Episode 56: “The Sexy Part of the Bible” by Kola Boof

Season 2 is in full effect!!🙌🏽 This week the ladies come full circle as they review Kola Boof’s fictional novel, “The Sexy Part of the Bible”. Kola Boof was the first author they featured on Season one. Accordiong to Publisers Weekly Boof’s book spins surrealism, sci-fi, racial politics, medical ethics ,feminism, religious debate, postcolonial theory, into a thought-provoking, suspenseful novel.” Moni had a hard time getting into the book so Kat recapped the details of the story. Kat shared her feedback on some of the online reviews for the book. One thing the ladies and most readers agree on is Kola’s poetic writing style. It was definitely considered a highlight of the book. Tune in to hear the final verdict on this controversial authors’ book. Enjoy!!

Dedication:This episode is dedicated to victims of gun violence and their familes in the wake of recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Texas (R.I.P.) and to the Author of this week’s book, Kola Boof.
Trigger Warning: Adult language and themes, sexual content, violence, kidnapping, attempted rape, assaults, incest

*Notes: *
Tila Tequila explains why black women were cursed with baldness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egoGO5c-isE
Fela Kuti | Nigerian musician and activist | Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fela-Kuti

Here are some of the reviews we found on GoodReads and Amazon:

Mixed Review: Engaging. Beautiful imagery. Interesting concept. However, I can't help but note that the description of numerous sexual assaults and incest are uncritically idealized with the lead female character repeatedly infantilized. However brutal and spasmodic she is in her personal journey, breaking through manifestations of racial ideology, she remains powerless and childlike in her relationship with men and sexist with other women.

PRO: Kola Boof has the widest writing range of any writer I know. Her book The Sexy Part of the Bible roams across a vast universe of human realization and a few things that haven't been realized yet. As it starts, you get a whiff of 21st century colonization, as white scientists seem to be cloning African people at their AIDs project. When everything's been stolen, they can still get your DNA! Eternity comes into this weird world as a clone with an incestuous father and a trans mother (a well drawn character by the way (do you agree). Since she's a copy of somebody else, Eternity wonders if she has a soul. She becomes a supermodel, hooks up with a rapper-politician (not to mention someone 2 billion of the world's people believe in) and tries to get over her fear of dolls. The doll fetish is one of the best parts of this book. Eternity is her mad scientist-father's doll, and as a model she is a doll of her own devising, a mannequin. Just when you're wondering where else this accomplished novel will take you to, Eternity finds her soul, and her destiny– in motherhood. So this surreal swirl of scenes resolves into the most traditional story in the world– the young person who goes out into the world to find their destiny.
Mark F. Fogarty reviewed on amazon

PRO: Kola Boof's Sexy Part of the Bible is a wonderful adventurous love story with meaningful insights into the identity issues of humanity. Captured within a framework that is part science fiction, part romance, this love story is about love and acceptance of the self, whoever you are. Boof provides important food for thought within her narrative that challenges all of us to accept ourselves, just as we are, and then to love ourselves – just as we are. Boof makes it clear that being the sexy part of the bible is to be the most creative part, the most desired part, indeed, the most interesting part of what is sacred in life – ourselves. Without sexy, we're missing the love of our lives – we're missing ourselves. You must be brave to "get" what she's saying here, because she makes it plain, snatched band-aid and all. Worth the read! – Vanessa Irvin Morris, Librarian Educator. Good reads

CON: Very challenging read!

Mixed Review: As someone who was fascinated early on by Kola Boof's outspoken, brash and unique story. My bookclub selected this and honestly I was going to just remain mum and not read it based solely on personal judgment of the author at this point. Needless to say, I read it FAST but it was HARD! The concept was intriguing but the movement and connection in the story was overshadowed by an almost tourette's rant on a agenda topic. The book has LOADS of potential to empower women on their skin, their magic, their womanhood, their power instead it was a tease on empowerment that left much dangling all the way up to the fairy tale utopia ending. I had a few people ask if I would recommend it and I am truly conflicted to say yes. I found her early works a bit more focused even though it had issues as well. I'm glad I got to see what the deal was about it. LOVED the cover art immensely, that ought to sell a few copies alone. Vicci Divine's review Good Reads

PRO: Eternity, the protagonist, has white parents and is a little bit of an outsider to her own heritage. Even though she's the perfect image of the original black woman. I think this speaks of the truth of a lot of us as black people in Western society today. In a way, we all have a set of white parents. We learn the "correct" way to conduct ourselves in white western society in order to succeed. Eternity is an example of this, but I find it interesting that she is no less a black woman or no less self-aware. It's gratifying to see her transform even more.

CONS :The story was all over the place. I really could not relate with most of it. White folks wanting to clone Africans. I just couldn't buy this plot even if it was sci-fi. Then
when the man she loves beats her to death then she is resurrected by him making love to her it is too much. I was glad I was finished with it and I wished I had borrowed
instead of buying it.