Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

A new year begins in a few days. Does anyone know of any literary fiction being published in 2012 by authors of color? The first one that pops into my mind is Bernice L. McFadden's Gathering of Waters which will be published on Jan. 31. I have also heard good things about Passing Love by Jacqueline E. Luckett, also due in Jan., but I have no idea whether it would be considered literary or not. And in the non-literary-but-fun category, Tananarive Due has a new book in her Tennyson Hardwick series with husband Steven Barnes and Blair Underwopd, South by Southeast: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel, as well as a zombie novel, Devil's Wake, with husband Barnes. Both are scheduled for July.

Any other books of interest on the horizon?

Great. I have to catch up with Blair Underwood books with the husband and wife team. I stopped on book 2.

I am really looking forward to:
Home - Toni Morrison (May)
Freeman - Leonard Pitts Jr (May)
Half-Blood Blues - Esi Eduygen (US debut - Feb)

A couple of other books by AOC that have piqued by interest:
me and Nina - Monica Hand (poems)
Forgotten Country - Catherine Chung
Being Lara - Lola Yaye
Bittersweet - Shiela Banks
American Dervish - Ayad Akhtar
Drifting House - Krys Lee

A couple of books by non-AOC but dealing with subjects on POC:
Running the Rift - Naomi Benaron (winner of the 3rd Bellwether Prize - deals with Rwanda situation)
The Healing - Jonathan Odell - subject well done with dignity
The Boiling Season - Christopher Herbert

As someone who really loved Before I Forget, I'm very excited about Freeman by Leonard Pitts. These look great, Beverly. Thanks!

Wilhelmina wrote: "As someone who really loved Before I Forget, I'm very excited about Freeman by Leonard Pitts. These look great, Beverly. Thanks!"

I too loved Before I Forget and have been looking for Mr. Pitts next fiction book and was so excited to hear that it was going to be historical fiction.

One of the things that I liked about Before I Forget is how he wrote the male characters of different generations.

Beverly wrote: One of the things that I liked about Before I Forget is how he wrote the male characters of different generations...."

I agree!

Sorry, I am looking at some Urban Christian Fiction books coming out in 2012...if I see other literature, keep ya posted. This group has broaden my reading horizons for sure.

Thanks, Duskyliterati!

This is slightly off-topic, but I was unfamiliar with the author mentioned by Duskyliterati, Tobias S. Buckell, so I Googled him and ran into a really good blog post by him on a topic we have discussed in this group before, the inclusion of characters of different racial backgrounds in the writings of authors who are not people of color. Just wanted to share it:

http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2006/01/...

These do not look like they all are being published in 2012, but it is a to watch list of Latino authors: http://latinostories.com/Top_Ten_List...

I am pretty excited about finding this, as many of the authors I have not yet read.

Thanks for the info, Regina.

Great information, Regina!

Here are a couple of more books with 2012 publication dates:

The Cutting Season - Attica Locke
Americanah - Chimanda Ngozi Adichie
The Devil in Silver - Victor laValle
NW - Zadie Smith
The Road to Urbino - Roma Tearne
The Spider King's Daughter - Chibundu Onuzo (debut book)
Nacropolis - Jeet Thayil (debut book)

Wow, Beverly! I hadn't heard about any of those! Checking these out right away.....

I started a Listopia list of some of the books mentioned here. I'm sure that I missed some, so if you get a chance, please add to the list and let others see some of the exciting upcoming books by people of color!

http://www.goodreads.com/list/user_vo...

I know that there are fans of N.K. Jemisin in the group (including me!) She has 2 new books coming out this year - The Killing Moon in May and The Shadowed Sun in June.

Looks like a new Junot Diaz book is on the way! This Is How You Lose Her, a collection of short stories, will be published in September.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/boo...

Half Blood Blues has finally arrived!

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/02/living/...

Wilhelmina wrote: "Looks like a new Junot Diaz book is on the way! This Is How You Lose Her, a collection of short stories, will be published in September.

http://www.nytimes.com/201..."

Glad J. Diaz has a new work coming.

3 books to consider -

ASTRIDE A PINK HORSE - Robert Greer. Came out at the end of March.
THE IMPEACHMENT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN - Stephen Carter 7/10 release date - this starts with the idea of what might have happened had Lincoln not been assassinated.
THE DEVIL IN SILVER - Victor LaValle 8/21

Thanks, Peggy!

