February Staff Book Report: Jocelynn Pedro
Each month we ask our staff to share their latest reading recommendations and give us a peek into their reading habits by answering your favorite bookish questions. In January, we hear from Jocelynn Pedro, Senior Publicist, PublicAffairs. Read ahead for Jocelynn’s trusted reading recommendations, her nostalgic future bookstore and more.
It Was All a Dream by Reniqua Allen
My father saw an excerpt of this book in a newspaper and clipped it out for me. After reading it, I purchased the book immediately and found pieces of my life and those of family and friends represented within its pages. Ironically, I was reading it when I discovered the job posting for a publicist position at PublicAffairs/Bold Type Books and was so excited to apply and then join the imprint. For many reasons, this is a book that came into my life at the right time.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
I took this book with me on a trip to Atlanta and reading it took up nearly all my free time. I literally could not put it down, but I also tried not to read it too quickly because I did not want to say goodbye to these characters. While this is a love story at its core, I also found it to be a beautifully written celebration of Black creativity in its varied forms. At this point, I’ve probably recommended this book to all my friends.
The Dead Don't Need Reminding by Julian Randall
Even though the year has just started, I am certain this will be one of my favorite reads of 2024. Julian is able to share his own story and that of his family with beautiful prose, charming wit, and an honesty that is so incredibly fearless. Pair that with his ability to use pop culture to explore topics of love, grief, and identity – this book is nothing short of a masterpiece in my eyes. In using these pop-culture staples and moments, he allows for many people to find connections to his stories. For me, it was reading a chapter that utilized the Creed films (the first is one of my favorites) of the Rocky franchise to discuss the triumph of finding value in life; and the chapter that proclaimed that Tupac Shakur and John Keats were “essentially the same dude” had me going back to compare their works. This book is a great read that offers up a view of life, and the act of living it, in a way that is both unique and inspiring.
Black Ball by Theresa Runstedtler
I love basketball! I cannot play, but I love it nonetheless. And while, I have my favorites from this generation, I often find interest in looking back at the greats who paved the way for today’s players. With this book I got to see how players like Oscar Robertson, Connie Hawkins, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius “Dr. J” Erving and so many more created not just a playing style that many would go on to emulate, but more importantly a blueprint for NBA players to have more agency over their own careers. However, what appealed to me the most in this book was seeing how in a post-civil rights America these players formed their own “diverse expressions of Black identity and Black Power from political and cultural currents outside sport” that they then brought with them onto the court – paving the way for future stars to be unapologetically themselves. What this book made clear to me is that without the hard work and sacrifices of the players that dominated the courts in the late 60s and throughout the 70s, we would not have players who felt free to advocate for themselves and as a collective within the league, be activists for social justice, or even play with the style and flair that now dominates the game.
What is the weirdest thing you have used as a bookmark?
A remote control, my cell phone, plane tickets, foreign currency that I forgot to exchange, etc.
If you owned a bookstore, what would you call it?
When I was growing up, there was a store that sold books, jewelry, and art that I went to called Old Black Magic. It was my absolute favorite place to go and the woman who owned it would often walk through the shelves with me recommending books for me to read. It unfortunately closed many years ago, and I still miss it to this day. I always thought they had the perfect name, and so if I was able to one day own a bookstore, I would probably re-open Old Black Magic.
What is your favorite book cover from the past year and why?
An Olive Grove in Ends by Moses McKenzie
While I think it falls slightly outside of the year window, An Olive Grove in Ends by Moses McKenzie immediately had my attention with its bright colors and typeface which paired together reminded me of old calypso albums. This book is still in my TBR pile, and I am really looking forward to reading it.
