50.1 - Delicious Dee's Task: Diversify Your Reading

[Dee]

Kristen wrote: "Would Making Faces work for either mental health (sounds like PTSD) or physical disability (he is permanently wounded after war)?

Thanks!"

from what i remember yes physical disability to impacted his life - so it works there or for PTSD. (make sure you have a box of tissues)

[Dee]

Karen Michele wrote: "For We Are Made Of Diamond Stuff by Isabel Waidner is the information on Goodreads using the "their" pronoun enough to qualify the author for LBGTQIA*?"

yes that works

[Bea]

Dee wrote: "Bea wrote: "Would this book work for #3? Woman Warrior"

that would work as a culture different from your own unless you are of chinese descent"

Nope, no Chinese descent in my background. So, I am assuming it is a yes for book #3. Thank you.

[Kristen]

Dee wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Would Making Faces work for either mental health (sounds like PTSD) or physical disability (he is permanently wounded after war)?

Thanks!"

from what i remember yes..."

Thanks for the heads up on the tissues, and thanks for the great task!

[Christi]

this is a great challenge!
would amnesia count as a mental health disorder?

[Sirena]

Would a character who becomes an amputee early in the story be considered "physically disabled"?

Considering this book:

Caging Skies

[Dee]

Sirena wrote: "Would a character who becomes an amputee early in the story be considered "physically disabled"?

Considering this book:

Caging Skies"

yes

[Kathy KS]

Dee wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Kathy KS

Would this one also work for the Nonfiction title?
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, by Megan Phelps-Roper.

I could argu..."

OK, I'll be waiting...

[Donna]

Congrats Dee. Great task.

[Iulia]

Dee wrote: "Iulia wrote: "Would Isabel Allende work, for Book 2, hispanic-latin author?
Also, could this book Straight: The Surprisingly Short History Of Heterosexuality work for ..."

So, does this book Straight: The Surprisingly Short History Of Heterosexuality work for Book 3, LBGTQIA*?"

Thank you!

[Dee]

in talking to the mods we tweaked the language a little bit - here is what we can up with:

The spirit of this option is to read for diversity. The book you choose should give you the opportunity to see people and situations that may be different from your own experience.

so in light of that - Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope would work if you feel it gives you an opportunity to see people/situations beyond your own experience

[Dee]

Iulia wrote: "Dee wrote: "Iulia wrote: "Would Isabel Allende work, for Book 2, hispanic-latin author?
Also, could this book [book:Straight: The Surprisingly Short History Of Heterosexuality|1205337..."

i think so - based on the description - i'm struggling because while its shelved as queer/lgbt its about the use of straight terminology - but as with above - if you feel it gives you insight into people/situations different from your own experience then yes

[Iulia]

Dee wrote: "Iulia wrote: "Dee wrote: "Iulia wrote: "Would Isabel Allende work, for Book 2, hispanic-latin author?
Also, could this book [book:Straight: The Surprisingly Short History Of Heterosex..."

Thank you, Dee! Congrats, this is indeed a beautiful task!

[Dee]

Iulia wrote: "Dee wrote: "Iulia wrote: "Dee wrote: "Iulia wrote: "Would Isabel Allende work, for Book 2, hispanic-latin author?
Also, could this book [book:Straight: The Surprisingly Short History ..."

thanks! I know i've had fun finding new authors to read over the last year

[Kathy KS]

Dee wrote: "in talking to the mods we tweaked the language a little bit - here is what we can up with:

The spirit of this option is to read for diversity. The book you choose should give you the opportunity t..."

Thanks! I'll being using it, then, because I've never been able to understand the whole mindset Westboro has. It will be an interesting read.

[Cindie]

Does this work for book one, LGBTQIA? This Is How It Always Is? It's about a family whose youngest child is trans

Thanks!

[Dee]

Cindie wrote: "Does this work for book one, LGBTQIA? This Is How It Always Is? It's about a family whose youngest child is trans

Thanks!"

Yes and it’s a great book - the audio made me a blubbering mess

[Cindie]

Dee wrote: "Cindie wrote: "Does this work for book one, LGBTQIA? This Is How It Always Is? It's about a family whose youngest child is trans

Thanks!"

Yes and it’s a great book - the audio ma..."

Thanks! I can't believe how much I loved it (just finished a few minutes ago)

[Book Concierge]

Would you consider this as fitting diversity category for LBGTQ?

As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl

[Dee]

Book Concierge wrote: "Would you consider this as fitting diversity category for LBGTQ?

As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl"

Wow - yes I think so - even if he was unknowingly forced to live the other gender

[Jen K]

Hey there, I love this challenge!

Would you approve The Monk of Mokha for 2) Refugee/Immigrant and/or 4) Religion Other than Own?

The GR's blurb is short but my library's blurb says that "Mokhtar Alkhanshali grew up in San Francisco, one of seven siblings brought up by Yemeni immigrants in a tiny apartment" and that he is Muslim which is different from my religion. Thanks!

[Julia]

For "Person of Color" your definitions mention "origin". Is it ok if the person is still in that country?

I would like to use The Satapur Moonstone for Book 1. The main character is an Indian woman, but the book is set in India.

[Dee]

Jen K wrote: "Hey there, I love this challenge!

Would you approve The Monk of Mokha for 2) Refugee/Immigrant and/or 4) Religion Other than Own?

The GR's blurb is short but my library's blurb ..."

Yes that looks like it works

[Dee]

Julia wrote: "For "Person of Color" your definitions mention "origin". Is it ok if the person is still in that country?

I would like to use The Satapur Moonstone for Book 1. The main character i..."

