Since 2017, my intent has been to read more stories by diverse authors. Why? To support authors of color, to learn more-directly or indirectly-about other cultures, and to promote the publishing of diverse books to more accurately reflect our world.
In 2017, I read 54 books, but only 2 were written by authors of color
in 2018, I read 64 books, and 10 were written by authors of color
in 2019, I read 74 books, and 20 were written by authors of color
In 2020, I had a good start.
By March, I’d read 9 books by diverse authors, though 2 were children’s stories.. Then Covid19 struck and I’ve been derailed in many areas of life, including my reading.
In 2020, I read 51 books. Only 10 were written by authors of color, however, an additional 5 books written by white authors included characters of color
It’s all about intentionality because reading authors of color doesn’t happen automatically. The majority of books are written by white authors with white characters. If I wish to do better I need to be more aware of my reading choices.
Starting the New Year Right
I went to the library (masked and physically distanced) and found some romances to read by authors of color:
Ghosting: A Love Story by Tash Skilton
A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
Books Read in 2020
Short Stories:
The Heads of Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spines
New Suns edited by Nisi Shawl
Children’s Stories:
This is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson
Novels by authors of color:
A beta read
Yes No Maybe So by Aisha Saeed and Becky Albertalli
The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Re Jane by Patricia Park
Photo by César Viteri on Unsplash
Novels by white authors inclusive of characters of color:
This is Home by Lisa Duffy
The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
The Lost Girls of Devon by Barbara O’Neal
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult