Pick-a-Shelf discussion

July Shelf will be authors-of-color

I (Tien) was at Supanova over the weekend and sat in a panel to listen to Julie Kagawa speak of her writing journey. The novel which she originally wanted to publish 10 years ago was declined due to market appetite (lack thereof) and so she wrote something else to suit market. This novel she finally published last year, Shadow of the Fox (shelved 9x as 'authors-of-color'), also features protagonists of color. Personally, I would have loved this book in my hand 10 years ago! And erm, I'm not a fan of her debut actually, lol, but this one I think I'd love (only 1 chapter in but I feel it!).

What do you think about this change in market? What prompted it and how far do you think this will go?

While we definitely need books these authors-of-color write as a learning tool - an eye opener to other cultures etc, some of them are so much fun to read (others can be so very hard to read so watch out for trigger warnings etc). So for this shelf:

1. What would you be reading in July?
2. What do you seek/expect from (1) above?

I will read Under a Painted Sky (for Wheel 4). However, another possibility for my reading plans is Love Medicine, which is planned for another group.

I read for enjoyment, information, and to learn. This month it will the for the latter reason (to learn about other cultures).

I don't choose books based on the author characteristics, so I was a bit surprised (and pleased) at the books and authors that I have read, which were on the first 10 pages of this list.

What Bea said. I don't choose books based on the author's characteristics either.

I think I will read Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" - it was my boyfriend's present for my birthday (back in March, ahem), so I really need to read it sooner rather than later!

Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "it was my boyfriend's present for my birthday (back in March, ahem), so I really need to read it sooner rather than later!"

Hahaha, Marina, I think I own books that I still haven't read 10 years later... I'm terrible at culling though admittedly probably only 1 or 2 are from 10 years... we did move 6 years ago so I did some culling then lol

There are a lot of discussions on Twitter about authors of color and whether they are given opportunities they deserve in this world. Also, whether white authors who write of colored protags and/or in non-white world should do that etc. It's a huge MESS - frankly, I'm rather tired of the later discussion but of the former, I understand why some readers purposely choose to read books by authors of color because how else would the publishers know what market wants (reinforced what I heard from Julie Kagawa in post #1). And I do try to read authors of color especially when they're writing in my space (chinese, immigrants, etc) and in genres I loved (fantasy & mystery) but most times, I read what I want to read for FUN.

I'm going to put back on shelf Shadow of the Fox this week and restart it next week to fit into this shelf. I also have book 2, Soul of the Sword so I'll see if I can fit that in.

Am also going to read The Forbidden Wish

I'd recommend Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha #1), Warcross (Warcross #1), Written in the Stars -3 most recent reads on this shelf that I'm blown away by.

Tien wrote: "I'm going to put back on shelf Shadow of the Fox this week and restart it next week to fit into this shelf. I also have book 2, Soul of the Sword so I'll see if I ca..."

Children of Blood and Bone is on my Wishlist TBR, and I hope to read it someday. However, when looking at any list for any task, I first look for those books I already have planned for a group's tasks. Only if I cannot find a book already planned do I go to my Wishlist TBR. So...it remains on the Wishlist for now.

one of my focus this year is to diversify my reading - one of the authors i like (Robin Covington) is doing a diverse reading challenge - multiple types of diversity (AOC, Characters of Color; characters/authors with mental diseases etc) - it's really made me pay more attention when picking books - so can't wait to see what i find for this month

Tien wrote: "Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "it was my boyfriend's present for my birthday (back in March, ahem), so I really need to read it sooner rather than later!"

Hahaha, Marina, I think I own books that I ..."

Same here, Tien! But I don't like to keep books waiting that have been given to me as presents... On the other hand, if I bought them myself, then I don't have such scruples, lol!

I'm going to start with The Girls in 3B by Valerie Taylor, who is of Potawatomi heritage, then if I have time for more, perhaps some graphic novels.

This is perfect, because I will still be reading Behold the Dreamers when July starts and will have plenty left, so this will be one of them.

I will try to read The Bluest Eyeby Toni Morrison. It is on my list to read.

Tien I have to admit that I shy away from a lot of authors of color because the stories are so heartbreaking and it's even more so because a lot of these issues are so relevant today. I just read If Beale Street Could Talk and it was so hard to read. I read it for my IRL book club and (it's a black women book club) and we all felt the same way.

Needless to say we decided on something lighter for our next book selection.

I'm not sure what I'll read for this shelf. I have On the Come Up on my TBR. But, I also have been wanting to read The Wedding Date so we'll see how things go.

