You Can Easily Get Past, But That Chapter Is Done

Keeping with my goal of reading four books before the end of summer, I've began a new book called "Middlesex" by author Jeffrey Eugenides. I first read the book on one of my many trips to Borders, and fell in love with it after reading the first twenty pages. I was finally able to purchase it two days ago, and so far, it's a very engaging read (though sometimes complicated.) I could give you a synopsis of what the book is about but I haven't got that far into it. If I had to give everything in a gist, it's a story of a hermaphrodite from Detroit, Michigan.



Now for those who know me, you would make the assumption that I only chose the book due to the fact that the main character is a hermaphrodite, BUT, what made me grab the book off the shelf was that its plot was centered in Detroit and metro Detroit (specifically Grosse Pointe.) Eugenides is also the author of "The Virgin Suicides" which I've only known to be a movie. According to the always reliable Wikipedia (insert sarcasm), The Virgin Suicides is a novel that describes a community's reaction to the suicides of five, young sisters. It is also centered in Grosse Pointe, Michigan and a book that has been added to my "must reads" for the summer.

Speaking of books, I don't think there's been a time when I've ever been disappointed walking into a bookstore...wait, that's a lie. First, I'll say for the record that I don't believe in limiting yourself to one genre of books. With there being a plethora of genres- fiction, nonfiction, autobiographies, romance, self-help, horror, reference, sci-fi, western, mystery, etc.- it's crazy to read only type of book. To have a proclivity for a specific category or author is understandable, but to remain in one position in the "grand world of books" is foolishness.

Which brings me to my disappointment in my recent trips to bookstores: the "African American Literature" section. Literature. L-I-T-E-R-A-T-U-R-E. Do you know what books are under this category next to the likes of Angelou, Wright, and Ellison?

This...



Maybe this...



Or how about this?



As if black people didn't have enough negative stereotypes to deal with in the media (Antoine Dodson anyone?), we get to go into Borders to "our" section just to be slapped in the face which images of "thug life" and a "hustler's grind."

The Merriam Webster's definition for literature is as follows: "writings in prose or verse; especially : writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest." I'm sorry, but stories of how Tyquisha struggled to help her and six kids survive while her baby daddy was on lock down for drug possesion does not qualify as literature. And true, no one died and made me a book critic but I can honestly say that I've taken the time to read three or more "hood novels" to make a stand against them. Every now and then, a good one slips through the crack ("The Coldest Winter Ever" is and shall remain the best hood novel in life. Period.), but for the most part it's mindless garbage, and should have it's own section in the bookstore: "Urban Trash." "Ghetto Garbage." Maybe "Books to Use as Firewood?"

*In Antoine Dodson voice* "Now run tel' dat."