Kate’s 2¢: “Woke Up No Light” by Leila Mottley

“Woke Up No Light” by Leila Mottley

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   This was one of seven books on one cartridge the NLS sent to me. I think the poet was reading her own pieces. Her voice was pleasant and understandable.

From the WEB:

Leila Mottley is a young American novelist and poet, best known for her debut novel “Nightcrawling,” which was a New York Times bestseller and Oprah’s Book Club pick. She was also the 2018 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate and has published poetry in various journals and anthologies. Mottley’s writing often explores themes of Black girlhood, police brutality, and the experiences of marginalized communities in Oakland. 

Leila Mottley (born 2002) is an American novelist and poet.[1] She is The New York Times bestselling author of Nightcrawling, which was a nominated for numerous awards, including the Booker Prize, making her the youngest author to have been nominated for the award. In 2018, at age 16, she was named the Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland, California.

Early life[edit]

Mottley was born and raised in Oakland, California,[2] where she continues to reside.[3] She began attending Smith College in 2019 and is currently on indefinite leave to pursue writing.[4]

Career[edit]

Mottley was named the Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland, California in 2018 at age 16,[2] having served the prior year as Vice Youth Poet Laureate.[5] Her poetry has appeared in The New York Times.[6]

Mottley co-wrote and starred in a documentary short, When I Write It, an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival in 2020.[7]

In June 2022, Mottley published her first novel, Nightcrawling,[8] which she began writing at age 16.[9] She wrote the original version during the summer of 2019, shortly after completing her high school education. At the time, she was employed as a substitute preschool teacher.[10][11][12][13]

In 2024, Leila Mottley published her first poetry collection, woke up no light.[14]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Woke up No Light DB122879

Leila Mottley

Poetry

Women

“Woke up no light is a Black girl’s saunter turned to a woman’s defiant strut. These are the hymns of a new generation of poetry. Young, alive, yearning. A mouth swung open and ready to devour. A quest for home in a world that knows only wasteland and wanting. Moving in sections from “girlhood” to “neighborhood” to “falsehood” to, finally, “womanhood,” these poems reckon with themes of reparations, restitution, and desire. The collection is sharp and raw, wise and rhythmic, a combination that lights up each page. From unearthing histories to searching for ways to dream of a future in a world constantly on the brink of disaster, this young poet sets forth personal and political revelation with piercing detail”– Publisher’s description. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Download Woke up no light DB122879

Kate’s 2¢: “The Rotary Club murder Mystery” by Graham Landrum

“The Rotary Club murder Mystery” by Graham Landrum

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Margaret Strom did a good job of narrating this cozy mystery. After reading “The Famous DAR Murder Mystery, when the book was donated to my DAR chapter, I wanted to read another cozy mystery by Landrum.

   I loved the way the wiley elder DAR member plunged into solving this rather complicated murder mystery and at the same time let readers know a lot about local Rotary Clubs.

   A few take-aways:

–Trains run on steam. Men run on self-esteem.

–Great recipe for Cheese Grits Casserole–

–How a dog helped to ID the man who blew up her car.

From the WEB:

Graham Gordon Landrum, retired college professor of English and distinguished author of mystery novels, died July 31, 1995, in Bristol, Tenn. Graham was born in Dallas, Tex., …

From NLS/BARD/LOC;

The Rotary Club murder mystery DB42961

Landrum, Graham Reading time: 7 hours, 1 minute.

Margaret Strom National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

Mystery and Detective Stories

The district governor of the Rotary Club is found shot in his locked hotel room the day he is to give his annual speech in Borderville, Virginia-Tennessee. Because of her success in solving The Famous DAR Murder Mystery (DB 42097), the Rotary Club members offer to pay eighty-eight-year-old Harriet Bushrow’s expenses if she’ll investigate his death.

Download The Rotary Club murder mystery DB42961