Weekend Chatterbox: 20 Must Reads Before You Fly MEME

Since the New York Times has this fantabulous article, "Volumes To Go Before I Die" inspired by the book, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die I thought it would be fun to open this weekend's chatterbox to the blog literati.Do you agree with the list? And, What are the 20 Must Reads everyone should read before you fly away. :) I think our recommendations will also reflect our nationality, faith, ethnicity and personal reflections. A few books that come to mind for me are books that helped me to define who I am. I welcome your list. You can post them here in comments or post them on your blog and link them here. In fact, I want to go a step further and make this a Meme. I'm tagging Rhonda McKnight
and anyone who reads this blog and is avid reader.

My Recommendations(in no rank or aesthetic value:)

1. Alice Walker's A Color Purple
2. Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye
3. Plato's Republic
4. John Milton Paradise Lost
5. Thomas Hardy Tess of the d'Ubbervilles
6. Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice
7. Alexandre Dumas's Count of Monte Christo
8. Ron Hansen's Mariette in Ecstasy
9. Francis Ellen Harper's Iola Leroy
10. The Autobiography of Malcom X
11. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus
12. The Holy Bible
13. Philip Roth's The Human Stain
14. Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees
15. Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club
16. Walter Mosley's A Devil in a Blue Dress
17. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
18. Terry McMillan's Disappearing Acts
19. Marilynne Robinson's Gilead
20. Leif Enger's Peace Like a River
    

What next? Subscribe or Join the Network and Register for next week's Online Writer's Conference

African American Christian Publishing Company is seeking a Creative
Director. The qualified person will take the lead in designing and
maintaining the quality brand and image for our products. Also includes
development of daily graphic design/operation and web graphics design,
oversight of special productions, and project management. Manages a
minimum staff of 5 people providing them with direction and expertise.
Directs covers and interior designs for core and ancillary titles in
specified content areas and styles for related illustration programs.
Works collaboratively with our Editorial and Marketing departments to
establish and articulate design and art goals. Email resume and cover to igordon at urbanministries dot com.

Vanessa Miller's Sunday Brunch & the Essence Bestseller's List

CLICK HERE to visit Vanessa's Website.

Come celebrate Vanessa Miller make #9 on Essence Magazine's Bestsellers List(6/08)

Others on the list:
#4 hardback: Sin No More By Kimberla Lawson Roby

What next: Subscribe or Join the Network

Best Blog Week Ever: Too Little, Too Late

Week ending May 22, 2008

My write or die chick, Rhonda McNight is spotlighting Victoria Christopher Murray's Too Little Too Late.
Cindy Swanson shares Steven Curtis Chapman condolences link. David Foster praises Thomas Nelson's Michael Hyatt for Christian publishing optimism. Literary agent, Rachelle Gardner allows a published anon author to rant. Purple Hearts recaps more publishing talk. Hop over to Christian Bookshop Blog to see who Phil Groom nominated for The Encyclopedia of Christian Cheese's The Cheesiest Christian Book Title Contest. Hint: It's a Baker Publishing Book. I like the title. Rebecca Miller defends Christian Sci-Fi

CSFF blog tour is up and they are promoting the webzine, Mindflights.

Participants’ Links and TEXT DOC:
Brandon Barr,
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Kameron M. Franklin
Beth Goddard
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Michael Heald
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Terri Main
Margaret
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Pamela Morrisson
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Ashley Rutherford
Mirtika or Mir’s Here
Rachelle Sperling
Stuart Stockton
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Linda Wichman
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise
Nominate your blog entry to be include next week at vidae at writing dot com.

SIMON, PAULA & RANDY MOVE OVER for GOSPEL DREAM

SIMON, PAULA & RANDY MOVE OVER BIG Jim, Martha & J. AS JUDGES FOR GMC’S GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN TALENT SEARCH

Gospel Dream 2008 Premieres Sunday, June 1 @ 9:00 PM (ET/PT)

ATLANTA - May 19, 2008 – The fate of 16 aspiring Gospel/Christian music singers from across the country competing in Gospel Music Channel’s American Idol®-inspired talent search series Gospel Dream 2008 will be in the hands of the Gospel/Christian music’s version of Simon, Paula and Randy: famed producer Big Jim Wright, Award-winning artist Martha Munizzi and multi-platinum artist/producer J. Moss, the network announced today. GMC also announced that Gospel Dream 2008 will be hosted by Sparrow Records recording artist and Award-winning songwriter Matthew West.

The season premiere of Gospel Dream 2008 is set for Sunday, June 1 and the series will run for five consecutive Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT), culminating with the grand finale coronation of the winner on June 29. Gospel Dream 2008 invited performers from all Gospel/Christian styles, including traditional, soul, rock, blues and country, to audition in Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Miami and Atlanta. The winner will receive a record & music video deal and a Royal Caribbean Cruise.

Gospel Music Channel (http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com) is the fastest-growing network in television today and can be seen in nearly 40 million homes on various cable systems around the country and nationwide on DIRECTV.