Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
2016 Read Harder Challenge
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Task 16: Read the First Book in a Series By a Person of Color
Viv wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "After doing some basic searching, I loved this article I found on Bitch Media: I read 50 books by people of color this year. Here are the ones I'm considering reading to meet this..."Arrgh. I somehow thought this (The Goddess Chronicle)was part of a series but it's not, so back to the drawing board for this one! I think I may go with The Fifth Season as I've read and enjoyed others by NK Jemisin.
"Black Water Rising" is a terrific mystery, the first in a series, by Attica Locke. I wouldn't have found this author except for this challenge to find the first in a series by a person of color!
Ashley wrote: "Hi Heather! I'm fairly familiar with the book but hadn't recalled it being part of a trilogy - did I miss that? Just wanted to clarify since that's part of the task."Actually, it is one of six books in a series on GR labelled 'Maya Angelou's Autobiography series'.
I know a few people have spoken about reading Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel Jose Older for this challenge. DO THAT, not only is it mighty, but I've just finished the second one Midnight Taxi Tango which is possibly even better.
Robin wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Heather wrote: "I picked up I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou at goodwill (yay goodwill finds) and loveddddd it and im pretty sure it qualifies for this category:)"Hi..."
Oh wow, I didn't realize that! Thanks for the heads up :)
I just finished The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemison. So good!
I devoured the audiobook for Sorcerer to the Crown in one day. I'm officially a Zen Cho fan.
I decided to use March: Book One for this. I don't double up (just my thing) so I am using it for this category. For those who do double up, this could easily work for the new comic category and books about politics in addition to this category!
After much pondering, and perusal of many books, I'm going to take the road less travelled and readThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpShe has two books in series
Based on some recommendations here I read Dawn by Octavia Butler. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and it was fun to read some sci-fi (a genre I'm not usually drawn to). I got an old copy of the book from Half Price Books that amuses me because it has a drawing of two white women on the cover while the protagonists of the story are a black woman and an extraterrestrial with tentacles.
Terry wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "I decided to use March: Book One for this. I don't double up (just my thing) so I am using it for this category. For those who do double up, this could easily work fo..."I actually started it intending to use if for the comic/graphic memoir category, and then made the switch. I am not a fan of comics, never have been, but this is a pretty special book. I live in the district that abuts Rep. Lewis'. I have friends on his staff, he has spoken at my son's school He is one of the few true heroes I have met in my life, so I am sort of predisposed to like this one. Hope you enjoy!
I'm really enjoying A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee - this could also work for author from SE Asia (she was born in Singapore) and/or novel set before 1900.
I've had Sister of My Heart on my TBR for ages and I think it will be nice for me to read a non-fantasy, non-romance series for a change. :)
Leslie Ann wrote: "Allie wrote: "I have never read anything by Octavia E. Butler before, so I think I might try one of her series."I'm going to try Octavia Butler, too, by reading Dawn."
I just finished Dawn and can't recommend it enough. I hadn't gotten into science fiction yet, but Butler is my way in and I will definitely be reading more (or all) of her work in the future.
Oh yes! Thanks for this suggestion. My daughter, who isn't a big reader, DEVOURED this series when we were traveling in England for three weeks. More than once we had to put aside sight-seeing and find a bookstore that carried the next book in the series. I'm excited to read this myself.
Zemkat wrote: "I'm going to read Naughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman!"What a great suggestion, thanks! My daughter read this series obsessively when we were in the UK. She isn't normally much of a reader but we had to abandon sight-seeing more than once to find a bookstore where she could buy the next volume. Looking forward to reading it myself.
I'm thinking to use https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... Shanghai Girls #1 for this task. It's by Chinese-American author Lisa See https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...Thoughts on that choice as fitting or not for this task, anyone?
The discussion around the use of the term person of color for this task is interesting.
I will be reading True to the Game By: Teri Woods
Allie wrote: "I have never read anything by Octavia E. Butler before, so I think I might try one of her series."I was thinking the same thing!
Parable of the Sower is awesome, and the first of a (2-book) series!
In January I listened to The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms for this challenge. Great book! And if you do the audio - the narrator is great.
I just finished Gemsigns by Stephanie Saulter and I HIGHLY recommend it if you like dystopian sci-fi.
Do the books by Asha Bandele count. They are non-fiction and there are only two but they do tell the story of her life. "Prisoner's wife" and "Something like beautiful"
The Maya Angelou book question has come up before. The conclusion was that it was part of a series and all 5 of her books are published as an anthology.
Octavia E. Butler is one of my favorite authors. Check out her near future science fiction dystopia Parable of the Sower, historical fantasy Wild Seed, which you might finds as Seed to Harvest, or Dawn, which I have as Xenogenesis, but apparently I am the only one. She intended Fledgling to be a series, but she passed away before that could happen. Bloodchild and Other Stories is short stories that are very worth reading. Unexpected Stories are more short stories by Butler that came out last year, I think. If you've read everything else by Butler, I think you might enjoy these.I thought I was going to read N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season, when what I own is The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, but I bought it as a 1,400 page book, which is entirely too big to deal with/ read. Falling asleep reading this book and dropping it on my face, could be hazardous. Such problems!
I will read My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due for this challenge, unless I switch to Wife of the Gods at the last second. Heck, I may just read both, depending on everyone's reviews.
Julia wrote: "Octavia E. Butler is one of my favorite authors. Check out her near future science fiction dystopia Parable of the Sower, historical fantasy Wild Seed, whic..."I loved The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms... read it last year and it kept me up many a night to get in more pages... though i have it as an ebook... so much less weight on my face when i dozed off!
Would Guillermo Del Toro be considered a person of color? His Bio says that he's Mexican but that's a nationality not necessarily a race. I can't tell by looking at him if he's white or not? I'm thinking about reading, The Strain. Thanks!
Also how about Kami Garcia, is she a person of color? I'm having a really hard time with this category because you can't always tell by looking at people what their heritage is and it doesn't always say in their bios. Also just because her last name is Garcia doesn't necessarily mean she's Hispanic because she could have married someone who is. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Carol wrote: "Also how about Kami Garcia, is she a person of color? I'm having a really hard time with this category because you can't always tell by looking at people what their heritage is and..."Hi Carol! As Mr. Del Toro was born in Mexico, I'm not sure he would be considered a "person of color", but perhaps others here can weigh in on that. As for Kami Garcia, she was born in DC and married into the Garcia name (her maiden name is Marin), she likely does not fit this task. Hope that helps!
Ashley wrote: "Carol wrote: "Also how about Kami Garcia, is she a person of color? I'm having a really hard time with this category because you can't always tell by looking at people what their h..."Darn, ok thanks. Back to the drawing board :)
I read Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel José Older for this category. It's the first book in the Bone Street Rumba series. I really enjoyed it, and awaiting the next book!
Carol wrote: "Would Guillermo Del Toro be considered a person of color? His Bio says that he's Mexican but that's a nationality not necessarily a race. I can't tell by looking at him if he's white or not? I'm th..."Guillermo Del Toro is absolutely a person of color as defined in the US He is a Mexican living in the US, so part of a minority group.
Bonnie wrote: "Carol wrote: "Would Guillermo Del Toro be considered a person of color? His Bio says that he's Mexican but that's a nationality not necessarily a race. I can't tell by looking at him if he's white ..."Thanks, I really want to read The Strain, yay so glad it counts. I just wasn't exactly sure what was meant by person of color.
Carol wrote: "Would Guillermo Del Toro be considered a person of color? His Bio says that he's Mexican but that's a nationality not necessarily a race. I can't tell by looking at him if he's white or not? I'm th..."Guillermo del Toro is Mexican, so yeah, I'm pretty sure he counts as a person of color. Also, just because it's a pet peeve of mine, the d in del isn't capitalized.
I was planning on reading Sea of Poppies but am now reading Black Water Rising by Attica Locke (she is a writer for Empire). Amazon had it on sale yesterday for 0.99 cents.
Sarah wrote: "I am leaning towards Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey."I just finished
I would never have found it without this challenge or the group suggestion. I learned a lot about culture and thought it was a good mystery. I may continue with the series...because my TBR is sooo bare. ;-)
Thank you!
Just finished Black Water Rising. Too much angst for my taste. I prefer much more action. Lived thru the Viet Nam and Civil Rights era so I understand that the tales of injustice are true but I am no longer wishing to fight for any of the injustice still present in todays society. I wont be reading any sequels. Well written but the subject matter left me cold.
Finished off Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed last night. Wasnt really big on it, had some nice touches but wasnt my thing
Kate wrote: "I've already it, but Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz is the first in his Cairo Trilogy which I enjoyed when I read it."Palace Walk is my choice for this task. Definitely not familiar with Egyptian literature at all so I'm looking forward to it.
Leslie Ann wrote: "Allie wrote: "I have never read anything by Octavia E. Butler before, so I think I might try one of her series."I'm going to try Octavia Butler, too, by reading Dawn."
I LOVE Dawn, and the whole Xenogenesis/Lilith's Brood series. I read it twice last year, this year I'm thinking of starting Parable of the Sower, but I've been hearing such good things about The Fifth Season I can't decide which to read next!
Just finished Things fall apart for this task.
. It was an interesting book, but not really my cup of tea.
Elise wrote: "Leslie Ann wrote: "Allie wrote: "I have never read anything by Octavia E. Butler before, so I think I might try one of her series."I'm going to try Octavia Butler, too, by reading [book: Dawn|609..."
I also had Octavia Butler on my eventually read list, so I read Dawn for this challenge. I'm not a big fan of this type of sci fi, but after a slow start I ended up enjoying it quite a bit and may go on to the series!
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Akata Witch (other topics)Spring Snow (other topics)
This Earth of Mankind (other topics)
March: Book One (other topics)
Through the Eyes of the Eagle (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Yukio Mishima (other topics)Kevin Kwan (other topics)
Octavia E. Butler (other topics)
N.K. Jemisin (other topics)
Tananarive Due (other topics)
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Hi Heather! I'm f..."
I think there are more than 3 books that Maya Angelou has written about her life, starting with Caged Bird. I read several and they were all fascinating.