Task #19: Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey

[Megan]

I finished Siddhartha for this task. It's one of those classics I'd never read, so since it was fairly short and included on a list of books that fit this task, I decided to give it a shot.

[Kirsten]

Teresa wrote: "Here's a list of novels about spiritual journeys. I found it by googling the previous phrase. https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/..."

Many of those books are memoirs or true life stories and the task says a "character", which - to me - says it needs to be fiction.

[Laura]

I just finished The Fifth Mountain by Paulo Coehlo, since I actually enjoyed The Alchemist, but read it last year. I think The Fifth Mountain goes along with the prompt really well!

[Elyse]

Laura wrote: "I just finished The Fifth Mountain by Paulo Coehlo, since I actually enjoyed The Alchemist, but read it last year. I think The Fifth Mountain goes along with the prompt really well!"

Yes. most of Coelho's books would fit this category.

[Julia]

I'm glad I read The Mothers by Brit Bennett, but I don't think it fits this challenge. But other readers may not agree with my choice for this category the urban fantasy novel Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel José Older.

[Elyse]

Julia wrote: "I'm glad I read The Mothers by Brit Bennett, but I don't think it fits this challenge. But other readers may not agree with my choice for this category the urban f..."

Well, he is the one who suggested it!

[Bonnie G.]

Kirsten *Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again!" wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Here's a list of novels about spiritual journeys. I found it by googling the previous phrase. https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/..."

Many of those books are memoirs..."

Book Riot has said many times in every year that "character" can be fiction or non-fiction. If it needs to be a novel they will say it needs to be a novel.

[Kirsten]

Really? Weird. I see person as non-fiction, character as fiction.

[Anna]

Has anyone read The Buddha of Suburbia? Seems like it should fit for this task. I have some books that I know will work -- (Medicine Walk and Bless Me, Ultima) -- but, where possible, I'm trying to read books set in London. So if I can use "Buddha" here, I'd like to!

[Lynnette]

I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I really enjoyed it.

[Em]

BookDrunkard wrote: "After reading the description of a spiritual journey, I think this could count My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me: A Black Woman Discovers Her Family's Nazi Past in the book Teege di..."

I read this last year and would say that yes, it counts. The author also does discuss religion quite a bit (she spends some time in Israel and has many Israeli and Jewish friends, though she is not Jewish or religious herself).

[Bonnie G.]

I went with Underground Airlines for this. It was many things (fantasy, POC POV), including a tale of redemption and of finding one's buried humanity. I think it counts.

[Stephanie]

Reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler for this one.

[Kirsten]

Great book, Stephanie! I read that earlier this year and really enjoyed it.

[Eva]

Does Kindred count for this topic (spiritual journey)?

[Julia]

Yes Eva, Dana the main character in Kindred, absolutely goes on a spiritual journey. Also be aware that there is another media in which you can read the story: Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation.

[Adrielle]

I picked up the autobiography from Olaudah Equiano for the Classic from an author of color category, but one of the themes is his experience of becoming a Methodist so you could also count for this category.

[Eva]

Julia wrote: "Yes Eva, Dana the main character in Kindred, absolutely goes on a spiritual journey. Also be aware that there is another media in which you can read the story: [book:Kindred: A Graphic..."

Thank you, Julia. Your response is very helpful.

[Kate]

Some great suggestions here- I really appreciate these threads. Totally get the aversion to cheesy, new age style 'spiritual journey' description but I think there's some great options that are more emotional journey, becoming an amazing human type option such as Me and Mom and Me by Maya Angelou, The Famished Road by Ben Okri and Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. Maybe it's a bit picky but I'm a bit wary of books by white writers with POC characters- feels like cheating but maybe that's just me!

[Betty]

I think I am going to count Neil Gaiman's American Gods for this category.

[Chinook]

I hadn't even thought of that, but it's a great choice! I reread it for book club this year and I'm trying not to use rereads for this challenge where they aren't required, but if it weren't a reread, that would work so well. I wonder if Anansi Boys fits as well.

[Mandie]

I read Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang for this one, and I'm still not over it. Top Ten Most Impactful Reads Ever for me, and I am 100% nonreligious.

[Chinook]

I decided to switch out The Hate U Give, which I wasn't sure for 100% matched the prompt for Labyrinth Lost, which I really enjoyed and definitely better fits as a spiritual journey, rather than an emotional one.

[Teresa]

Labyrinth Lost is on my list of possibles for this category. I wasn't sure whether I'd like it so it's nice to see someone else chose it.

[Chinook]

I thought it was really good. It's YA and a coming of age and there's even a love triangle (bisexual). I'm not always a fan of he YA love triangle stories, but in this one the love is important but not central to the story, which I appreciated. This would also work for all characters are POC, not just viewpoint characters but everyone, which was a nice aspect too. And the plot isinteresting and moved the narrative along nicely. It was a 4 star read for me.

