Task #24: Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color

[Henriette]

I'm doing The Fishermen for this one.

[Leslie (updates on SG)]

Henriette wrote: "I'm doing The Fishermen for this one."

Fabulous book. I hope you enjoy it.

[Brent]

I read Americanah for this task and Task #5.

[Simant]

I am going with The Jeera Packer for this one, if its suitable for the prompt

[Shawn]

I'm reading a novel from Mauritius that Book Riot's Amanda Nelson praised on Twitter; I now realize it will fit very nicely with this category, as it is told in several voices, all of them Mauritian folks.

Eve Out of Her Ruins

[Bonnie G.]

Shawn wrote: "I'm reading a novel from Mauritius that Book Riot's Amanda Nelson praised on Twitter; I now realize it will fit very nicely with this category, as it is told in several voices, all of them Mauritia..."

This looks wonderful. Many years back I was living in Taipei and had Mauritian housemates, and everything they said made Mauritius seem like heaven on earth. Looking forward to another perspective. Also wondering if Deep Vellum qualifies as a micropress...

[Britany]

Finished by Cynthia Bond-- 3 Stars.

Narrated by the author (Awesome!) but didn't connect to this one as much as I'd hoped.

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

[Chinook]

What do people think about using The Fifth Season for this?

(view spoiler)[I do feel this task calls for multiple POVs, so would he three narrations of the one character make sense for this? (hide spoiler)]

[Sonia]

I'm reading A Perfect Pledge by Rabindranath Maharaj for this task. Oh my god this book has me laughing out loud. I am loving the voices of the characters.

[Barbara]

Chinook wrote: "What do people think about using The Fifth Season for this?

[spoilers removed]"

If you're planning to read the sequel, it might be a better fit.

[Carol]

For this challenge, I read all three volumes of the March Trilogy by John Lewis. They are: March: Book One, March: Book Two and March: Book Three. They are excellent and a quick read, since they are graphic novels.

[Susan]

The Mothers by Brit Bennett would fit this category--and also debut novel

[Kirsten]

Carol wrote: "For this challenge, I read all three volumes of the March Trilogy by John Lewis. They are: March: Book One, March: Book Two and [book:March: Book Th..."

Those are wonderful!!

[Cindy]

I got mine! Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson. And it was really good! Totally worth the wait. The first in the series is Chains.

[Chasity]

Susan wrote: "The Mothers by Brit Bennett would fit this category--and also debut novel"

This was my first book of the year and it was really wonderful. It's really stuck with me the last couple of months. I think it's a really good option.

[Elyse]

Susan wrote: "The Mothers by Brit Bennett would fit this category--and also debut novel"

I'm reading The Mothers for this category.

[Stina]

For POV character, must it be written in first person, or is close third good enough?

[Erica]

Would Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson count for this?

[Kirsten]

I think it would. Color, as I see it, implies experience of any characters from outside the world of white privilege.

[Elyse]

Nancy wrote: "I don't completely understand the definition of "of color"- does a book about Korean immigrants to Japan count?"

I think this has been answered and it's been determined that Asians are considered people of color.

[Elyse]

Erica wrote: "Would Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson count for this?"

Yes

[Bonnie G.]

Nancy wrote: "I don't completely understand the definition of "of color"- does a book about Korean immigrants to Japan count?"

Yes

[Elyse]

Stina wrote: "For POV character, must it be written in first person, or is close third good enough?"

I don't really know, I think it's up to you to determine. I don't think it has to strictly be in first person.

[Kirsten]

I agree with Elyse, some 3rd person is very good.

[Heather]

What about Love Letters to the Dead? I've seen that on a few POC lists, but I have no idea if that's accurate and can't find more info.

[Carol]

Heather wrote: "What about Love Letters to the Dead? I've seen that on a few POC lists, but I have no idea if that's accurate and can't find more info."

I don't see any indication in the GR synopsis, genre tags or reviews that it fits this category, but I have not read it.

[Melita]

Emma wrote: "Has anyone here read A Brief History of Seven Killings? And if so, does this count for the challenge?"

Unfortunately it does not.

[Fred]

Emma wrote: "Has anyone here read A Brief History of Seven Killings? And if so, does this count for the challenge?"

