The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.8 - Catherine T's task: Diverse Reading

This is a TWO book task. **Both books and at least one of the authors should be new to you.**

In an essay by Roxane Gay titled “Where Things Stand,” Gay reported that nearly 90 percent of books reviewed in The New York Times are written by whites. Gay researched the racial background of every author critiqued by the paper in 2011. She yielded predictably striking results: 31 black authors, 655 white ones. Eighty-one reviewed books in all by writers of color.

My challenge: to read more ethnically diverse authors. So, for this task, read two books by authors from diverse backgrounds and/or cultures. Co-authored books or books with multiple authors will work as long as ALL contributors have ethnically diverse backgrounds.

For the purposes of this task that means:
** Asian-Indian - authors whose origins are from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Sri Lanka
** Asian-Pacific - authors whose origins are from Japan, China, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Taiwan, North or South Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
** African - authors who have origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
** Hispanic/Latin - authors who have origins of Hispanic/Latin heritage, defined as the the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Basin
** Middle-Eastern/North African - authors who have origins in Turkey, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, or the Maghreb
** Native/Indigenous People - authors who have origins in the cultures of the North American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, Native Hawaiian or Oceanic Aboriginal peoples.

Required: If the author is not identified as one of the qualifying groups on their GRs profile, you must include a link to a reference establishing their ethnic origins. Also, state that neither book is a reread and identify the new-to-you author(s) when you post.

Comments:
No, Sequential Art / Graphic Novels are not permitted, sorry

The intent is about the ethnicity, not the nationality, of the author. So a British-Pakistani will be Ok because of the ethnicity. (ditto African-American etc etc)

As long as the author is new to you for this task, you can read two books from the same author.

Dual / ghost authors / multiple-contributors is OK, as long as all are diverse writers. Note that translators are not (for this task) considered authors / contributors

This post might be useful (Thanks Nicole): http://blavity.com/22-books-by-black-...

OK:
Jhumpa Lahiri
Octavia Butler
Nalini Singh

nope:
The Complete Persepolis

This thread is now open!

OH! This is actually kind of perfect. I'm reading Dawn right now, and Octavia E. Butler is new to me as of this season. (And also awesome.)

Question: Could I read the second book in the trilogy as well for this task, or do we need to choose two DIFFERENT diverse authors? *probably a silly question*

I have back-ups if not, because I always try to pack as many new authors in as I can, but I am glued to this book right now. If anyone hasn't read anything by her, I'd definitely recommend the audiobook!

Octavia Butler is wonderful! I haven't read anything by her that I haven't liked.

Can both authors come from the same group?

Sandy wrote: "Octavia Butler is wonderful! I haven't read anything by her that I haven't liked."

I got so worked up over this book on my way home! I'm mad I have self-imposed rules that mean I have to read other things since that's audio and I save those mostly for work/commute.

Now I want to read everything by her. A fangirl is born. lol.

Written in the Stars- amazon states she is pakistani-american .will this one work

to make sure i understand
bk 1 - The Story Hour - Thrity Umrigar - author born in India and lived there until 21; new to me
bk 2 - Grotesque - Natsuo Kirino - japanese; new to me

Morgan wrote: "I got so worked up over this book on my way home! I'm mad I have self-imposed rules that mean I h..."

Her books are great to read, too. The first book I ever read by her was Kindred and it just blew me away.

Do African-American authors qualify? I've had by Ben Carson on my to read list for a while. I haven't read any of his books before. It looks like he had a white co-author. Would that disqualify the book?

I voted for Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress for one of the Group Reads for this challenge. It didn't win but it fits this task perfectly, so I'm going to go with this one for Asian-Pacific. The author is Chinese.

This task is making me go way outside my normal reading genres which is what you intended. Thanks! I'm hoping to find a book that I love.

I think I'm going to read

Author's page says she's Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee

And for book 2, I wonder if a book by Jhumpa Lahiri works?

She was born in London and lived in the US, but comes from a Bengali family.

And last, do "Sequential Art/Graphic Novels" work for this task?

I've had

in my TBR pile for ages. Author was born in Iran

Thanks!

If not, I have some books by Japanese authors that will work here.

Sandy wrote: "Morgan wrote: "I got so worked up over this book on my way home! I'm mad I have self-imposed rules that mean I h..."

Her books are great to read, too. The first book I ever read by her was [book..."

I read Kindred too and really enjoyed it. I would like to read more by this author if I can find them at my library :)

Pia wrote: "I think I'm going ro read

Author's page says she's Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee

And for book 2, I wonder if a book by Jhumpa Lahiri works?..."

I am so glad you asked about Jhumpa Lahiri because I would like to read The Namesake

Perfect! I've been trying to find a home for a book written by a Chinese author called Liu Cixin: The Three-Body Problem, which would be my new author/book.

And this is my other choice. I've read the rest of the series but not this one. Feng Shui's Detective's Casebook by Nury Vittachi. BTW, if anyone's looking for an entertaining read, this series is a lot of fun, and the author is from Sri Lanka.

Morgan wrote: "OH! This is actually kind of perfect. I'm reading Dawn right now, and Octavia E. Butler is new to me as of this season. (And also awesome.)

Question: Could I read the second book i..."

I've always heard good things about Octavia Butler, but not got round to reading any yet. After the rave comments here, maybe I will...

Far be it for me to get in the way of a new-author gorging session: you don't have to read different diverse authors. Enjoy!

♥Robin ♥ wrote: "Pia wrote: "I think I'm going ro read

Author's page says she's Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee

And for book 2, I wonder if a book by [author:Jhumpa Lahiri|..."

