Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay - Holiday Book Recommendations With Maiysha Kai

Episode Date: December 27, 2022

Van and Rachel welcome lifestyle editor of The Grio and host of the ‘Writing Black’ podcast to discuss her list of must-read books. Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Maiysha Kai Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The playoffs are here, and you can predict the action all the way to the finals with Fandul predicts. Predict the spread, total points, and even the game winner. Sign up and get a $25 bonus. Offered by Fandual prediction markets LLC, a registered futures commission merchant, 18 plus. Bonus is non-withdrawable and expires seven days after receipt. Trading derivatives involve significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Manage your activity with our consumer protection tool. Restrictions apply.

See terms at Fandul.com slash predict slash bonus dash offer dash terms. Did you know about one and three people with plaques psoriasis may also develop psoriotic arthritis, which causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling? Does this sound like you? Listen to what it sounds like to be a million miles away. Trimfaya, gusalcumab, taken by injection, is a prescription medicine for adults with moderate to severe plaques psoriasis, who may benefit from taking injections or pills or phototherapy,

and for adults with active psoriotic arthritis. Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections and liver problems may occur. Before a treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, or if you need a vaccine. Imagine being a million miles away. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Trimphaya. Tap this ad to learn more about Trimphia, including important safety information.

All right, guys, it's time to get into the spirit and to get into your brains now. We have Misha Kai joining us. She is a columnist and lifestyle editor for The Griot. Shout out to Byron Allen. She also hosts the Writing Black Podcast, which takes a deep dive to the intersections of identity, craft, and language from the perspectives of accomplished black authors, comics, journalists, playwrights, poets, songwriters, and more. Wow. She recently spoke about our holiday book recommendations, and we decided we were going to be. bring her on higher learning so she can make us smarter and make you guys smarter.

Myisha, thank you for joining us on the show today. We appreciate you. Oh, it is a treat for me. I'm a fan. Oh, thank you. Oh, thank you very much. I put a book out. You didn't invite me on your podcast.

It's fine. Look, here's a deal. The invite is open. Thank you very much. So let's talk about it. What makes a good holiday book? It's such an interesting. I never thought about books to read over the holidays.

What makes a good holiday book? Well, you know, it's so funny that you say. I think any time of year is a great time to read a book, but I'm a book lover. That was my first love before anything else I did in my life. And I've had a few careers. But, you know, like for instance, I live in Chicago and, you know, as we speak, there is a winter storm upon us. I, this is book season for me. You know, this is when I hibernate.

This is when I want to be inside. Like, sure, I could binge watch anything I want. I can also binge read. And so, you know, that's one of the reasons I think about books. the holidays, but also I think when people are thinking about gifts, they don't always go to books. And it's such a great way to show somebody that you're thinking about them, that you're thinking about their personality, their interests. It's also a great last minute gift, thanks to some of our big box retailers. So I always recommend books for the holidays. Okay, so we got

Van's eyes bucked when you said binge read. I love that. I do too. I love that. And it's so relevant, well, for a number of reasons, right? Because, you know, people seem to be attacking literacy at this point. That's not the question I want to ask you. We're in a time where everyone is promoting holiday movies, holiday movies. But that's why I love that you use the phrase binge reading because we could be doing the same thing for books. So what are some books that, because I'm still last minute shopping. So what are some books that are great for the holidays for ages,

younger, you know, college, middle school, whatever, it's an adult. All right. All right. Well, I've got some recommendations for you. Let's do it. You know, when I say holiday books, I don't always say themed books per se. These are books that you want them to be able to read all year around. We don't know how busy people are over the holidays, how busy it might not be.

But one book that I fell in love with this year was The Marvelers by Danielle Clayton, great kids, Y-A choice, you know, especially when you look at like the popular. of something like the Harry Potter series, right? However you feel about Harry Potter now, this is a great alternative, I think, when you're trying to introduce fantasy into Young Worlds, this is a middle, like a middle grade reader, like, you know, really grades three and up, you know, kind of when they're getting out of that, like, you know, more of that picture book phase into some real reading. And this is something that really captures their imagination and allows them to escape.

This is like the first and what will be a series as well. so it's a story that they can keep following. And I love that. I have a niece and nephew and godson who are all in that age range. So I'm really excited to share a book like this with them with characters that look like them. What's the book about again? Now this is, so this is very similar to Harry Potter.

This is about a bunch of kids who have magic powers and they're getting cultivated through education and their adventures. So, you know, and you see this black child right here. They're not in the ghetto, are they? Because that's what they do to us. They are not in the ghetto, but there isn't urban bent to this. Okay. It's not so far away. But this is a multicultural cast.

And I just dig it. I dig that we have this. I mean, I love that like, you know, one of the authors who endorses that said, I want to live in this world. And I think that that's a feeling we should definitely want to give our kids now. It's so funny that you say that. Because that's what I used to get caught up in when I was a kid. When I was a kid, I would read books and watch movies. and then I would like freak out after I was done.

