AALBC.com's Best Selling Books for February and January 2007
| Fiction | Nonfiction |
| #1
ISBN: 0976234904
Some things change - and then again, some things don�t. You
can never take the hood out of the homegirl. About the Author: Stepping onto the court is T.N. Baker. This prolific author was born, raised and still resides in Queens, NY. T.N. Baker is the mother of a daughter and rising best-selling author. "I always had a passion for writing but never shared my writing skills with anyone. In my twenty something years of living I started on 3 books but never took it serious enough to complete them. To me it didn�t matter if I completed them or not, writing was just something I liked doing in my spare time, because it soothes my soul," said Baker. Sheisty is the ninth jewel in the Triple Crown Tiara. Readers are in for the tale of their lives. Getting Down For Her Crown, T. N. Baker put the pen where her mouth was and shared the tale of three friends, Epiphany Wright, Keisha Moore, and Shana Scott, the best of friends growing up in the �hood of Southside Jamaica Queens. |
#1
Hill Harper ISBN: 1592402003 Voted One of the Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2006 �Young men today have been bombarded with images of
wealth and success that tell them that buying the hottest car or the most
bling-blingin� jewelry is what they should be motivated by. There is an
overwhelming sales pitch targeted at these young men that subliminally
suggests that material goods are what makes them real men. I want young men
to have knowledge of the things that bring them true empowerment: education,
a strong sense of purpose, compassion, confidence, and humility, to name a
few. |
| #2
ISBN: 0967460182 After more than two years of entertaining tens of thousands of loyal readers on the Internet with her vivid imagination, a large collection of Zane's erotica is finally available in a published format. Zane has captivated the minds of both sexes and all races. She has completely shattered the myth that men are more sexual in nature than women and that African-American women in particular are inhibited compared to their female counterparts of other races. The erotica collection is divided into three sections: Wild, Wilder and Off Da Damn Hook. Her characters run the gamut from the sensual housewife that wants her husband to experiment more to the secret underground sorority of women that let it all hang out literally. |
#2
Hardcover: 128 pages Book Description: A beautifully packaged book of spiritual ruminations with a progressive political edge, from the incomparable Pulitzer Prize-winner�a woman who has devoted her life to befriending the earth. From the Introduction: "In fact, the happiness that imbues this kind of (impersonal) friendship, whether for an individual or a country, or an act, is like an inner light, a compass we might steer by as we set out across the lengthening darkness. It comes from the simple belief that what one is feeling and doing is right. That it is right to protect rather than terrorize others; right to feed people rather than withhold food (and medicine); right to want the freedom and joyful existence of all human kind. Right to want this freedom and joy for all creatures that exist already, or that might come into existence. Existence, we are now learning, is not finished! It is a happiness that comes from honoring the peace or the possibility of peace that lives within one's own heart. A deep knowing that we are the earth�our separation. |
| #3
ISBN: 0974789593 Epiphany Wright, Keisha Moore, Shana Scott spend their teenage years as best friends growing up in hood of southside Jamaica Queens. Now as adults their friendship is put to the test when envy, built up animosity, hidden betrayal and the bad boys in their lives causing more havoc come into play, everyday becomes a struggle to keep it tight. With all that's already riding against them when drastic situations occur will these girls be down for one another or just plain Sheisty. |
#3
Tavis Smiley (Editor) ISBN: 0883782774 Read A Review The Covenant with Black America Six years' worth of symposiums come together in this rich collection of essays that plot a course for African Americans, explaining how individuals and households can make changes that will immediately improve their circumstances in areas ranging from health and education to crime reduction and financial well-being. Each chapter outlines one key issue and provides a list of resources, suggestions for action, and a checklist for what concerned citizens can do to keep their communities progressing socially, politically, and economically. Though the African American community faces devastating social disparities�in which more than 8 million people live in poverty�this celebration of possibility, hope, and strength will help leaders and citizens keep Black America moving forward. |
| #4
