I read only non-white authors for 12 months. What I learned surprised me | Sunili Govinnage

Reading science fiction, chick lit and fantasy novels by people of colour for a year brought home to me just how white my reading world wasIn 2014, I managed to read 25 novels. All of them were written by people of colour. That was the result of a small challenge I set myself: not to read books by white authors for a year. The things I learned in my year of selective reading made me pretty glad to have persevered. Rather than restricting myself, my decision to be conscious about what I read introduced me to books I ordinarily would not have bothered with. Instead of my usual crime/procedural/legal thrillers, I actually read some science fiction. And some fantasy. And I loved it. Saladin Ahmed’s Throne of the Crescent Moon and Nnedi Okorafor’s Who Fears Death are now two of my favourite books. I would never have heard of them had I not deliberately sought them out.One difference that my book list made is that it ever-so-delicately altered the way I looked at the world. It was slow at first, but opening myself up to a variety of female perspectives made me more aware of the female lives around me … Feminism, as bell hooks pointed out, is for everyone. And when we become more aware of the small injustices and tiny everyday tragedies around us, we become better people. Reading women’s voices helped me to hear them more loudly in my daily life. Our culture is getting better and better at encouraging women to speak, but it’s not doing enough to listen to what they say when they... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #reading women #daily life #encouraging women

Other Publishing stories related to: 'I read only non-white authors for 12 months. What I learned surprised me | Sunili Govinnage'


Read an 1890 review of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

These days, if you use your book review to call an author a pervert and instruct him to abandon writing for the sake of public morality, most reputable editors will palm you a paltry kill fee and mothball your screed. Not so, it would seem, in 1890. Here’s how an outraged book critic for The […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-07-24 18:10:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dorian gray #book critic #book review


Barack Obama Release’s His Summer Reading List for 2023

Barack Obama's 2023 summer reading list is out! This year's selections showcase his usual mix of nonfiction and fiction. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-20 17:47:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barack obama


Children's Author Becomes a 'Loudmouth' for Banned Books

Author Leah Johnson isn't simply speaking up against censorship—she's putting banned books into people's hands, and will open Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis in late September. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #banned books #simply speaking #late september


How to watch bestselling author Luis Alberto Urrea at the L.A. Times Book Club

Luis Alberto Urrea, author of 'Good Night, Irene,' joins L.A. Times Book Club readers live on July 19. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-07-19 20:38:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good night #times book #bestselling author


Barnes & Noble reopening, new stores planned at The Avenue at White Marsh

Barnes & Noble will reopen its bookstore at The Avenue at White Marsh in a redesigned format on July 26, the bookseller announced Wednesday. It's one of several changes and new stores planned for the center. Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2023-07-19 17:11:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stores planned #barnes noble #bookseller #bookstore


An A-Z Alphabet of Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors of Color

Looking to diversify your reading list? Then this alphabet of SFF authors of color is a great place to start! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-19 10:37:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sff authors #great place #science fiction


Margaret Atwood among thousands of authors demanding compensation from AI companies

Margaret Atwood, James Patterson and Suzanne Collins are among thousands of writers endorsing an open letter from the Authors Guild urging AI companies to obtain permission before incorporating copyrighted work into their technologies. ... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-07-18 21:52:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #margaret atwood #ai companies #james patterson #suzanne collins #writers endorsing #open letter #obtain permission #authors guild


‘There’s an industry-wide mental health crisis’: authors and publishers on why the books sector needs to change

After a survey revealed the stresses that authors face when placed in the spotlight for the first time, publishing houses and industry bodies have pledged extra training and pastoral careAuthor and publisher welfare has been a hot topic in the books industry of late. Publishing houses, trade... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-18 15:13:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #survey revealed #industry bodies #books industry #hot topic #mental health #anna frame #communications director #english pen #independent publisher #bookseller #publishing houses


12 Book Club Picks Of July 2023

Get to know what all of the book clubs are reading this month, then get involved. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-14 10:38:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book clubs #book club


Authors Join the Brewing Legal Battle Over AI

Two new class action copyright lawsuits ramp up the growing scrutiny of large language models and other generative artificial intelligence tools. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Religion Book Deals: July 12, 2023

A new work by spirituality writers Kathleen Norris and Gareth Higgins goes to Brazos, Kar-Ben takes a Passover picture book, are among the new book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kar-ben takes #book deals


20 Must-Read Works of Historical Fiction Set in Mexico

Want to read more historical fiction set in Mexico? We've got you covered with these 20 absolute must-read books! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-11 10:31:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #historical fiction


Library Event Cancelations, Changes, and Support for Pride Month 2023

A look at the destruction of Pride displays, cancelation of Drag storytimes, and other June LGBTQ+ events in U.S. libraries in 2023. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-10 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pride displays #libraries


YA author shoots to No 1 on Amazon bestseller list after viral TikTok video

TikToker Jerrad Swearenjin approached Shawn Warner during a book signing because he looked ‘super defeated’A debut author struggling with sales became Amazon’s No 1 bestseller this week after a video of the writer at a quiet book signing went viral on TikTok.58-year-old Shawn Warner was sitting... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-07 13:47:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book signing #fort worth #debut author #bestseller list


Portable Reading Delights: Summer 2023 YA Paperback Releases

Get ready for all things reading outdoors or indoors beside a window with these summer 2023 YA paperbacks. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-07 10:39:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


12 Of The Best New Children’s Books Out July 2023

New children’s book releases include clever nonfiction picture books, thrilling middle grade fantasies, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-07 10:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children’s book


Transgender woman, bookstore, teacher sue over Montana law banning drag reading events

A transgender woman, the owners of an independent bookstore and an educator who teaches in costume are among those challenging Montana's first-in-the-nation law that bans people dressed in drag from reading to children in public schools or libraries Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-07-07 01:02:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #transgender woman #teacher sue #challenging montana #first-in-the-nation law #public schools #independent bookstore


Transgender woman, bookstore, teacher sue over Montana law banning drag reading events

A transgender woman, the owners of an independent bookstore and an educator who teaches in costume are among those challenging Montana's first-in-the-nation law that bans people dressed in drag from reading to children in public schools or libraries Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-07-07 00:47:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #transgender woman #teacher sue #challenging montana #first-in-the-nation law #public schools #independent bookstore


Catch Up on Your Mid-Year Reading Goals with These 8 New Manga Releases for July 2023

The manga new releases out July 2023 include a sweet high school romance, adventures at magic school, a body swap horror story, and lots more! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-06 10:33:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #manga releases #manga


Blurred Lines: A Reading List of Metafiction

It’s that spooky frisson that makes you, for a split second, want to throw your book across the room. Or chuckle. Or flail, blindly, for the familiar barrier between storyworld and readerworld—you know, your world. There’s nothing as electric as an experimental flourish executed well, and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-07-06 08:52:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #blurred lines #draws attention