tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post4360111936799158871..comments2024-01-30T03:31:56.795-07:00Comments on White Readers Meet Black Authors: Buy a book for somebody white this holidayCarleen Bricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-17945115799144178972010-07-23T01:52:30.569-06:002010-07-23T01:52:30.569-06:00I think I'll start by handing your awesome boo...I think I'll start by handing your awesome book out!!Johnhttp://www.best-london-escort-agency.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-71211627322739559962009-11-10T11:28:11.353-07:002009-11-10T11:28:11.353-07:00I love this 2 books . . . and I'll buy the 3th...I love this 2 books . . . and I'll buy the 3th one. I also loved Kim Reid's book (and bought it for my parents, who are white like me, this fall.)escorthttp://vlondonescorts.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-58624890310703402122009-09-14T10:42:33.763-06:002009-09-14T10:42:33.763-06:00I totally agreeI totally agreeIrelandhttp://www.escorts360.com/Ireland-Escorts.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-33411322653938409352009-06-13T09:28:35.064-06:002009-06-13T09:28:35.064-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Escorts Londonhttp://www.palacevip.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-60573206601765535552009-01-13T22:15:00.000-07:002009-01-13T22:15:00.000-07:00I am a white female and I read almost all books by...I am a white female and I read almost all books by AA authors. I love everybody from Sister Souljah, Eric Jerome Dickey, to Mary Monroe to Octavia Butler and Bernie McFadden. Some people think I'm nuts for doing this and some people even think its racist. However, I like to tell people I spent fifteen years in school reading books by almost all white authors. Wasn't that racist?<BR/><BR/>On the topic of why white peple don't read many books besides Black authors is most people don't get exposed to it they don't even know these authors exist. Yes of course they will read a Toni Morrison novel or The Color Purple, or Native Son in school or maybe even Danzy Sensa's Caucasia. But thats where it draws the line. <BR/><BR/>I did not even know that there were thousands of contemporary novels by AA authors until somebody recommended True to the Game by Teri Woods. I found the book in the AA fiction section at Borders and was shocked to find so many books. Then from there I discovered Mary Morrison from a classmate. A co-worker recommened Kindred by Octavia Butler. I love AA novels in every form and fashion but the only reason I started to enjoy them was because somebody recommended one to me. <BR/><BR/>Bottom line many whites have no idea that there is such an array of novels by AA authors that exist. There is something for everyone from sleazy romance, to murder mystery (Walter Mosley esp.) to historical fiction, but most of us don't know these books exist. People of all races can relate to some of these books the key is finding the niche within the genre. That being said there are still a lot of whites that don't like to venture out and read books by AA authors unless its a New York Times bestseller. However, there are many people that just need exposure to AA authors.Robyn2184https://www.blogger.com/profile/00597569899795349091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-47746096705167769322009-01-02T15:12:00.000-07:002009-01-02T15:12:00.000-07:00just wanted to report to you that i bought an audi...just wanted to report to you that i bought an audiobook by sidney poitier for my sister-in law (who is asian not white, i hope that counts :). and while i was at it, i bought "black boy" by richard wright, als as an audiobook, for my own white self.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-85472030759841856892008-12-13T10:40:00.000-07:002008-12-13T10:40:00.000-07:00Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis."In 18...Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis.<BR/><BR/>"In 1859, eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in Buxton, Canada, which is a haven for slaves fleeing the American south, uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom."Miss Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523522516781451879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-66984096973754598312008-12-12T22:27:00.000-07:002008-12-12T22:27:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-1833339950527397622008-12-10T14:41:00.000-07:002008-12-10T14:41:00.000-07:00Most recent Anon: This is and is not a joke. Your ...Most recent Anon: This is and is not a joke. Your point is also my point; I'm just trying to make it with humor. Guess not everybody gets it.Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-13066982848754887522008-12-10T13:32:00.000-07:002008-12-10T13:32:00.000-07:00Is this a joke? It sounds CRAZY! I'm an African ...Is this a joke? It sounds CRAZY! I'm an African American who reads White authors all of the time! Did I need an invitation.<BR/><BR/>This is a bunch of foolishness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-50539782467481019822008-12-08T19:29:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:29:00.000-07:00Most Recent Anonymous, Forget sit-ins. We're thin...Most Recent Anonymous, Forget sit-ins. We're thinking parties. Stay tuned....Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-35476665697409550932008-12-08T15:53:00.000-07:002008-12-08T15:53:00.000-07:00Another great author people might want to check ou...Another great author people might want to check out is Maryse Conde - she's a Guadaloupean writer of great reknown and many of her books have been translated into English (she writes in French). I discovered her in college, as well as poet Kamau Braithwaite. I once photocopied one of his out-of-print poetry collections because it was so beautifully written (should I admit that?:)<BR/><BR/>There are so many great authors - of all colors. I personally think the 'segregation' in book stores should end, and I applaud your efforts, Carleen, in bringing attention to this practice. Maybe we need to organize non-violent sit-ins to address this nationwide;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-49429753550450376882008-12-08T13:56:00.000-07:002008-12-08T13:56:00.000-07:00This is brilliant. I love it!!!This is brilliant. I love it!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121324656558373189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-91699995831242940092008-12-03T06:50:00.000-07:002008-12-03T06:50:00.000-07:00Another author to consider: Carolivia Herron. Sh...Another author to consider: Carolivia Herron. She has children's books (Always an Olivia is the most recent and Nappy Hair the best-known) and a novel for grownups called Thereafter Johnnie. More coming, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-66349598010288649412008-11-30T19:26:00.000-07:002008-11-30T19:26:00.000-07:00Carleen, what a cool idea! I've blogged about whit...Carleen, what a cool idea! I've blogged about whites visiting the AA section of a bookstore here:<BR/>http://ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com/2008/11/november-book-giveaway.htmlCecelia Dowdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07173806883218875753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-55655600583069666182008-11-30T15:00:00.000-07:002008-11-30T15:00:00.000-07:00Carleen I'll be sharing this link for sure and...Carleen I'll be sharing this link for sure and promoting it on RAWSISTAZ & BlackBookReviews.net. I already share titles with anyone willing to listen, but I'll go the extra mile this month. :)<BR/><BR/>For starters, here are some of my favorites:<BR/>The Tribe by Gregory Townes (Horror)<BR/>A Woman's Worth by Tracy Price-Thompson (Fiction)<BR/>My Mother's Rules: A Practical Guide to Becoming an Emotional Genius by Lynn Toler (Non-Fiction)<BR/>Living Consequences by Brittney Holmes (Young Adult Christian Fiction)<BR/>In Another Man's Bed by Francis Ray (fiction)<BR/>Demon Hunter: Book One by T. L. Gardner (paranormal)<BR/>Rising by Darnella Ford (and all her other books)<BR/>The Osguards by Malcolm Petteway (sci-fi/military techno-thriller)<BR/>Pretenses by Keith Lee Johnson (thriller/suspense)<BR/>The Legend of Morning by T. L. Gardner & Michelle McGriff <BR/><BR/>Whew...more later!<BR/><BR/>-Tee C. RoyalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-67886852236411032172008-11-26T20:22:00.000-07:002008-11-26T20:22:00.000-07:00Thanks for the info Carleen! I'll definitely be w...Thanks for the info Carleen! I'll definitely be watching your recommends. :)<BR/><BR/>Anon #2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-33565945347108973902008-11-26T05:25:00.000-07:002008-11-26T05:25:00.000-07:00Let's see . . . novelist John Edgar Wideman, novel...Let's see . . . novelist John Edgar Wideman, novelist Wesley Brown, poet Charles H. Johnson, novelist Mat Johnson, Samuel R. Delany and Octavia Butler.<A HREF="http://stevenhartsite.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/the-black-pages/" REL="nofollow">How's that for a start</A>?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-27301620449873171052008-11-25T08:30:00.000-07:002008-11-25T08:30:00.000-07:00A great idea, absolutely! I'll have to check ...A great idea, absolutely! I'll have to check out your work, Carleen, but meanwhile I already followed the link on your blog to Pamela Samuels Young's page-turner, Murder on the Down Low, for which, thanks! I look forward to finding out more about the other books and you recommend.<BR/><BR/>Let's not forget, in addition to the many wonderful black women writer today, such forefathers of African-American literature as Chicago's Cyrus Colter, author of "A Chocolate Soldier" and "City of Light" and John Oliver Killens, co-founder of the Harlem Writers Guild. One of the first black literary novels I read -- way back -- was John A.Williams' "The Man Who Cried I Am." And a few months ago I did the author photo for the lovely Jennifer Baszile whose "The Black Girl Next Door: A Memoir" is due from Simon & Schuster in January of 2009. <BR/><BR/>Finally, one reminder about libraries. If you want not only to give these books as gifts but to read them yourself but your budget is tight, look for them at your local library. If a book is not in the library's catalog, you can request it -- it just might be added to the collection. And if more people ask, more copies might be bought. In fact, you might even want to Email a link to this blog to your local librarian!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-5934950628136618902008-11-24T19:42:00.000-07:002008-11-24T19:42:00.000-07:00Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde. A...<I>Zami: A New Spelling of My Name</I> by Audre Lorde. Amazing.ensiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16689051066541407842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-7986934551396337802008-11-24T18:17:00.000-07:002008-11-24T18:17:00.000-07:00Marion, I agree with you: the world will be a grea...Marion, I agree with you: the world will be a great place when there's no need to point out the author's race at all. Until that time comes I'm doing what I can to help black authors gain a wider readership. I hope this tongue-in-cheek blog & holiday shines a light on some good writers.