Into the Forest discussion

In honor of the Black Lives Matter Movement, we Into the Forest moderators thought it would be a great idea to nominate only Black authors for this next group read.
You have a week to nominate 3 books, an Adult Novel or collection of Short Stories, a Young Adult Novel or collection of short stories and one long Traditional tale or a collection of traditional tales.
As always all books must have mythology, fairy or folktale content or be inspired by mythology, fairy or folktales.

I'd like to nominate Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston as a collection of traditional folklore.

Have you read Helen Oyeyemi previously? She's an obvious choice, but pretty much any of her books would work here.

Emily wrote: "Have you read Helen Oyeyemi previously? She's an obvious choice, but pretty much any of her books would work here."
Many of us have read her but I don't recall having a group read here for any of her books.
Why don't you go ahead and nominate one or some?

For a YA book I am going nominate one of Nalo Hopkinson new graphic novels House of Whispers #1.
For adult novel Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
I don't know which traditional collection I'll nominate yet!

Hmm, maybe Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe . It's a historical fiction about colonization that by divide et impera rule disrupted the unchanging rhythm of the old way. The book is soaked in Nigerian traditions, fairy tales, and folklore from what I remember.

This is a thoughtful suggested theme for our next group read. Very much appreciated, thank you

Jalilah wrote: "Emily wrote: "Have you read Helen Oyeyemi previously? She's an obvious choice, but pretty much any of her books would work here."
Many of us have read her but I don't recall having a group read her..."

Okay, I nominate The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi as YA.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James for adult
And for traditional, Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston

I second Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston for Traditional Folklore collection.

I'm going to push the boundaries of YA novel and suggest Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi. I'm convinced it's going to win the Alex Award later this year.

For Adult novel, have we read Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor yet?

This short story has a fairy tale feel to it. I think Joanne is a great writer.

Lois wrote: "I second Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston for Traditional Folklore collection.

I'm going to push the boundaries of YA novel and suggest Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuch..."

No we have not read Who Fears Death here as a group read. I read it a few years ago and would definitely reread it! It is very powerful.

Rather than a collection of tales, I am going to second the nomination Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston which is more of an "about " book. I am nominating it because my library has it.

I am not sure you discussed this one or not, for Adult fiction: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Okay, I love these nominations, but I would not consider Riot Baby to be YA (I've read it and it's good), nor do I see The Icarus Girl being labeled as YA.

Niledaughter wrote: "I am not sure you discussed this one or not, for Adult fiction: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin"

I know she wrote a series that was inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, but I don't know about this book.

Margaret wrote: "Okay, I love these nominations, but I would not consider Riot Baby to be YA (I've read it and it's good), nor do I see The Icarus Girl being labeled as YA."

I do too! I am looking forward to reading all of them!

Margaret wrote: "Okay, I love these nominations, but I would not consider Riot Baby to be YA (I've read it and it's good), nor do I see The Icarus Girl being labeled as YA."

Probably not, as I usually avoid YA. ;-D I haven't read it, but I thought YA was broadly speaking when it's about a younger character. And since the author was a teenager herself when she wrote it...

Emily wrote: "Probably not, as I usually avoid YA. ;-D I haven't read it, but I thought YA was broadly speaking when it's about a younger character. And since the author was a teenager herself when she wrote it.."

:)

YA are books written for a young adult audience and/or marketed to a young adult audience. (And we also accept middle grade books here too.) The problem with labeling books with young main characters YA is that this seems to predominantly happen to women authors. For instance, I don't hear people arguing that The Name of the Wind is YA, but the protagonist is a teen for much of it (this is probably a bad example since he is older in some of it). Readers (including myself) are more likely to assume a book is YA when it's written by a woman. I've definitely been guilty of this before. It pigeonholes women writers. I know I've read an article about this, but I can't find it now. :)

Adult: Freshwater
YA: A Song Below Water

Margaret wrote: "Emily wrote: "Probably not, as I usually avoid YA. ;-D I haven't read it, but I thought YA was broadly speaking when it's about a younger character. And since the author was a teenager herself when..."

Interesting point Margaret about literature being more likely to be labeled YA when it's by female authors. I had not really thought about it, but it's true.

In regards to the titles nominated by Lois and Emily, Riot Baby and The Icarus Girl I have only read the later. Although the lead character is young, I'd consider it more of a coming of age story that a stereotypical YA book, however for this group read I personally don't mind if we keep both books in the YA category, especially if there are already a lot of adult novels nominated.

My computer died, and my tablet will not let me link books, but

The Deep by Rivers Solomon for adult.

For collection, if this is allowed, The Annotated African American Folk tales by Henry Louis Gates Jr with Maria Tatar (she is white but it forms part of her Annotated series).

Interesting. I would more have thought it was a case that women authors were dominating the field of YA, as they dominate a few other fields. I admit I was being cheeky and trying to pass the Oyeyemi off as YA since I'm personally unlikely to read the YA pick if it's not fairly literary, but anyway, happy to change it to adult if that works better.

Margaret wrote: "Okay, I love these nominations, but I would not consider Riot Baby to be YA (I've read it and it's good), nor do I see The Icarus Girl being labeled as YA."

I've also read Riot Baby, and would not consider it YA (nor did I feel it was particularly mythology/folklore inspired, though it's genre-bendy enough you could probably make an argument). It's not marketed as such by the publisher, and it follows its protagonists until the younger one is 28 and the older is presumably in her 30s.
Tochi Onyebuchi DOES write actual YA books though, so maybe someone would want to nominate Beasts Made of Night? War Girls is also YA, but it's sci-fi, and doesn't seem particularly mythology/folklore inspired in any way.

