In August I read 16 books.

  • Two were nonfiction.
  • One was on audio.
  • They were set in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Oregon and the moon, New York, Diego Garcia, Miami, Massachusetts, Montreal, Seattle, Maine, England, California, China,
    Washington D.C., and fantasy worlds.
  • Eleven of the authors were women and five were men.
  • The authors were African-American (2), Indian (1), Hispanic (1), Chinese (1), Egyptian (1), and Caucasian (10).
  • Two of the books were originally written in an language other than English.

Around the Internet

The Ninja Book Swap signups open on September 1.

 

diversiverse2015

Diversiverse is coming!  This is my favorite reading challenge of the year.  The goal is to read and review one book written by an author of color.  Easy.  You get so many great suggestions.  Here’s what Aarti, the host of the reading challenge, says about it.

“Reading diversely is important because we live in a global world.  Period.  If you read books only by white authors, you are limiting yourself to less than 30% of the world’s experience of race and culture.  If you read books only by Christian authors, you are limiting yourself to only about 33% of the world’s experience of religion.  If you read books only by authors in developed countries, you are limiting yourself to a very privileged view of what the world has to offer you.  If you read books that focus only on Western thought, history, and philosophy, you are missing out on many rich and varied traditions and worldviews that have informed and continue to enrich the way we view the world today. “

Sign up here.

 

I’m participating in a CG swap right now and my partner and I are exhanging ebooks.  So far I’ve gotten this book.

If You Could Be MineIf You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

 

“Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They’ve shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love—Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light.

So they carry on in secret—until Nasrin’s parents announce that they’ve arranged for her marriage. Nasrin tries to persuade Sahar that they can go on as they have been, only now with new comforts provided by the decent, well-to-do doctor Nasrin will marry. But Sahar dreams of loving Nasrin exclusively—and openly.”

Thanks Kim!

Speaking of diversity in authors, Who Won Science Fiction’s Hugo Awards, And Why It Matters. The Three-Body Problem, one of my August reads, was one of the winners this year.

Since reading Headscarves and Hymens, I’ve been following the author @monaeltahawy on Twitter.  She writes a lot about feminism in the Middle East.

Incredible, honest and difficult read on the impact #FGC had on a young woman’s sex life & relationship w her mother http://t.co/1X2QGwYRrL — Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) August 26, 2015 And this.  The Shepherd’s Crown, the last Discworld novel is out and the account of the late Terry Pratchett posted this picture of the last page.  I want to read the book but I just can’t yet.

I’m working on a page with a huge list of places to link book reviews.  Where do you link yours?  Do you use any sites that you think most people wouldn’t know about?  Leave a link in the comments.