Peggy wrote: "3 books to consider -

ASTRIDE A PINK HORSE - Robert Greer. Came out at the end of March.
THE IMPEACHMENT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN - Stephen Carter 7/10 release date - this starts with the idea of what ..."

I have read Astride a Pink Horse and really enjoyed it. Robert Greer rights very engaging stories - this one is a little departure from his normal mystery stories - but the wonderful storytelling and engaging characters were present.
I am hoping to finalize a review for this book in the next couple of days.

Looking forward to Stephen Carter's book as I like alternate history and Victor LaValle's book is being labeled literary horror so excited about that.

Just read about a new one by Walter Mosley.

THE GIFT OF FIRE/ON THE HEAD OF A PIN: TWO SHORT NOVELS FROM CROSSTOWN TO OBLIVION

Two speculative tales.

I have Before I Forget. I'm anxious to read it. I've never read a book by Leonard Pitts.

Didn't know about All I Did Was Shoot My Man by Mosley. I luv his books.

I'm looking forward to reading Toni Morrison's new book, and it always helps to read her novels in a group. I'm on the waiting list on it at the library.

I just came across these.
The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson (April 17)
A Wedding in Haiti by Julia Alvarez (April 24)

Thanks, Maegen!

Evelyn wrote: "I'm looking forward to reading Toni Morrison's new book, and it always helps to read her novels in a group. I'm on the waiting list on it at the library."

For those who are looking forward to Morrison's new book Home, here's a great new interview with Morrison from The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...

It was great. Thanks for sharing it.

Just wanted to send a reminder of some books with May 2012 release dates:
May 1 - Report from Planet Midnight - Nalo Hopkinson
May 1 - The Broken King - Michael Thomas
May 3 - The Killing Moon - N. K. Jemisin
May 8 - Home - Toni Morrison
May 15 - Freeman - Leonard Pitts Jr
May 29 - By Love Possessed - Lorna Goodison
May 29 - Our Lady of Alice Bhatti - Mohammed Hanif

Looks like a great month! Thanks, Beverly!

A promising list of literary titles for the second half of '12! Absolutely cannot wait for Zadie Smith's NW and Attica Locke's, The Cutting Season: A Novel. Also, heavy buzz for Elsewhere, California: A Novel by Dana  Johnson. Here's a review from The LA Times:

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/...

Anyone know of any others?

Great review, Columbus! Sounds like a definite "Must Read" to me!

I actually just picked up Elsewhere, California from the library this afternoon. I am surprised my library got the book in so fast. Publishers Weekly also gave the book a starred review.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1...

Good for you, Beverly. My library system is a little slow in obtaining new copies and probably a lot less progressive. It'll be in before the end of the year, hopefully. I was able to secure a copy of her short story collection, however Break Any Woman Down

Louise Erdrich has a new book coming in October - The Round House. This book is the second novel in a trilogy begun with The Plague of Doves, an LFPC discussion book in 2009. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's new book, "Americanah", has been rescheduled for February, 2013. Also coming in 2013 is a new book by Jamaica Kincaid, See Now Then: A Novel.

Leonard Pitts is on tour for his book FREEMAN. He was in Austin in late June and taped this interview on KLRU's (PBS affiliate) OVERHEARD.

http://www.klru.org/overheard/episode...

During the first half of the program, Pitts talks about doing the research for FREEMAN. At the end he talks about his current project GRANT PARK. At the book signing Pitts talked about GRANT PARK coming out in 2013/2014.

Wilhelmina wrote: "Louise Erdrich has a new book coming in October - The Round House. This book is the second novel in a trilogy begun with The Plague of Doves, an LFPC discussion book in 2009. Chimamanda Ngozi Adich..."

Thanks for sharing - I did not know about the Kincaid book - started to gather my list for 2013 and have not gotten through my 2012 reads. But good to know I have much to look forward to in 2012.

Peggy wrote: "Leonard Pitts is on tour for his book FREEMAN. He was in Austin in late June and taped this interview on KLRU's (PBS affiliate) OVERHEARD.

http://www.klru.org/overheard/episode...?..."

Thanks for much for this interview, I am going to share with my bookclub as this is our BOM. We also read his first book - Before I Forget. Hopefully the next book will be 2013.

Here's another book to look forward to in the next couple of months. Hold It 'Til It Hurts T. Geronimo Johnson

Sounds intriguing, Columbus!

