Favorite Book by POC in 2016?!

[ColumbusReads]

My favorite fiction title was probably this months' book discussion selection:
The Mothers by Brit Bennett

My favorite non-fiction title:
The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander I love this book. Wasn't actually released this year but it was a fantastic read!

What was your favorite book by POC in 2016?

[Lark]

sometimes I'm not sure of our agreed-to "POC" definition. I think it means a non-white author who is living in, and writing about, a majority-white culture, from the perspective of being a minority.

If that's the definition, then my favorite novel this year by an author of color was Ladivine by Marie NDiaye.

But tied with it is the novel The First Wife: A Tale of Polygamy by Paulina Chiziane, who lives and writes from Mozambique and who deserves many readers.

[Nakia]

I read a ton of great books this year. I don't usually read books as soon as they're released, but this year I switched it up and gobbled up a lot of novels early.

My fav novel is a tie between The Mothers by Brit Bennet and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Very close race though I'm leaning a teeny bit toward The Mothers.

My favorite non-fiction read was published some years ago: Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable.

[Monica]

I had two favorites for fiction:

Book that I read: Homegoing

Audiobook: Here Comes the Sun
...also if you have the time A Brief History of Seven Killings the audiobook is superb!! (it's also 26 hours long).

Nonfiction: The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race exceptional essay collection.

[Kristin]

My two favorites this year were Americanah and How To Be Black. They've both been out for a couple of years, but I only got around to them now.

[Lark]

Kristin wrote: "My two favorites this year were Americanah and How To Be Black. They've both been out for a couple of years, but I only got around to them now."

You know, I still haven't read any fiction by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, but my esteem for her has sky-rocketed after reading her essay in the New Yorker, and after seeing her dignity while being ridiculed for her beliefs in a very contentious interview on the BBC, links below:

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cult...

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

[Lata]

Her essay in the New Yorker is terrific. Well-reasoned, thoughtful, passionate.

[Wilhelmina]

My favorite was The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin. I can't wait for the third book in her trilogy.

[Beverly]

poingu wrote: "sometimes I'm not sure of our agreed-to "POC" definition. I think it means a non-white author who is living in, and writing about, a majority-white culture, from the perspective of being a minority..."

I liked both of the books and they certainly deserve a wider reader audience (well at least in my humble opinion)

[Beverly]

Monica wrote: "I had two favorites for fiction:

Book that I read: Homegoing

Audiobook: Here Comes the Sun
...also if you have the time A Brief History of Seven Killings and liked what felt to me a fresh approach to Caribbean storytelling.

Also really enjoyed The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race. I thought every selection for this collection/anthology was excellent.

[Beverly]

poingu wrote: "Kristin wrote: "My two favorites this year were Americanah and How To Be Black. They've both been out for a couple of years, but I only got around to them now."

You know, I still haven't read any ..."

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one my "preferred/favorite" writer and an automatic "buy" for me.

If she wrote copy for a cereal box I would read it. :)

[Beverly]

Wilhelmina wrote: "My favorite was The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin. I can't wait for the third book in her trilogy."

Unfortunately for me - I have not had a chance to read The Obelisk Gate but I am so looking forward to read as I so enjoyed The Fifth Season!

[Lark]

Beverly wrote: "If she wrote copy for a cereal box I would read it. :) ."

Both Adichie's New Yorker essay and the BBC interview have left me with such a deep impression of her humanity and her moral force.

I usually try to evaluate a book apart from an author's real-life persona, since most authors seem to be creating marketing constructs of themselves when on book tour, rather than really being themselves.

But in Adichie's case everything I read in future will be enlarged by the person she is in the world.

[Beverly]

I can't believe 2016 is almost over and I have not yet read all of the books I wanted to read this year.

For me - 2016 was a very strong year for non-fiction so I have read much more non-fiction than I normally do.

I am trying to catch on some fiction books by POC before 2016 ends and while I read quite a few very solid fiction books I have not yet settled on by "favorite" one.

