"ABCD" May Reading TBR

Heyyyyyy. I hope and pray everyone is doing well and keeping safe out there.

So we all like to do little things to create a monthly TBR (given we've decided to make one to begin with). Especially to keep from spending hours or even days between books. And when you factor in today’s virus crisis, now is a good time to get down to reading with a bit of a charge. With a rhythm. With a nice, striding... pace. More so, it's a time to tackle unreads books (I know, I know) that have overdue property taxes on shelf space. Since browsing our favorite libraries and bookstores ain’t happening any time soon, it's an unfortunate but re-calibrating opportunity to play our reading cards. In, of course, fun and interesting ways.

So the first two weeks (or so-so) of May got me creating what I’ve dubbed an ”ABCD May TBR”.

4 BOOKSHELVES. 4 LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET BY ORDER. 4 AUTHORS-BY-LAST-NAME PICKS. 4 UNREAD BOOKS. BOOM!

My first shelf was my “A” shelf. Unread books with "A" last name authors. Alphabet order through the pickings. Let's go! Maya ANgelou’s autobiography, A Song Flung Up to Heaven, beat Margaret ATwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. True enough. Yet, I took a little concession and choose the latter. Why? Two reason. One: never read an Atwood, but read plenty Angelous. Two: because this is an alarming time to explore some disturbing dystopian/totalitarian state novels. And I’m going to throw this out there: Gilead (do your research on that). So let's keep it real with the potential parallels we all fear on the horizon. The phrase "It'll never happen here" comes to mind.

(NOTE: When does season 4 of the Hulu series start? I be waiting!!!!!)

We still miss you, Mrs. Banks

My second shelf was my “B” shelf. James BAldwin won out. L. A. BAnks's Crimson Moon urban fantasy series, as well as Marion Zimmer BRadley's The Mist of Avalon fell. The specific Baldwin book chosen is Going to Meet the Man. That'll be my second Baldwin read of the year. It's also the final one of his early novels featured in this Library of America volume. It's perfect timing; leaving me to order the volume featuring his later novels on Friday–payday! Without hesitation! Line 'em up!

My third shelf pulled a “'C' is for the author “Charlotte CArter” on me. Carter is a black author whose three-part mystery series features a black American saxophonist named Nanette Hayes. I started this series out of order years ago–having read the second book first. Anyway, I was holding this series for completion in August. Yet, Nanette’s first mystery-solving adventure in Rhode Island Red came calling in May. She basically said, "don't try to play me."

I think I kinda-sorta cheesed this one. But it's for a determined reason. So my “D” (or perhaps "M") author arrived in Daphne DU Maurier’s Rebecca. I had to skip three shelves to get to her, which is why I'm glad I did my TBR this way. Because by "arrived” I mean in more ways than one. Rebecca would have continued to be one of those "I'll get to it" reads. One of those reads you have to find the right mood to read it. The right vibe. Tone. Atmosphere. None of which you'll never find beyond picking up the book and starting at page one. I finally found a way to get around to reading this classic that needs zero summaries on what it's about.

So those are my May reading plans for the beginning of the month. I've already got plans for afterwards. Unless, of course, sometime else calls my name.

Let me know how you're tackling your May reading down below.