My new book blog, ZoraToniMaya.com, launched yesterday on what would have been Zora Neale Hurston’s 122nd birthday. Check it out when you can. Very excited about what is to come :)

Where it all began…was driving thru E. Oakland and stumbled upon the library in the neighborhood I grew up in. Brought back so many summertime memories in the 80s, riding my bike from 64th Ave to get books like George and the Giant Peach and Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, and and my cousin and I winning Oakland A’s tix and free pizza when we completed the summer reading challenges #Oakland #library #libraries #books #reading (at Martin Luther King Jr. Branch Library)

Awww look what I found! Too bad I dont have a cassette deck. “Now Behold the Lamb” and “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season” used to be my jam! #KirkFranklin #Christmas #The90s #1995 #gospel

My garage was flooded last week, which destroyed most of my 2012 vision board (dont ask me why it was in the garage). This is the only part of it that went unscathed, which also happened to be the only 3 goals that I didnt meet this year: pray consistently, get that 25 yr old body back, and procure a stable of men (one with gold teeth, one built like Paul Bunyan).

Sign from God?

I guess it’s time to start playing Christmas music. First up…

Beautiful.

I love this song. Side eyeing Keke’s dress and flower but her voice is beautiful. And Avant looking thicker than a snicker. Hey boo :)

#37 Finished this short story collection last week. Ernest J. Gaines is one of my favorite authors of all time (A Lesson Before Dying and A Gathering of Old Men are on my top 15 fav books list). At five short stories in all, this collection as a whole did not move me like his novels have, but the last two stories in the collection, “Bloodline” and “Just Like A Tree” were really, really good.

He has this way of injecting humor that doesn’t distract from the heavy and serious themes that are at the center of his stories. That’s why I admire him.

Just win, baby! #RAIDERNATION #Oakland #Barack #Obama #OaklandRaiders #SilverandBlack

Gabby better get it! So in love with this! #Essence #BlackWomen #women #olympics #beauitful #EssenceMagazine #2012WomenOfTheYear #December

#36 Great collection of short stories mostly set in the U.S. Virgin Islands. I love Caribbean authors, so it was right up my alley. Finished in two days. My fav story was “Street Man” about a small time drug dealer and his love for his straight and narrow college student girlfriend. Cant wait to read more from Tiphanie Yanique.

This will only excite me if said romance will be paired with BBQ ribs every 3rd Sunday

#35 -Few weeks ago, @oaklanista asked me for a good reading suggestion: something funny with well rounded characters with a little love sprinkled in. So I sent this to her as a surprise as soon as I finished it. Forgot to take a pic of it to post my 35th read tho, but she did and posted it. Loved this book. Hilarious and heartwrenching. Gonna watch the movie sometime this week, though Im sure it cant compare.

The most beautiful commercial ever

Phonte is out here singin “Titties and Jesus dont go together.” Lmaooooo so foolish (at Mezzanine)