Author: Yecheilyah

Writing to restore Black historical truth through fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

What is a Book Review (and how to schedule yours)

BR

What is a Book Review?

A book review is a form of literary criticism in which a book is analyzed based on content, style, and merit. A book review can be a primary source opinion piece, summary review or scholarly review. Part of the purpose of a good book review is to help the reader ascertain whether the author accomplishes his/her goal or not so they can determine if they should read the book. Books are written to entertain, inform, persuade and overall to advance ideas and book reviews are written to further the discussion the author has started. A good book review doesn’t just answer questions related to why the book was written but expands the conversation of the book in order to advance the discussion. This in turn, expands the author’s message, helping readers get a feel for who he or she is and whether or not their style of writing is worth investing both their time and money in.

About Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews

My Book Reviews are honest and thorough. I approach each project with the same level of professionalism and care as I would a big company. I show no partiality and I do not publish constructive criticism. This means that any review under a 4 will not be published unless otherwise requested by the author. I believe there is some good in everything if we are willing to see it. So before I provide critical feedback I do so while first highlighting the positive points of where I think the author does well. The writer believed enough in his/her topic to write on it, so I believe the reviewer should acknowledge where the writer has been successful. This helps the author to feel that I understood his arguments, and it also helps the reader to understand that not everything in the book is bad.

The Process

Book Reviews are scheduled in the order in which they are received. After receiving your book in the mail (or email), I will begin reading and analyzing your book in the order in which I have received it (I will let you know if someone is in front of you and the estimated wait time). Please give me time to read your book. I will then write the review and then publish it to this blog as well as my social media sites. Again, I do not publish reviews under a 4 star rating, though I will send you a copy of the review via email. The purpose is not to badger you as author nor is it to overwhelm you, but to provide thoughtful feedback. I believe in this way the criticism is not more negative than it is helpful, but engages the author’s thoughts from the book.

Ratings

After studying the material, my final rating is based on the following system ( I rate on a scale of 1-5):

 
Plot Movement / Strength
Entertainment Factor
Characterization
Authenticity / Believable
Thought Provoking
Recommendation

Ratings of 4 and 5 stars are published to my blog and social networking sites. Links to author website, blog, and social networks are also promoted. Authors are also sent a free PDF copy of the review for their personal records. Reviews are free. If you like the review, I only ask for permission to use your feedback in the furthering of this service, such as the quote used in the AD above.

If you are interested, please complete the form below.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Interracial Blog Feature – Interviews This Fall

interracial_1_wide-7c4dfa511fd9bbab35fe2fb297fbf7b756679b7d-s800-c85

In 1968, a year after the release of the film Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, about a black man who wanted to marry a white woman, a Poll revealed that just 20 percent of Americans thought it was OK for a white person to marry a black person. According to a recent 2011 Gallup Poll, 96 percent of African-Americans and 84 percent of whites accept the idea. Today, as of 2015, the subject of Interracial Relationships is still Taboo.

Are you in an Interracial Relationship? Would you mind being interviewed for a chance to share your story? You never know who you may touch with your experience. Join me in my Interracial Blog Feature Coming this Fall.

Email me @: ahouseofpoetry@gmail.com if you’re interested. I would love to have you.

Book Launch Day Trivia! *New Winners!*

7149793-120875522_1-v1

Yall thought it was over didn’t ya? Nope, Launch Week is still on and popping.

Now, we have a new winner to the following question. I have let it stay up all week to give more people a chance to answer. The question was:

Stella’s life takes place during many historical events, one of which being the depression. Although the United States had experienced several depressions before the stock market crash of October 1929, none had been as severe. How long did this Great Depression last?

a. 5 years
b. 20 years
c. 10 years
d. None of the Above

We had some great answers! According to Google, the depression was from 1929-1939. BUT historically, The Great Depression actually lasted from 1929 to the early 1940s. The answer is D, none of the above.

Congratulations to: 1010buterflie at https://1010buterflie.wordpress.com/ for answering our question correctly! Please give me your name and mailing address by sending an email to: ahouseofpoetry@gmail.com for your FREE Copy of Beyond The Colored Line! Whoop!

Here’s a good website with a timeline of the depression. Knowledge is power.

Reminder: Get a Free Stella Bookmark when you order Beyond The Colored Line in Print! Visit my Author Website at:  http://literarykornerpublishing.com/

Movie Night Friday – Soul Food

mnf

Welcome back to another segment of Movie Night Friday. Where I present some of my favorite movies and why I love them.

Today I would like to discuss Soul Food, one of my favorite movies.

MV5BMTgzOTA5OTc0OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNzkxNDA5._V1_SY317_CR5,0,214,317_AL_

Soul Food is a movie about one family and their ability to stay a family through their willingness to endure all of the trial and tribulations that befall them. Told from the perspective of 11-year-old Ahmad, the Chicago family creates a bond around the Sunday “Soul Food” dinners they have every Sunday. Documented to have been coined in 1964 when blacks exercised self-awareness concerning themselves and “Soul” and “Black Power” got popular, there are a lot of misconceptions concerning Soul Food. The assumption is that the essential ingredient is pork and that deep-fat frying is its ultimate technique. It is assumed that the food must be dangerously unhealthy (I have to agree with Huey on the Boondocks. How they gonna go back to eating the same food that gave Big Mama diabetes tho) and is even mentioned in the movie that because we didn’t have anything else to eat in slavery we made meals of whatever we were given and that this is soul food. While it is true that blacks during slavery had little to nothing to eat, Soul Food got its name, not necessarily because of slavery, but because of how it brought black families and communities together which predates the institution of chattel slavery. African Americans have always been a communal people and food has always been an art form. Even if it wasn’t called Soul Food specifically, “Soul Food” is a tradition that go back for centuries.

I still remember when I watched this for the first time back in ’97 or ’98 and it was the ideal family I imagined we have all wanted and if we had, something that we have all cherished. However, it is always easy to be there for one another during the good times, but what about when tragedy strikes? Multiple tragedies?

Can the Joseph family endure the ultimate challenge of betrayal, hurt, and Big Mama’s failing health? Does a family, who is knit together seemingly through the strength of one person, have what it takes to stay once that person is gone?

As is obvious, this became my favorite because of the family bond and the unity of love they had for one another. I wouldn’t say that I watch it over and over again or anything, but it is a good throwback classic.

MV5BMTQ4MTQ3NDcyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjgwMzkyMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR10,0,214,317_AL_ Soul Food was eventually spent off into a TV series.

Trailer:

maxresdefault

Is Soul Food among one of your favs? Why do you love it?

My New Author Website!

file

Important Update: My Website has moved and is now available at:

http://literarykornerpublishing.net/

ATTN: This is the permanent website of Yecheilyah Ysrayl. Please go here to purchase books from now on. The old site will remain open for a while during this transition. Thank you for your patience as we strive to improve your buying experience.

Are you in an Interracial Relationship?

mixedracefamily-624x416

As many of you know by now, this is Book Launch Week for me of my new book, “Beyond The Colored Line”, which deals with racial passing in the age of Jim Crow. What I would like is this:

If you are in an interracial relationship (especially if you have bi-racial children) and you would like to share some of your experiences, I would love to interview you as part of a series on this blog.

Email me if you’re interested and I will give you more details. Don’t just like this post, but feel free to share and participate if you are moved to do so. I would really love to have you.

ahouseofpoetry@gmail.com

interracial_website_jax