I spent most of my Sunday creating the script for my podcast and I did not watch any football at all on Sunday. I’m not a fan of Tom Brady. I’m only halfway interested in Patrick Maholm because he’s a former Texas Tech football player. Actually he’s a former Texas Tech star football player. But neither team is Dallas and I don’t really care how well each have done in the postseason at all. And that basically sums up my ambivalence about the postseason as well as the run up to the Super Bowl which I believe is next Sunday after next.

I decided to post this additional TNFro Is Reading blog, because I forgot to do it during the Sunday podcast. I think 30 minutes talking about books and other nerd things is about the length of time anyone that’s willing to listen to my podcast is going to be willing to sit through, so there you go.

TNFro Is Reading Season or Podcast Finale…I haven’t decided Yet. Talking about Inheritance, Woke History, Pop Culture, and Unreali-TV Mena Not Invited and #RHOA-Nay Nay Not Down – feliciabaxter

  I forgot which writer said it's better to be at the end of something instead of the beginning. But what I do know this is the last new episode besides going live every now and again.  I don't know if this is just the season finale or if this is gonna be the last new episode ever of my podcast,  but I know I'm gonna take this time to rethink what direction I'm going to go.   And I want to get back to my first love which is writing. I guess I am just in enough time for NaNoWriMo 2023.  I want to take a skill share class on screenwriting and may be tightening up my book writing skills. I  also want to concentrate on things that I like to do and learn better skills to do it. But also concentrating on building relationships and only working with people that I like.   All good things must come to an end…my passion project hasn't started to pay for itself. You can have dope content, but people will not pay for anything they can get for free. And Bay-bee, I-DON'T-DO Free!   Bought to you by Felicia’s Paycheck!   Actively seeking partners, sponsors or sponsorships to continue to provide amazing content. So become a Melanated Nerd on Podbean by clicking https://patron.podbean.com/TheTalkingFro https://patron.podbean.com/tnfroisreading Apple Subscriptions     Or Patreon and other archived content by clicking https://linktr.ee/tnfroisreading to subscribe and listen to all Premium content; the window has closed on available Episodes! Check out the Previous Show Clips on TNFroisReading YouTube Channel

1. TNFro Is Reading Season or Podcast Finale…I haven’t decided Yet. Talking about Inheritance, Woke History, Pop Culture, and Unreali-TV Mena Not Invited and #RHOA-Nay Nay Not Down 01:44:06
2. Bonus Episode: Remix NASA News, Sunday dinner, ’shop Talk Dallas Injury report and Case against Astroturf, Celebrating Ships of Star Trek 52:16
3. TNFro Is Reading…Countdown to the End, Woke AMA is Not A Thing G.O.N., Edward Blum and Neofascism, Mena Mess and other Unreali-T TV Musings 01:03:28
4. Bonus Episode: TNFro’s Bar Space News, Remix Eating and Drinking, ’shopTalk Dallas, Reading Listeners 56:45
5. TNFro is Reading…Our Connection to Land, Woke History: International Racism and Gymnastics, Pop Culture WGA Strike Is Over and Ava Storms Venice, Unreali-TV 55:43

Most of the books can be obtained through my online website Chattabooks:

And if the Hardcovers or paperbacks are on backorder and you need them right away navigate to Alibris.com and use the following coupon codes to get a percentage off of your purchase.

Cicely Tyson Released her new book, Just As I am this week.

This 96 year old living legend’s career spans over 70 years and who was married to Miles Davis and carried on several decades long love affair after the marriage ended. There is also an online event taking the place of the old school on January 28 at 6pm EST, Sign Up here.

For US Written By Us Read By Everyone

I love the concept of an online bookstore, well I am my best return customer!! I particularly love this section, For Us, Written By Us, Read by Everyone, because outside of the few Indie Bookstores, no one has a specific section dedicated to us. I added the acclaimed author Lady Hubbard’s The Rib King where she explores stereotypes and offers a fresh in steering critique of race class privilege ambition exploitation and the seeds of rage in America it’s a historical novel, I think it’s some historical fiction, as well as her debut novel, The Talented Ribkins in which she explores questions about race, class, politics, and the unique gifts that, while they may cause some problems from time to time, bind a family together.

On a more serious note I also added Etty Hillesum An Interrupted Life and Letters from Westerbork. This is historical nonfiction detailing a Jewish young woman’s a journey from the notorious transit camp of Westerbork in the Netherlands to Auschwitz and back. It is comprised of her diary and letters with most people compare it to the diary of Anne Frank.

