Aubrey's 2019 Old and New Classics by People of Color Challenge

[Luke]

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

I didn't get a chance to do this one last year, so I'm excited.

1899 and earlier
1. Our Nig - Harriet E. Wilson (1859) (completed 2/18/19)
2. Clotel: or, The President's Daughter - William Wells Brown (1853) (completed 2/27/19)
3. The Story of the Stone by Cao Xueqin (Vol. 1-5) (1791) (completed 4/24/19)
1900-1999
4. Thousand Cranes -Yasunari Kawabata* (1952) (completed 2/12/19)
5. The Woman in the Dunes - Kōbō Abe (1962) (completed 3/8/19)
6. Black Rain - Masuji Ibuse (1965) (completed 5/14/19)
My Wild Card Six
7. Some Prefer Nettles - Jun'ichirō Tanizaki* (1929) (completed 4/29/19)
8. Spring Essence: The Poetry of Hô Xuân Huong - Hồ Xuân Hương (1801) (completed 1/6/19)
9. Pedro Páramo - Juan Rulfo (1955) (completed 4/13/19)
10. Halfbreed - Maria Campbell (1973) (completed 4/10/19)
11. Second Class Citizen - Buchi Emecheta (1974) (completed 3/26/19)
12. For colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf - Ntozake Shange (1975) (completed 1/14/19)

Alternates
A-1. The Confessions of Lady Nijō - Lady Nijō (1307) (completed 4/22/19)
A-2. Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade - Assia Djebar* (1985) (completed 5/20/19)

*Authors I've Read Before

Completed: 14/14

[Luke]

I've been inspired by Erin to devote this challenge to reading classics by people of color, drawing heavily from the 100 Must-Read Classics by People of Color list, which you can find here if you're interested .

I'd like to think that I'll acquire more of the list classics as 2019 continues, but for now I'll fill in the rest with works I personally feel fulfill the label of 'classic'.

[Erin]

I’m liking your choices and look forward to reading your reviews! 😁

[Luke]

Thanks Erin :)

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

All I can speak to is Pedro Paramo, which I haven’t read, but I hope it wins short story someday. Good luck.

[Luke]

Thanks Bob. I hope it wins too.

[Luke]

I like the publication year that lots of people are adding to the tail end of their entries, so that's what I'm going to do (after I get some dinner in me).

[Brina]

Is this a goodreads list or outside source? I should make it a point to read most of these. I think I’ve only read about 10 as of now.

[Luke]

Brina wrote: "Is this a goodreads list or outside source? I should make it a point to read most of these. I think I’ve only read about 10 as of now."

It's from Book Riot. They also made a 100 classics by women list that's worth checking out. My personal challenge board has links to both.

[Brina]

Thank you and I’m right I have only read 10, yet another ongoing project to read.

[Karen Michele]

Your challenge looks great and thanks for the list. I've read some of them, but found a lot of books I'd like to get to.

[Luke]

Karen Michele wrote: "Your challenge looks great and thanks for the list. I've read some of them, but found a lot of books I'd like to get to."

Brina wrote: "Thank you and I’m right I have only read 10, yet another ongoing project to read."

I'm glad to hear that, Brina and Karen. I hope you both make some inadvertently wonderful discoveries amongst the less renowned classics.

[Laurie]

I enjoy looking at the various Book Riot must read lists. I've found many books to add to my mountainous TBR from some of them.

[Luke]

Laurie wrote: "I enjoy looking at the various Book Riot must read lists. I've found many books to add to my mountainous TBR from some of them."

Same, Laurie.

[Petrichor]

What a great idea, Aubrey!
I'm afraid to admit my own list is exceedingly white, except for two or three authors.

[Luke]

No shame in admitting that you see it as an issue, Petrichor. It just means you have a lot of, often unfortunately underread, works that could use your engagement.

[Luke]

I've completed Spring Essence: The Poetry of Hô Xuân Huong and posted my review above.

[Erin]

Off to a great start on your challenges! :D

[Luke]

Thanks Erin :)

[Luke]

I've completed For colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf and posted my review above.

[Petra]

You're off to a wonderful start! Two completed books already. That's terrific!

[Luke]

Thanks, Petra. Admittedly, those two were amongst the shorter works on this list, but as I'm currently in the midst of reading the 2200+ page behemoth that is 'The Story of the Stone', I think I'm allowed to balance it with much shorter works when I can.

[Luke]

I've completed Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata and posted my review above.

[Luke]

I've completed Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson and posted my review above.

[Lotte]

Great list! What's your favourite among the four you've read so far?

[Luke]

Thanks, Lotte. I'd have to say Thousand Cranes tops the list for now.

[Luke]

I've finished Clotel: or, The President's Daughter and posted my review above.

[Luke]

I've finished The Woman in the Dunes and linked to my review above.

[Luke]

I've finished Second-Class Citizen and linked to my review above.

[MK]

You are killing it with your challenges, Aubrey :). wtg!

[Luke]

Thanks, MK. I'd be going a lot faster if I had less challenges, so I guess it's a good thing that I have so many. Makes me look more normal :P

[MK]

:D

[Tammy]

I'm glad to hear that Thousand Cranes is at the top of your list (at least for now). I have it on one on my lists this year!

[Luke]

Tammy wrote: "I'm glad to hear that Thousand Cranes is at the top of your list (at least for now). I have it on one on my lists this year!"

Apologies for the late response, Tammy, but that's good to hear.

In addition, I've finished Halfbreed and posted my review above.

[Luke]

I've finished Pedro Páramo and posted my review above.

[Luke]

I've completed The Confessions of Lady Nijō and linked to my review above.

[Luke]

I've completed 'The Story of the Stone' and put my review for the final fifth volume above. I'll figure out how I want to link to all the volumes later.

[Petra]

Aubrey, you're doing great with this challenge! Terrific progress!

[Luke]

Thanks Petra. Unlike some of my other challenges, this one doesn't draw upon books I have to go to libraries for, so I'll probably finish it sooner than my others.

[Petra]

That is my strategy this year, too: read the books I already have. Sadly (or not), I'm still visiting the library too much and reading those books. I need to look at my at-home bookshelves first.

[Luke]

Ha ha, my problem is that I'm too well connected with book sales to bypass supplementing my already hundreds of books with more which cost a buck on average. As an aspiring librarian, I really should be supporting libraries in the area more instead of just increasing my own.

[Luke]

I've completed 'Some Prefer Nettles' and linked to my review above. At this stage I'm technically done, but I'm nothing if not a completionist.

[Petra]

Aubrey, great review.
Congratulations on being technically finished already! I look forward to when you complete the last 2 books on your list.

[Luke]

Thanks, Petra. They should happen sooner rather than later.

[Luke]

Aaaand I've wrapped this one up as well, bonuses and all. Woot.

[Pink]

Congrats on finishing your challenge, you’ve smashed it this year!

[Laurie]

Well done, Aubrey. You are burning through your challenges.

[Lynn]

Congratulations on a finished challenge! You always introduce me to new authors and books. Thanks.

[Luke]

Thanks all, and I'm glad to hear it, Lynn. I tend to specialize in the eclectic and the obscure these days.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Congratulations!