Thank you for participating in the Diversity Rocks! reading challenge. 2009 was a wonderful year of reading for me, and I hope it was for you as well.
I thought long and hard about whether to renew this challenge for 2010. I would like to see it continue, so if anyone is interested in hosting this or something similar, please do so with my blessings! For myself, it's evolved into not so much a challenge as a choice: I will choose to read and review books by authors of color in 2010, as I did in 2009 and, I hope, more so. You'll find my reviews at Worducopia.
This blog will stay up for now, it's a great resource and I see no reason to make it disappear.
This is not goodbye, but I want to send out a special thanks to those who encouraged me along the way, those who accepted my blunders with grace, and those who have become friends (and especially to those who chose -d-, all of the above). I hope I've done the same for you.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Thursday, November 19, 2009
In the 12th Month of Diversity Rocks...
It's hard to believe the year of the Diversity Rocks! challenge is coming to an end, but we'll soon be entering the final month of the challenge. It's been an amazing reading year for me, and I thank you all for being a part of it.
I realize I've been scarce on this blog these recent months, to put it mildly. My heart is still in this challenge a hundred percent--the challenge I made to myself at the end of 2008 will certainly not be coming to an end in the New Year but will be ongoing, for the rest of my life. My enthusiasm for the logistics of posting Linkies and such hasn't been quite as sustaining. I do apologize for dropping the ball.
So, here, at long last, is a place to put your links. Any reviews you haven't posted can be linked here, and I'd also love links to summary posts. I'd love to know how the challenge affected you. Did it help you grow as a person? And will you continue to aim for diversity in your reading lists when this challenge is over?
I realize I've been scarce on this blog these recent months, to put it mildly. My heart is still in this challenge a hundred percent--the challenge I made to myself at the end of 2008 will certainly not be coming to an end in the New Year but will be ongoing, for the rest of my life. My enthusiasm for the logistics of posting Linkies and such hasn't been quite as sustaining. I do apologize for dropping the ball.
So, here, at long last, is a place to put your links. Any reviews you haven't posted can be linked here, and I'd also love links to summary posts. I'd love to know how the challenge affected you. Did it help you grow as a person? And will you continue to aim for diversity in your reading lists when this challenge is over?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Catching up
Yes, it's the middle of September! And we have books to give away and September reviews to post, friends I have not forgotten you. I've been out of town since late August and now I'm back and trying to get into a homeschooling routine with my kids, as well as catching up on previous commitments both blogging and otherwise. Please continue to link September reviews in the August Mr. Linky, if you don't mind, and I'll be doing the drawing for The Lost Dog just as soon as I catch up with that tail I'm chasing!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
August Reviews and Giveaway
Post links to your August reviews here!
The giveaway for August will be The Lost Dog, by Michelle de Kretser, who was born in Sri Lanka and emigrated to Australia when she was fourteen. This, her third novel, is about an Indian-Australian professor who's lost his dog in the Bush. This giveaway is sponsored by Hachette Book Group and is open to U.S. and Canadian street addresses (no P.O. Boxes) only.
And now, the winners of the July giveaway! I started reading Thug Lovin' a couple of days ago and I'm impressed with Clark's mastery of dialogue and voice. She's really got these characters down. I'm not in love with the premise or the genre, but for what it is, it's definitely got merit, and so far the story is more middle-class housewife-friendly than I expected--it's really about a young couple starting a family, while the pressures of his past gang/drug world threaten to ruin their plans. (Also: nothing above a PG rating happens in the first 50 pages, nor does it look like it's heading in that direction.)
I have copies of the two Clark books for:
Susan of Color Online, for her post about 3 works of historical fiction.
Doret of The Happy Nappy Bookseller, for her review of Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez.
Jen (multigenre fan) for her review of The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor
Terry for her review of Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story
That leaves one more set of books up for grabs, so if you've ever posted a review here or participated in the Diversity Roll Call and you'd like to win these, send me an email at worducopia/at/gmail/com and I'll pick a fifth winner! Also please email me your addresses, Terry, Jen, Doret, and Susan, so I can get the books out to you.
August Reviews:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
July News
I do have a giveaway for you guys this month! Two, actually, but I only take credit for the first. Hachette is offering up 5 sets of two books by Wahida Clark, Thug Lovin' and Pay Back With Ya Life. Have any of you read her before? I plan to read them and believe me, street fiction will be truly stretching my reading in a direction I've never thought to go. I'm looking forward to it. Wahida will also be doing a guest post on my blog, Worducopia, in mid-August.
The second giveaway is over on Color Online. Susan is holding an amazing Summer Madness multi-book giveaway between now and the end of July. She's giving away some great books by authors of color, in fact I think all but two of them were already on my TBR list! I'll be entering for sure and I encourage you all to do the same.
Not a giveaway, but here's a book to look for if you like thrillers with a touch of the paranormal: A Circle of Souls by Indian-American author Preetham Grandhi. I'm intrigued by the fact that the author is a child psychiatrist--and the book has gotten fabulous reviews so far on the blogs.
The second giveaway is over on Color Online. Susan is holding an amazing Summer Madness multi-book giveaway between now and the end of July. She's giving away some great books by authors of color, in fact I think all but two of them were already on my TBR list! I'll be entering for sure and I encourage you all to do the same.
Not a giveaway, but here's a book to look for if you like thrillers with a touch of the paranormal: A Circle of Souls by Indian-American author Preetham Grandhi. I'm intrigued by the fact that the author is a child psychiatrist--and the book has gotten fabulous reviews so far on the blogs.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
July Reviews
Well, we're halfway done with the year, how's it going for everyone? If you'd like to write a post that summarizes your progress for the year so far, please post it in the Mr. Linky with the "Progress report" or something like that after your name.
I'm using the pop-up Mr. Linky because I haven't updated to the new server yet. I don't like it as well, but ah well. All you have to do is click on the box and it'll open a new window for you to add your link, and see who else has posted.
June was our first month without a sponsor, and whether there will be prizes in July remains to be seen. But don't let that stop you from posting your reviews! For the next prizes that come up, whenever that may be, you'll get an entry for every review posted from the beginning of June until the end of that month.
Happy reading!
I'm using the pop-up Mr. Linky because I haven't updated to the new server yet. I don't like it as well, but ah well. All you have to do is click on the box and it'll open a new window for you to add your link, and see who else has posted.
June was our first month without a sponsor, and whether there will be prizes in July remains to be seen. But don't let that stop you from posting your reviews! For the next prizes that come up, whenever that may be, you'll get an entry for every review posted from the beginning of June until the end of that month.
Happy reading!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Prizes!
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post the winners of the May giveaway, but here they are!
First of all, the winners of the Asian Heritage Month giveaway:
First of all, the winners of the Asian Heritage Month giveaway:
Doret for her review of Gringolandia a book about a boy of Chilean descent--Doret's review really made me want to read this one!
Susan (speaking of books I want to read!) for her review of Down to the Bone, a YA book about a Cuban girl who gets kicked out of her home because of her love relationship with another girl.
Rhapsody in Books for her response to the Diversity Roll Call about the presence of blond princesses in the books she grew up with. Rhapsody also linked to two articles on The Root.com in my comments. The first is about the Coretta Scott King Award for children's literature, and the second is an article about Princesses in children's stories.
Susan (speaking of books I want to read!) for her review of Down to the Bone, a YA book about a Cuban girl who gets kicked out of her home because of her love relationship with another girl.
Rhapsody in Books for her response to the Diversity Roll Call about the presence of blond princesses in the books she grew up with. Rhapsody also linked to two articles on The Root.com in my comments. The first is about the Coretta Scott King Award for children's literature, and the second is an article about Princesses in children's stories.
Summer, for her Diversity Roll Call post about young adult novels by authors of color. One of the books she highlighted caught the eye of Doret, who got it read and reviewed on The Happy Nappy Bookseller before the end of the month! And that, friends, is why we are doing this.
And finally, Aquafortis of Finding Wonderland, for her Diversity Roll Call post. Aquafortis combines an essay about her own Asian heritage with a list of favorite books from the region.
And now for the Latino Book Month Giveaway books:
Conseula, for her post about Adrian Tomine's graphic novel, Shortcomings--she says the book is about "the way race is actually lived in America (it matters when it matters, it doesn't when it doesn't, as I tell my students) while also being about something completely unrelated to race (in this case, how soul-sucking New York City can be, how soul-sucking self-delusion can be)."
Edi, for her review of Flygirl, by Sherrie L. Smith. Edi's experience reading this book was enhanced by the fact that, like the main character, her own father felt pressured to pass for white during World War Two.
Thinking Aloud, for a post about Veronica Chambers, an author from Panama who often writes about the Latino-black experience for young adults.
Zetta Elliot, for her post about The White Tiger. Zetta, the author of Bird and A Wish After Midnight, says that The White Tiger pulls elements from Native Son and Invisible Man--but she enjoyed it more.
Rich Watson, for his first C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll Call post. Rich writes a blog, called Glyphs, about black comics, which has been a great help in expanding my reading horizons ever further.
Thanks to each and every one of you for your participation in this challenge and in the diversity meme. What started as a challenge for myself to broaden my own reading horizons has led to friendships and knowledge far beyond what I was seeking, and worth far more than any prize package I could possibly offer in return.
Thanks also to Hachette Book Group, who is providing this month's prize.
Winners, shoot me an email (Worducopia-at-gmail-dot-com) with a U.S. or Canadian street address and I will get those books sent to you! Congratulations!
And now for the Latino Book Month Giveaway books:
Conseula, for her post about Adrian Tomine's graphic novel, Shortcomings--she says the book is about "the way race is actually lived in America (it matters when it matters, it doesn't when it doesn't, as I tell my students) while also being about something completely unrelated to race (in this case, how soul-sucking New York City can be, how soul-sucking self-delusion can be)."
Edi, for her review of Flygirl, by Sherrie L. Smith. Edi's experience reading this book was enhanced by the fact that, like the main character, her own father felt pressured to pass for white during World War Two.
Thinking Aloud, for a post about Veronica Chambers, an author from Panama who often writes about the Latino-black experience for young adults.
Zetta Elliot, for her post about The White Tiger. Zetta, the author of Bird and A Wish After Midnight, says that The White Tiger pulls elements from Native Son and Invisible Man--but she enjoyed it more.
Rich Watson, for his first C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll Call post. Rich writes a blog, called Glyphs, about black comics, which has been a great help in expanding my reading horizons ever further.
Thanks to each and every one of you for your participation in this challenge and in the diversity meme. What started as a challenge for myself to broaden my own reading horizons has led to friendships and knowledge far beyond what I was seeking, and worth far more than any prize package I could possibly offer in return.
Thanks also to Hachette Book Group, who is providing this month's prize.
Winners, shoot me an email (Worducopia-at-gmail-dot-com) with a U.S. or Canadian street address and I will get those books sent to you! Congratulations!
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