Literary Obama

Our writer-in-chief has spurred all kinds of discussion about how he will impact publishing and literature. (This week I was asked my opinion on the topic by a journalist in Sweden!) If you want to know the answer, follow the new blog Literary Obama. Qiana Whitted is tracking everything related to the literary side of our new president. She's writing about his books & poetry, books about him and books that have inspired him.

Top 10 reasons white people should read books by black people

10. You'll know what the cool kids are reading every month, not just February.
9. Two words: Blair Underwood.
8. Seriously, haven't you read enough Philip Roth? Jewish guy obsessed with sex and death. Oy! Enough already.
7. Halle Berry's making a movie of Nappily Ever After. You know you should read the book first.
6. You already like our music, dances, food, fashion and films.
5. Didn't you resolve to try new things this year?
4. In October, Nikki Giovanni told me this was the best book of 2008 (so far).
3. Paraphrasing President-Elect Obama, we’re not black states of fiction and white states of fiction. We’re the United States of fiction.
2. We read your books.

And, finally, the number one reason white people should read books by black people:

Lots of them are really good.