This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. I Been In Sorrow's Kitchen And Licked Out All The Pots

   

   This novel follows the life of Marietta Cook, a tall, resilient African American woman from the Gullah community in South Carolina, as she endures the hardships and complexities of the American South. Through her journey, we witness her strength and determination as she raises her twin sons, contends with racial and social challenges, and strives to maintain her cultural heritage. The narrative, rich with Gullah dialect and traditions, paints a vivid portrait of a woman's struggle for survival and dignity against a backdrop of historical events that shape her community and the nation.

   The 12802nd Greatest Book of All Time

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2. 2. Sacrament

   

   In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, four ICU nurses in San Bernardino—Larette Embers, Cherrise Martinez, and traveling nurses Pam Ott and Marisol Manalang—live in RVs beside the hospital and form a makeshift household. Facing extreme heat, family strains, and the relentless demands of caring for dying patients, they forge a fragile community of solidarity, care, and survival.

   The 13043rd Greatest Book of All Time

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3. 3. A Million Nightingales

   

   Set in the 19th-century American South, this poignant narrative follows Moinette, a young mixed-race slave, as she navigates the complexities of her identity and the harsh realities of her existence. Born into bondage on a Louisiana plantation, Moinette's journey is marked by her resilience and determination to seek freedom and autonomy. As she grapples with the loss of her mother and the oppressive structures around her, Moinette's story unfolds with a rich tapestry of emotions, exploring themes of love, survival, and the relentless pursuit of self-discovery amidst the brutal backdrop of slavery.

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4. 4. Mecca

   

   A polyphonic portrait of contemporary Southern California that follows a Mexican American highway patrol officer and a web of farmworkers, nurses, and families from the desert to the coast as their lives intersect amid wildfires, shifting borders, and the weight of history, exploring identity, duty, and the longing for home in a landscape both beautiful and unforgiving.

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