Book Review: You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar + online book discussion of this book tonight 1/12/2022!!

You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy StoriesAbout Racism

by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar (305.8 AfrYr)

 

Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar are two sisters who grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Amber has moved to New York City, where she is a writer and performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers and host of The Amber Ruffin Show. Lacey is still living in Omaha. The book documents racist things said to Lacey. There is a back-and-forth humor between the co-author sisters that makes it impossible to not laugh, although the reality of current racism experienced by the authors is horrifying.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo or Mixed: My Life in Black and White by Angela Nissel.)

 

( publisher’s official You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey web page ) | ( official Amber Ruffin Twitter feed ) | ( official Lacey Lamar Twitter feed )

 

Recommended by Jodi R.
Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries

 

***** Join a virtual book discussion of You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism, co-sponsored by Nebraska Appleseed, tonight from 6:30 to 7:30 on Zoom!

To join the discussion, go to https://lincolnne.zoom.us/j/8465964290. *****

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Looking for comments on "The Art of Detection"

Mystery fans --

The Just Desserts mystery group discussed Laurie R. King's "Kate Martinelli" mystery, The Art of Detection, at our monthly meeting this past Thursday.

If you've got any opinions or thoughts about this novel and would like to share them, we invite you to stop by the Just Desserts blog and leave a comment. You'll find places to leave comments about a wide variety of our past book selections there as well!

Courtyard Book Chats for 2009

Summertime book talks return to downtown for a fourth year, in the form of our Courtyard Book Chats...in the Garden!

Every Tuesday, starting June 2nd, in June, July and August, a Lincoln City Libraries staff member (or special guest) will present a themed booktalk over the lunch hour -- 12:15 to 12:45 -- in the beautiful Lincoln Foundation Garden -- 1415 "N" St. (across "N" St. from Bennett Martin Public Library).

If you're interested in hearing about recent bestsellers and/or other quirky titles you might have missed, we encourage you to bring along your lunch and join us for any of these quick, thematic book talks. Specific themes are still being finalized, but you can find the schedule on BookGuide's Book Groups page. You can also watch out for book lists and podcasts of many of these book presentations to be made available via the libraries' Booktalk Booklists and Podcasts pages as well.

Note: In case of rain or other inclement weather, Courtyard Book Chats will be held in the covered seating area of Bennett Martin Public Library's open central courtyard garden.

Read...Discuss...Repeat! - October - The Exorcist

The October selection for BookGuide's Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted.

This month's title is The Exorcist, the classic 1971 horror novel by William Peter Blatty, based on true life events surrounding a demonic possession of a child in the 1940s.

Stop by the Read...Discuss...Repeat! page on BookGuide for background information about the book, a list of "readalikes", and links to web sites related to the book and author. Then (or now, if you've read the book), stop by and fill out our on-line comment form to share your thoughts and opinions about The Exorcist!

Also, since there's the classic 1973 film adaptation available to discuss, feel free to stop by and comment on that version of this story as well!

Read...Discuss...Repeat! - September - Restoring the Burnt Child

The September selection for BookGuide's Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted.

This month's title is Restoring the Burnt Child: A Primer, the 2003 autobiography (the 3rd volume in a planned 4 volume set) by Nebraska State Poet William Kloefkorn. Previously the 2008 selection for the statewide One Book One Nebraska program. Kloefkorn is a Lincoln resident, a Professor Emeritus at Nebraska Wesleyan University, and has celebrated over 25 years of serving as the Nebraska State Poet.

Stop by the Read...Discuss...Repeat! page on BookGuide for background information about the book, a list of "readalikes", and links to web sites related to the book and author. Then (or now), if you've read the book, stop by and fill out our on-line comment form to share your thoughts and opinions about Restoring the Burnt Child!

Read...Discuss...Repeat! - August - The Other Boleyn Girl

The August selection for BookGuide's Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted.

This month's title is the 2001 historical fiction novel turned into a 2008 movie -- The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory. Focusing on a historical era lush with intrigues, royal maneuvering and complicated relationships, The Other Boleyn Girl takes a detailed look at the relationship between Britain's King Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn in the mid-1500s.

Stop by the Read...Discuss...Repeat! page on BookGuide for background information about the book, a list of "readalikes", and links to web sites related to the book and author. Then (or now), if you've read the book, stop by and fill out our on-line comment form to share your thoughts and opinions about The Other Boleyn Girl!

Read...Discuss...Repeat! -- July -- Stiff

The July selection for BookGuide's Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted.

This month's title is the 2003 non-fiction book that shocked readers with the afterlife adventures of the human body -- Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach. Filled with wry humor, Stiff explores the many ways that human remains have aided or assisted in historic and scientific explorations.

Stop by the Read...Discuss...Repeat! page on BookGuide for background information about the book, a list of "readalikes", and links to web sites related to the book and author. Then (or now), if you've read the book, stop by and fill out our on-line comment form to share your thoughts and opinions about Stiff!

Read...Discuss...Repeat! for June - The Yiddish Policemen's Union

The June selection for BookGuide's Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted.

This month's title is speculative fiction novel "The Yiddish Policemen's Union", by Michael Chabon. It was recently awarded the Nebula Award for best science fiction or fantasy novel by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, but should also prove to be an enjoyable read for non-genre fans.

Stop by the Read...Discuss...Repeat! page on BookGuide for background information about the book, a list of "readalikes", and links to web sites related to the book and author. Then, if you've read the novel, stop by and fill out our on-line comment form to share your thoughts and opinions about the book!

Just Desserts titles selected for June to September

Mystery fans are encouraged to join us for the Just Desserts Mystery Fiction Discussion group from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the final Thursday of every month, from January through October. We meet at Bennett Martin Public Library, 14th & "N" Sts. downtown, in the 1st floor Reference Reading Room. Attendees should try to read the assigned book, so that the group can all discuss it together...although time will be set aside for general mystery fiction discussion as well. Coffee and juice will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring a small dessert offering to share with fellow readers (cookies, cupcakes, etc.), in keeping with our theme of "Just Desserts."

The group will be reading and discussing Holmes on the Range, by Steve Hockensmith, at our May 29th meeting.

NEW: The titles for our June, July, August and September meetings have now been selected:

• Parker Pyne Investigates, by Agatha Christie - June 26th
• St. Alban's Fire, by Archer Mayor - July 31st
• Champagne for One - by Rex Stout - August 28th
• Death at Victoria Dock - Kerry Greenwood - September 25th

Our final month's selection (October) for 2008 is still...you guessed it!...a mystery at this point in time!

Introducing...Podcasting!

The Lincoln City Libraries now feature podcasts -- or at least one so far!

In the near future, we hope to include podcasts of many of our upcoming book talks and special presentations, as well as an original "book review program" featuring a rotating group of library staff highlighting some of their favorite past and present reads.

At the moment, you can download our first podcast, and subscribe via RSS feed to future podcasts, at the following page on the library's web site:

http://www.lincolnlibraries.org/Podcasts/Podcasts.htm

Read...Discuss...Repeat! for February 2008

February 2008
Roots: The Saga of an American Family
Alex Haley [1976]

The February 2008 selection for Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted to the BookGuide site.You can find some background information, including links to related websites and some "readalikes" for this month's title, by visiting: This month's Read...Discuss...Repeat! page.
You can also find all previous R...D...R! selections listed and/or comment on them, as well, at the main Read...Discuss...Repeat! index page.

We then encourage you to leave your thoughts and opinions about this month's selected title either via the comments form on the linked page, or by replying in comments right here in the BookGuide blog!

New Anderson Branch Books Talk Group!

Looking for opportunities to get together with other readers in Lincoln to discuss some of your favorite books? Well, now you've got another new choice through the Lincoln City Libraries -- Anderson Branch (in the Havelock neighborhood) is launching a new Books Talk group.


Anderson Books Talk will meet the third Thursday of every month at 10:30 a.m. Unlike the Bethany Books Talk and Gere Books Talk groups, which involve a guest presenter giving a themed talk to the group, the Anderson Books Talk group is intended to be a book sharing opportunity. All attendees are encouraged to bring some of their favorite recent reads to talk about with the other readers present.

