Welcome to Litsy!

It is a good book--and with some of the detritus cleared and perhaps a bit more interest in the trajectory of narrative, it could have been great. Certainly it was enough that I'll be curious to read what comes next from Cunningham, and I hope there is a “next“! #TOB2025

A coming-of-age story about a Black man who works on Barack Obama's campaign (though Obama is not actually named). The novel had some interesting moments but didn't seem especially exciting or insightful to me.

#ToB25
#52bookclub25 (Cover font is in a primary color)

I think this is going to be a DNF for me. Library loan is due and I just don‘t care enough to race through it. Not the book‘s fault, but I can‘t really get into the world of a fictional Obama staffer right now… 🤷‍♀️ #ToB25

Written as a memoir. I thought it was very pretentious. It was a good thing I read this on my kindle because there were several times I had to figure out a word. I used to think I had an extensive vocabulary.

There were moments I read with great interest, as when he talked about his childhood. But, even those stories would be interrupted by another tangent.

I knew this book was not for me when the word "miracle" invoked Judy Garland's singing.

I am not as mad about this as other Litsy members seem to be. I thought this was fine. I liked that the Senator was not named. This was not his story. I prefer this - a side character story vs books that take a still alive famous person & novelize their story
The writing is good, I liked the pacing. Overall though it is a book that didn't make an impact on me and I will probably forget I read it by end of the year. I would read the author again.

Audio lego -ing with bag #3 and laundry, always laundry

Feeling super “meh” about this one. A “historic” presidential campaign in which Barack Obama is never named, but so well described and perfectly brought to life. I wonder why the author chose to not name him, maybe feeling that it‘s unnecessary because it‘s so obvious. Anyway, the main character, a young black man, grows on the campaign trail. He reminisces about a former pastor and other religious experiences.. One more #ToB25 book to go!

Bailed on the audiobook at 80% because I was struggling so much to pay attention. I just don‘t like “fiction” that‘s so closely based on real events. A disappointing #tob25 entry.

When books meet reality: the MC meets and gets a hug from Peter Yarrow, who died today, January 7, 2025. May he rest in peace.
Coming of age on a political campaign. #Jan2025 Book3 #Audiobook #AudioPuzzling #PieinLit #SweetPotatoPie

I'm not sure what to think of this novel. It's something if a coming-of-age story about a young man learning the contours of his world in the context of his participation in the 2008 presidential election. There's a sense of hope, disillusionment, and something like acceptance. It was interesting to look back at that time from David's perspective, but I'm not sure this one is going to stick with me. (Photo: Utah during election season 2008.)

Am listening to this audiobook and am at 2x speed to hurry it along. It just makes me sad, is all. Not a book that inspires me to slow down, though I appreciate it all the same. In fact, it‘s one of those books that I seek out reviews by esteemed literary journals, enjoy reading, and tend to agree with! So I will finish, I try not to feel smug about that LOL, and I will quickly go to the next ToB book on my list. Tagging/thanking my Litsy friend

This one really didn‘t work for me. Parts of it were good, but the structure felt choppy and a number of the religious musings felt shoehorned in, not fitting the narrative. By the end I really didn‘t care. I‘m disappointed because I lived in Detroit when Obama was elected and hearing people celebrating in the streets was extraordinary. I wish this could have channeled the actual moment. #TOB25

This has had mixed reviews but I liked it. It follows a young Black man as he works on the political campaign of a Black nominee.

I did have a couple of issues though - it was too obviously based on Obama‘s campaign which detracted from the MC‘s own story. Also, there was too much talk about religion and I lost interest / lost my way in those parts.

I‘m still glad I read it though.

#ToBlonglist

Yawn. 🥱 This #toblonglist choice was kinda a chore. Maybe I‘ve had too much politics, but looking back at a young man‘s fictionalized work on the Obama campaign was just not something I‘m into right now. Maybe if I had read it before Harris lost I‘d feel different, but now…🤦🏻‍♀️

I don‘t think the book is poorly written I just didn‘t want to read it. If you find the premise interesting, give it a shot. #tob25