Thursday Thirteen #1

I came across this meme in the past and thought it was cool! The object of the meme is to come up with 13 facts about yourself each Thursday in order for your readers to get to know you better.

Thirteen Things about Laniza Thirteen Books That Changed My Life 1)The River Where Blood is Born by Sandra Jackson-Opoku--I love everything about this book, especially the way that Jackson-Opoku weaves in African and Caribbean spirituality, and the history of Black folks on colonized lands(Caribbean, Africa, Americas) into one cohesive narrative about a particular family tree. If I could take one book with me to a deserted island, this would be it. 2)The Color Purple by Alice Walker--Celie. 'Nuff said. 3)By the Light of My Father's Smile by Alice Walker--Again, like The River Where Blood is Born, this book reverberated the power of the spiritual and the physical worlds and how they collide in fascinating ways. 4)Beloved by Toni Morrison--As an undergraduate, I enrolled in a seminar about the novels of Toni Morrison. The professor had us read Beloved alongside the actual court case that the novel was based on (see Modern Medea: A Family Story of Slavery and Child-Murder From the Old South by Steven Weisenburger). While Beloved does not stay totally true to the actual facts, nonetheless, it offers the reader a glimpse of why a mother would rather kill her baby than see it suffer through slavery. 5)Wild Seed by Octavia Butler--This book literally did change my life. I had enrolled in an upper level English course which had Wild Seed as one of the required texts. In a nutshell, Wild Seed is a tale about two shape shifters and their altering of reality, creating a new 'pattern'. I loved the story so much and became fascinated with the author and her other writings as a result. It just so happened that my professor was producing a documentary about Ms. Butler and had encouraged me to apply for funding so that I could accompany her. To make a long story short, I ended up receiving funding and had an incredible time with Ms. Butler. That trip solidified many of my dreams and goals today. 6)When I Was Comin' Up: An Oral History of Aged Blacks ed. Audrey Olsen Faulkner, et. al.-- This was one of my first exposures to the Oral History field and I fell in love. This is one of my ultimate goals: To be an oral historian, documenting the lives of elderly African American women. 7)Sacred Woman by Queen Afua-- Practical advice on how to be a sacred woman in the 21st century. While I don't agree with every principle in this book, overall the knowledge is impressive. 8)Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison-- The opening boxing scene. 'Nuff said. 9)In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez--This was my first exposure to Las Mariposas. Powerful stuff. 10)The Ground Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie--Simply exquisite. Rushdie packs a lot into this novel (Elvis, race/class/gender, boy risks life to get the girl back) 11)Dreamer by Charles Johnson--An imaginative take on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life 12)Black No More by George Schuyler--I love this satirical look at the Harlem Renaissance and its key players. 13)The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz--This book is so simple, and yet in its simplicity lies 4 complex thoughts or agreements. The hardest agreement for me? Be impeccable with your word. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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