Looking for suggestions of books written by women of color. Fiction or non-fiction with the goal of expanding my perspective.
Looking for suggestions of books written by women of color. Fiction or non-fiction with the goal of expanding my perspective.
Already have “Becoming” by Michelle Obama on my list! I am very far back in the queue at the library 🙁
The color purple
Desert flowers by Waris Dirie
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, The Girl who beat ISIS: Farida’s story by by Farida Khalif, Kindred by Octavia Butler, Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Difficult Women by Roxane Gay and An Untamed State by Roxane Gay. The last one maybe triggering for some people since it has some violent portrayals of rape, but holy crap, it is SUCH a good book!
Love Roxane Gay.
@Jessica Me too! She is awesome.
Children of Blood and Bone and also The Hate U Give
An American Marriage.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/457841
Thanks ?? i added to my tbr
The Girl Who Smiles Beads by Wamariya Clementine
The last Girl by Murad Nadia
Nothing to Envy By Demick Barbara
Disappearance in Damascus By Campbell Deborah
First they Killed my Father By Ung Loung
Prisoner of Tehran By Nemat Marina
I could go on for days… these are all non fiction memoirs or stories from around the world. Each one will put in perspective how lucky we are and how our problems really could be much worse.
Good for you for expanding your mind. These stories can be hard to read but i promise each one will change you … enjoy ??
Any book by Ngozi Adichie
I have had several of her books on my TBR for a long time. Do you recommend a favorite?
@Melissa Half of a yellow sun and Purple Hibiscus are very good
@Lizzy great thanks !!
@Melissa Americanah
@Orit thanks i will up them on my TBR list ! ????
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Darling-shocking-psychological-thriller-summer-ebook/dp/B077MJTG9N/
the house on mango street by sandra cisneros
Now I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou
Waiting to exhale terry Macmillan
You all are amazing!! Thank you so much for the suggestions <3
American Marriage
The Hate You Give
children of blood and bone
The palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. It’s a retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata from the pov of its principal female protagonist Draupadi.
I was gifted this book from a dear friend on one of my visits to India. This is not typically my genre but i loves the book!!
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is about a woman of color. Nonfiction and just an amazing story.
I read this one a few years ago – i agree, amazing story!!
Any books by Maya Angelou all are excellent.
Octavia Butler, author
Andrea Levy
Bonnie Greer
Whats the difference?
What do you mean?
Why is he looking for a book written by a woman of color? Is there any difference with one written by non-color? :O
@Adam I’m specifically looking for perspectives that are a result of circumstances different than mine. I’ve found that reading books from those of different ethnicities is a great way to gain these perspectives. This is an area of personal growth for me and a focus of mine.
@Jessica Never thought about that. thx.
@Adam thanks for asking and considering my response with an open mind. Let me know if you want to join me in reading any of these and we can have a discussion on them afterwards. 🙂
@Adam I’ve read most of Maya Angelou’s books and the style and content is like no other. I believe it’s as a direct outcome from her life experiences
Love this conversation ☝?
Alice Walker
The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
Toni Morrison.
Hibo Wadere
Try Sejal Badani – The Storyteller’s Secret and Trail of Broken Wings – both beautiful books
the hate u give by angie thomas and anything by Lisa See!
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a phenomenal book on my top 10 list.
Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Just finished this- thought it was wonderful.
Left to tell by immaculee ilibagiza. Oh my gosh!!! Talk about “different circumstances”!?!?! You will leave this book as a changed woman. It is amazing!!!
Children of Blood and Bone
An American Marriage
the Hate u give
Americanah or Half of a Yellow Sun. Either or both!!
Homegoing
Terry MacMillan writes some funny ones!
Zora Neale Hurston
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.
Cane River by Lalita Tademy
Terry McMillan A Day Late and a Dollar Short.
Kindred by Octavia Butler; anything by Toni Morrison; anything by Amy Tan; Brother I Am Dying by Edwidge Danticat, and her other titles
I just asked this question in a group- here is my current pile
I’m reading Eloquent Rage right now too! ?
While not a woman, I think anything by Richard Wright would be a great start.
An American Marriage
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m currently reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and it is phenomenal so far! A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is so so amazing. I’m also currently reading & loving the book Difficult Women by Roxane Gay.
Amulya Malladi has some great books!!
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Toni Morrison.
