Review: I Can't Breathe by Matt Taibbi

I Can't Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street by Matt Taibbi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: October 2017
 

I Can't Breathe talks about the life and death of Eric Garner. Eric Garner was an unarmed black man who was killed by New York polices officers in 2014. Eric Garner was not a model citizen, but he did not deserve to die. Garner was a hustler, he did what he had to do in order to provide for his family. Mostly, he sold cigarettes on the street corner that he would drive down to other states to get.

He always wore sweatpants that were dirty and everyone knew Eric.

"So when police beat someone badly enough, the city's first line of defense is often to go on offense and file a long list of charges hoping one will stick." (taken from uncorrected proof)

It feels like we as black people are stuck in the system of shoot first ask questions later, or choke first and ask questions later. The title of this book rung true again at the beginning of this summer with the death of George Floyd. He was the straw that broke the camel's back. People have come out in droves from all racial backgrounds to march and protest for black lives. Yes, all lives matter, including the lives of police officers and other ethnic groups, but we as black people are constantly treated as if we are not worth of normal everyday things in this life.

This book really gave me insight to the corruption in the New York police department.


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Fall Readin' Plans

I have hesitated on writing about my Fall reading because the weather has been so warm.  I wasn't sure if Autumn was every going to make an appearance of if we were going to go straight into winter.  But the leaves have finally started to change color and the mornings and evenings are much cooler. One great thing about this time of year is the amount of money I'm saving on my electric bill!!  So I've laid out my plans for fall and I hope I'm able to stick with them.

First up for me is An American Cage by Ted Galdi.  This is the second book I've read by Mr. Galdi and blessed to have received another advanced copy.  His first book Elixir(click on title for my review) was excellent and so far so is this book, very hard to put down. This book is set to be released October 16th.

Three men escape from a prison in Texas, and this story follows the 24 hours after their escape and attempt to enter Mexico.

I decided to include these books because they were orange and perfect for fall reading.  Also a couple of these have been on my TBR for quite a while now.  I have read a few of Karin Slaughter's books in the past, earlier this year I read, The Kept Woman.  I'm not sure why I didn't do a review for it though.  I've read Jonathan Safran Foer before as well, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, although that was before I was blogging. 

I have been waiting to read this book for a while and contemplating on whether or not I was actually going to do it, since The Girl on the Train was just okay for me.  I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this book, so I thought I add it for fall.  I've borrowed it a couple of times from the library and haven't read it yet.  It's not renewable since it is a new release.







The next book I have on my list for this fall is a book that I won directly from the author.  J.L. Leslie is a new author for me and I look forward to getting to know her writing.  Her book Lincoln's Choice is what I will be reading.

 

 

The rest of the books I have planned to read this fall are also new authors to me, and are all Advanced Reading Copies.  The Boyfriend Swap by Meredith Schorr.  This is a Christmas Romance set to be released November 7th.

 

I Can't Breathe  by Matt Taibbi.  This book is non-fiction that tells the story of Eric Garner, a black man in New York who was killed by police after they had put him in a chokehold.  This book is set to be released October 24th. 

 

The Wife Between Us  by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen  A novel of suspense that explores the complexities of marriage and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love(blurb from Goodreads). This book is not going to be released until early next year, but I will be participating in a blog tour for this book in December. 

 

I'm sure there will be other books along the way, I have about 8 checked out right now from the library, plus a whole lot more that I just won!! 

 

So Many Books, So Little Time!!