The Diversity Roll Call is co-hosted by myself and Susan of Color Online. If you haven't seen Susan's post about the lack of diversity in the finalists for the Cybil awards, and Colleen's related post, it's worth taking a minute to read them, and the many thoughtful comments.I've enjoyed reading the many "best of" lists and reading summaries that have been posted lately, especially the Top 10 Lists that Doret's been posting all week at the Happy Nappy Bookseller. So, for this Roll Call, over the next two weeks or so I invite you to select your favorite read of the year by a non-white author. (Doesn't have to be a 2009 book, as long as you read it in 2009).
Can't pick just one? No problem. Do a top 10, or do one from each genre that you read--whatever works. If you've already written a Best Of 2009 post and authors of color are featured on it, feel free to link to that post.
This could also be a good opportunity to post recommendations by authors of color for one or more of the many Reading Challenges for which people are creating their reading lists right now.
Maybe you haven't read any books by authors of color--or maybe none that you loved--we don't want to leave you out. Your special assignment is to visit the other posts and select one book that you plan to read in 2010. Then, go get it. :-)
Please link directly to your post below.
Yay lists! Left my link above.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Akilah!
ReplyDeleteah, great idea! I am rushing back to check my book lists right now...
ReplyDelete18 of my fave books of 2009 were by authors of colour! I didn't distinguish them as such in my wrap-up post though. But I'll be doing a post on reading in colour soon, and I'll be sure to mention them all and then link back here. :)
ReplyDeleteCare, looking forward to seeing which you choose as your Best Of.
ReplyDeleteEva, Feel free to link both posts here if you want to. Even though you don't distinguish which are which, you have a truly diverse list, which is what we're looking for.
I've provided 2 links. One is a recommended holiday gift gide and only my favorite books are on there, most are 2009 releases. The other link is to five honorable mentions I included. Hope that's ok. I really like this idea! I need to do a better job of participating in the Diversity Roll Call :)
ReplyDeleteAli, thanks for the link love.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping if someone has read a few of the White authors on my list they will be more willing to try one of the authors of color.
Miss Attitude, I remember your great Holiday gift list, thanks for including both! Would love to have participate in every roll call that you can, of course. :)
ReplyDeleteDoret, I like the mixed lists for that reason--especially for people googling a specific title, it may help them spread their reading more broadly.
I'm going to be back momentarily to leave a link to my best of 2009 post because several authors of color ended up on it, but I just made up this list of my favorite AoC of the year in my comment on Rebecca's blog and thought I'd leave it here, too:
ReplyDelete-all four of the books I read by Marjane Satrapi
-Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye
-Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
-The Meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
-Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquival
-The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
-Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin
-Skim by Mariko Tamaki
-A Step from Heaven by An Na
I linked my list of ten Japanese novels I really liked last year-
ReplyDeleteTen Best Japanese Novels I Read in 2010
Colson Whitehead's "Sag Harbor" was one of my top 5 picks for 2009. Wonderful story with great universal themes. http://booksslicedanddiced.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/top-5-books-of-2009/
ReplyDeleteMine's done--I combined it with Kelly's "Favorite less known YA books."
ReplyDelete