TheRicanReader

HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience, Edited by Ayesha Rascoe First and foremost, gratitude to NetGalley, Ayesha Rascoe, and Algonquin Books for providing me with an advanced copy. Based on this excellent collection of essays, I would retitle this book, HBCU Made: "A Celebration of Legacy and Excellence, The Black College Experience." Edited by Ayesha Rascoe, the host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, HBCU Made captures the transformative power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through essays from a diverse set of contributors. This anthology stands out as a one-of-a-kind collection, offering moving and candid accounts of the HBCU experience.  Why It Matters: HBCUs have long been sanctuaries of opportunity and cultural pride for Black students, often serving as the only viable path to higher education amidst systemic barriers. These institutions are foundational to America’s educational landscape, nurturing leaders, fostering talen...

A Masterful Dive into Grief, Revenge, and Buried Secrets Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s  Fever Dream —the tenth book in the Special Agent Pendergast series and the opening act of the Helen trilogy—is a riveting exploration of grief, revenge, and the haunting power of secrets. As a devoted fan of the enigmatic FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast, I remain captivated by how this series effortlessly blends intellectual intrigue with pulse-pounding suspense. In this installment, Pendergast embarks on his most personal mission yet: uncovering the truth about his wife Helen’s death. What was long deemed an accidental tragedy during a safari in Africa takes a sinister turn when a chance discovery in his New Orleans home reveals Helen’s death was no accident. With his signature blend of cold precision and simmering fury, Pendergast plunges into the depths of this mystery, unearthing a labyrinth of secrets that threaten to dismantle his carefully constructed reality. At the heart of  Fe...

The Death of Socrates: A Thoughtful but Challenging Read Emily R. Wilson’s  The Death of Socrates  ambitiously delves into one of philosophy’s most enduring moments: the trial and execution of Socrates. It’s an undeniably rich subject, brimming with intellectual tension and historical intrigue. Wilson examines the cultural, political, and philosophical threads that led to Socrates’ death, aiming to unravel why his defiance and ultimate demise still resonate. But while the subject matter is fascinating, the execution feels dense and, at times, plodding. Wilson’s prose, though erudite, can be daunting for readers without a strong grounding in classical studies. What should have been an engaging exploration often drags under the weight of its own meticulousness. Instead of drawing the reader into Socrates’ world, the book risks alienating all but the most devoted scholars. That said, Wilson’s insights are sharp, and her ability to connect Socrates’ story to broader themes of diss...

A Powerhouse Collaboration in  Death by Misadventure Thank you to NetGalley, Tasha Alexander, and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy of  Death by Misadventure: A Lady Emily Mystery . As a longtime admirer of Alexander’s work, I remain captivated by her ability to weave historical intrigue with rich, imaginative storytelling.   This latest installment seamlessly interweaves two timelines: Lady Emily’s investigation into the suspicious death of an aristocrat in a snowbound Bavarian villa in 1906 and the story of Niels, a young German lord, and his friendship with King Ludwig II nearly forty years earlier. Alexander masterfully bridges the past and present, uncovering how secrets reverberate across generations.   Set against Ludwig’s fairy-tale castle and the opulent villa of Baroness Ursula von Duchtel, the novel brims with atmosphere. Alexander’s richly drawn characters and multi-layered mysteries create a plot as immersive as it is suspenseful.   Bianca Amato’...

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s Cemetery Dance is the ninth installment in the Agent Pendergast series, and it delivers a gripping, macabre mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end. As a devoted fan of the enigmatic FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast, I am slowly making my way through this cerebral and thrilling series, which consistently blends intellectual puzzles with pulse-pounding suspense. In Cemetery Dance, Pendergast investigates the brutal murder of a close friend, allegedly at the hands of a man who had died weeks earlier. Thus begins an unsettling case that leads him into a shadowy world of cults, voodoo, and what appears to be the supernatural. What makes this book distinct is its atmospheric tension and the interplay between Pendergast’s intellectual brilliance and Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta’s grounded determination. The contrast between their characters is particularly well-drawn here, as they navigate a case that blurs the line between science and superstit...

