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

[Elyse]

Patrick wrote: "Does The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho count?"

Yes

[Trina]

Has anyone read The Bone Witch and can tell me if it qualifies? I'll be reading it soon for a book club and this task is one of a few I haven't assigned a book.

[Joan]

Would Behold The Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue or Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead work for this one?

[FlowerTaisen]

Would Juliet Takes a Breath count for this task? From what I have read so far it feels as if it fits. It is about a young queer Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx who spends a summer in Portland as an intern to a hippy white woman. She is being exposed to a new regional culture in America, figuring out her long distance relationship, and leaving home for the first time outside of the shelter of college.

[Elyse]

FlowerTaisen wrote: "Would Juliet Takes a Breath count for this task? From what I have read so far it feels as if it fits. It is about a young queer Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx who spends a summer..."

I'm not sure, I haven't read it, but it doesn't sound like a spiritual journey.

[Tammy]

Julia wrote: "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 gr..." Thanks Elyse and Julia. I borrowed it from the library and just finished it. It includes a lot of poetry, which I liked even though I'm not much of a poetry person, and lots of personal stories. I would consider it a spiritual journey, and would recommend it!

[Jolynne]

Would work as a debut novel too.

[Jolynne]

[Edie]

Currently reading Exit West which seems to fit this prompt.

[Chinook]

Yes, I would say it's a good fit.

[Elise]

Veronica wrote: "SibylM wrote: "This is going to be a hard one for me. As an atheist with a kind of naturally snarky personality and take on the world, I hear "spiritual journey" and my eyes reflexively start rolli..."

How about Infidel? The author is raised Muslim and becomes an atheist. That sounds like an atheist spiritual journey to me. :)

[[deleted user]]

Melissa wrote: "I made a list of feminist book recs for the challenge. For this task, using both definitions of "spiritual," I came up with:

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
[book:Ceremony|32177292..."

I read Beloved for this task. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Jess]

I would definitely recommend Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali. This a great new YA book that centers a teenage Muslim girl living in the midwest (somewhere near Chicago).

The book doesn't hit you over the head with the "spiritual journey" she goes through. At the end of the day, it's about a teenage girl becoming more comfortable herself and her identity (like any teen), and being Muslim is part of that identity. Some of the spiritual themes that I think are effortlessly woven into the plot are:
- debating whether to wear a hijab (especially if you're a teen trying to look cool & pretty in front of your crush)
- related theme: "is it okay for a practicing Muslim to have a crush on a non-Muslim?"
- the pros/cons of wearing a niqab which unlike a hijab, covers your entire body except the eyes
- general discussion about the Quran (the main character gets roped into an inter-mosque trivia bowl on the Quran)

If you're looking for a great YA book that ticks this particular box for the Challenge, I'd highly recommend it!

[Jenny]

What about Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress? Would discovering the joy of reading be considered a spiritual journey?

[Rachel]

I'm half-reading, half-listening to Life of Pi

[Arlene]

I found an unusual one for this: The Girl Who Drank The Moon. Luna has skin "dark as polished amber" with black hair and eyes. And although her quest is talked about in terms of Magic this is one of the most spiritual books I've read in awhile.

[Jen]

I read Jesmyn Ward's new book Sing, Unburied, Sing for this one. I loved the story, there's a journey involved, and the main characters can see spirits and ghosts from their past so I think it counts!

[Jenny]

I just read The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie. The protagonist is Asian American and during the story she not only goes on a journey of self discovery, but also has to face questions and choices about morality, ethics and responsibility for actions. Do you think this one would count?

[tif]

I'm part way through The Power (by Naomi Alderman) and wondering if it counts. the part of the narrative that deals with Ally/Eve becoming a sort of Messiah seems to fit but I'm not sure where the story is going to know for sure. anyone who's finished it have any thoughts on this please?

[Teresa]

I read The Living Blood, borrowed from Open Library. A few poc go on a spiritual journey.
In the beginning of the book it seems like the different story lines have no relation to one another, although they are interesting. In the end, they all come together explosively.
I'm glad I stuck with it.

[Liz]

Arlene wrote: "I found an unusual one for this: The Girl Who Drank The Moon. Luna has skin "dark as polished amber" with black hair and eyes. And although her quest is talked about in terms of Magic this is one o..."

I read this a few months ago and never considered it for this category but I think your right!

[Karen]

What about Strange the Dreamer?

[Rebecca]

I decided to read Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower for this challenge. I love her in general, and this is a good one for people who are not into religion or fluffy, self-help type books. Butler is fantastic, if you have not read her, and this book is being described as prescient in the current crazy political moment. Another one I thought of for this category was Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat which probably includes a spiritual journey since I believe that part of the story is about addiction and recovery.

[Rebecca]

Stephanie wrote: "Reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler for this one."
me too! I was wondering if anyone else would.

[Chinook]

I wouldn’t personally say that Rabbit involves a spiritual journey.

[Yrinsyde]

I wonder if My Place by Sally Morgan would count? It is a memoir of her discovery of her aboriginal heritage. It is also an Australian classic so I could double dip for this one.

[Sunshine]

I am reading Birdie. Almost done. It is very good. It is about a Cree woman in Canada who essentially takes to her bed and goes on a vision quest to reconcile the abuses in her life. Her character is very relatable and as are the other women in her family.

I read another book that would have qualified too called The Ghost Bride. It was also good, a little slow in the middle, but worth it.