Musing Mondays with APOOO, October 6, 2008
By APOOO • Oct 6th, 2008 • Category: Monday Musings •
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Musing Mondays ask…
How has your reading changed over the years? Have you started reading more meaty books? (Books with more substance) Or, have you gone to more fluff books? Perhaps you’ve just done neither and you’ve always read the same type of thing. If that’s the case, why? Are you willing to step out of your reading ‘comfort zone’ and try something new? What would you recommend to someone who needed to ‘branch out’?
Prior to the new African American Literature Renaissance, which was about 10 years ago, my book options were limited. Once I discovered Terry McMillian, Connie Briscoe, Bebe Moore Campbell, Eric Jerome Dickey and many other authors of the African diaspora, I rarely picked up a book by a non-AfAm authors during the year. When I did it was because a fellow book lover/APOOO sister recommended them. Although, I will admit I’ve read all of the Harry Potter books…does that count for reading outside of the box…lol. 
My reading taste has changed over the last 10 years…as I’ve matured and had to multi-task with family, work and personal obligations, I have found that when I sit down to read I don’t want books filled with silly women, stupid men, and drama just for the sake of it. Up until about 2-3 years ago, I really had a nice selection of books by AfAm authors to choose from…so I got diversity and meaty books along the way. Now…I’m coming full circle. Just as I can’t only eat McDonald’s everyday…I can’t only read the current AfAm books that proliferate the market…I NEED MORE. I NEED OPTIONS. I’m tired of Friday Night Specials, Saturday Jooking and Sunday Praise the Lord themes. I miss Bernice McFadden…Alex Pate…and was two thrilled this year to see that Dianne McKinney Whetstone was FINALLY back with a new release. I even welcomed Of Blood and Sorrow by Valerie Wilson Wesley…because it had been that long since she gave us a good mystery. Oh and it’s good to see that Tananarive Due graced us with Blood Colony this year…although I still need to read this one. Other wonderful tales I read this year included Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon, Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice, Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes…and a few other ones…but these stand apart because the themes were different and the books captivated my interest. Oh and definitely include Run by Ann Patchett.
Actually it was this book that made me realize that I’ve come full circle with my reading taste. I still like my AfAm authors…but I don’t like being pigeoned holed in too reading ‘only certain types of books.’ That said, I don’t have to and am willing to give ANY author…regardless of race… a chance…if they write about subjects that pique my interest.
Yes, my reading taste has changed…but I like to believe it’s for the better. In order to be well-rounded, I need to read a little bit of everything, but that little bit needs to be something that I’m interested in reading and it needs to be a quality product. I read all genres…hmmm except for maybe Westerns unless they are written by Guy Johnson…can I say King Tremaine…whew…what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man…hehe.
My reading taste does often reflect my mood…this time of year I tend to want books that are more literary since I’m spending more time inside and don’t mind curling up with a good book for a lengthy amount of time. During the summer, I tend to prefer light, quick, chick-lit reads…more ‘fluffy’ storylines that don’t require me to think a whole lot and that I can read at the beach or in one sitting.
Books I recommend to those who want to branch out:
Mama Day by Gloria Naylor
Finding Makeba by Alex Pate
The View From Here by Brian Keith Jackson
Sugar by Bernice McFadden
Books by Erica Turnipseed
A Woman’s Worth by Tracy Price-Thompson
Books by Kalisha Buckhanon
Vampire Huntress Series by LA Banks
Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson
Child of God by Lolita Files
Douglass Women by Jewel Parker Rhodes
Dancing on the Edge of the Roof by Shelia Williams–which not as literary as some of the other reads…this is a book about a sistah who’s tired of being sick and tired and fed up and she sets off to find herself without her family…ANY middle-aged woman can relate to this book!
And any of the books I mentioned earlier. Oh and I have a lot more from where they came from…unfortunately most of them are pre-2008 reads or not new releases.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share your Musing Mondays answers in the comments section.
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Love the list and I agree with them all .
What Yas said!
I would like to add Disappearing Acts and Momma by Terry McMillan.. in my opinion, these were two of her best books. Also Indigo by Beverly Jenkins .. it was not her first historical but it definately made everyone stand up and shout for more
I would also recommend “Kindred” by Octavia Butler, “The New Moon’s Arms” by Nalo Hopkinson and “Half a Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for people who want to branch out.
Bev…definitely agree with your recommendations!
Love the list and there are also some fantastic Carribean writers out there, of course Colin Channer springs to mind…Waiting in Vain…a favorite…
Definitely feeling you on the Carribbean authors as well as other talented authors from the African Disapora.
I’ve always felt it’s important to read books without regard to the race of the writer. The only problem is that it seems white readers don’t do this (or publishers assume they don’t), so black authors really rely on black readers for sales. So I’m very grateful for readers who support me because of my race, though I do still respect and approve reading books that speak to you regardless of who writes them.
I’ve heard from many readers (of all races) that my book is universal and now, from this post, I see what they mean. That’s what I like to read–books that speak to the human condition (by the same authors you mentioned plus Tayari Jones, Martha Southgate, ZZ Packer, Pearl Cleage, Kim McLarin, and Elyse Singleton to name a few).
I have hopes that those of us writing universal stories will continue to attract and grow an audience (of all races), rising above and beyond the limitations that publishers and booksellers place on us. But in the meantime, thank you for giving a little extra attention to Af Am writers!!!
Carleen´s last blog post..Fall in the garden
How has your reading changed over the years? I’ve changed as a person with age and experience and times have changed. Both have impacted my reading. I remember the time when you had just a few AA authors to choose from and not the smorgasbord we have today.
Have you started reading more meaty books? Or, have you gone to more fluff books? I’m a versatile reader so I’ve always enjoyed “meaty” books as well as “fluff.” Depends on what I’m in the mood for. Both serve their purpose.
I love my AA authors, but when I want something different, some of my favorites are Jackie Collins, Iris Johansen, JD Robb, Tami Hoag and Barbara Parker. I’d recommend any of these authors to those wanting to branch out.
I think I read more deeply when I was younger. Perhaps because I had more time. Now when faced with a book with more than 350-400 pages, I cringe.
I went through a period where I didn’t want anything to do with contemporary AA fiction. I’ll say early to mid 1990’s. Because it was all the same stuff rehashed. I’ve since circled back to read select AA authors regularly and debut AA authors.
My reading runs more along the Christian fiction line. If I may add some AA Christian fiction authors to the list, try the books of Marilynn Griffith, Angela Benson, Claudia Mair Burney, Sharon Foster Ewell for stories that not only entertain but really make you think. Now if you want a really good Christian fic read, maybe a bit lighter but no less entertaining and maybe a few laughs, throw in some Victoria Christopher Murray, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Michele Andrea Bowen, Michelle Stimpson, and Tia McCollors. There’s a host of other authors in Christian fiction that are well-written, not preachy, and very enjoyable. And I’m excited that there’s a whole new group of AA authors beginning to make names for themselves in this genre.
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