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson’s Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves is a compelling biography that introduces readers to one of the most extraordinary, yet under appreciated, figures of the Wild West. Born into slavery, Bass Reeves escaped bondage to become the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Over his 30-year career, Reeves apprehended more than 3,000 fugitives, earning a reputation for courage, integrity, and ingenuity. The book skillfully captures Reeves’ remarkable life through engaging storytelling and vivid illustrations. Nelson highlights not only his legendary exploits—such as donning disguises to outwit criminals—but also his unwavering commitment to justice, even when it meant arresting his own son. Reeves’ story is an inspiring testament to resilience and moral fortitude. For those interested in learning more about Reeves, the recent DVD series Lawmen: Bass Reeves serves as an excellent complement to this book. Together, they provi...

Thanks to NetGalley, Sally H. Jacobs, and Hachette Books for the opportunity to review  Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson .    I am not a tennis player, have never played the sport, and yet I was utterly drawn to this gripping biography of one of the world’s greatest tennis players. Jacobs delivers an extraordinary portrait of Althea Gibson, a street-savvy, scrappy prodigy who clawed her way into the exclusive, often hostile world of professional tennis in the mid-20th century. Breaking through the entrenched racism and bigotry of her time, Gibson paved the way for future legends like Arthur Ashe and Venus and Serena Williams, redefining what was possible for Black athletes in a sport that sought to keep them out.   What makes Gibson’s story so compelling is her dual battle: while conquering the tennis world, she fought inner demons of rage and self-doubt. Yet she never let those struggles—or the relentless discrimination she faced—deter her from achi...

Robert Van De Weyer's African Prayers is a compilation of prayers and accompanying illustrations drawn from various parts of Africa. While the book aims to be inspirational and uplifting, it falls short in its execution. The collection presents the prayers without any contextual background, leaving readers with little understanding of the cultural or spiritual frameworks from which these prayers emerged. The origins of these prayers trace back to European missionaries and settlers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who documented them during their efforts to convert indigenous African populations. This historical context is significant, as it shapes how the prayers were collected and presented. Missionaries often approached African cultures with a mix of curiosity and paternalism, seeking to learn about local practices while simultaneously imposing their own religious beliefs. This duality evokes the image of scientists studying an unfamiliar phenomenon rather than particip...

Lee Milteer’s  Activate Your Inner Power  is a heartfelt guide to unlocking the vast reservoir of strength, resilience, and wisdom that lies dormant within each of us. At its core, the book offers a simple but profound message: we control our destiny through the power of our thoughts. With clarity and conviction, Milteer reminds readers that every individual is born with an inherent connection to the Universe, and by harnessing this energy, we can navigate life’s challenges with grace and purpose. Through a series of empowering guidance messages, Milteer serves as both a coach and a confidant, encouraging readers to turn inward for answers to life’s biggest questions. She teaches that mental and emotional hardships aren’t insurmountable obstacles but opportunities to draw upon our “inner secret power” for fresh perspectives, inspiration, and solutions. Her mantra is as straightforward as it is liberating: Believe in yourself and ask the Universe for guidance. The book’s streng...

In 2034: A Novel of the Next World War, Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis deliver a gripping and chillingly plausible tale of how great powers can stumble into catastrophic conflict, dragging the world to the brink of annihilation. This is no far-fetched dystopia but a stark warning of how fragile our global order is—and how one misstep, even by a single individual, can alter the course of history.     The novel opens with a seemingly routine U.S. Navy patrol in the South China Sea, commanded by Commodore Sarah Hunt. When a tense encounter with Chinese forces spirals out of control, the dominoes fall swiftly: a cyberattack cripples U.S. systems, escalating tensions into all-out warfare. What unfolds is a sobering depiction of modern warfare—one fought not just with bombs and ships but with hacking, misinformation, and geopolitical brinkmanship.    Ackerman and Stavridis write with authority and precision, weaving their military expertise into a narrati...