Emma, I recently read this in the same hopes that it would qualify for this challenge. However, at least 4 of the characters providing POV narration are Caucasian. Don't let this stop you from eventually putting it on your "to read" list, as I was blown away by its sprawling, intricate narrative of the war on drugs and the very real human casualty of America's foreign policy on even close ally nations.

[Anna]

I've read Behold the Dreamers for this one, also (on a lighter note), Crazy Rich Asians. I have Persepolis on my list too for another task and am keen to read Homegoing! Safe to say this task is covered. ;)

[Kathleen]

Just started Queen Sugar and think I'll use it for this challenge.

[Laura]

Nancy wrote: "I don't completely understand the definition of "of color"- does a book about Korean immigrants to Japan count?"

Are you talking about Pachinko? I would think that would count. At least I would count it. But that's just me.

[Chinook]

I think that Pachinko works because even though things work quite differently in terms of non-American contexts, Koreans in Japan are a minority group and one that is discriminated against.

[Megan]

I read Everything Belongs to Us for this one.

[Bonnie G.]

Reading and loving Homegoing for this one.

[Stina]

Elyse wrote: "Stina wrote: "For POV character, must it be written in first person, or is close third good enough?"

I don't really know, I think it's up to you to determine. I don't think it has to strictly be i..."

In that case, I may end up counting Persona. The main characters are a Peruvian diplomat and a Korean photographer, and while the narrative is in third person, it's a very clear shift of perspective from chapter to chapter.

[Darlene]

Kathleen wrote: "Just started Queen Sugar and think I'll use it for this challenge."
I just finished that one for this challenge. I loved it!

[Marie]

Stina wrote: "For POV character, must it be written in first person, or is close third good enough?"

The way the challenge is worded - "a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color" - suggests that any POV is fine. Third-person is a type of POV, so it would count. This task would include any book where we're reading the internal thoughts/feelings/perceptions of POC characters only, even if the POC is written in third person.

[Elizabeth]

I read Autobiography of Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak or Black Hawk for this task. I was suprised that I hadn't read it before (American Lit major/US Cultural & Social History minor in grad school). I'm glad that I finally picked it up. Reading this reminds me how odd our view of property ownership is, as well as how shameful our acquisition of this continent was.

[Stina]

Marie wrote: "Stina wrote: "For POV character, must it be written in first person, or is close third good enough?"

The way the challenge is worded - "a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of co..."

Yeah, that was my take on it as well, but I wasn't sure if anybody else felt the same way. Good to know I'm not alone.

[Monica]

Just finished Green Island for this task. Excellent book with all the main characters from Taiwan!

[Teresa]

Green Island was my original pick for this category but it's not at my libraries. Maybe later this year.

[Monica]

Teresa wrote: "Green Island was my original pick for this category but it's not at my libraries. Maybe later this year."

I bought a version during a kindle sale. I actually listened to this one but found myself collecting quotes on the kindle version. I hope you find a copy. It's a great book!

[Stephanie]

I just finished The Color Purple for this......I'm not sure why it took me so long to finally read this! Powerful story.

[Ashley]

For this task, I did something I rarely do - I picked up a book in the library that wasn't already on my TBR. I know! Such a rebel! But something about it just spoke to me... I ended up reading The Skin I'm In, a very short MG/YA book with all African American characters. The story tackles two big themes - bullying and self esteem. I really enjoyed it and would recommend for anyone (esp young readers). Learning to stand up to bullies and to love the skin you're in (pun intended) are great messages for kids & teens, particularly in this tough time with social media.

[Hayley]

Does The Hate U Give qualify for this category?

[Chinook]

It might? The point of view I think is only told from the main characters perspective. There are some very important white characters (her boyfriend and a friend since middle school) but I don't recall them being point of view characters.

[Hayley]

Chinook wrote: "It might? The point of view I think is only told from the main characters perspective. There are some very important white characters (her boyfriend and a friend since middle school) but I don't re..."
Thank you!

[Renee]

Shawn wrote: "I can't imagine how Kindred would qualify here. There's only one point of view."

Kindred would work for Classic by an Author of Color category.

[Cindy]

I'm currently reading No One is Coming to Save Us, by Stephanie Powell Watts, for this. I think it's a new release.

[Kirsten]

Cindy - NPR interviewed the author. Here's the link: http://www.npr.org/2017/04/13/5237747...