Zane (Editor) ISBN: 1593090218 Breaking the Cycle is a stunning and moving anthology of stories, each of which focuses on an aspect of domestic abuse. This powerful collection is sure to serve as a wake-up call for people either dealing with a domestic abuse situation, or those watching someone else endure it. In the title story, Zane describes the turmoil that a young girl suffers at the hands of her stepfather. The girl and her mother plan their escape, but at the last minute the mother falters�causing her to break down and tell her daughter the long history of domestic abuse in her own family. In D.V. Bernard�s �The Lonely Echoes of My Youth,� readers are introduced to a young boy who witnesses an alluring young girl who encourages the boys around her to physically fight one another until they become violent by nature. And Nane Quartay�s provocative story �The Grindstone,� a tale based on the author�s own experience, describes a boy who witnesses a brutal murder, in which a woman decapitates her abusive husband with a machete. The boy�s mother is a victim of abuse herself, and as her son relates the story over and over, she starts speculating about the benefits of sharpening knives on a grindstone. These stories capture the dangerous realities of domestic abuse, while also pointing toward the steps that need to be taken to break the cycle that perpetuates it. It is sure to serve as a rallying cry for all those who desire victory over their own victimization, and a guide for understanding the complex undercurrents that make such patterns possible. |
#4
ISBN: 0060842423 Glass vases filled with marbles crashed all around us as he began tossing linens from the bed. As the marbles scattered, we laughed in unison ... I remember the exact moment that I first laid on my back for him ... My legs were wrapped around his waist and just before his body was to merge with mine, I noticed his upper right chest. On it was a tattoo with the words "Pain is Love." Confessions of a Video Vixen is the widely anticipated memoir of Karrine Steffans, the once sought-after sexy siren who appeared in the music videos of multiplatinum hip-hop artists such as Jay-Z, R. Kelly, and LL Cool J. A top-paid video dancer, Karrine transitioned to film when acclaimed director F. Gary Gray picked her to costar in his film A Man Apart, starring Vin Diesel. But the movie and music video sets, swanky Miami and New York restaurants, and trysts with the celebrities featured in the pages of People and In Touch magazines only skims the surface of Karrine's life. This memoir -- part tell-all, part cautionary tale --
shows how Karrinne came to be the confidante of so many, why she kept their
secrets, and how she found herself in Hollywood after a life marked by
physical abuse, rape, and drugs -- all before she was twenty-six. By sharing
her emotionally charged story, she hopes to shed light on an otherwise
romanticized industry. |
| #5
ISBN: 0743457013 Zane is back with Gettin' Buck Wild: Sex Chronicles II, more stories for the legion of readers that made The Sex Chronicles a bestseller. Zane's erotic short stories have captivated the minds of both sexes and all races. The Sex Chronicles: Shattering the Myth did exactly what its title implies -- exploded the myth that men are more sexual in nature than women, and that African-American women in particular are inhibited compared to their female counterparts of other cultures. Her audience is growing by leaps and bounds, nurtured by her Internet site and her previous bestselling titles, including The Heat Seekers, her debut in hardcover. Zane knows exactly what her readers want, and in Gettin' Buck Wild she gives them some of her most provocative prose to date. Her characters and settings run the gamut from committed, monogamous couples looking to experiment, to the wild single sisters who belong to a very unconventional sorority. Zane tells the story of a high-paid multi-tasking career woman who gets her groove back in "When Opposites Attract," a couple who try something new in "The Subway -- A Quickie," and a new way of celebrating Christmas in "The Santa Claus." She spices up real-life scenarios with over-the-top sexual fantasy and ultimately gives her readers the best time they've ever had between the pages of a book. With all-new characters and settings, Gettin' Buck Wild is Zane's hottest collection of stories yet. Smart, witty and extremely sexy, this second volume of Sex Chronicles is tailored to women -- but perfect for lovers to share. |
#5
by Tavis Smiley (Introduction), Cornel West (Afterword)
ISBN: 1401918522
The Covenant in Action was developed to continue the
inspirational spirit of the Covenant With Black America and to empower
people to take effective action to achieve THE Covenant goals. The
information, tools, and ideas presented in The Covenant in Action will
enable and inspire people to become agents of change in their respective
communities and to become partners in a larger Covenant movement. The
Covenant in Action is organized into three parts:
The toolkit contains not only traditional action strategies, but includes
innovative approaches to organizing and community building that will result