As part of the maintenance of my site, I am constantly reviewing and rearranging and picking books I want to add to my own library. Hmm, I don’t think a low grade book hoarder should have a bookstore. Kind of like a crack addict also being a dealer but so be it. I really would love to get a first edition hard copy of any James Baldwin books as well as WEB Du Bois.

The Fire The Next time, first published in 1963, stabbed at the heart of America’s so-called “Negro problem.” As remarkable for its masterful prose as for its frank and personal account of the black experience in the United States, it is considered one of the most passionate and influential explorations of 1960s race relations, weaving thematic threads of love, faith, and family into a candid assault on the hypocrisy of the “land of the free.” This is particularly timely in the post #chump world. And gaining a better understanding of me from an African American, I know, novel right?

I would not have called myself a flag waving patriot until recently.

With active voter suppression, George Floyd protests, and then the Insurrection of 2021, that all changed. I keep hearing about First and 2nd amendment rights and finding that no one knows what they are talking about. I started thinking, Why don’t I have a copy of the US Constitution in my possession? And I don’t understand why? I don’t even remember studying it in detail because I don’t remember taking a real civics class. I remember 12th grade US government, but I do not remembering the details of the amendments, the Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence being discussed in great detail. I remember vaguely memorizing the preamble but I don’t know the meaning.

As an American it is clear that my education has been remiss without knowing the details of the laws that make me a citizen and I endeavor to correct that. No I don’t think it’s gonna make me a constitutional lawyer but at least it will make me an informed citizen.

With a better understanding, I think it will serve as the basis for Amanda Frost’s book You’re American as well and also further understanding James Oakes study of Abraham Lincoln The Crooked Path to Abolition. Abraham Lincoln is not the savior that all Black people have been taught to believe. I think he was just as flawed as any white male of his time and he wrestled with a moral obligation to free people that were not recognized as people. Does that take away from him being a great president probably not, but it just makes him more human.

Bridgerton, The Viscount that Love Me

If you have not watched Bridgerton,

a ShondaLand Series on Netflix…then shame on you because there will be so many spoilers in this section.

I’m actually thoroughly enjoying this series the second book in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn.

The young Viscount, Anthony Bridgerton is looking for a wife. He has specific qualities that he’s looking for. Demands she be intelligent, pretty, and he will not fall in love with this woman. Famous last words, right? For whatever reason he’s against falling in love. I don’t know if this is selfish, self protecting himself from hurt. but it’s kind of dumb. His parents loved each other immensely and his own father taken away when he had an allergic reaction to a bee sting. (Spoiler: The significance of that bee buzzing around towards the end of Bridgerton) Because of course he is going to fall in love with the smart but broke, Catherine Sheffield who at the age of 21 is considered old by that period’s standards. Of course they meet at a ball and she becomes the unlikely diamond of the season and the focus of his love interest against all the odds. A bit syrupy, but I’m enjoying how both characters are lying to themselves from the beginning of the book but we know it’s going to come to a wonderful head and they are probably going to end up with a brilliant match in marriage with more children.

The series keeps with the basic storyline of the first book, the Duke and I, but with additional characters and storyline that works without being overdone. For example Anthony Bridgerton is being outdone by an overweight corgi I love this. I have never laughed out loud so many times just within one chapter and I’m just coming up on chapter 4. #ItAlsoSupportsThatThereIsNoWayThatNigel is any smarter than he was in the first book and limited series and he’s definitely not in this particular book. He was written off because he tried Daphne. But I am definitely struck by the freedom of the rich male Bridgertons and how limited women were but they settled into their roles and excelled within the confines of pre-Victorian society. I have now moved onto Chapter 5 after the fat Corgi Newton, knocks the beautiful Edwina into the pond and then on the command of Kate splashes both Anthony and the dunderhead Nigel, she is invited to Bridgerton House for a musical event with the stylings of a Italian opera singer Maria Russo. The character does make an appearance in the series but is dissed by Anthony, making her just another mistress. This side story in the series highlighted the precarious state of women during this age, and how privileged elite men could take full advantage and was completely tolerated. The book itself is rich in details of the delicate but detailed dresses and fans. But also to the beautiful colors and rich decoration in the Adam Style which of course I had to look up. It is distinctive style was light and fanciful and used the repetition of simple, small-scale Neoclassical ornament inspired by the decorations used in Ancient Greece and Rome.

But what is more obvious is the more Kate and Anthony vehemently deny how much they really do like each other, and resistance to falling in love, that is exactly what is happening. However, not before Kate slips out from the post musical and hides in Anthony Bridgerton’s office, unbeknownst to her, but finds herself trapped under the desk while he gets his freak on with the opera singer…I can’t make this up!

The lies people tell themselves to self-protect and they could miss out on a completely wonderful experience.