But here are my fiction contenders:
The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela
Mount Pleasant by Patrice Nganang
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
The Vegetarian by Han Kang

[Tender&Delicate]

I am going with Jubilee by Margaret Walker and the Book of Harlan by Bernice Mc Fadden. So many good books I can't get enough!!!

[Lark]

Tender&Delicate wrote: "I am going with Jubilee by Margaret Walker and the Book of Harlan by Bernice Mc Fadden. So many good books I can't get enough!!!"

I haven't read Jubilee but I thought The Book of Harlan was wonderful, so unique in the storytelling.

[Tender&Delicate]

I have to change my answer, my favorite is the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I don't know how I could forget that considering I love the book so much I bought a hard and paperback copies. I don't think there is a book out here to top that story for me. Next, would be Jubilee.

[ColumbusReads]

Kristin wrote: "My two favorites this year were Americanah and How To Be Black. They've both been out for a couple of years, but I only got around to them now."

Kristin, i forgot all about How to Be Black. I've had it on my TBR list for several years now. Thanks for bringing it up.

Americanah is unquestionably one of the best books I've ever read. That blog within the book just sealed it for me. Epic! Most of my friends though preferred Yellow Sun To Americanah though. Funny, every one of Adichie's books has averaged 4 stars or more on Goodreads. Trying to recall any other literary writer with 4 books or more that has done that.

[Jean]

I have three that I just cannot pick between:

The Vegetarian by Han Kang
The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Shelter by Jung Yun

All three were exceptional reads .

[Monica]

Wilhelmina wrote: "My favorite was The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin. I can't wait for the third book in her trilogy."

Just finished The Fifth Season last month and am looking forward to The Obelisk Gate.

[Karen Michele]

I enjoyed many of the books already mentioned this year. I noticed one missing that I really liked, The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma.

For nonfiction, I would say The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race was my top read for adult literature.

I do want to mention March: Book Three and the first two in the series by John Lewis as a top favorite of mine. I will always remember meeting Congressman Lewis at the national library conference the year his first book came out. Reading March: Book Three was both emotional and heartbreaking especially in light of the recent political scene. Even though the series is young adult (and should be in the American History curriculum), it definitely has appeal for adults as well.

[Mohlalefi Charles]

The Sellout by Paul Beatty is brilliant! & not just coz it talks about race, but it's an incredibly intelligent, entertaining and immersive book. Really really good read!

[Luke]

My absolute favorite for 2016, both for a PoC writer and overall: The Bullet Collection by Patricia Sarrafian Ward

Runners up:
Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow: A Novel of Shanghai by Wang Anyi
Tomboy by Nina Bouraoui
The Woman from Tantoura by Radwa Ashour
Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination by Toni Morrison
Human Acts by Han Kang

[Elliott]

I read and enjoyed Homegoing, The Wangs vs. The World was also pretty good, and digging Here Comes The Sun.

Right now Homegoing is probably in the lead, at least in terms of plot and pacing, but some of the characters and smaller story arcs in Wangs were +1

[BernieMck]

In 2016 some of my best reads were Behold the Dreamers, Darktown and Many Rivers to Cross.

[Carol]

My favorites in 2016 were:

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid and
The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela

[Michelle]

My Favorites this year were:
Nonfiction
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons and an Unlikely Road to Manhood
Between the World and Me

Fiction
Incognegro
The Mothers
LaRose

[Beverly]

Carol wrote: "My favorites in 2016 were:

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes
How to Get Filthy Rich in ..."</i>

So glad that someone else included [book:The Kindness of Enemies as a favorite. :)

[Carol]

Beverly wrote: "Carol wrote: "My favorites in 2016 were:

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes
[book:How to Get F..."

It's funny, Beverly. At the time I read it, I thought it was special, but not amazing. Yet 11 months later, I still think about it and recommend it to others. Books that stay with one to that extent deserve a place on year-end lists.

[Freida]

By Sista Docta Alexis Pauline Gumbs:"Spill"