in stronger, more bonded communities that are reflective of their history
and past experiences. The Covenant With Black America was only the first
step. The Covenant in Action toolkit will prime and prepare individuals and
communities to actually move the Covenant book into action. |
| #6
Zane, Eileen M. Johnson & V. Anthony Rivers Hardcover: 288 pages Truer words have never been spoken. This heart-wrenching collection of novellas brings that statement to life in three unique ways, penned by three of the generation's most prolific authors. In Eileen M. Johnson's "How the Other Half Lives," Jamellah and Fernecia have been friends since forever. Having escaped the poverty of their youth together, they both had made their mark in society. However, men problems threaten to make them literally fall apart. Fernecia is married to a man who was raised to think he is better than everyone -- even his own wife. Jamellah has always used men to get ahead but eventually everything catches up to her. The two friends must ultimately count on each other in a world of havoc and distrust. In V. Anthony Rivers' "Love Is 2 Blame," Malcolm is devastated after a two-year relationship with Shaylisa ends. He finds it difficult to function because he cannot comprehend why she would want to end such a perfect situation. He was everything she had asked for; he treated her with respect and showered her with love. Yet love was not enough. Trying to move on to someone new will not be as easy as it used to be, but will the lovely Zahara show Malcolm what true love is all about? In Zane's "Staring Evil in the Face," Robier has everything a man could ever wish for: a stable and rewarding career, two beautiful children, an elegant home, and the woman of his dreams. Having loved Tiphanie since college, he is determined to keep his marital vows until . . . Tiphanie is involved in a horrible car accident that changes the entire course of their lives. From nervous breakdowns to drug addiction, Love Is Never Painless explores the deeper side of love; the side rarely explored in romance novels. Zane, Johnson, and Rivers have penned a powerful collection of novellas that will not only have readers talking but also examining their own relationships with a new perspective. |
#6
ISBN: 0960229477 Written in the 1940's and published in 1957. BLACK FACT: PROOF:
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| #7
ISBN: 1585712035 A Dead Man Speaks is a supernatural murder mystery where the main character, Clive January, a successful African American investment banker has it all, money, power, a beautiful wife and an even more beautiful mistress. And then he's killed, shot from behind by an unknown assailant. Through dreams and visions, his ghost works with the white detective assigned to his case, who is psychic, to solve the crime. Ultimately the book is about the redemptive power of love and forgiveness because Clive learns that unless he's able to love and forgive his murderer, he will have no peace. |
#7
by Carmen Bryan, Vanessa Satten ISBN: 1416532668 Carmen Bryan is no stranger to the rap world. Not only did she work at Def Jam and Capitol Records but she shares a daughter with hip-hop superstar Nas -- a relationship made extremely public through Nas's celebrity status, rap lyrics, and the ever-present media. Now, in It's No Secret, a strong, resilient Carmen bares all, telling her side of the story and leaving no detail unturned -- with the true candor and raw emotion of someone who has been there, done that, and survived. From a clandestine relationship with Nas's biggest rival, Jay-Z, that stirred up the biggest feud in hip-hop history, to seeing her reputation in tatters and a once loving relationship with Nas fall apart, Carmen depicts her trying journey to become the strong woman and mother she is today. After years of turmoil that included drugs, sex, greed, and violence -- and abandoning what she had always prized above all, her freedom -- Carmen took a stand, focusing on herself. After years of pursuit by the media, Carmen sets the record straight in It's No Secret -- and has no regrets. |
| #8
Wanda Thomas, John Higgins (Illustrator) ISBN: 0967308429 Trevor, the young boy in Handsome Me, rises above a hurtful encounter with some of his friends and playmates. Rather than become a victim of his friends' insensitivity and accept and internalize their negative remarks about his physical appearance, he draws from his own inner strength and with a healthy and mature examination of himself reaffirms his strong positive self image with enough force to cancel out any negative or malicious words directed at him. |
#8
Format: Hardcover, 112pp.
First Sentence:
The scholar, theologian, and activist who has been acclaimed as one of the
most eloquent voices in our ongoing racial debate now bridges the gulf
between black and white America in a work of enormous resonance and moral
authority. West takes on the questions of politics, economics, ethics, and
spirituality and addresses the crisis in black leadership.
