The League of Extraordinary Readers

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨This week, Shelbey Monae and Jessica recap their latest book events and author experiences while having an honest conversation about community, representation, and what it really means to engage with diverse literature.We get candid about gentrification, LGBTQ+ representation, hygiene at literary events, and the challenges of reading and reviewing books from different perspectives. From connecting with authors to navigating complicated conversations around culture and identity, this episode goes beyond the page.If you love Black literature, diverse books, book events, literary discussions, and honest conversations about the reading community, this episode is for you!🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join the conversation.🪩 Church Announcements:We are taking the month of October off!Books Mentioned:Sky Full Of LoveThe DisappearersGhalenBelovedDeyThe StreetThick The Fantasies of Future ThingsDidn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to CarlottaSong of SolomonSulaBroughtupsyGiovanni’s RoomAuthors Mentioned:TV:Moonlight💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer📧Email Us: [email protected]📱Follow us on socials:IG&Threads: @theleagueofreadersShelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonaeJess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

🎉 Happy Pub Day to The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw! 📚

In this episode of The League of Extraordinary Readers, Shelbey Monae sits down with acclaimed author Deesha Philyaw to discuss her latest book, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman. Together, they explore writing, faith, sexuality, identity, marriage, happiness, and the pressure of societal expectations—especially within the Black church.

Deesha also shares insights into her creative process, character development, authentic self-expression, and the social issues woven throughout her work. This is a thoughtful conversation about Black womanhood, personal growth, religion, and what it means to live a life that feels true to yourself.

If you love Black fiction, literary conversations, Black authors, diverse literature, and author interviews, this episode is for you!

🎧 Listen, subscribe, and join the conversation!

🪩 Church Announcements:

September: The Fantasies of Future Things ( https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-fantasies-of-future-things-a-novel-doug-jones/4cb1057d64dc744c?ean=9781668016299&bkshp-astro=t)

Books Mentioned:

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev

Kin

The Fervant Whites

The Seven Daughters of Dupree

Desperate Bodies

Soft Spots

When It Gets Cold In The South

Good God

Authors Mentioned:

TV:

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub 

Deesha’s IG&Threads:@deeshaphilyaw

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨

This week, Shelbey Monae and Jessica dive into Sky Full of Elephants, exploring racial identity, systemic racism, injustice, and the ways society shapes our understanding of Black identity. We discuss the importance of perspective, challenging assumptions, and understanding how childhood, mental health, community, culture, and access to technology can shape our experiences.

Plus, we talk about recent reads, re-reading and decolonizing narratives, and some of our favorite TV shows, including Silo and Green Lantern.

If you love Black literature, diverse books, literary fiction, thoughtful book discussions, and conversations about race and culture, this episode is for you!

🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join the conversation.

🪩 Church Announcements:

September: The Fantasies of Future Things ( https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-fantasies-of-future-things-a-novel-doug-jones/4cb1057d64dc744c?ean=9781668016299&bkshp-astro=t)

Books Mentioned:

The Hospital At The End of The World 

American Nightmare

They Were Her Property

Ghalen

Sky Full of Elephants

Authors Mentioned:

TV:

Silo

Lanterns

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub 

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨

This week, Shelbey Monae and Jessica check in on their HRCYED reading challenge, sharing their progress, favorite diverse book selections, and strategies for tackling those tricky themed prompts. We also get into favorite books, author debates, upcoming reads, and how we’re planning our TBRs for the months ahead.

Whether you’re participating in a reading challenge or simply looking for your next great read, this episode is packed with book recommendations, literary discussions, diverse literature, and plenty of reader talk.

🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join the conversation!

Books Mentioned:

Gumbo

Black writer’s at work

Uncle tom’s children

Eight men

🪩 Church Announcements:

September: The Fantasies of Future Things ( https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-fantasies-of-future-things-a-novel-doug-jones/4cb1057d64dc744c?ean=9781668016299&bkshp-astro=t)

TV:

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub 

#TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryReaders #BookPodcast #ReadingChallenge #HRCYED #BlackReaders #AfricanAmericanReaders #BlackLiterature #BlackAuthors #DiverseBooks #BookRecommendations #ReadingCommunity #BookTube #LiteraryPodcast #BookDiscussion #ReadingGoals #TBR #DiverseLiterature #BooksToRead #LiteratureLovers #ReadersCommunity

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨

This week, Shelbey Monae and Jessica dive into generational trauma, family dynamics, and the complicated portrayal of cults in contemporary literature. We also talk about the importance of supporting Black authors, book marketing, author recognition, and what it means to navigate the publishing world as a reader.

Plus, we share personal reflections on our reading journeys and the books that continue to challenge, surprise, and shape us.

If you love Black literature, diverse books, literary discussions, contemporary fiction, and thoughtful conversations about books and culture, this episode is for you!

🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join the conversation.

🪩 Church Announcements:

September: The Fantasies of Future Things ( https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-fantasies-of-future-things-a-novel-doug-jones/4cb1057d64dc744c?ean=9781668016299&bkshp-astro=t)

Books Mentioned:

The Waterbearers

The Book of Chuck

Breathe, Eyes, Memory

Kin

Song of Solomon

Meet Me In The Garden

Don’t Cry For Me

Issac’s Song

Sky Full of Elephants

The Deep

99 Problems Finding The Ones 

Authors Mentioned:

Tayari Jones

Kiese Laymon

Honoree Jeffers

Angela Flournoy

Rachel Eliza Grifiths

Addie Citchens

Deesha Philyaw

TV:

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub 

Sasha’s IG: @sasha.bonet 

Sasha’s website: sashabonet.com

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨

This week, Shelbey Monae and Jessica dive into generational trauma, family dynamics, and the complicated portrayal of cults in contemporary literature. We also talk about the importance of supporting Black authors, book marketing, author recognition, and what it means to navigate the publishing world as a reader.

