Welcome to Litsy!

It wasn‘t the deepest, most profound book, but it was an enjoyable read. Liked learning more of his background and how developing friendships in the LGBTQ community and having daughters changed his views on racism and sexism. Really liked how he learned to embrace his black nerd status over time as he grew older. There‘s no one way to be black and his story is a great illustration of that.

A cup of chai, a book, and some comfy socks. Fall is here! 😊🍁🍂🍁🍂

He's not joking when he says the book is about awkward thoughts. Awkward for him. Awkward as a white reader. Who knows, but definitely awkward. Great book though.

Excellent collection of essays, part memoir, part cultural and political critique. Blends humor with keen observations and ultimately challenges those of us who fancy ourselves “progressive” to put our money where out mouth is. https://cannonballread.com/2019/09/the-awkward-thoughts-of-w-kamau-bell-elcicco/

I love W. Kamau Bell and he can do no wrong in my book.

PS- Notice this is not in my June TBR. Why would I do something crazy like read from my TBR? 🤣

“When art sets racism in the past, no matter how good it is, it allows white people in the audience (and others) to say to themselves ‘Wow! That racism sure was bad way back then!‘ It's what happens when people go see 12 Years a Slave. My response is always, ‘Yeah, you wanna know another time when racism was bad? Earlier today.‘” from The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

#QuotsyMar19 #awkward @TK-421

(yeah, I‘m a day late on this one.)

#24in48 Hour 18 #WNDB challenge: Kamau is local to The Bay & I have been watching him do stand up & live discussions for years (you can catch his specials on Showtime & Netflix). This book is part memoir & part questioning where we all fit in society with all of our differences. Hilarious and moving, I can‘t recommend this book enough. (I also like that this pic makes it look like he‘s giving my book flowers the side eye 😂)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

##FriyayIntro
1. Teleport.
2. I‘ve been reading this since November but I switched to the audiobook and I‘m actually making progress this week.
3. Nope. New year, same me.
4. NCIS I stopped watching years ago but decided to pick it back up from the beginning.
5. 👍🏾

I‘m going to use this weekends #24B42019 readathon to finish up the books I‘m currently reading. I especially need to focus on the tagged book as I‘ve been “reading” it for over a month.

I might have reared up at the passage about Doc McStuffins (or maybe it was allergies)

A tad slow in places, but overall some really thought provoking work. He covers everything from Doc McStuffins to the KKK. All with a sense of humor and sincerity that keeps you hooked. I‘ve never seen Bell‘s shows, but now I want to binge watch them.

I loved “Totally Biased” and “Politically Reactive” so it was just a matter of time before I picked this up.

LOVE this guy and his show, The United Shades of America. Excited to read this to hear more of his perspectives. ✌️

Day 3: Favorite Title—My first take on today's theme was "title of my favorite book." How's that going to work? Just one? Instead, I'm interpreting the prompt as "best title." I'd be hard-pressed to find a book (sub)title cooler than this. [The book was pretty terrific, too.] #RiotGrams #FavoriteTitle

I finally chose this week to pick up Awkward Thoughts, written by one of my favorite humans ever, W. Kamau Bell. While definitely NOT the most important part of the book, he talked about how he always thinks about When Harry Met Sally as the ideal way for a relationship to progress. This Saturday I‘m going to marry my friend of 10 yrs, fiancé of 2, in the Oakland redwoods. We watch that movie every NYE. Feels like book fate.

I‘m a big fan of W. Kumau Bell. I listened to this book over a few days, and it was really enjoyable. I wasn‘t expecting as much of a memoir/autobiography as it was, but it was entertaining and interesting. He has a more unique story and point of view than most comics who‘ve written books, and it was definitely worth the listen.

FLASH SALE. He‘s one of my favorite humans.

This was a book that I stumbled upon thanks to a friend. It is such a great read. I enjoyed the many musings of life and people that Bell does in this book. When he talks about being the only POC in TV situations, I can relate to it so much. As a crew member, I am often the only female and POC and it can be just as exhausting as he describes.

This is a man who gets intersectionality. I listen to his podcast occasionally but I had no idea he's also done TV shows and stand-up! I really liked this one. #audiobook #nonfiction #readingblackout

I'm typically stingy with 4- and 5-star reviews; but, I just don't have anything bad to say about this book. I can't withhold any stars. Mr. Bell is funny, serious, thoughtful, and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience. This was my first exposure to him. Now, I'm hoping to take in more of his work.

Enjoyed this on my walk today. Bell reads his own book and is entertaining and funny. As an awkward person, I can relate to the awkward part. Bell‘s father also lives where I live, so I can relate to those parts too. #audiowalk

Omg this book was wonderful!!! I honestly don‘t know if I would‘ve picked it up without such a great review from @SkeletonKey and I am so glad I did. If you spend any amount of your life thinking about the state of the world and more important the state of people of color in the world, this book is for you. Also if you want to have some good chuckles. Thank you W. Kamau Bell for sharing your thoughts with the world!

I looked at this book and said, “I don‘t know anything about this man. I should probably just return this and read my own books.” Well, I‘m glad I ignored myself. Bell tackles weighty subjects, primarily racism, with humor and an unwillingness to look away. He makes very good points and has tremendous respect for his Mom, who sounds awesome. I suspect his show is good, too.

I‘m pretty sure this book is a total #blameitonlitsy for me and it‘s off to a very promising start!

Highly recommend the audiobook to fully capture Bell‘s voice. Interesting point of view by a guy trying to continually improve.

Although I liked the book, I really wanted to love it. I enjoyed his commentary on past and current social events and his reflections on life both personal and professional. I listened to the audiobook but it may have had a better impact if I'd read the book instead.

I am behind on my reviews. Oops.

I have started a habit of reading essays on my Kindle between calls at work. Slightly humorous essays are best for their ability to be stopped and started repeatedly without taking much away from the reading experience. I appreciated Bell's meditations on being a blerd (and could really relate to his experience of being an only child) and his battles to make his t.v. shows diverse and inclusive. 👇🏽

It was okay, but it didn't blow my mind. There's so many other essay collections by funny WOC that did a far better job tackling a lot of the same topics (see Luvvie Ajayi, Samantha Irby, Scaachi Khoul)

#NonfictionNovember

Memoirs read by the author are some of my favorites. This was a great, meandering set of essays about his comedy career, interests and thoughts on social justice. I especially loved how he address his own bias and works towards educating himself and others. Definitely someone who's not afraid to have the hard conversations, which is EXACTLY what we need right now, from everyone.

#memoir #nonfiction #nonfictionnovember #comedian #socialjustice

On to my next audiobook!! I really love memoirs read by the author. They're my favorite things to listen to.

#memoir #wkamaubell #nonfiction

I loved this! Funny, observant, interesting, even moving essays on his work, interracial marriage and raising mixed-race daughters, race, being an ally to women and LGBTQ+ in showbiz and life, and more. There were things I identified with (being a lazy kid, getting pumped about kids shows) and lots of things I learned. I want to be Kamau‘s friend, he seems awesome 😊

😂❤️kamau 's mom!

I'm currently listening to and enjoying Bell's book in the car. I blame him for my binge watching Doc McStuffins. I don't have children but after listening to Bell talk about the show, I had to check it out. #iloveit #myfavoritetoyisHallie

Finished this one on my way to work this morning! Interesting, funny, moving, important - very impressive! I was a fan of the short lived Totally Biased so was excited to delve into the mind of its creator.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! It made me want to be friends with Kamau. Since we're on opposite sides of the country, I'll settle for bingeing United Shades and his Politically Reactive podcast. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Finally have time to read a book instead of just hoarding them in my iBooks!!! ❤️

W.Kamau Bell is a social activist and comedian host of United Shades of America on CNN. This book is a series of essays on his life, his interracial marriage and 2 daughters and race in america including the incident pictured here when he was outside a SF coffee shop speaking with his wife and her 3 friends showing them a book he had gotten for their daughter and told by 2 cafe workers to leave. Google Elmwood Cafe and Kamau Bell. #litsypartyofone

"My roommates and I definitely were not acting our respective ages...one time, my shelf-that had my entire CD collection on- collapsed, strewing hundreds of CDs all over the floor of my room...Well for about two months, I learned I could jump from my doorway to my bed if I got a good running start. I was thirty-four years old at the time."

13 for August #MonthlyTotals #LookingForwardToFall

I learned his cousin is N. K. Jemisin!! #currentlylistening

@MinDea #HumpDayPost 1. Whiskey sulking. 2. Spaceman of Bohemia 3. 77 and raining(why Whiskey is sulking) 4. The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell 5. Finishing up some paintings

Fun fact W. Kamau Bell is N.K.Jemisin's cousin

Taking advantage of the #Libby app and downloaded this library book- good read for waiting in lines!

Full disclosure - I'm a huge fan of The Politically Reactive podcast and that is what drew me to this. I really liked it; it was laugh-out-loud funny. A little bit too much about stand-up comedy that I would have liked, but it is to be expected bc he is a comedian. One thing bugged me - the addition of another A to LGBTIQA+: adding another A for Ally is something that I, as a queer woman, personally don't believe belongs.

I'm baaaaack! Been out of touch for the past few months partially due to an epic book slump but also due to a minor Michelle slump. But it seems I got my mojo back a week or so ago so here I am.

Currently waiting for some files to download so thought I'd sneak in some of my current read (laugh out loud funny, you guys), and food of champions!

I've missed you all and can't wait to get back into the groove. 😍😘🖤🖤

Listened to this and mostly really enjoyed it. Some laugh out loud moments and some "of course!" shouting at the recording ?. His comedy doesn't always strike me as funny, so I was glad I wanted to finish this. Glad he read this himself but in some spots his delivery was wooden. Overall, a pick for me.

I've read a lot of memoirs/books of famous people's thoughts, but this one blows them all away. funny, thoughtful, wry, and a unique voice - plus razor sharp observations on culture, politics, and -isms. Woke AF. Read it. #readdiversebooks #diversevoices

This is going slowly because I'm distracted by the view. 😍