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Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana

The interconnected stories in Fofana’s spectacular debut collection feature a range of vibrant characters who are living close to the edge … A range of emotions, from wistfulness to humor, envy, and vengefulness, colors these pages that are often filled with laugh-out-loud passages … Above all, the characters’ voices are unforgettable, crackling with energy and spunk. “Everybody got a story, everybody got a tale. Question is: is it despair or prevail?” Read more

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Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Whitehead adds another genre to an ever-diversifying portfolio with his first crime novel, and it’s a corker … Whitehead delivers a portrait of Harlem in the early ’60s, culminating with the Harlem Riot of 1964, that is brushed with lovingly etched detail and features a wonderful panoply of characters who spring to full-bodied life, blending joy, humor, and tragedy. A triumph on every level. Read more

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