Plus, we share personal reflections on our reading journeys and the books that continue to challenge, surprise, and shape us.

If you love Black literature, diverse books, literary discussions, contemporary fiction, and thoughtful conversations about books and culture, this episode is for you!

🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join the conversation.

🪩 Church Announcements:

September: The Fantasies of Future Things ( https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-fantasies-of-future-things-a-novel-doug-jones/4cb1057d64dc744c?ean=9781668016299&bkshp-astro=t)

Books Mentioned:

The Book of Chuck

Kin

Breathe Eyes Memory

Zeal

The Devil Three Times

The Hanged Man

Kindred

Meet Me In The Garden 

Authors Mentioned:

TV:

Furious

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub 

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨

This week, Shelbey Monae and Jessica discuss new book releases, cultural identity, genre classification, and the power of storytelling. We unpack why context matters when reading diverse literature and how the stories we consume can shape the way we understand people, culture, and the world around us.

If you love Black literature, diverse books, literary fiction, book discussions, and thoughtful cultural conversations, this episode is for you!

🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join the conversation.

🪩 Church Announcements:

August: The Book of Chuck (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-of-chuck-a-novel-latoya-watkins/cc12158c8af94f74?ean=9780593854549&bkshp-astro=t)

Books Mentioned:

The Book of Chuck

Holler, Child

Perish

Zeal

The Seven Daughter of Dupree

Vigil

Falcon The Football

Die For Me

Study Guide

Kin

Song of Solomon

Breath Eyes Memory

Sula

Krik Krak

The Missed Connection

The Coroner’s Silence

Waterbearers

Anna Karenina

Ulyeses

Authors Mentioned:

Derek Walcott

TV:

Furious

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub 

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨

This week, Shelbey Monae and Jessica get into culture, community, identity, and the generational disconnects shaping how we see the world. We discuss Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and Edwidge Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory, while exploring cultural upbringing, mentorship, social media, true crime, AI in literature and art, and what it means to support Black authors and local bookstores.

If you love Black literature, diverse books, literary discussions, cultural conversations, and reading podcasts, this episode is for you!

🎧 Subscribe, listen, and join the conversation.

🪩 Church Announcements:

August: The Book of Chuck (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-of-chuck-a-novel-latoya-watkins/cc12158c8af94f74?ean=9780593854549&bkshp-astro=t)

Books Mentioned:

On Earth We’re Briefly Beautiful

Breathe, Eyes, Memory 

Song of Solomon

Kin

Vigil

Die For Me

The Waterbearers

Authors Mentioned:

TV:

The Idaho Murders

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub 

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨

In this episode, Shelbey Monae and Jessica discuss their latest book reviews, reading recommendations, and honest thoughts on today's literary landscape. We also share personal health experiences, explore mental health and cultural conversations, and dive into the importance of representation in contemporary romance, horror, and science fiction.

If you love literary fiction, Black authors, diverse books, thoughtful book discussions, and conversations that connect literature to culture and everyday life, this episode is for you.

🎧 Subscribe, leave a review, and join the conversation!

⬇️ Connect with us below for more book recommendations, podcast episodes, and literary discussions.

🪩 Church Announcements:

August: The Book of Chuck (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-of-chuck-a-novel-latoya-watkins/cc12158c8af94f74?ean=9780593854549&bkshp-astro=t)

Books Mentioned:

The Book of Chuck

The Summer Girlfriend 

The Curse of Hester Gardens

Indigo

On Witness and Respair

The Unknown

Bricked Up

Song of Solomon

Wench

Heavy

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous 

Sky Full of Elephants

The Revelation of Dionne Daphne

The Coroner’s Silence

Backtalker

Neuromancer

West of Damnation

The Siren

Authors Mentioned:

Lee Smith

Tia Williams

Danielle Allen

Kennedy Ryan

TV:

The Toxic Love Story

The Man Will Burn

Midsommer

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub 

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers! 📚✨

This week, Shelbey Monae and Jessica are catching up on their latest book reviews, audiobook recommendations, and favorite recent finds while diving into the power of voice in storytelling. From book club discussions and concerts to fashion, film, and media, we explore how personal experiences shape the way we interpret stories.

We also have an honest conversation about cultural perception, mental health, identity, and the societal issues reflected in books, movies, and the media we consume. If you love literary fiction, Black authors, diverse books, book reviews, and thoughtful conversations that go beyond the page, this episode is for you.

🎧 Subscribe, leave a review, and join the conversation!

🪩 Church Announcements:

July: The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-summer-girlfriend-kristina-forest/de7184f5b281609d?ean=9780593956397) 

Books Mentioned:

Theft

Afterlives

The Man Who Haunted Himself

In The Upper Country

The American Daughters

Leave Your Mess At Home

All This Want And I Can’t Get None

All The Men in Lagos Are Mad

The Sex Lives of African Women

Wrong Door

Song of Solomon

Bricked Up

Kin

Fairfield County

Broken Country

The Broken Hearts Agency

The Missed Connection

Fish Tales

Where The Dead Brides Gather

Something Like Love

The Revelation of Dionne Daphne 

Authors Mentioned:

VS Naipaul

Frantz Fanon

TV:

Obsession

The Odyssey

💬 Follow The League of Extraordinary Readers:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: [email protected]

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub