Task 16: Read the First Book in a Series By a Person of Color

[Katie]

Sarah wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Katie wrote: "I plan on reading Dawn for this challenge. Octavia Butler will be a new author for me, and I am pumped that this challenge is getting me to spread my wings..."

Nadine wrote: "Katie wrote: "I plan on reading Dawn for this challenge. Octavia Butler will be a new author for me, and I am pumped that this challenge is getting me to spread my wings a bit within s..."

I just finished Dawn, and it did grab my attention quite well. Might have helped that it was an ebook so I could read it in between tasks at work. I really enjoyed receving the new details showing a little glimpse into the Oankali, and thought they were made sufficiently different enough from humanity and other representations of aliens in literature that I could remain interested.
I can see how it could be difficult to get into, as the character development was not the strongest so I found myself lacking a connection with the main character as her thought process never changed despite learning about and interacting with a whole new species. However, I find myself wanting to explore the sequels and Butler's other works, so I think this challenge did a great job of making me not only discover a new series by a person of color, but really leaving me wanting to learn more about the author and expanding my reading interests a bit.

[Julia]

Evyjo,

Have you read Tananarive Due? Her books The Between and My Soul to Keep, for instance, may be just what you are looking for.

[Evyjo]

Julia wrote: "Evyjo,

Have you read Tananarive Due? Her books The Between and My Soul to Keep, for instance, may be just what you are looking for."

Hesse are awesome, thank you so much! Is The Between part of a series? Thank again.

[Danielle]

I read The Young Elites for this challenge. This is the first book I have ever read by Marie Lu, and I thought it was just ok.

[Nadine in NY]

Danielle wrote: "I read The Young Elites for this challenge. This is the first book I have ever read by Marie Lu, and I thought it was just ok."

I loved Marie Lu's "Legend" series, but I have been hating on this new "Young Elites" series - it's SO disappointing!

[Julia]

Evyjo asked: Is The Between part of a series? Thank again.

Ah no, she says, sheepishly, after doing some research. It's really good, though. My Soul to Keep is part of a series by Tananarive Due.

[Evyjo]

Julia wrote: "Evyjo asked: Is The Between part of a series? Thank again.

Ah no, she says, sheepishly, after doing some research. It's really good, though. My Soul to Keep is part of a series by [a..."

That's ok! Still going to add it to my TBR list! The other book you suggested is in a series and it's probably gonna be the one I dig into for this task! Thanks again!

[Ashley]

Nadine wrote: "Danielle wrote: "I read The Young Elites for this challenge. This is the first book I have ever read by Marie Lu, and I thought it was just ok."

I loved Marie Lu's "Legend" series,..."

I'm happy to see I wasn't the only one slightly disappointed by The Young Elites. I really loved Lu's "Legend" trilogy as well, and maybe my issue with TYE was just that I've read too many YA fantasies lately, but it almost felt a bit recycled from other material I'd read. I almost want to try re-reading TYE maybe next year, once all three books of trilogy are out, and get a fresh perspective on the series. I'd hate to continue feeling so bleh about it when it seems to be so popular!

[Cori]

I just finished My Soul to Keep and it is amazing. Also fits the horror category.

[Erica]

I read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin and loved it. I blew through it and immediately had to read the rest of the trilogy. Highly recommend!

[Edith]

I read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by Jemisin too, and I enjoyed it. I'm working my way through the rest of this year's challenge, plus some other reading, then I plan on getting the rest of the trilogy and reading it. This challenge has been great for opening my eyes to new (to me) authors and genres.

[quietprofanity]

Like many here I read an Octavia E. Butler book, specifically Parable of the Sower. I wasn't that keen to add a full series to my backlog, so I picked a two-book series, but now I'm sad the third book was never published. (I reviewed the book here.)

[Erin]

A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee, the first book in The Agency series. I just started it, and I'm really enjoying it so far.

[Sophia]

I also read Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley. I like noir, and this was a good one. Will definitely be reading more Easy Rawlins books.

[Amanda]

Sophia wrote: "I also read Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley. I like noir, and this was a good one. Will definitely be reading more Easy Rawlins books."

I read thefirst in. Another moseley series -- Fearless Jones. Excellent.

[Jaime]

Just finished Devil in a Blue Dress. I recommend it!

[Carlene]

Help! I'm not a mystery fan AT ALL (I keep trying really! It's just not for me). Nor am I a fan of "serious/high-brow" sci-fi and fantasy (I'm more of a Lev Grossman/JK Rowling/Melissa Meyer/Margaret Atwood kinda SFF fan...).

It seems like all the suggestions for this category are mysteries or serious SFF. Does anyone have suggestions in different genres?

[Carlene]

Carlene wrote: "Help! I'm not a mystery fan AT ALL (I keep trying really! It's just not for me). Nor am I a fan of "serious/high-brow" sci-fi and fantasy (I'm more of a Lev Grossman/JK Rowling/Melissa Meyer/Margar..."

I just answered my own question! I realized I read Renee Ahdieh's "The Wrath and the Dawn" earlier this year. It was a stand-alone at the time, but ended on a cliffhanger, and the sequel just came out. I'm counting it!

[Ashley]

Carlene wrote: "Carlene wrote: "Help! I'm not a mystery fan AT ALL (I keep trying really! It's just not for me). Nor am I a fan of "serious/high-brow" sci-fi and fantasy (I'm more of a Lev Grossman/JK Rowling/Meli..."

Hi Carlene! I'm so glad you read The Wrath & the Dawn and plan to use it for this task! I read both Wrath and its sequel and found them both beautifully written and so much fun! Isn't it great when you can find answers to your own questions?? :)

[Rachel]

I actually found it pretty tough to find a series that interested me that was by a person of colour. There were plenty of standalones, but it took a long time to find a series. In the end, I settled on Noughts & Crosses.

[Mindy]

I read "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. This is probably a book I would not have read if it weren't for this challenge, but I'm glad I did read it. It is written in a different style than I'm used to, but I enjoyed it. I listened to it on audio book on my commute, and it was read by Toni herself. She has a wonderful reading voice, but it was almost too lovely for my morning commute - very soothing, almost made me want to sleep.

[Nadine in NY]

Mindy wrote: "I read "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. This is probably a book I would not have read if it weren't for this challenge, but I'm glad I did read it. It is written in a different style than I'm used to, b..."

Is Beloved the first book in a series?

[Mary Sue]

Nadine wrote: "Mindy wrote: "I read "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. This is probably a book I would not have read if it weren't for this challenge, but I'm glad I did read it. It is written in a different style than ..."

I read Beloved as well for this task. It is book #1 of the Toni Morrison Trilogy - the other 2 are Jazz & Paradise.

[Nadine in NY]

Mary Sue wrote: "I read Beloved as well for this task. It is book #1 of the Toni Morrison Trilogy - the other 2 are Jazz & Paradise. "

Thanks! I didn't know they were considered a series!

[Megan]

I read Wife of the Gods, which I've had on my "to read" list for some time -- it popped up on my "Recommendations" list awhile ago and I was intrigued. I decided to select it after I saw several people recommend it on this thread (thanks! :)) and am glad I chose it -- I really enjoyed it and look forward to checking out the rest of the series soon.

[Nicole]

does any non Caucasian author count for this category. I planned on reading Legend. but I can change that to my dystopian novel if I'm not keeping in the spirit of the category.

[Nicole]

after reading others comments I believe it does...but u couldn't figure out how to delete my comment. I picked Legend because I already had it on my personal to read list and try to apply as many as I can ti the challenge.

[Mary]

I read Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler.

[Britany]

Finished by Kevin Kwan- 3 Stars.

The book title perfectly sums up this book! Narrator was excellent.

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Azuki]

I was freaking out on this challenge because, honestly, I am rather colour blinded when it comes to authors. While some names may stick out as of certain ethnic origin, I enjoy a book because it's good, and honestly nowadays even an ethnic name may not mean too much regarding the what the story is about. One good example: Kazuo Ishiguro

But now that I come here and found out that basically any non-white author qualifies, I breath a big sigh of relief. Gosh, all the Japanese manga I read qualify!

[Bobby]

I finished reading Spring Snow by Japanese author Yukio Mishima.

Several books I read for other categories also fit this one, but I'm reading at least one book for each category. I also read March: Book One (African American), This Earth of Mankind (Indonesian), and Through the Eyes of the Eagle (Native American).

[Sam]

Coming in at the 11th hour - I'm about to finish Akata Witch for this task, which will wrap up 2016's challenge for me. I'm loving this book like crazy; I'm so glad to go out on a high note :D

[Gwen S.]

Completed Wild Seed by Octavia Butler. Great read!