And my dad would be like, why? I'd be like, because, you know, it's not real. Like, I can't really live there. I remember the goonies, the goonies ended and I cried. It's just like, what you crying about? My mother has the same story about me at the theater. I was like that at the theater the first time she ever took me to see a musical. It ended and I cried because it was over.

I'm like, it's over. I want to be one of the goonies, though. Like this, we got to go back. Okay, anyway. I think you would have made a great goony, actually, man. I think I would have made a good goony. I can't remember. I don't think that.

was a black one. You're giving him his next idea, his next project. It's right. It's right for revisiting. So, okay, so we have that cover. Yes. Let's say somebody this holiday season wanted to jump into, because I have a question for you. There was an, I don't read very much, non-fiction. I don't read very many novels, okay? Okay. Most of what I read is nonfiction. stuff, historical stuff, things that analyze your world, books to seep into my brain and make me seem like I'm something I'm not. Okay. Okay. Now, I recently was introduced to a novelist and I wrote it down.

My friend Kyle introduced me to her. And she's almost in the vein of a new Tony Morrison type. That's a high bar. Okay. That's what, like, her name is Jasmine or something. She wrote a book. I can't remember. Anyway, if I wanted to get into that more contemporary black literary masters of that ilk, who would those writers be right now for someone who wanted to dive into that?

Oh, my gosh. There's so many. So many. I mean, you know, we've heard often that there's like a new black renaissance going on. I mean, obviously, we never went. anywhere and writers are going to write and they've been writing but there's never been a better time to really dig in because there's so many who are getting deals finally and I think for somebody like you who is delving just delving into fiction you're very busy you don't have a lot of time I actually

like to recommend people start with like short stories um you know I think I think a short story is great it's digestible chunks I love this one the last suspicious holdout by Ladey Hubbard um I love this because the stories intertwine. And, you know, like, I love an intersecting narrative. So it's like it reads like a novel in some respects, but you can read a chap, you know, you read a story and you're done. And then you can move on to the next when you feel like it. And these are intertwining stories. They really work about, it's really about like race and class dynamics, playing with this idea, this post-racial idea that I know you're both all too familiar with. And it's like, you know, and what it means to be black and affluent in this life.

sort of idyllic slice of suburbia. There's some really subversive aspects to it. So I would recommend something like that because it's really intelligent. Some other things I might recommend. People never think of this category. And I got to say, so this is a book by, I believe you pronounce it, Usman, K. Power Green, the Confessions of Matthew Strong. This is a thriller. So this is a mystery book. And I don't know that we, people don't think about us when they think about misdeme. They don't think about like suspense, right, or horror or any of that kind of stuff. And that's why I loved this book because, you know, I'm, I'm admittedly like a scary person like in a way that like I'm the person who's like, I'm going to watch a scary movie and I'm going to watch it underneath the blanket the whole time. And like, you know, my boyfriend sitting there looking at me like, why? Why are we here? Right. At the same time, I like to be scared a little bit and I specifically love it when it's intelligent. This one's also, you know, but this one's, it's thought provoking. And there's, you know, Usman is actually a history professor, like historian. And so this book is really dealing with, it's, first of all, it's a period piece. So it's set like in the Harlem Renaissance. And, you know, there's a white supremacist involved who's like terrorizing a community. And, you know, and that's all a little bit scary and probably a little too relevant for some people. But what I love about it is it really illustrates that our horror looks different, right? Like it's, you know, I,

I was really, I was kind of struck by that, really artfully written, really masterful. So those are two I would recommend for you, especially. By the way, I just sent me the name of the lady. Her name is Jasmine Ward. It's Sing Unburied Seam. Desmond Ward. Jessman Ward. Jessman Ward.

So I haven't read her. Sing. Listen, Jasmine Ward is, and I totally agree with, in that case, yes, the Tony Morrison comparison is incredibly apt. She's one of the most. evocative and just gorgeously crafted language. Like her grasp of language is amazing. And that is a good one to start with. I would also recommend Quake Meze,

who is a non-binary Nigerian writer, bestseller, has written across genres, had their first for-inch romance this year with a book, I believe it was called You, oh gosh, it's something like you cheated death with your beauty or you you something like that um i'm gonna i know i got that slightly wrong but an incredible writer uh ja jasi is another one who's amazing um two books uh let's see there's homecoming and oh transcenic kingdom both of which super intelligent super well research also really great because they deal diasporically

because Yah is a writer who I want to say is Ghana American. Her parents immigrated here. She was raised in a predominantly white area of Alabama, I believe. And so, like, again, the layers there, really, really cool, really cool stuff. Yeah. Did you know about one in three people with plaques psoriasis may also develop psoriotic arthritis, which causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling? Does this sound like you?

you listen to what it sounds like to be a million miles away. Trimphaya, guselcomab, taken by injection, is a prescription medicine for adults with moderate to severe plaques psoriasis, who may benefit from taking injections or pills or phototherapy, and for adults with active psoriotic arthritis. Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections and liver problems may occur. Before a treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, or if you need a vaccine. vaccine. Imagine being a million miles away. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about trim

fire. Tap this ad to learn more about trimfaya, including important safety information. This episode is brought to you by Spectrum Business. Fast, reliable internet means everything for your business. And even this podcast, that's why I trust Spectrum Business. It keep companies of all sizes connected with internet, advanced Wi-Fi, phone, TV, mobile services. plus 24-7 U.S.-based support, millions of business owners already trust Spectrum Business. So visit Spectrum.com slash business to learn more. Restrictions apply. Services not available in all areas.