Sassafrass wrote: "Tien I have to admit that I shy away from a lot of authors of color because the stories are so heartbreaking and it's even more so because a lot of these issues are so relevant today. I just read [..."

YES! I'm pretty much the same... they're hard reading because they are heart breaking but still sooo much goodness to be had especially these days, I feel there are wide ranging types of books; they do not all write purposely to teach us something but incorporated into their books are their personal experiences / perspectives which we may not have ever thought from our own little corners. Like [book:To All the Boys I've Loved Before|15749186] - a romcom which don't really have a heartbreaking lesson but it does open our eyes to certain things (mostly food like that yoghurt drink! lol)

Dee wrote: "one of my focus this year is to diversify my reading - one of the authors i like (Robin Covington) is doing a diverse reading challenge - multiple types of diversity (AOC, Characters of Color; char..."

Link me up to that diverse reading challenge, Dee, please. Not that I need another challenge but I'd love to take a peek ha ha ha

Tien wrote: "Dee wrote: "one of my focus this year is to diversify my reading - one of the authors i like (Robin Covington) is doing a diverse reading challenge - multiple types of diversity (AOC, Characters of..."

Sure - it’s my OOZ for pick’n’mix

https://robincovingtonromance.com/201...

that looks great. I'm going to do this one too

Sassafrass wrote: "Tien I have to admit that I shy away from a lot of authors of color because the stories are so heartbreaking and it's even more so because a lot of these issues are so relevant today. I just read [..."

Not all fiction by authors of colour is about those issues! They write in many genres, including romance, cozy mysteries and more.

Romance lists on GR include https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... and https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... may include some as this is about multicultural cozy mysteries

http://www.deidrariggs.com/2017/07/03... is a list of Christian authors of colour with many different sorts of books on this (some heavy, some not)

Scifi

https://bookriot.com/2017/06/22/for-o...

https://theillustratedpage.net/2017/1...

Speculative
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Thank you so much, Karin. Yes, I am well aware of this. I wasn't actually talking about fluff though. Don't get me wrong about fluff, I love it and read it on a the regular.

I can't speak for Then but I was speaking of a person of color reading heavier fiction by authors of my color because a lot of the books are triggering. As a black woman, mother, wife it's very hard for me to read some books, some excellent books, because they reach me on a level that other books do not.

If you saw from the two choices I posted as possibilities, one of them is romance (my normal genre) so I know I don't have to read a heavier book. Thanks though!

Thanks for the lists, Karin. I usually find authors of color by chance rather than determination. My preferred genre is mystery...and thus I found Walter Mosley. That is how it goes for me. :)

Thanks for the links Karin! I usually find authors of color by chance. I yet have to look at what my options are to read for this.

I see I have bad timing, I just finished The Bride Test which would have been great for this shelf. I think I'll go for something romantic, so probably The Wedding Date

This is perfect timing for me. I was just thinking that I should pick up something by Octavia Butler again. She's not just a person of color, but one of the first women to write successful science fiction. Many of her books straddle the sci fi/fantasy line. For those of you looking for something, I highly recommend Kindred, though parts can be heartbreaking in the way Sassafrass mentioned. But I've really loved just about everything of hers I've read.

I'm going to start with Dawn, which is the first of the Xegogenesis trilogy.

Sassafrass wrote: "Thank you so much, Karin. Yes, I am well aware of this. I wasn't actually talking about fluff though. Don't get me wrong about fluff, I love it and read it on a the regular.

I can't speak for Then..."

Okay, I understand, but not all of those links lead to fluff, either, such as the scifi and speculative fiction. I don't read romance, etc, either, but sometimes a funny cozy mystery will be a fluff read for me because I want to read and want a break from deep stuff as well. I tend to be a very serious person and need vacations from myself! That said, I do have a sense of humour that I don't usually put much in my posts, but I need to make sure I lighten up sometimes.

Susan, I have been putting off reading Octavia Butler for a long time, I think I may have to move her up on my TBR!

Karin wrote: "That said, I do have a sense of humour that I don't usually put much in my posts, but I need to make sure I lighten up sometimes. "

+1

Sassafrass wrote: "Susan, I have been putting off reading Octavia Butler for a long time, I think I may have to move her up on my TBR!"

I agree with Susan about Octavia Butler. I had also been putting her off because Science Fiction is not my Genre. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Kindred and got really involved with the characters.

I read Parable of the Sower within the past few years. While I read it at the wrong part of my life to love it, it is well written.