First published in 1993 on the one-year anniversary of the L.A. riots,
Race Matters has since become an American classic. Beacon Press is proud to
present this hardcover edition with a new introduction by Cornel West. The
issues that it addresses are as controversial and urgent as before, and
West's insights remain fresh, exciting, and timely. Now more than ever, Race
Matters is a book for all Americans�one that will help us build a genuine
multiracial democracy. |
| #9
ISBN: 0970247265 Tressa is a fly girl accustomed to the lavish lifestyle that her possessive, deranged, baby�s daddy, Lucky, has provider her with. In order to keep her high post standards of living, she has excused so many of his unforgivable actions. It is not until he pulls off the ultimate stunt that she realizes that no mink coat, car, house or any amount of money is worth her peace of mind. Never blinking or thinking twice, Tressa leaves everything behind, with the exception of her street savvy, and sets out to make a life of her own, one that would be filled with hard times and even harder luck. Tressa soon finds herself making the transition from public figure to public assistance. Every day of her life seems like one drama-filled chapter after another. From the baby daddy drama, to the backstabbing friends, to the various unforgettable men she sorts through and disposes of. There will be times she has to struggle and scramble just to make ends meet, and other times when she will stand tall and hold her own. In this captivating tale, Tressa�s voyage will expose readers to a side of a struggling single mother that has yet to be revealed to them Nikki Turner, the best selling author of A Hustler�s Wife, once again will take readers on a safari through the jungle of the fierce and stormy streets, leaving readers on the edge of their seats begging for an encore. |
#9
Rodnell P. Collins with A. Peter Bailey Format: Paperback, 240pp. Read and AALBC.com Book Review Ella Little Collins saw her brother Malcolm through some of the most significant times of his life, and knew him better than anyone else. Now, for the first time, she shares her poignant, vivid memories of him. Told to her son Rodnell, to whom Malcolm was a much-loved uncle and mentor, Seventh Child contains bitter, haunting, as well as joyful recollections by two people who experienced him as family members. It reveals Malcolm not just as a leader, but as a brother, cousin, nephew, uncle, father, husband, and friend. It also provides remarkable information about Malcolm's family genealogy that has never before been available to the general public. No other book about Malcolm X -- and there have been dozens -- offers such enlightenment on the man. With rare family photos, including one of Rodnell with Malcolm the night before his assassination, Seventh Child adds immeasurably to our knowledge of this great and controversial figure. |
| #10
ISBN: 0977880427
Book Description
But jealousy, greed, love and envy are lurking in the shadows. For only the
strong will survive and the weak shall fall. Unique knows this but the game
of love has won her over. Once she decides to leave the only hustle she
knows for the man she loves, her drama begins. When loyalty amongst family
is questioned and their fate is unanswered, who will hold who down? |
#10
ISBN: 1594200297 In Democracy Matters, West returns to the analysis
of the arrested development of democracy-both in America and in the
crisis-ridden Middle East. In a strikingly original diagnosis, he argues
that if America is to become a better steward of democratization around the
world, we must first wake up to the long history of imperialist corruption
that has plagued our own democracy. Both our failure to foster peace in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the crisis of Islamist anti-Americanism
stem largely from hypocrisies in our dealings with the world. Racism and
imperial expansionism have gone hand in hand in our country's inexorable
drive toward hegemony, and our current militarism is only the latest
expression of that drive. Even as we are shocked by Islamic fundamentalism,
our own brand of fundamentalism, which West dubs Constantinian Christianity,
has joined forces with imperialist corporate and political elites in an
unholy alliance, and four decades after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., insidious racism still inflicts debilitating psychic pain on so
many of our citizens. |
Interesting Stats:
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Fiction to Non fiction ratio: 36% to 64% respectively (normally fiction outsells non-fiction) |
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The Best Selling Book: Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny |
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Strongest Start: The Covenant In Action (at #5 on the non-fiction list this title sold more than the #1 fiction book) |
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Author to Watch: T. N. Baker |
AALBC.com generates book sales directly, and through a number of affiliate programs. Our bestsellers list reflects sales generated via Amazon.com. This list ranks book sales from January 1st through February 25th 2007.
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contact
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