Okay. For me, I'm traveling. I'm traveling. I will be in Miami. So you know, it's going to be warm. I'm going to be on a beach. Also, even though it's holiday season, it's a little romantic as well. It's cuddling season.

I want to cuddle up. I want to read something a little romantic, maybe women's fiction. What would I read? I think you are somebody a lot of people associated with romance. I get it. I get it.

Okay. For you, there's two off the top of my head. One, Tia William, seven days in June. So. I have it. You read it? I started it.

I'm terrible at starting book. And I'm like 50 pages in. It is so good so far. it's good it's good it's sexy I think you know um for me what's it about okay so this is about a kind of romantic reunion between two people who have a troubled past that goes back a long way and um again with the layers as you

there you go it's a sneaky a sneaky link book that Rachel's reading okay and it is um But it's also very sensitive. You know, there's a lot, you know, again, like, you know, these are complex characters. They're really well-developed. Tia Williams does, did such a great job with them. And I'm going to say, again, we're actually really big in the romance market.

Like Jasmine Guillory, for instance, is a black romance writer who is really, I mean, writes bestsellers. Like, she's just, like, killing the game. But I love, I do love Tia Williams. I know her personally. so that's, I'm biased in that respect. But like, these, these are such well-developed characters. And I think that's what I like is I recognize a lot of myself and them. Another book we recommended this year as a great pick of 2022 was Wahala, which is a little more like,

this is a four London-based women. Think maybe a little, I mean, you know, comparison, automatic comparisons are going to be like sex in the city or I compared it to like Harlem or run the world. terms of, you know, the number of women. But what I love about this is this is about how complicated friendships can be. It's not just about like the rom-comy kind of aspect of it, but it's also about what happens between women, right? Like the weird things that can happen in friendships. I'm not going to kill the plot, but I think I think you would enjoy those too.

All right. I'm in. I already have one of them, so I trust you. Before we go, I want to recommend a couple of books to you. Okay. From one of my favorite authors, Kwan Mills. Okay. I don't know if you've ever heard of Kwan Mills, but certain titles called My Psycho Baby Daddy

2 by Kwan Mills. This is a great reading. Okay. There's old thought next door. Is this a real person, Van? This is a real person in real books. My mama be reading these, okay? Okay.

The coldest. thug ever by Kwan Mills. Everyone I put, I want to put it out there. And one of my favorites, this is my mom's favorite. My mom really be reading this. Project Ho Dreams. Oh, okay. Is it? You know, I'm going to say that all that. What I do love about that is I think there should be a story for everybody. I really do. So in my mind, I'm to be like, now see, I would not have thought of that. However, and I'm not. just trying to be diplomatic here. I actually am like, but shouldn't everybody

see themselves? Yeah. You always talk about how representation matters and I'm like, that's somebody's story. He has a book called This Hoagot got roaches in her crib. And some of them do. Some of them do.

You know, I think any, that's what's so great about books. Listen, books help escape, but they also can help you feel seen. And I'm going to, I'm going to endorse it. I'm got, it might not be at the top of my recommendation this season, but I'm not going to like rule it out.

Maybe next year. That's what I like. That's what I like. I tried to, I tried to make her blush and she was like, nah. Well, I'm from the south side of Chicago. There's not a lot you're going to say to make me. Um, Mike Chikai, we're going to be reading this summer.

We're going to be reading this winter. We're going to be reading this spring, this fall. I am very into people reading, if not novels about the truth of their world, if not about the truth of their world. Something that takes them past their world. Expand your mind. That's right. Madeline Lee Engel, swiftly tilting planet. And I'm like, oh my God, it's all kinds of crazy shit happening.

We are very, very proud and thankful that you joined us today on higher learning. Tell everybody where they can find you and learn more about the wonderful world of books. Well, you can always find me the griot. I am the lifestyle editor, so I'm there. I write as well as edit our writers. So you can always find me the griot, but you can find us, you can find Writing Black on the Griot Black Podcast Network or wherever you download your apps like this one. So you can find me there.

You can find me at the Griot. I am wherever you would like me to be. And both of you have a standing invitation to Writing Black. Van, please come through. I would love it. So we're going to share the love here. I love what we started. And if you ever need more recommendations, you know where to find me.

Just, you know, shoot me a text. I will, I will happily do that. It's one of my favorite things to do, actually. I got a fiction book coming out next year. I'm coming on writing in black. We're going to talk about it. I'm going to send your book. I would love it.

Yes. Yes. I love it. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for joining us on High Alert. We will talk to you again. Stay safe and warm. Oh, my gosh.

Stay warm.