The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

50.1 - Delicious Dee's Task: Diversify Your Reading

In 2019, I undertook a challenge to diversify my reading both in characters and authors. This led me down the path of discovering many new authors that I never would have found.

For the purpose of this task, diverse characters/authors are divided into 6 categories:

1) Person of Color/Diverse Background* see HT post 2;

2) Refugee/Immigrant;

3) LBGTQIA*;

4) Religion Other than Own;

5) Neurodiverse* or having a Mental Health Disorder*; and

6) Physical Disability

For this task you will read 3 books; all books MUST be by different authors and each must be written by a single author. At least TWO of the authors must be new to you, i.e. no book by the author has been read before. You MAY REPEAT one of the diversity categories ONCE.
Your books must total at least 750 pages.
No books with the genres children or kids on the main book page may be used.

Required: Identify the category for each book.

Book 1: Read a fiction book where the main character falls into one of the diversity categories.
Required: State the character and how the character fits the diversity category.

Book 2: Read a fiction book where the Author falls into one of the diversity categories.
Required: If the author’s 카지노싸이트 data doesn’t clearly indicate how the author fits the diversity category provide an outside verification link.

Book 3: Read a non-fiction book that is about one of the diversity categories

Required: State the 2 authors who are new to you.

for the purpose of this challenge, the following definitions are provided to guide you:

Person of Color:
- Asian-Indian - whose origins are from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Sri Lanka
- Asian-Pacific - whose origins are from Japan, China, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Taiwan, North or South Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
- African - whose origins are in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
- Hispanic/Latin - whose origins are of Hispanic/Latin heritage, defined as the the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Basin
- Middle-Eastern/North African - whose origins are in Turkey, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, or the Maghreb
- Native/Indigenous People - whose origins are in the cultures of the North American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, Native Hawaiian or Oceanic Aboriginal peoples.

LBGTQIA:
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual or other sexual/gender identification

Neurodiverse:
Neurological differences, including Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, Tourette Syndrome

Mental Health Disorder:
Disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior, including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors);

reserved - approved:

Person of Color/Indigenous:
NF - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
character - The Hate U Give/On the Come Up (POC)
author - Angie Thomas

Refugee/Immigrant
character - A Woman Is No Man (Immigrant)

LBGTQIA

Religion Other than Own
character - A Woman Is No Man (Muslim)
character - Ayesha at Last (Muslim)

Neurodiverse/Mental Health Disorder
character - The Rosie Project (Aspergers)
character - The Kiss Quotient/The Bride Test (Aspergers)
author - Helen Hoang (Twitter profile says neurodiverse)
character - House Rules (autism)
NF - Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things (depression)
Flowers for Algernon (mentally disabled)

Physical Disability
NF - Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (Parkinson's)

** Dee recommends

reserved - disapproved

Dying Inside - not a mental disorder

This help thread is open.

Afternoon.

I just wanted to check that this would work for Option 3: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West, by Dee Brown

It would be for category 1. Person of Color - Native/Indigenous.

Thanks.

Trish wrote: "Afternoon.

I just wanted to check that this would work for Option 3: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West, by Dee Brown

It would be for category 1..."

yes!

thanks!

Would Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things work for Option 3 (Mental Health Disorder)? It's a memoir of the author's experiences with depression.

Brooke wrote: "Would Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things work for Option 3 (Mental Health Disorder)? It's a memoir of the author's experiences with depression."

yep - i'll add it -

for neuro-diverse.... Flowers for Algernon - Charlie starts off mentally disabled - will that work, even if it's a scifi? and what about sci-fi books with characters who have mental abilities not in the norm (e.g. telepathy)? like Dying Inside, say.

Cat wrote: "for neuro-diverse.... Flowers for Algernon - Charlie starts off mentally disabled - will that work, even if it's a scifi? and what about sci-fi books with characters who have mental..."

yes to flowers for algernon

i'm going to say no to the specific book (dying inside) because its not a mental disorder

Would Calypso work for book three? The category is LGBTQIA.

Thank you.

Kim wrote: "Would Calypso work for book three? The category is LGBTQIA.

Thank you."

yes but make sure you point it out when you post - because it took some digging for me to find LGBT shelving etc - but there is a part in his GR bio you can use

Another question. Does this task have a minimum total page count?

Thank you.

Kim wrote: "Another question. Does this task have a minimum total page count?

Thank you."