So...if you've got Thursday mornings free, consider yourself invited to stop by Anderson Branch Library (3635 Touzalin) on the upcoming dates: Feb 21, Mar 20, Apr 17.

And don't forget the Library's other Book Groups --

Bethany Books Talk (1810 N. Cotner) -- every Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. [call 441-8550 for more info or see the schedule on the BookGuide site]

Gere Books Talk (2400 S. 56th) -- every Monday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. [call 441-8560 for more info or see the schedule on the BookGuide site]

Just Desserts Mystery Discussion Group (136 S. 14th) -- the last Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. [call 441-8530 for more info or see the schedule on the BookGuide site]

Read...Discuss...Repeat! for January 2008

January 2008

An Hour Before Daylight
Jimmy Carter [2001]

The January 2008 selection for Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted to the BookGuide site.You can find some background information, including links to related websites and some "readalikes" for this month's title, by visiting: This month's Read...Discuss...Repeat! page.

You can also find all previous R...D...R! selections listed and/or comment on them, as well, at the main Read...Discuss...Repeat! index page.We then encourage you to leave your thoughts and opinions about this month's selected title either via the comments form on the linked page, or by replying in comments right here in the BookGuide blog!

Read...Discuss...Repeat! for November 2007

November 2007
Guns, Germs and Steel
Jared Diamond [1997]

The November 2007 selection for Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted to the BookGuide site.

You can find some background information, including links to related websites and some "readalikes" for this month's title, by visiting: This month's Read...Discuss...Repeat! page. You can also find all previous R...D...R! selections listed and/or comment on them, as well, at the main Read...Discuss...Repeat! index page.

We then encourage you to leave your thoughts and opinions about this month's selected title either via the comments form on the linked page, or by replying in comments right here in the BookGuide blog!

Reminder -- Final Just Desserts of 2007 this Thursday!

Mystery Fans --

Just a reminder...the final Just Desserts mystery fiction discussion group meeting for 2007 will be held at Bennett Martin Public Library this Thursday at 7 p.m.. The book we'll all be discussing is Nebraska mystery author Mignon Eberhart's "The Mystery of Huntings End". We'll be taking our traditional two-month hiatus in November and December so as not to conflict with participants' holiday travel plans.

Just Desserts will return in January, and our January and February selections have already been posted to the Just Desserts page on BookGuide -- We'll be discussing James D. Doss' "Shadow Man" on January 31st, 2008, and Ngaio Marsh' "Grave Mistake" on February 28th, 2008.

Just Desserts meets the final Thursday of each month (Jan-Oct) from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Reference Reading Room (1st floor) at Bennett Martin Public Library. Participants are encouraged to all read the same book to facilitate discussion -- we alternate between "classic" and "contemporary" authors -- although we try to reserve time for general mystery discussion at the end of each meeting. Participants are also encouraged to bring a small dessert selection to share with fellow mystery fans. Drinks are provided.

Hope to see you all there!

Read...Discuss...Repeat for October 2007

October 2007
Interview With the Vampire
Anne Rice [1976]

The October 2007 selection for Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted to the BookGuide site, and we're also going to posting it here in the BookGuide blog as well.

You can find some background information, including links to related websites and some "readalikes" for this month's title, by visiting: This month's Read...Discuss...Repeat! page.

We then encourage you to leave your thoughts about this month's selected title either via the comments form on the linked page, or by replying in comments here in our blog!

Read...Discuss...Repeat for September 2007

September 2007
Manhunt: The Twelve Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer
James Swanson [2006]

The September 2007 selection for Read...Discuss...Repeat! has been posted to the BookGuide site, but we're also going to start posting them here in the BookGuide blog as well.

You can find some background information, including links to related websites and some "readalikes" for this month's title, by visiting: This month's Read...Discuss...Repeat! page.

We then encourage you to leave your thoughts about this month's selected title either via the comments form on the linked page, or by replying in comments here in our blog!