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The NYT has published its summer reading list and it does not contain a single book by a person of color. There has been a lot of criticism of their list. Here's one article:



And a number of other list containing books by authors of color have been published in response:





Which book by an author of color are you most excited about reading this summer?

Wilhelmina wrote: "Which book by an author of color are you most excited about reading this summer? "

Loving Day! I'm so glad it's leading the poll for July. I just read Pym and it instantly made Mat Johnson one of my favorite authors.

I am also eager for Mat Johnson's new one, but can't request it from the library yet since it isn't officially out yet (I know not all libraries are like this...but mine is!). I just got Claudia Rankine's Citizen from the library last week. Not fiction, but I have decided to make a pointed effort to read more poetry, and am starting with this one. I also have Everything I Never Told You and Land of Love and Drowning in my library queue.

Not that it's summer for me yet. Summer starts after both kids' and husband's semesters are over. Kids are out in 2 weeks, husband in 3.5--almost there!

It's such a shame to see NYT overlook amazing authors of color, but I love the response articles from those who encourage literary diversity. I can't wait to read Toni Morrison's God Help the Child.

Dree wrote: " I just got Claudia Rankine's Citizen from the library last week. "

Me too. I started reading and felt such a true voice in its first pages that I stopped because I want to read it all in one sitting, and plan for a time where I know I'll be able to.

Oh, and I'm also happy to see The Meursault Investigation on Bookriot's list. This novel takes off from Camus's The Stranger and tells the story of the family of the Algerian that Camus's protagonist casually murders in The Stranger's final pages. I enjoyed the excerpt published in the New Yorker. It feels like a novel that has needed to be written for a while.

Poingu wrote: "Wilhelmina wrote: "Which book by an author of color are you most excited about reading this summer? "

Loving Day! I'm so glad it's leading the poll for July. I just read [book:Pym..."

Glad you enjoyed Pym.
I agree that Mat Johnson is a very talented writer.
No matter the genre or subject matter I have enjoyed all that he has written and he is on my automatic buy/read list.

I'm looking forward to our group reads and also Delicious Foods by James Hannaham.

Dree wrote: "I am also eager for Mat Johnson's new one, but can't request it from the library yet since it isn't officially out yet (I know not all libraries are like this...but mine is!). I just got Claudia Ra..."

I read Citizen a little while ago and very much enjoyed and loved the format and the way the author beautifully and poignantly expressed what so many of us experience.

Beverly wrote: "Dree wrote: "I am also eager for Mat Johnson's new one, but can't request it from the library yet since it isn't officially out yet (I know not all libraries are like this...but mine is!). I just g..."

I can and want to get Citizen from my library, but I bought a copy of Don’t Let Me Be Lonely: An American Lyric after seeing it talked about here. My library didn't have that one.

I am thinking it will be a speculative fiction reading summer for me. I would love to read my way through this list. :)

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Falling in Love with Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson
The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard
The Truth About Awiti by C.P. Patrick
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

And while this book is YA - how can I resist this cover:

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

I love this thread. The NYT list enraged me today but it also made me feel like we have to have our own "authorities" on literature. Too often, I find, that if a reviewer highlights too many "literary" books, she/he is criticized by those who read "commercial" novels. And vice-versa. We should have both lists, if necessary, or many lists, but right now it seems we have no one but Oprah offering picks for serious, discerning readers. Or do we?

Response by author Roxanne Gay on NPR's Code Switch:

I don't read along with Oprah's book club, and I never have (I am so not that organized). But I have read a lot of her selections, because I know if she picked it it will be worth reading.

I just checked her site, and she has a list of 12 new poetry books! This list will likely end up being the core of the poetry I will be reading in my "read more poetry" resolution. Thank you Lauren for the reminder.

The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud

The LA Times summer reading list is much better:

Hi Wilhelmina -

Besides Tananarive Due's GHOST SUMMER: STORIES coming out 9/1/15 and Leonard Pitts' GRANT PARK 10/13/15, what else have you heard about new literary fiction by people of color for the fall and winter 2015/2016?

Thanks.

Hello Peggy,
I'm new to the group, but I see your question about new books coming out this Fall and so I went on a search and found, "See No Color" YA Fiction by Shannon Gibney. I found it on AALBC's Power List. And if that doesn't work, there are several others listed that may help with your fall reading. :)

Peggy wrote: "Hi Wilhelmina -

Besides Tananarive Due's GHOST SUMMER: STORIES coming out 9/1/15 and Leonard Pitts' GRANT PARK 10/13/15, what else have you heard about new literary fiction by people of color for..."

Here are a couple of more that I have been hearing buzz about and/or getting good pre-release reviews for the Fall.(Sept to Nov) There are a couple more but need to find my notes and for the winter fiction books. Also a couple of interesting NF books.

Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta

Beauty Is a Wound by Eka Kurniawan

Half an Inch of Water by Percival Everett

Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson

Here's some others. Negroland seems to be on every Fall Book List. Looking forward to it...

Negroland: A Memoir by Margo Jefferson
Not Dark Yet by Berit Ellingsen
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
Twain & Stanley Enter Paradise by Oscar Hijuelos

Columbus wrote: "Here's some others. Negroland seems to be on every Fall Book List. Looking forward to it...

Negroland: A Memoir by Margo Jefferson
Not Dark Yet by [..."

I am reading Negroland now - liking what she has to say and the way she is saying it. :)

Oh, great to hear that Beverly. Here's another one to put on your must read list but it's not due til early next year. This one looks really good!

The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee

Columbus wrote: "Oh, great to hear that Beverly. Here's another one to put on your must read list but it's not due til early next year. This one looks really good!

The Queen of the Night by [author..."

Oh yes, I have already started a 2016 list and I still reading through the spring 2015 books. :)
I think this has been a very good year for AOC books - great variety in the stories they are telling.

Adding to the Fall releases:

The Coming by Daniel Black

Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine by Damon Tweedy - NF

Early 2016 release

The Illegal by Lawrence Hill - This has already been released in Canada - the US release date is Jan 25, 2016

Thanks for the suggestions. A new book - not fiction, but could still be fun - I'LL NEVER WRITE MY MEMOIRS by Grace Jones is scheduled for a 9/29/15 release.