[Michelle]

I think that I'm going to read Craig Thompson's Habibi for this. I had picked it up from the library when I was looking at graphic novels that would fit the Regularly Banned or Challenged category.

[Wellington]

I read Marooned In The Arctic by Peggy Caravantes. It is the story Ada Blackjack and how she survived 3 years on Wrangel Island in the 1920s. She was an Inuit woman who went on this expedition to get enough money to take care of her son who had tuberculosis. The hardships were mind boggling and she was transformed.

[Amy]

Dennie wrote: "Do you think Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person would work?"

Definitely. It's a fabulous read.

[Amy]

Elyse wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Would Lion (aka A Long Way Home) qualify? The film is on my list, and I think reading the book it was adapted from could be interesting."

I don't kn..."

I just finished it and I would definitely say that Saroo experiences a spiritual journey. It was such a good book.

[Tammy]

Sherman Alexie's memoir, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, comes out today, and I was wondering if anyone has thoughts on it fitting into this category. It sounds like it is about him processing his complicated relationship with his mother, after she dies. I'm thinking that it would fit pretty well! However, I did just see someone's comment about a "character" of color, and thus needing to be fiction.

[Elyse]

Tammy wrote: "Sherman Alexie's memoir, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, comes out today, and I was wondering if anyone has thoughts on it fitting into this category. It sounds like it is about him processing h..."

Others have chosen non-fiction. I don't think it has to be fiction. As for if he goes on a spiritual journey, I don't know.

[Julia]

Tammy, I'm envious you are planning to buy/ you have already read You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir by Sherman Alexie. I am a Sherman Alexie groupie, I hope you enjoy it.

This category doesn't specify the genre of the book, so a memoir here is fine.

[Wellington]

I originally read Marooned in the Arctic by Peggy Caravantes for this challenge. I thought if it, but I just read Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto fits this much better.. It was a very interesting book. The author contemplates how even though we might feel alone in the world, we are all connected. The writing style is spare, but very evocative. I am also counting this one for a couple of other challenges.

[Shawn]

I read Life of Pi for this. It was OK but I found it somewhat disappointing considering all of the hype around it.

[Nancy]

I read the graphic novel Boxers by Gene Luen Yang, which was on a list of recommendations for this challenge item. It's one of a pair of books that look at opposite sides of the Boxer Rebellion in China around 1900, in which many Chinese rebelled against Westerners arriving in their country and against Christianity. This book is from the perspective of the revolutionaries.

[Brent]

I read The Whale Rider for this task.

[[deleted user]]

I think Grimus should work for this. It's also Rushdie's debut novel.

[Ellen]

Would Anansi Boys count? I just started it last week and it would seem to, even though it's fantasy. If not, I have both Parable of the Sower and Kindred on my list.

[Bonnie G.]

I eould tjink Anansi Boys would be great for this category. I loved the book too!

[Ellen]

Cool! Thanks, Bonnie.

[Maryam]

I had Labyrinth Lost nominated for this task but now I'm thinking of Deep River or Boxers.

[Jenny]

What about the Ramayana? Specifically the C. Rajagopalachari version?

[Chinook]

I liked Labyrinth Lost a lot.

[Rebecca]

I had originally slotted Purple Hibiscus into the prompt for a debut novel, but I think it fits well for this. The MC is Nigerian and a practicing Catholic. The events of the novel cause her to question what she knows, more than just religion, and by the end she practices her faith differently. I really struggled with this prompt, since I'm not religious, but I think this fits? I'd be curious to know if anyone agrees or disagrees with my interpretation.

[Julia]

Rebecca, if you want to count Purple Hibiscus, I think you should. I read it a few years ago and enjoyed it.

If one can stretch civil rights to a spiritual story I recommend reading all three of the March: Book One, March: Book Two and March: Book Three by John Lewis. Here's what they look like: , , .

Al Franken in his most recent book Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, is told early on, to not give any credit to staffers. That may be true in Congress. But Andrew Aydin helped Congressman Lewis write March: Book One as a graphic memoir and Nate Powell illustrated it.

[Sunshine]

Jenni wrote: "I'm thinking of re-reading Helene Wecker's "The Golem and the Jinni" for this one. Two mythical creatures (the Jinni I would think fits the description of a person of color?) meet in 1900s NYC, bot..."

I LOVE that book! I haven't met anyone else who has read it. Definitely a spiritual journey

[Ellen]

I also loved The Golem and the Jinni. Sooooo good!

[Patrick]

Does The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho count?

[Simant]

I read Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse for this prompt.

[Britany]

Finished
by Paulo Coelho-- 3 Stars
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...