It is the ethnicity that matters, not the nationality. Jhumpa Lahiri is not white, so fits the task.

Pia wrote: "And last, do "Sequential Art/Graphic Novels" work for this task?"

Sorry, no to Graphic Novels, though Persepolis is great.

Nalini Singh was born in Fiji, but is of Indian extraction according to the Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalini_S...

She could therefore be included in either the Asian-Indian or Asian Pacific categories. Please can I get approval for her? Thanks.

Found another possible choice. Wesley Chu He was born in Taiwan and is ethnic Chinese.

Would Kwei Quartey work? He was born in Ghana.

what about books with dual authors - specifically - I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives - one author is from the US, but the other is native Zimbabwean

Would Julia Alvarez work? Born in US but moved to Dominican Republic at age of 3 months. Stayed until 10 years old and back to States. Now lives in Dominican Republic.

Trish wrote: "Perfect! I've been trying to find a home for a book written by a Chinese author called Liu Cixin: The Three-Body Problem, which would be my new author/book.

And th..."

I'm going to be reading the second book of his this season - when it finally comes out in English! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, it was excellent!



As for myself, Ruth Ozeki seems to confirm her Japanese heritage on her GR page, but what about these authors: Toni Morrison (African heritage), and Nnedi Okorafor (African too, Nigerian specifically). It mentions that Morrison uses African-American culture, and Okorafor Nigerian, but I'm not sure that's enough?

Morgan wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Octavia Butler is wonderful! I haven't read anything by her that I haven't liked."

I got so worked up over this book on my way home! I'm mad I have self-imposed rules that mean I h..."

Ooh, she's been on my TBR list for awhile now. Glad to hear you're enjoying her writing. I guess it's time I pick up one of her books.

By "origins" you mean family heritage? So any African-American writer? A writer born in the US of immigrant parents from any of the cultures listed would work?

How about Jade Lee? She is American of Chinese descent (which basically repeats Lois's question above)

ETA: Kathy Lyons is a pseudonym for Jade Lee.

Do these books qualify?

The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi

In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hisham_M...

I think it's (at a basic level) reading PoC authors instead of white/anglo/caucasian authors. Not really like being American would disqualify any of them. They can live anywhere; "diverse backgrounds and/or cultures".

Octavia E. Butler was African-American, born in America, and counts as approved.

*Attempts to help*

This task aligns so perfectly with one of my goals this year - read more diversely and/or in translation - that I am overwhelmed by choice! Love this task.

Catherine wrote: "♥Robin ♥ wrote: "Pia wrote: "I think I'm going ro read

Author's page says she's Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee

And for book 2, I wonder if a book by [auth..."

Thanks Catherine :)

For HISPANIC / LATINO ...
Lotería by Mario Alberto Zambrano

His goodreads profile doesn't say much ... here is his author profile from his website - http://marioalbertozambrano.com/author/

My Hispanic book club is reading this book this summer.

Melissa wrote: "This task aligns so perfectly with one of my goals this year - read more diversely and/or in translation - that I am overwhelmed by choice! Love this task."

Thanks :)

Morgan wrote: "I think it's (at a basic level) reading PoC authors instead of white/anglo/caucasian authors. Not really like being American would disqualify any of them. They can live anywhere; "diverse backgro..."

was excellent help, thank you!

Ellen wrote: "Do these books qualify?

The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi

In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hisham_M..."
assuming both are new, and one of the authors is new, yes

Catherine, are you working backwards in answering the questions? You seem to be responding to those past mine (Post 22 & 24).

Bea wrote: "Catherine, are you working backwards in answering the questions? You seem to be responding to those past mine (Post 22 & 24)."

Sorry, missed them.

Both are Ok, but I would suggest you include a link to http://www.juliaalvarez.com/about/ to confirm her ethnicity background

Catherine wrote: "Both are Ok, but I would suggest you include a link to http://www.juliaalvarez.com/about/ to confirm her ethnicity background ..."

Thanks.

Pamela wrote: "Do African-American authors qualify? I've had by Ben Carson on my to read list for a while. I haven't read any of his books before. It looks ..."

Sorry, if the other author is white, it disqualifies the book

Lois wrote: "By "origins" you mean family heritage? So any African-American writer? A writer born in the US of immigrant parents from any of the cultures listed would work?"

Yup :)

Dee wrote: "what about books with dual authors - specifically - I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives - one author is from the US, but the other is native Zimbabwean"

If both authors are from diverse origins (ignore nationality), it's OK, If one is white, it isn't

Catherine, can you look at post #28 and confirm Jade Lee aka Kathy Lyons?
Thanks very much

Lauren wrote: "Catherine, can you look at post #28 and confirm Jade Lee aka Kathy Lyons?
Thanks very much"

yup

Can I get
Men Cry in the Dark Michael Baisden is an african American Author

AND

Lagoon the author is also African American

http://www.nnedi.com/

Approved

Angel **Book Junkie** wrote: "Can I get
Men Cry in the Dark Michael Baisden is an african American Author

AND

Lagoon the author is also African American

http://www.nnedi.com/

Approved"

Yup

What about Raymond Khoury? His GR profile says he's a native of Lebanon?

Cindy C.

Would Helen Oyeyemi work? She was born in Nigeria, but raised in London.

Sue T wrote: "What about Raymond Khoury? His GR profile says he's a native of Lebanon?"

Yup,middle eastern

Cindy wrote: "Cindy C.

Would Helen Oyeyemi work? She was born in Nigeria, but raised in London."

Yup, ethnically diverse