New York Burning by Jill Lepore. Kamau: "I've read this book at least four times and also have the audio book. I sound like such a book slut saying that. Jill Lepore is a great writer. She gives the reader great details: how cold it was, what animals were around, what the smells were. The story is set in 1741 and about one of the greatest American judicial murders. It happened just one generation after the Salem witch trials. This is the lesser known case about the killing of 30 black and 4 white people. 13 were burned at the stake and 17 hung in what is now the Financial District in New York City. They called it 'the bonfire of Negroes'. It was horrible and there was a lot of attention around it before the case was pretty much completely buried. The Bill of Rights was signed right around the same time, which is not officially connected to this case but a very curious coincidence. When you study this story, you get incredible insights and ask yourself if our national foundation was affected by it. Someone who likes history, mysteries or legal studies would love this book. I keep reading it because there are so many layers to it. You can find me on blackgotham.com - I give walking tours on the impact of the African diaspora on New York City." @kamauware #blackgotham #newyork #nyc #subway #book #subwaybookreview #bookreview #reading #bookloversunite #author #jilllepore #gotham #newyorkburning #history #america #readinglist #smartreads #readingisawesome #bookclub #booksworthreading #whattoread #readersadvisory #fall #vsco (at MTA Subway B Train)