It's very likely that I can be a bit particular because I work in the book industry. :)

Since you already have an adult pick and I don't want you to give it up, I'll use it as my adult. :) Here are my picks:

Adult: The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi
YA: Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown

I'm not finding any audiobooks I can nominate for Traditional. If I do, I'll add a traditional (I read backlist books on audio).

Also, I can't tell if Black Girl Unlimited uses folklore or not. It's labeled as magical realism, and I in general find books labeled such have some folkloric elements. If anyone's read it, please let me know! :)

Kelsey, it's been a while since I read Riot Baby. I thought I remembered something mythology related? I could very well be wrong. But yeah, they're adults for the second half.

Niledaughter wrote: "I am not sure you discussed this one or not, for Adult fiction: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin"

Adult : The Fifth Season
Y.A: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Jalilah wrote: "I know she wrote a series that was inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, but I don't know about this book"

I read her Inheritance Trilogy, and I still want to read the one you mentioned "dreamblood duology". The one I nominated is the first part of her most popular trilogy "The Broken earth"

Margaret wrote: "ISince you already have an adult pick and I don't want you to give it up, I'll use it as my adult. :) Here ar..."

Thanks Margaret! :-)

Niledaughter wrote: "Niledaughter wrote: "I am not sure you discussed this one or not, for Adult fiction: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin"

I enjoyed both of your nominees! The Fifth Season has what I would call internal folklore, and is one of the best fantasy books I've read.

Adult : The Fifth Season
Y...."

Emily wrote: "Margaret wrote: "ISince you already have an adult pick and I don't want you to give it up, I'll use it as my adult. :) Here ar..."

Thanks Margaret! :-)"

:) I haven't read it!

This is what we have up to now! Please confirm if I included everything or not!
Adult
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem by Maryse Condé
Tree of Life by Maryse Condé



YA
House of Whispers Vol. 1: The Power Divided by Nalo Hopkinson
Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Traditional
Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston
Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston
The Annotated African American FolktalesHenry Louis Gates Jr.


Any more nominations?
I'd like to set up the polls tomorrow!

Hi y'all, late to the party as usual. Soooo many good ones to choose from! Some already nominated above.

(Psst! You cannot go wrong with ANYTHING by Nnedi Okorafor. She's currently working on the third book in the Akata Witch series by the way. And she has multiple screen adaptations in the works including Who Fears Death getting optioned by HBO for a TV series. Sorry to gush, she's one of my faves!)

I'd like to nominate the following:

YA: Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - Yes, it's a new release, but hopefully if members want to read it, their libraries will have it. My little one does (now that it's open again YAY!!!!) Background on my nomination: This author faced (more than the usual) adversity in getting her book published being mansplained to by white dudes about "original" material this and "source" material that as well as being told this particular sub-genre was already too saturated for her book to succeed. I'd love to help her prove those people wrong by spreading the word and supporting her book, which looks REALLY good... this coming from someone who is quite cynical about YA in general and not entirely a fan of Cinderella tales. 🤓

Adult: Conjure Women by Afia Atakora - Historical fiction with magical realism, and I read somewhere there be foxes, in addition to the healers.

Traditional: I'll second Chris's nom for The Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates Jr. - Winner • NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work (Fiction) "...acclaimed scholars Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Maria Tatar assemble a groundbreaking collection of folktales, myths, and legends that revitalizes a vibrant African American past to produce the most comprehensive and ambitious collection of African American folktales ever published in American literary history."

Erm, I've arleady nominated, but I just remembered how much I want to read I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem so if anyone feels like nominating that for adult.... :-D

Emily wrote: "Erm, I've arleady nominated, but I just remembered how much I want to read I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem so if anyone feels like nominating that for adult.... :-D"

I could nominate this ;) There were already so many great books nominated for adult that I decided I won't nominate anything, because it is already hard enough to choose. But well... I would like to read I, Tituba too :)

It looks like there are some great reads in my future. Thanks, everyone!

I've read all of Helen Oyeyemi, but could possibly do with re-reading The Icarus Girl (I didn't really get into it, and I think it was just my mood at the time). I would second this as YA, based on Emily's comment that Oyeyemi wrote this before she went to university and the main character is late teens.

I've read many of the nominations for adult (all good), so I'm nominating Tree of Life

Ok I have added everything except the online short story nominated by David. It looks good and I plan to read it myself, but I figure people can read it online. However if there are any objections about that just let me know!
We have lots of choices so I'll set up the poll now!

The Polls are up! You have until July 15 to vote for the books you want to read!
/poll/list/3...

I know I nominated Lagoon and I still wanted to read it, but I voted for The Deep instead. I'd been on the waiting list for it for months and now it looks like my copy will be coming in soon.

The Deep is really good.

Margaret wrote: "The Deep is really good."

Yes, it looks very intriguing!

FYI Daveed Diggs does the audio for The Deep.

Christine wrote: "FYI Daveed Diggs does the audio for The Deep."

I still have never done an audio book! My son loves them. I listen to podcasts all the time, but usually when I'm cooking or doing housework.

The winners of the July 16- September 15 Group Read are
Adult novel: The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Young Adult Novel: A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
Traditional Tale Collection: Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston

Here is the link to the threads!
/topic/group...

Very mermaid themed!

Emily wrote: "Very mermaid themed!"
Yes indeed! I'm going to use The Deep for the mermaid category of the challenge and A Song Below Water for the readers choice!