750pgs total - i'll make sure we clarify that (standard 50 point task total page requirement)

Kathy KS

Please verify that this will work for Physical Disability ( either/or subject or author)
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, by Michael J. Fox

Fox has Parkinson's Disease and writes about how it has affected his life in all ways, including physically

Kathy wrote: "Kathy KS

Please verify that this will work for Physical Disability ( either/or subject or author)
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, by Michael J. Fox

Fox ..."

yes

Would American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures work for Book 3 (non-fiction) Category 2 (refugee/immigrant)?

What has me mostly confused is if it works for the author. The task doesn't state single authors only, but since it does state that all tasks must be by different authors, do they need to be single author only? Because this book lists America Ferrera as the only author, but it's obviously a compilation, so I'm worried the data might update at some point.

Also, some of the stories are directly about immigrants, but some seem like they're not (indigenous people, for example). Anyway, would this book work for that option? Or should I pick something more cut and dry?

... and I just realized that another book I had chosen for this task - Dear Haiti, Love Alaine for Option 1 - has two authors. So now I'm even more curious about whether single authors are required.

standard SRC rule is that single authors only unless the task specifies otherwise

that being said the America Ferrera book i don't think would work because while she is the sole author it seems as though she is more of an editor role - so let me ask the mods for their opinions

Dee wrote: "standard SRC rule is that single authors only unless the task specifies otherwise

that being said the America Ferrera book i don't think would work because while she is the sole author it seems as..."

It's okay if it doesn't - I'll find something else if they decide that way. Thanks for clarifying though!

maybe you can fit it in somewhere else if it doesn't work

Hi Dee just running my options by you

1. An Unkindness of Ghosts LGBT character / black character new to me author
2. On the Come Up author of colour read author before
3. Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew non fiction new to me author

For Book 3 would a memoir/autobiography about someone who falls into one of those categories work, or does the books have to be entirely focussed on that topic?

For example, Neil Patrick Harris's Choose Your Own Autobiography is about his life, including anecdotes about being a gay man, but that isn't the main focus.

Tracey wrote: "For Book 3 would a memoir/autobiography about someone who falls into one of those categories work, or does the books have to be entirely focussed on that topic?

For example, Neil Patrick Harris's ..."

similar to the sedaris one because its about his life it works (and it has a few bits and pieces about him being gay discovery etc - it was a fun read)

Marie (UK) wrote: "Hi Dee just running my options by you

1. An Unkindness of Ghosts LGBT character / black character new to me author
2. On the Come Up author of colour read author be..."

all three look good - i enjoyed On the Come Up

Emily wrote: "Dee wrote: "standard SRC rule is that single authors only unless the task specifies otherwise

that being said the America Ferrera book i don't think would work because while she is the sole author..."

Emily - I talked to the mods and i'm going to stick with the single author requirement and while America is the only listed author on the GR record - there are multiple contributors - so i'm going to say no. It does sound interesting though and i hope you can fit it in somewhere else :)

Dee wrote: "Tracey wrote: "For Book 3 would a memoir/autobiography about someone who falls into one of those categories work, or does the books have to be entirely focussed on that topic?

For example, Neil Pa..."

Thanks!

Dee wrote: "Emily wrote: "Dee wrote: "standard SRC rule is that single authors only unless the task specifies otherwise

that being said the America Ferrera book i don't think would work because while she is t..."

Makes sense! If I don't fit it this year, I'm sure I'll get it next challenge.

One more question for Book 3. Would Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness work for "mental health disorder"? Not having read it, I don't know if her issue is mental health related or more physical (like a brain tumor or something).

If it doesn't, again, no worries. For a back up, I have Stuck in the Middle With You: A Memoir of Parenting in Three Genders, which I assume would work in the "LBGTQIA" category.

for book 3, does a memoir by an African American woman count as a book "about a diversity topic".
in particular Self-Inflicted Wounds: Heartwarming Tales of Epic Humiliation for example?

Will Conversations and Cosmopolitans: Awkward Moments, Mixed Drinks, and How a Mother and Son Finally Shared Who They Really Are work for a non-fiction LGBT book?

Susan

Just running my ideas past you to make sure I didn't miss anything...

Book 1: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - fiction/neurodiverse main character/author new to me

Book 2: ***any number of titles on my shelves by an author of color***

Book 3: Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini - nonfiction/different religion (I'm Christian)/author new to me

Kathy KS

Would this one also work for the Nonfiction title?
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, by Megan Phelps-Roper.

