Words to Our Now: Imagination and Dissent

Author: Thomas Glave

First line: As we step from the car out onto the ground that is still muddy from last night's gentle rain, feeling it sucking at our feet as we imprint our soles on it, a light breath of spring blows the first scents of wildflowers to us: shovel in hand, I close my eyes and breathe in, deeply.

Why you should read this book: In this collection of short non-fiction essays, Glave dares ask the hard questions: "When will we stop hating each other based on race, gender, sexuality?" and "How would America and the Starr Report have been affected were the role of Monica Lewinsky played by a black man?" Using prose essentially poetic, he sheds brilliant light on the hidden corners of modern culture, particularly on the worlds of his two spiritual homes, the Bronx, New York and Kingston, Jamaica. A beautiful book willing to confront ugly things while honoring the often-silenced voice of the gay black male.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You have no imagination and you don't believe in dissent.