Yards (the streets call my neighborhood Moe-Town). It’s right next to Englewood. I was born in 1980. I grew up during the crack epidemic in a neighborhood run by the notorious Almighty Black Peace Stone Rangers. Since drugs, gangs, and crooked police surrounded me, I spent my time dodging bullets and handcuffs.

I had no time to focus on politics, and why Chicago was this way. I just wanted desperately to survive and get out. Author Natalie Y. Moore is a Chicago native (and lifelong south sider) who has written several books about this. Payback (Southside Collection), The South Side, and The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation are a few.

In this book, she gives us the rundown of Chicago. It is told as a blend of memoir and investigative journalism. She talks about the Al Capone days, segregation of schools and neighborhoods, food deserts, poverty, racism, politics, projects, stereotypes, and the beloved Mayor Harold Washington. I read the physical copy as a listened to the audiobook.

I felt like she was talking to me, giving me knowledge that I had always wanted to know. I really enjoyed this read and can’t wait to read her other works.

In my preparation for the book “James” by Percival Everett, I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I will also read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn before I get started. I understand it’s not needed, but I decided to anyway.

This book was published in 1876, but its setting is in 1845. It’s about a young boy full of imagination, mischief, and the thrill of adventure. I enjoyed the way he outsmarted other kids and how he fell in love with Becky Thatcher. The book made me laugh and also frustrated me, but overall, it was okay.

This book mostly sets up Tom and Huck’s characters. Jim (James) has a very minor role in this one. Up next is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Lehane takes us back to 1974, where there was a ruling by the district court to desegregate the city public high schools. Roxbury High School was a black school, and South Boston High School was mostly white. Half of the white kids would have to take the bus to Roxbury and vice verse. They had 90 days to prepare.

The book mostly takes place in South Boston. An Irish-American neighborhood that they refer to as Southie. The Irish mob runs this place. About half of the people there are racist as hell, and the other half are poor and just didn’t want to bus their kids to Roxbury. Either way, it was a very dangerous place for an African American.

In the middle of all this tension, someone murders a black male in South Boston (Augustus “Augie” Williamson). We, the reader, follow Mary Pat Fennessy, who is a foul mouth, chain-smoking, alcoholic, racist, single mother of a 17-year-old (Jules). One day, her racist daughter Jules is hanging out with her racist friends, and she comes up missing on the same day of Augie’s murder. So now we (the reader) have to go along with the racist mom as she does whatever to find her racist daughter.

This book has taught me something about myself. I’ve never disliked a character as much as this one. There were plenty of times that I wanted to DNF this. I hung in there because history is history. I love how the author kept Mary Pat's character real. This is an actual place with real people like this. However, I found it hard to root for a person who wouldn’t piss on me if I were on fire. Also, some scenes at the end didn’t seem realistic, but were still entertaining. There was a lot of hatred and racial tension in this book. I can’t count how many times the n-word with the hard R was said. I’m putting my personal feelings to the side and grading this book based on the writing. Four stars, but would not recommend.

No spoilers

This is some of the best storytelling I’ve ever experienced. It grabbed my attention immediately. The author developed the characters very well. Every single one of them had something that they were dealing with. And when shit hit the fan, they had to make emotionally tough decisions based on their individual circumstances. Because the author gives us a great foundation, readers also become invested. Very well done.

This is more than a book about slavery and vampires. It is about people who seized an opportunity for revenge. You know this book is saying something when vampires aren’t the worst monsters around.

This is a historical fiction horror that takes you to the 1700s. Markus Redmond doesn’t hold back. We get a peek at some horrors many of our ancestors had to endure. It’s raw, so check your triggers.

This is the vampire book I didn’t know I needed. I spent half of the year bragging about “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones (which was a great read also), but this one is slightly better. And included Native Americans. It receives a perfect score.

I buddy read this with my wife. We both loved it and couldn’t put it down.

I put this book in the same category as Ring shout (P. Djeli Clark), The Reformatory (Tananarive Due), and The Ballard of Black Tom (Victor LaValle).

This was a breath of fresh air. A fast-paced original story by an indie author. This book is funny and kept me laughing throughout. It’s perfect for someone like me, who may need a break from depressing heavy reads. It sucks you in from the beginning and never lets go.

This book is about scientists who accidentally brought God to Earth. When all hell breaks loose, Alex (a middle school science teacher) and friends have to figure out a way to bring back peace on Earth.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of the audiobook, and it did not disappoint. Sasha DeVore (the author) is the narrator. She has the perfect voice for this, and it fits her characters very well. This book belongs in the same category as Project Hail Mary. It has a science theme, a funny main character, and an outstanding narrator. I highly recommend this book. Did I mention that she’s an indie author?

This book is about a Chinese family that illegally enters the United States. The story is told in 1st person from the eyes of 7-year-old Qian Wang. Both of her parents were professors in China. They moved to New York expecting America to be this wonderful place. However, the family experiences racism, poverty, and discrimination.

There were things I enjoyed about the book. But to be honest, this experience is typical for many minorities in this country, not just immigrants. I guess the only difference is, minorities born in America are not scared of being deported (or are they🤔).

I kept waiting on something unique to happen, but it didn’t. I did relate to one scene that got me in my feelings. I’m glad I read the book, but I won’t be recommending it to others.

The Body Keeps the Score is an amazing look at how trauma lives in your body and mind. The author uses science and stories to show the reader paths to recovery. As a person who has an ACE score of 6/10, I found this book very helpful. I also work with children who are actively experiencing the worst time of their young lives. For over a month, I’ve been reading this. I purchased three copies (2 physical and 1 audiobook). I keep one at home, another at work, and the audiobook for my vehicle just in case I need a quick reference. The statistics and stories are very helpful.

My only criticism is that I don’t feel like the people who practice science in this field give much attention to people with PTSD living in areas surrounded by drugs, violence, and poverty. Some people refer to it as “Hood PTSD.” There are so many people who fall into this category. This book talks a lot about soldiers, but some people in these neighborhoods have seen way more violence and death than soldiers in combat. I grew up in the hood, served 8 years in the Army, and I’m currently on my 16th year in law enforcement. And I’ve experienced more trauma growing up on the south side of Chicago than the other two combined. Let that sink in.

I need a book that dives deeply into systemic or community-level trauma in urban neighborhoods. My next read in this genre will probably be Dr. Joy DeGruy’s Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.