I could argue two different diversity categories for this one, personally.
1) From GR entry: "The activist and TED speaker Megan Phelps-Roper reveals her life growing up in the most hated family in America. At the age of five, Megan Phelps-Roper began protesting homosexuality and other alleged vices alongside fellow members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas."... Megan was a big part of the whole anti-gay protests, etc. that affected so many families around the country adversely; so LGBTQ+
OR
2) Religion Other than Own-- although I have been protestant all my life, my "religion" and belief is completely on the other end of the spectrum from the Westboro Baptist Church. I don't consider them, at all, as the same religion as my own more liberal church.

Morning.

Just to double check. I could use both 1: Person of Colour, Asian-Pacific and 1: Person of Colour, Native/Indigenous, as long as the third book was a different category?

Thanks.

BTW, I just read The Reluctant Fundamentalist and thought it was excellent - its my choice for 4. Religion other than Own, and I believe should work for both Book 1 and Book 2 (the author/character are Muslim, I'm Christian) if anyone's looking for ideas

Dee wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "Hi Dee just running my options by you

1. An Unkindness of Ghosts LGBT character / black character new to me author
2. On the Come Up author of co..."

thanks Dee

Gosh, Dee, you really came up with a challenging task!

LGBQ literature is not my cup of tea. So, I started working on the books for this task before it got posted (based on your suggested task).

I came up with Sacred Country and Daughter of Fortune. (I had just finished reading Daughter of Fortune.) And I was starting to look for book 3.

Then your task got posted and I found that 2 of my books need to be New to Me authors! Now to decide which to replace as I have read both planned book authors before.

Dang! I guess that is why it is a challenge.

Would this book work for #3? Woman Warrior

Would Isabel Allende work, for Book 2, hispanic-latin author?
Also, could this book Straight: The Surprisingly Short History Of Heterosexuality work for Book 3, LBGTQIA*?
Thanks!

Would Making Faces work for either mental health (sounds like PTSD) or physical disability (he is permanently wounded after war)?

Thanks!

For We Are Made Of Diamond Stuff by Isabel Waidner is the information on 카지노싸이트 using the "their" pronoun enough to qualify the author for LBGTQIA*?

Wayne wrote: "Would The Marrow Thieves work for mental health disorder? For the religion option,.can the difference be different sects of the same religion such as catholic/protestant or sunni/sh..."

Wayne - i'm going to say no this because i can't find any references to lack of dreams causing mental health issues - sorry

Emily wrote: "Dee wrote: "Emily wrote: "Dee wrote: "standard SRC rule is that single authors only unless the task specifies otherwise

that being said the America Ferrera book i don't think would work because wh..."

Brain on Fire works because there were a myriad of things tied to it (thoughts on her having several mental health issues)

Christi wrote: "for book 3, does a memoir by an African American woman count as a book "about a diversity topic".
in particular Self-Inflicted Wounds: Heartwarming Tales of Epic Humiliation for exa..."

yes that works from what i can tell by the description - just be clear in your post how

Susan wrote: "Will Conversations and Cosmopolitans: Awkward Moments, Mixed Drinks, and How a Mother and Son Finally Shared Who They Really Are work for a non-fiction LGBT book?

Susan"

yes this works

Aprilleigh wrote: "Just running my ideas past you to make sure I didn't miss anything...

Book 1: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - fiction/neurodiverse main character/author new to me

Book 2: *..."

yes that works

Kathy wrote: "Kathy KS

Would this one also work for the Nonfiction title?
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, by Megan Phelps-Roper.

I could argue two differen..."

i need to think on this one a bit - from the religion perspective, i'm going to say - i'm looking for regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of a certain religion outside of it (i.e. Muslin, Sikh etc)

will get back to you on the LGBTQIA

Trish wrote: "Morning.

Just to double check. I could use both 1: Person of Colour, Asian-Pacific and 1: Person of Colour, Native/Indigenous, as long as the third book was a different category?

Thanks.

BTW, I ..."

yes that's correct

Bea wrote: "Would this book work for #3? Woman Warrior"

that would work as a culture different from your own unless you are of chinese descent

Iulia wrote: "Would Isabel Allende work, for Book 2, hispanic-latin author?
Also, could this book Straight: The Surprisingly Short History Of Heterosexuality work for Book 3, LBGTQI..."

she also works because she is an immigrant (born in Chile and immigrated to america) - but yes works for hispanic/latin author