Columbus wrote: "Here's another book to look forward to in the next couple of months. Hold It 'Til It Hurts T. Geronimo Johnson"

Thanks - it is on my tbr list and PW's gave him a call-out (along with a good review).

Reading list is getting so long but that is a good thing. :)

Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Here's another book to look forward to in the next couple of months. Hold It 'Til It Hurts T. Geronimo Johnson"

Thanks - it is on my tbr list and PW's gave him a call-out (along w..."

Same here, Beverly. I'm tackling 2 books now simultaneously. Randall Kenan fiction and a history of Gospel that's fascinating! I need to quit searching the net for upcoming fall releases because my TBR list is crazy! So many good books beng released.

I don't how I forget to mention this book that was just released in the US. Three Strong Women by Marie NDiaye. Marie was the first black woman to win the Prix Goncourt. And this week Three Strong Women is the cover feature of the NYT Sunday Book Review. I have this book on order at my library.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/boo...

Thanks, Beverly!

We are quickly approaching the Fall season, the best time of the year for literary fiction! Of course, we've already had some gems released through the first eight months of this year according to the recommendations of LFPC members; and more are on their way.  Other than the often-mentioned and eagerly-awaited Junot Díaz and Zadie Smith tomes. Here are some others that will keep us reading long into the night and early morning. 

 Sherman Alexie - Blasphemy: New and Selected Stories
Sandra Cisneros - Have You Seen Marie?
Victor LaValle - The Devil in Silver: A Novel
Louise Erdrich - The Round House: A Novel
Tan Twan Eng - The Garden of Evening Mists
T. Geronimo Johnson - Hold It 'Til It Hurts

Are there any other books being released in the next couple of months you're looking forward to?

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News on the Zadie Smith front: For those of you who are anxiously anticipating  NW (including myself). Here's the first lines of the novel , which is all the publisher will share with us at the moment. Guess we'll have to be patient for a couple more weeks.....And, this is amazing news!  Kasi Lemmons, director of Eve's Bayou, Talk to Me and others, will be adapting and directing Smith's On Beauty (arguably her best book) for HBO soon. If this adaptation is half as good as the BBC's presentation of Andrea Levy's  Small Island it'll be must-see tv! 

Excerpt of NW:
The fat sun stalls by the phone masts. Anti-climb paint turns sulphurous on school gates and lampposts. In Willesden people go barefoot, the streets turn European, there is a mania for eating outside. She keeps to the shade. Redheaded. On the radio: I am the sole author of the dictionary that defines me. A good line—write it out on the back of a magazine. In a hammock, in the garden of a basement flat. Fenced in, on all sides.

Yes, so looking forward to the fall readings - gathering my snacks :)

In addition I am looking forward to:
The Cutting Season - Attica Locke (much buzz at BEA & ALA)

Black Flower - Young-ha Kim - I think a little different story - author has won awards in Korea
In 1904, as the Russo-Japanese War deepened, Asia was parceled out to rising powers and the Korean empire was annexed by Japan. Facing war and the loss of their nation, more than a thousand Koreans left their homes to seek possibility elsewhere—in unknown Mexico.
After a long sea voyage, these emigrants—thieves and royals, priests and soldiers, orphans and entire families—disembark with the promise of land. Soon they discover the truth: they have been sold into indentured servitude.
Aboard ship, an orphan, Ijeong, fell in love with the daughter of a noble; separated when the various haciendados claim their laborers, he vows to find her. After years of working in the punishing heat of the henequen fields, the Koreans are caught in the midst of a Mexican revolution. Some flee with Ijeong to Guatemala, where they found a New Korea amid Mayan ruins.

Thrall: Poems - Natasha Tretheway

A Hundred Flowers: A Novel - Gail Tsukiyama

The Black Count: Glory Revolution, Betrayla and the Real Count of Monte Cristo - Tom Reiss

There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra - Chinua Achebe

The Twelve Tribes of Harriet - Ayana Mathis (this is an early Jan 2013 releases but have been hearing buzz about this book)

Here's a review of Zadie Smith's new novel NW http://www.washingtonpost.com/nw-by-z...

Thanks, Maegan! Sounds challenging but compelling!

Victor LaValle was on NPR on Wednesday talking about his new book. http://www.npr.org/2012/08/29/1602466...