I cannot tell you how refreshing this is. Thank you for discussing this. I've long thought about this topic in one way or another and it frustrates me to think that people choose books because of who or what the writer is. I read books that speak to me as a human being. I read books with prose that sings off the page, with characters that - regardless of race, religion, culture or creed - I can identify with on a visceral level because of their emotions and challenges and humanity. This is such a wonderfully presented discussion. People should just write and books should be published and read because they resonate with others through their STORY. Ah, such a wonderful post.
I cannot express how much I agree with you!!! My favourite writer is also Toni Morrison! My soul sister happens to be black, and we still, always, complete each other’s sentences! We even share the favourite Toni Morrison quote from Sula. The colour of my skin has absolutely nothing to do with whose writing I prefer and what culture they belong to. It’s what they write about! And I can always recognize myself in their stories because, surprise, surprise, I’m human! I absolute reject this idea that we have to “identify as… “ and stick to our identity group. But being white, if I point this out I’ll be soon accused of being “privileged”. Never mind that I’m a single mother and an immigrant. But my non white friends hate this more than I do. They just want to write. And their writing is spectacular!!! Everybody should read my friend Aïcha Martine Thiam’s writing not because of what identity group she happens to represent, but because what she writes about, and how she writes will change your life forever. So, this is my long way of saying I hear you!
I really enjoyed the book you mentioned, Do Not Say We Have Nothing is a novel by Madeleine Thien.
The writing is important but I do make a point of reading translations of international authors so I am also exposed to writers other than those from North America. I also make a point of reading books written in English from other countries like Australia, Ireland and the UK. For me it has more to do with cultural exposure.
I cannot tell you how refreshing this is. Thank you for discussing this. I've long thought about this topic in one way or another and it frustrates me to think that people choose books because of who or what the writer is. I read books that speak to me as a human being. I read books with prose that sings off the page, with characters that - regardless of race, religion, culture or creed - I can identify with on a visceral level because of their emotions and challenges and humanity. This is such a wonderfully presented discussion. People should just write and books should be published and read because they resonate with others through their STORY. Ah, such a wonderful post.
I cannot express how much I agree with you!!! My favourite writer is also Toni Morrison! My soul sister happens to be black, and we still, always, complete each other’s sentences! We even share the favourite Toni Morrison quote from Sula. The colour of my skin has absolutely nothing to do with whose writing I prefer and what culture they belong to. It’s what they write about! And I can always recognize myself in their stories because, surprise, surprise, I’m human! I absolute reject this idea that we have to “identify as… “ and stick to our identity group. But being white, if I point this out I’ll be soon accused of being “privileged”. Never mind that I’m a single mother and an immigrant. But my non white friends hate this more than I do. They just want to write. And their writing is spectacular!!! Everybody should read my friend Aïcha Martine Thiam’s writing not because of what identity group she happens to represent, but because what she writes about, and how she writes will change your life forever. So, this is my long way of saying I hear you!
I really enjoyed the book you mentioned, Do Not Say We Have Nothing is a novel by Madeleine Thien.
The writing is important but I do make a point of reading translations of international authors so I am also exposed to writers other than those from North America. I also make a point of reading books written in English from other countries like Australia, Ireland and the UK. For me it has more to do with cultural exposure.