Discover the essential literary treasures in our “Wednesday Wisdom” Uncover a world of captivating stories, profound insights, and timeless wisdom as we unveil a curated collection of must-read books that will inspire, enlighten, and leave an indelible mark on your mind.

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

Evil Eye is a powerful and moving novel about the expectations of Palestinian-American women. The meaning of a fulfilling life, and the ways our unresolved pasts affect our presents. Yara is a young woman who is struggling to break free from the constraints of her traditional Palestinian family. When she is placed on probation at work for fighting with a racist coworker, her mother claims that the provocation. And all that’s come after were the result of a family curse. Yara is forced to confront her family’s history of trauma and abuse. And to decide for herself what kind of life she wants to live.

Rum’s writing is raw and unflinching, and she does not shy away from the difficult topics of violence, abuse, and trauma. However, she also writes with compassion and understanding, and she ultimately offers a message of hope and resilience. “Evil Eye” is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt trapped by their family or culture.

One Blood by Denene Millner

One Blood is a sweeping, multigenerational novel that tells the story of three Black women over the course of 50 years. The novel begins in the 1960s with Grace. A young woman who forced to leave her home in the South after her grandmother dies. She moves to the North to live with her aunt, Hattie, who determined to make a better life for herself and her family. Grace’s daughter, Lolo, is born into a world of privilege, but she soon learns that her race will always define her. Lolo’s daughter, Rae, determined to break the cycle of oppression and create a better future for herself and her children.

One Blood is a powerful and moving story about the strength and resilience of Black women. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the African American experience.

‘Coleman Hill,’ by Kim Coleman Foote

In an impressive blend of fiction and personal family history, Foote chronicles the lives of the Coleman and Grimes families’. Early-20th-century migration from the post-Civil War South to Vauxhall, N.J. Each chapter, inspired by a family photo, offers a fictionalized perspective from members of the intertwined families based on the author’s family lore. The repercussions of violence-filled upbringings linger through generations spent battling poverty and racism. But descendants also work toward a better life.

‘Second Best,’ by David Foenkinos

“Second Best” a playful and poignant novel about fate, loss, and how the lives we wish we’d led might not all they cracked up to be. The novel tells the story of Martin Hill, a young actor who loses out on the role of Harry Potter in 1999. Martin devastated by his failure, and he struggles to come to terms with the fact that he will never be the star he always dreamed of being.

The novel told in four parts, each of which explores a different aspect of Martin’s life. The first part follows Martin as he prepares for the Harry Potter audition. The second part tells the story of his life after he loses the role. The third part follows him as he tries to find a new path in life. And the fourth part tells the story of his eventual acceptance of his fate. “Second Best” a beautifully written novel that explores the universal themes of loss, regret, and redemption. It is a moving and thought-provoking story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

The Fraud: A Novel by Zadie Smith

The Fraud is a historical novel by Zadie Smith that tells the story of the Tichborne Trial. A famous British court case in which a man claimed to be the long-lost heir to a wealthy estate. The novel follows two main characters: Mrs. Eliza Touchet, a Scottish housekeeper who fascinated by the trial, and Andrew Bogle, a former slave who called to testify as a witness. Smith’s novel explores themes of truth, identity, and the power of storytelling. It is a complex and thought-provoking work that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.