<BR/><BR/>Miss Kitty, I hope you do buy Morrison's book. But since she is so well-known, I'm trying to spotlight those who are less known, but very talented. Send your students on over!<BR/><BR/>Anon #2, Not all bookstores have an AA fiction section--many independents don't. The chains tend to. Hurston & Morrison are often "double-shelved" so that readers like you can find them in the general fiction section and browsers in the AA section--who typically are AA themselves and specifically want to read black authors--can also find them. I'd like more of y'all to come over and find the rest of us. There are some books that won't appeal to you, but some will and it's a shame that so many assume that none of them will. I'm betting they're wrong.<BR/><BR/>FYI, I'm kind of a reading wimp too, so I'll be pointing out some books safe for wimps. Pay special attention to whether or not I mention I've read the book. Usually if I've read it, it won't have graphic rape, incest, abuse or violence. Though I don't mind language. :)Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-88328158630682716512008-11-24T17:35:00.000-07:002008-11-24T17:35:00.000-07:00I love anything that gets people reading, especial...I love anything that gets people reading, especially if it's a book outside their "comfort zone." So I think this is a terrific idea. <BR/><BR/>I'd recommend Andrea Levy's "Small Island," which is partly based on her own family's experience as Jamaican immigrants to Britain after World War II. I's a beautifully written novel with very engaging, memorable characters.<BR/><BR/>I'd like to second "Dreams from My Father," too. It's a terrific memoir, honest and so timely. <BR/><BR/>For something completely different, I've also enjoyed "The Emperor of Ocean Park," by Stephen Carter and "The Intuitionist" by Colson Whitehead.<BR/><BR/>And since I blog a lot about the theater, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a play. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the Broadway debut of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun." A copy of the play, along with a dvd of the movie or the stage version that aired on tv recently, would be a terrific gift. (In fact, I may give it to myself!) <BR/><BR/>Even better, I know of at least a couple of theater companies that are mounting regional productions in honor of the anniversary, so you could give theater tickets, too.Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-11214564365321036732008-11-24T16:23:00.000-07:002008-11-24T16:23:00.000-07:00Okay, I'm the anonymous person above. I just chec...Okay, I'm the anonymous person above. I just checked out a ton of these books at Amazon, and some do seem like the dark literary stuff that's so popular but that I haven't read in years (college spoiled me of it - sorry). But what DID grab my attention was "The Untelling", "Orange Mint and Honey", and "The Known World". I ran out of time when I got to Lisa's long list, so I'll have to check that out later. And I ONCE AGAIN have too many books on request at the library. Hee hee. Not such a bad habit, right? :) Thanks for giving me more books to look forward to! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-90074118040418581802008-11-24T15:55:00.000-07:002008-11-24T15:55:00.000-07:00I found your blog through GalleyCat (BTW I love yo...I found your blog through GalleyCat (BTW I love your blog title, LOL!) and I gotta say, as a white girl, my thoughts are spinning. IS there an AA section at my bookstore? How weird. Don't I see Hurston and Morrison in the lit section where they belong? Why do I care what color the writer is? It would never even occur to me to think that a book by an AA author would have to have Ebonics in it. I'm hoping that train of thought is in the minority. It makes me feel weird to be associated with that kind of thing. (Not saying I'm offended - just sharing my thoughts.)<BR/><BR/>So, all that aside, I'm ALWAYS on the lookout for good book suggestions! :) But everyone's taste in books is different, so I rarely get my book recommendations from unknown sources like a blog. I love what was suggested in another comment, an "If you loved ___ then you'll love ___" but along with an explanation why. Sometimes even those kinds of recommendations miss the mark, because WHAT I loved about the first book isn't to be found in the second at all. <BR/><BR/>So even better is a brief description of the book, along with a sense of the style of the book. I tend to avoid things that are dark and depressing, have disturbing things like rape scenes, lots of foul language, etc. These things aren't always talked about in reviews, which is why I tend to get my book recommendations from people whose taste in books I know is similar to mine. Most of all, though, I'm picky about quality. I want characters and plot lines that are fully developed, logical, etc etc. <BR/><BR/>I usually troll sites instead of leaving comments, but since I've toyed with the idea of starting a blog, I thought I'd at least try to be useful and throw in my two cents. ;)<BR/><BR/>You have a good idea here. I'll bookmark you and keep an eye on how your site develops. Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908605519309482853.post-29696982245618134432008-11-24T14:47:00.000-07:002008-11-24T14:47:00.000-07:00I too had planned on getting Morrison's latest boo...I too had planned on getting Morrison's latest book. <BR/><BR/>EXCELLENT idea and blog--I'm SO glad to have found you! Now if I can get my lit students to come here, we'll be doing really well. I'm a (white) college English professor, and about 70% of my students are non-black.Miss Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13210249894351503887noreply@blogger.com