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My Soul Looks Back  By  cover art

My Soul Looks Back

By: Jessica B. Harris
Narrated by: Jessica B. Harris
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Publisher's summary

In the Technicolor glow of the early 70s, 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.

©2017 Jessica B. Harris (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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This look back was a great insight into a life

I stumbled on this book and am so delighted I did. The insights that she shares are profound. I’m off to find more of her books now.

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Loved every word.

I laughed and I cried. It was so beautifully romantic so utterly delicious. I’m partial because NYC is my home and Queens and Brooklyn the village all so familiar. Coupled with ban inside look at some of my favorite people in all their glory days. Breath taking

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Culinary Literature at its Best

This was beautiful story that spans and transcends generations. It was like the fly on the wall got to their story about Black literature giants & made them human.

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Jessica recounts the story of her most interesting

life. hers is a most interesting life filled with dizzying highs of her meeting, greeting, and befriended the most iconic figures in modern black literature. her intimate stories are woven together to form a quitted, textural tapestry of well lived life. I found myself at times jealous, awestruck, and humbled by her experiences. but most of all grateful for her sharing them

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Thank you!

Thank you for sharing your story with the world! I am inspired by your prose!

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Great story telling.

loved the style, reference to the time, culture and social aspects of her story telling and language.

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Fascinating Memoir

A true seven degrees of separation amongst the legendary literary and artistic giants in the African American community who became loved and adored all over the world.

This memoir is a fantastic read!

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Surprising

Loved it. I love hearing about the lives of the circle of friends. Its about a time long gone.

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Greyfox449

I enjoyed the book it’s all good stories of friends throughout the years lot at each other through the good and bad it brought back memories my family and the good times we should. And friends

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review

I always like it when the author reads their own words. what a world to get to glimpse!

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