BEST AUTHOR- [2] BEST : GLORY EDIM

.-  What books are on your night stand?

Right now I'm reading '' We're Alone,'' by Edwidge Danticat, who is a dear friend. She is a master when it comes to evocative language ; you instantly feel a sense of intimacy on the page.

.-   Describe your ideal reading experience.

I needed to read in public. Coffee shops. Airports. Park benches. My ideal experience happens during my morning commute; it transforms my otherwise ordinary bus ride into something more meaningful. It's also a peaceful way to center myself before the hustle of work kicks in.

.-  '' I needed to read to understand survival,''  you write of your childhood. Is that still true?

Those early reads were pivotal. They felt like building blocks. Now I'm hoping to thrive instead of just surviving. As an adult, I've become more intentional about the books I seek out. I read stories that will challenge me or provide the guidance I need in a particular moment. It's probably why I read so much nonfiction.

.-  What's the last great book that you read?

''Lovely One : A Memoir,'' by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, offers a profound look into what it means to break barriers and navigate the complexities of identity, race and gender in America, all while staying true to her values.

Plus, I had the incredible opportunity to meet her at a Politics & Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C. She has the warmest smile!

.-  What does the future of the book club look like?

Since becoming a nonprofit in 2022, we've deepened our commitment to social advocacy.  Each year we host the Well-Read Black Girl literary festival and raise awareness about the importance of diverse voices in the publishing industry.

In the future we hope to curate wellness retreats that offer therapy, meditation and self-care workshops tailored to the mental health needs of Black writers.

.-  You're organising a literary dinner party. Which three writers, dead or alive, do you invite?

Toni Morrison, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Trevor Noah. There would be whiskey, shared laughter and candid commentary on everything. If I could add one more person, it would be Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Her new book is '' Gather Me : A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me.''

The World Students Society thanks The New York Times.