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My Soul Looks Back
- Author
- Jessica B. Harris
- Narrator
- Jessica B. Harris
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 9 May 2017
- Run Time
- 6 hours 14 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
In the technicolor glow of the early seventies, Jessica B. Harris debated, celebrated, and danced her way from the jazz clubs of the Manhattan’s West Side to the restaurants of the Village, living out her buoyant youth alongside the great minds of the day—luminaries like Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison. My Soul Looks Back is her paean to that fascinating social circle and the depth of their shared commitment to activism, intellectual engagement, and each other.
Harris paints evocative portraits of her illustrious friends: Baldwin as he read aloud an early draft of If Beale Street Could Talk, Angelou cooking in her California kitchen, and Morrison relaxing at Baldwin’s house in Provence. Harris describes her role as theater critic for the New York Amsterdam News and editor at then burgeoning Essence magazine; star-studded parties in the South of France; drinks at Mikell’s, a hip West Side club; and the simple joy these extraordinary people took in each other’s company. The book is framed by Harris’ relationship with Sam Floyd, a fellow professor at Queens College, who introduced her to Baldwin.
More than a memoir of friendship and first love My Soul Looks Back is a carefully crafted, intimately understood homage to a bygone era and the people that made it so remarkable.
Critics Review
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“Her wide-eyed and wistful observations…captivate the reader…After a tragic turn of events, the memoir transforms into a beautiful, bohemian coming-of-age story as Harris finds her own voice—at last.”
O, The Oprah Magazine
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“Has a simmering warmth.”
New York Times
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“Eloquent and infinitely delightful.”
Essence
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“Fifteen years older and already an established member of the black intelligentsia, Sam [Floyd] was Harris’ entrée into this iconic group, but it’s her wide-eyed and wistful observations that captivate the reader…The memoir transforms into a beautiful, bohemian coming-of-age story as Harris finds her own voice—at last.”
Huffington Post
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"[Harris] is a born storyteller, and her memoir is a joy to read—a beautiful portrait of a remarkable era.”
Charleston Gazette-Mail
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“Captur[es] an era that was vibrant with creativity, art, activism, and intellectual life.”
BuzzFeed
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“Harris was part of a fascinating social circle in the early ’70s. She shares a unique look at their lives and work, while also opening up about her own career and relationship with one of Baldwin’s colleagues.”
Bustle
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“A lively, entertaining, and informative recounting of a time and place that shaped and greatly enriched American culture.”
Publishers Weekly
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“Peppered throughout with favorite recipes, Harris’ book is a warm recollection of life-changing friendships and personal connections…Deeply felt and lovingly remembered.”
Kirkus Reviews
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Jessica B. Harris
- Narrator
- Jessica B. Harris
- Duration
- 6 hours 14 minutes
- Release Date
- 9 May 2017
- ISBN
- 9781538425091
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Memoirs, Biography: general, Cookery / food and drink
Synopsis
In the technicolor glow of the early seventies, Jessica B. Harris debated, celebrated, and danced her way from the jazz clubs of the Manhattan’s West Side to the restaurants of the Village, living out her buoyant youth alongside the great minds of the day—luminaries like Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison. My Soul Looks Back is her paean to that fascinating social circle and the depth of their shared commitment to activism, intellectual engagement, and each other.Harris paints evocative portraits of her illustrious friends: Baldwin as he read aloud an early draft of If Beale Street Could Talk, Angelou cooking in her California kitchen, and Morrison relaxing at Baldwin’s house in Provence. Harris describes her role as theater critic for the New York Amsterdam News and editor at then burgeoning Essence magazine; star-studded parties in the South of France; drinks at Mikell’s, a hip West Side club; and the simple joy these extraordinary people took in each other’s company. The book is framed by Harris’ relationship with Sam Floyd, a fellow professor at Queens College, who introduced her to Baldwin. More than a memoir of friendship and first love My Soul Looks Back is a carefully crafted, intimately understood homage to a bygone era and the people that made it so remarkable.
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