Yes

[Midu]

Hi! Love how challenging this task is and where it takes me as a reader. Please confirm if these are okay:

Book 1 (protagonist is blind)

Book 2 (author is Bolivian)

Book 3 (author writes about his own journey with depression)

First two authors are new to me

[Dee]

Midu - look good

[Midu]

Dee wrote: "Midu - look good"
Thank you!

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Can you verify Jacqueline Woodson as an author who is a person of color - I'm reading Another Brooklyn.

Thanks!

[Dee]

Sandy wrote: "Can you verify Jacqueline Woodson as an author who is a person of color - I'm reading Another Brooklyn.

Thanks!"

yep! she works (her Brown Girl Dreaming is her memoir of growing up)

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Dee wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Can you verify Jacqueline Woodson as an author who is a person of color - I'm reading Another Brooklyn.

Thanks!"

yep! she works (her [book:Brown Girl ..."

Thanks!

[Tammy AZ]

Will An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice by Khizr Khan work for #3?

Thanks

[Dee]

Tammy AZ wrote: "Will An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice by Khizr Khan work for #3?

Thanks"

yes - as they are immigrants

[Karen D]

Can Such a Fun Age work for #1? The way the GR description is written it sounds like Alix is the MC but the book starts from Emira's POV and has more time spent on her.

[Dee]

Karen D wrote: "Can Such a Fun Age work for #1? The way the GR description is written it sounds like Alix is the MC but the book starts from Emira's POV and has more time spent on her."

i can't say definitive yes or no based on the description - so i think you'll need to read and then make a determination - if Alix is a central character to plot then it should work

[Karen D]

Dee wrote: "Karen D wrote: "Can Such a Fun Age work for #1? The way the GR description is written it sounds like Alix is the MC but the book starts from Emira's POV and has more time spent on h..."

Ok thanks! I read the book and Elmira (the African-American character) is definitely the MC, but I wasn't sure if the way the description on Goodreads was written would cause me problems.

[Dee]

Sounds good just make sure to point it out in your post

[Marie-Anne]

Does Alzheimer's work for mental condition? I'm thinking about The Worst Day Of My Life, So Far, about a daughter caring for her mother with the condition.

Thanks.

[Dee]

Marie-Anne wrote: "Does Alzheimer's work for mental condition? I'm thinking about The Worst Day Of My Life, So Far, about a daughter caring for her mother with the condition.

Thanks."

definately

[Maria]

Hello! Wondering if Wuthering Heights would work for Category 1? Reading it (for the first time!) in a college course and we have been discussing Heathcliff's racial background and identity. Thanks!!

[Dee]

Maria wrote: "Hello! Wondering if Wuthering Heights would work for Category 1? Reading it (for the first time!) in a college course and we have been discussing Heathcliff's racial background and iden..."

its been a while since i've read it, but i can't remember anything that demonstrates him being a POC - do you have a quote or something in the book that could work?

[Aprilleigh]

The book never outright tells us one way or another, but strongly hints at Romani origins.

[Dee]

Aprilleigh wrote: "The book never outright tells us one way or another, but strongly hints at Romani origins."

i'm going to say no because its not clearly mentioned/described anywhere - sorry!

[Maria]

Dee wrote: "Aprilleigh wrote: "The book never outright tells us one way or another, but strongly hints at Romani origins."

i'm going to say no because its not clearly mentioned/described anywhere - sorry!"

He's called a g*psy multiple times by other characters. Also, here is a quote from narrator Nelly Dean, in discussion with Heathcliff:

"'A good heart will help you to a bonny face, my lad,' I continued, 'if you were a regular black; and a bad one will turn the bonniest into something worse than ugly. And now that we've done washing, and combing, and sulking--tell me whether you don't think yourself rather handsome? I'll tell you, I do. You're fit for a prince in disguise. Who knows but your father was Emperor of China, and your mother an Indian queen, each of them able to buy up, with one week's income, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange together? And you were kidnapped by wicked sailors and brought to England."

Here, Nelly presents multiple options for Heathcliff's background. If it still doesn't count, I respect that!!! Just wanted to say that it definitely is mentioned throughout the book, both directly and as a theme.

[Julia]

Does The Paper Lawyer by Carlos Cisneros work as author POC (Hispanic) based on his name and/or the description of the publisher Arte Publico Press as a publisher of U.S. Hispanic authors? I couldn't find a bio of the author that actually mentions his ethnicity.

[Dee]

Julia wrote: "Does The Paper Lawyer by Carlos Cisneros work as author POC (Hispanic) based on his name and/or the description of the publisher Arte Publico Press as a publisher o..."

I’ve found mentions of him being Hispanic so that works

[Dee]

Maria wrote: "Dee wrote: "Aprilleigh wrote: "The book never outright tells us one way or another, but strongly hints at Romani origins."

i'm going to say no because its not clearly mentioned/described anywhere..."

I thought on this overnight - the point of this task was to increase the diversity of characters and authors that you read - IF you feel that Wuthering Heights meets that goal then I won’t disapprove...

[Nicola]

Dee how are you handling the 'different religion to my own' for people like myself who have no religion?

[Dee]

Nicola wrote: "Dee how are you handling the 'different religion to my own' for people like myself who have no religion?"

We changed the language or tried to clarify that - a book where you learn something about a religion you want to learn about (or similar)

[Laura H L]

I would like to have approved Women Talking by Miriam Toews under the category of religion. This book is about the Mennonite culture. Although it is Christian-based, it has its own unique culture that is very different from other parts of the Christian faith.

[Dee]

Laura wrote: "I would like to have approved Women Talking by Miriam Toews under the category of religion. This book is about the Mennonite culture. Although it is Christian-based, i..."

Yes if it provides a unique insight then it works