And https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7769455-the-world-has-changed
@Lori – thank you for the recommendation and information on this book. It looks really interesting!
@Lesley you are welcome!
Their Eyes Were Watching God
The Color Purple
The Bluest Eye
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003K16PBE/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Love her books!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C8S9WJM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Shoot I just saw non-fiction. I was so excited to share. Okay I’m here for the suggestions too now.
@Lillie I did say fiction OR non fiction ?
Its for.m both fiction and non fiction
https://www.google.com/amp/s/bookriot.com/2017/06/29/100-must-read-classics-by-people-of-color/amp/ good article
@Judy Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
The Color Purple Alice Walker
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler.
Dorothy Koosum’s books are usually good. I just finished The friend.
You can’t go past Maya Angelou’s autobiography. There are several books in the series but start with “I Know Why the Caged BIrd Sings”. https://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780345514400/?a_aid=best-books
James Baldwin because he influenced many of my favorite authors of color.
Jesmyn Ward because she is my all time favorite! I read Sing, Unburied, Sing and then devoured every book she has written.
The hate you give. Unique perspective.
Have heard The Children of blood and bone is really good.
Read Chimananda Adichie Brilliant Nigerian writer Winner of many awards
Lesley lokko.
I really liked Anericanah by Chimamanda Adichie ??
Maya Angelou.
Toni Morrison
Good for you… I love diversity in reading.
If you are interested in a Christian perspective, Neta Jackson wrote the Yada Yada books and they, in my opinion, are fantastic
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a fabulous author and speaker
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-awkward-black-girl-issa-rae/1118965233
Author Derrick Jaxn ❤️
Small island by Andrea Levy
Currently reading Jennifer worth in midst of life beautifully written and discusses dying and her experience as a nurse .
Kiran Desai- Inheritance of loss
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Jhumpa lahiri
Min jin Lee
Bapsi sidhwa
The Hate u Give, anything by Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Terry McMillan, and my personal favourite, Roxanne Gay (An Untamed State)
.
Cane River by Lalita Tademy
Cupcake brown
The Hate U Give, Homegoing, Behold the Dreamers, American Marriage
Children of blood & bone
WOW thank you for this post. I’m a woman of color and everyone has helped me. THANK YOU!
Someone prob already mentioned Toni Morrison
American Marriage, Dread Nation, The Hate U Give, Children of Blood and Bone, anything by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
http://www.tavetta.webs.com/books
The Hate u Give, A Place For Us, The Leavers, Homegoing, Esperanza Rising, Everything I Never Told You, The Mothers
Anything by Toni Morrison or Terry McMillan
I’m in Emma Watson’s Our Shared Shelf group. We are reading three books right now.
“Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde
“Eloquent Rage” by Brittany Cooper
“Good and Mad” by Rebecca Traister
The Cane River is excellent.
Homegoing
Anything by Octavia Butler
I’m currently reading Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race, by Reni Eddo-Lodge. It’s a real eye opener.
Louise Erdrich. Everything she writes is WONDERFUL!
Anything written by bell hooks
The Color Purple by Alice Walker ?
Maya Angelou
Tiny Sunbirds Far Away
Maya Angelou – I know why the caged bird sings and a Kentucky of others.
Anything by Celeste Ng, Nicola Yoon, NK Jemisin, Sabaa Tahir, Jacqueline Woodson, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jasmine Guillory, Alyssa Cole, Colson Whitehead, Marie Lu, The Crazy Rich Asian trilogy, Family Trust by Kathy Wang
Behold the dreamers.
Amerikanah
Maya Angelou. Alice Walker. James McBride. Colson Whithead. Toni Morrisson.
There is a whole section of these at Wal Mart
It’s aimed at teens but noughts and crosses by Malorie Blackman was an interesting read
The author is white but the story is about a friendship between a black woman and a white woman. “Calling Me Home”, Julie Kibler
Dorothy Koomson
Colour purple and I know why the caged bird sings … both amazing ?
If you like science fiction, the work of Octavia E. Butler is great! Specfically, Kindred and Lilith’s Brood. Happy reading! x
I just read a wonderful book
The best this year ! Called don’t leave me by a nigerian author
Its not at all romantic as the title might sound- it made me cry ,laugh &initiated political discussions 🙂
So an Allrounder
This is the German version -yet now u can read the authors name ?
Purple Hibiscus
Becoming Michelle Obama
the hate u give, dorthry komson