Kinky gazpacho: life, love and Spain by Lori L. Tharps

In ten words or less: Young black suburban woman comes to terms with her blackness.

Review: The author grew up in northern Milwaukee suburbs (Shorewood) and attended prestigious University School. She was usually the only black or one of a few in her school. She yearned to learn Spanish and to go to Spain. She spent her high school year as a foreign exchange student in Morocco and she was still singled out because of her race.

She attended Smith College but she did not blend in with blacks there either. Finally she went to Spain for her junior year abroad and met Manuel. After graduation, she went to New York, but still kept up a long distance relationship with Manuel.

Why bother? An engaging memoir by a young black woman seeking to fit in. Tharps has a refreshing voice that readers across race and class lines will enjoy.