Brea Baker's Desert Island Books
Featuring an adventurous beach read, and a book that Brea has read countless times before...
I first came across Brea Baker—a racial and gender justice activist—via her writing for Elle. I loved reading about how she got married on 89 lush, green acres of Southern land that belonged to her paternal grandfather, and after reading this piece, about making a home on Black-owned land, I swiftly ordered her debut Rooted, a book that traces the experiences of Brea Baker's family history of devastating land loss in Kentucky and North Carolina.
And if you fancy getting your hands on a copy of Rooted, consider becoming a paid subscriber to my Substack! Each week, you’ll be automatically entered into a draw to win a book by the guest from my Desert Island Books series.
Featuring an adventurous beach read, and a book that Brea has read countless times before, read on to find out which eight books Brea would take with her to the sandy shores of a desert island…
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Butler’s science-fiction is the perfect companion for any situation, certainly a life-or-death one! Packed with a plot that will move you, characters that terrify you, and ideals that change you, The Parable of the Sower is the first in the bunch that I’d pick up when alone with my thoughts and fears.
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
On a desert island, I’ll definitely want a thick book that I can lose myself in and this is the perfect fit. Wilkerson tells the story of the Great Migration through detailed and beautifully researched vignettes that tell an epic tale in American history like never before.
James by Percival Everett
This novel is a perfect mix of humor, satire, and provocation. It can be both an adventurous beach read and one that expands your mind and leaves you deep in thought hours later.
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
Who doesn’t need some good romance? Lee’s whirlwind novel is about a California mom of a teenage girl and a global superstar who fall for each other, and all that comes with that. The perfect escapism!
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is one of those books that I can re-read over and over again without getting tired of it. I can also imagine that the protagonist’s journey for fulfilment and the life lessons will resonate deeply.
Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward
This is another book I’ve reread countless times before and would do again and again without tiring. This poetically written work tells the story of five Black men in the South who the author knew and loved before their deaths. Through the memoir, she recounts their lives and losses and how systems contributed to those deaths. The stories are beautiful, harrowing, and ones everyone should know.
Finna by Nate Marshall
One can’t do life with poetry. I wouldn’t want to. Marshall’s collection of poetry make me laugh, sit still, and rethink everything.
The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
With nothing but time, I’d want something rigorous to sink my teeth into and some big topics to sit with. The 1619 Project’s aim of recounting American history around the evil inception story only made possible through chattel slavery. The series of essays are rightfully heavy and cover topics ranging from democracy to capitalism to agriculture and beyond. They each offer unique insight into the nation building that erected this country on the backs of Black people.