Sarah Dzida's Blog
January 24, 2024
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 15: Languages
This is the last category according to our original blog post! If you’re learning another language, reading is great practice. It’s not a drill. You get to see the language in a native context. You learn about the culture. It’s great all around.
While I have a few books that aren’t in English, I’m only going to post ones that I can read with any kind of fluency right now. Language is like a muscle; if you don’t exercise it, it falls out of practice. So they’re all in Spanish, and it’s been awhile since I’ve read many of them. Also I still have my Spanish and Latin-American literature anthologies from school; I will not be posting them either.
San Manuel Bueno, mártir by Miguel de Unamuno
A book I read in college and translated as Saint Manuel Bueno: Martyr, Unamuno is an important author of the language. This book is about a Catholic priest who has lost his faith in God. He tries to continue his ministry with his doubt while dealing with how the people of his village think he’s good like a saint.
Azul by Ruben Dario
This is the book, translated as Blue, that put Dario on the literary modernist map!
Los de Abajo by Mariano Azuela
I read this while studying abroad in Mexico; it’s translated as The Underdogs in English although a more literal translation is Those From Below. It’s set during the Mexican Revolution and talks about the people dragged into it.
Cartas escogidas by Federico Garcia Lorca
Another powerhouse in the the Spanish literary canon. I got this as a gift, and I’ve never read this selection of letters from the famous poet/playwright. I guess it’s time!
Bloody Mary Club No. 1
I picked up this anthology when I was last in Mexico City. It’s a collection of prose, poetry and etc about menstruation. In the preface, the editors explain how they wanted to create a space for women to discuss the topic.
Bonus:
Stef Soto, la reina del taco by Jennifer Torres
I don’t have this book on my shelf, but I’m currently reading it as an ebook from the library to practice my Spanish. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a middle-school book so the chapters don’t tire me out. But the story would be enjoyable to a person of any age. Stef wants more independence but her parents won’t give it to her! Taco trucks, the immigrant experience, growing up. I would’ve put this in milestones if I owned it.
While I have a few books that aren’t in English, I’m only going to post ones that I can read with any kind of fluency right now. Language is like a muscle; if you don’t exercise it, it falls out of practice. So they’re all in Spanish, and it’s been awhile since I’ve read many of them. Also I still have my Spanish and Latin-American literature anthologies from school; I will not be posting them either.
San Manuel Bueno, mártir by Miguel de Unamuno
A book I read in college and translated as Saint Manuel Bueno: Martyr, Unamuno is an important author of the language. This book is about a Catholic priest who has lost his faith in God. He tries to continue his ministry with his doubt while dealing with how the people of his village think he’s good like a saint.
Azul by Ruben Dario
This is the book, translated as Blue, that put Dario on the literary modernist map!
Los de Abajo by Mariano Azuela
I read this while studying abroad in Mexico; it’s translated as The Underdogs in English although a more literal translation is Those From Below. It’s set during the Mexican Revolution and talks about the people dragged into it.
Cartas escogidas by Federico Garcia Lorca
Another powerhouse in the the Spanish literary canon. I got this as a gift, and I’ve never read this selection of letters from the famous poet/playwright. I guess it’s time!
Bloody Mary Club No. 1
I picked up this anthology when I was last in Mexico City. It’s a collection of prose, poetry and etc about menstruation. In the preface, the editors explain how they wanted to create a space for women to discuss the topic.
Bonus:
Stef Soto, la reina del taco by Jennifer Torres
I don’t have this book on my shelf, but I’m currently reading it as an ebook from the library to practice my Spanish. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a middle-school book so the chapters don’t tire me out. But the story would be enjoyable to a person of any age. Stef wants more independence but her parents won’t give it to her! Taco trucks, the immigrant experience, growing up. I would’ve put this in milestones if I owned it.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 14: Translations
To expand our worldview, we must dip our toes into the literature of other countries. I’m not looking at works that use an outsider to access another place, i.e. Shogun with Blackthorne or Memoirs of a Geisha as written by an American author. These books are by the people of the other place in question.
Translators are the superheroes that open the possibilities of these worlds to us. Here are some of my favorite translated books that still are on my shelf.
Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of World by Haruki Murakami
A international literary rockstar, Murakami is Japanese. His books cover a whole gauntlet of genres. This is my favorite. It is very very disorienting and weird. I remember there’s a mad scientist who lives in the Tokyo subways.
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
While reading this, I remember thinking only a repressed artist living in Russia during Stalin’s regime could write this story. The devil comes to Moscow to make mischief. There’s a character called the Master who is writing a novel about Pontius Pilate and his lover Margarita. There are also demons, witches and other really strange sights. Try it out.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Another Nobel Laureate this time from Latin America. Garcia Marquez is pretty much the standard of magic realism for us today. This is a family epic about the Buendía family how they come to the jungle, settle it, raise generations and how memory erases fact and fiction becomes real.
Art by Yasmina Reza
This play is about a friendship. A character has bought a white painting with white stripes that cost a fortune. And his friends can’t figure out why! It’s also about how and why we put a value on art. The play is translated from French.
Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov
Anything Nabokov is worth reading. Nabokov himself fluently spoke and wrote in Russian (his native language), French and English. His most famous work, Lolita, was written originally in English. This book was originally written in Russian. It’s a weird book, too. (See a theme in what I like?). Cincinnatus C is in prison and scheduled to be beheaded. But his guards won’t tell him when! Nabokov plays with perception and reality, which also makes sense of another Russian artist who had to flee his homeland.
Translators are the superheroes that open the possibilities of these worlds to us. Here are some of my favorite translated books that still are on my shelf.
Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of World by Haruki Murakami
A international literary rockstar, Murakami is Japanese. His books cover a whole gauntlet of genres. This is my favorite. It is very very disorienting and weird. I remember there’s a mad scientist who lives in the Tokyo subways.
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
While reading this, I remember thinking only a repressed artist living in Russia during Stalin’s regime could write this story. The devil comes to Moscow to make mischief. There’s a character called the Master who is writing a novel about Pontius Pilate and his lover Margarita. There are also demons, witches and other really strange sights. Try it out.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Another Nobel Laureate this time from Latin America. Garcia Marquez is pretty much the standard of magic realism for us today. This is a family epic about the Buendía family how they come to the jungle, settle it, raise generations and how memory erases fact and fiction becomes real.
Art by Yasmina Reza
This play is about a friendship. A character has bought a white painting with white stripes that cost a fortune. And his friends can’t figure out why! It’s also about how and why we put a value on art. The play is translated from French.
Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov
Anything Nabokov is worth reading. Nabokov himself fluently spoke and wrote in Russian (his native language), French and English. His most famous work, Lolita, was written originally in English. This book was originally written in Russian. It’s a weird book, too. (See a theme in what I like?). Cincinnatus C is in prison and scheduled to be beheaded. But his guards won’t tell him when! Nabokov plays with perception and reality, which also makes sense of another Russian artist who had to flee his homeland.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt. 13: Song & Poetry
If you’ve been following along, I’ve already listed quite a few poetry books. I have A LOT of poetry because I love it. So this really isn’t an issue for me. So I’m just going to look at my bookshelf and choose five titles that catch my eye.
Then, Suddenly by Lynn Emanuel
I read this in college. I reread it. I just love every single poem in this book.
Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein
Truly an odd work. It’s so abstract and conceptual. Stein wanted to use language by deconstructing our understanding of common words. My main association with this book is reading it aloud over Mexican food with a friend. Approach it by trying not to understand it; just feel and enjoy the ride.
Archie and Mehitabel by Don Marquis
Gifted by a friend, this poetry book is written by a cockroach (Archie) with his fellow feline friend (Mehitabel). Because he’s writing on a typewriter, Archie can’t hit the shift key. Everything is in lowercase. It’s very charming.
Ox by Ryan Ridge
I love good wordplay, and Ridge takes it a minimal as possible by writing book length poetry with mainly the letters “O” and “X.” There’s an actual storyline.
The Poems of Emily Dickinson
Alongside Walt Whitman, they are probably the pillars of American poetry. Dickinson created her own style of verse and expression. You always know when you’re reading Dickinson. She’s exceptional.
Selected Poems by Rabindranath Tagore
The first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, this translation of selected works introduced me to this interesting Bengali Indian poet. You can check some of his translated work here.
Then, Suddenly by Lynn Emanuel
I read this in college. I reread it. I just love every single poem in this book.
Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein
Truly an odd work. It’s so abstract and conceptual. Stein wanted to use language by deconstructing our understanding of common words. My main association with this book is reading it aloud over Mexican food with a friend. Approach it by trying not to understand it; just feel and enjoy the ride.
Archie and Mehitabel by Don Marquis
Gifted by a friend, this poetry book is written by a cockroach (Archie) with his fellow feline friend (Mehitabel). Because he’s writing on a typewriter, Archie can’t hit the shift key. Everything is in lowercase. It’s very charming.
Ox by Ryan Ridge
I love good wordplay, and Ridge takes it a minimal as possible by writing book length poetry with mainly the letters “O” and “X.” There’s an actual storyline.
The Poems of Emily Dickinson
Alongside Walt Whitman, they are probably the pillars of American poetry. Dickinson created her own style of verse and expression. You always know when you’re reading Dickinson. She’s exceptional.
Selected Poems by Rabindranath Tagore
The first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, this translation of selected works introduced me to this interesting Bengali Indian poet. You can check some of his translated work here.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt. 12: Diverse Authors
How many authors of color or authors who are a minority in your country do you have on your shelf? Reading diverse authors open our minds to understanding their experiences better as the same or different to ours. It also supports indie publishing houses, and it can encourage us to research outside the book—like a historical events, important people—or even finding more art about them!
My blog posts have obviously already included authors who identify as minorities and people of color from the USA. So for this post, I’m going to try to pick American authors on my shelf who fit this category who haven’t gotten a mention yet.
How We Became Human< by Joy Harjo
As one of our contemporary poet laureates, Harjo is a poet who also is a member of the Mvskoke Nation. This is a collection of her work across the decades. Fun fact: I saw her read in person, and she tends to recite her poetry like jazz.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
This is generally a mainstay of high school curriculums, and yet it still gets censored. It’s about Esperanza, a Chicana (girl of Mexican descent in the USA), and her life as she grows up dealing with culture, inequality and class in Chicago.
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
Most people think of The Joy-Luck Club when they think of Amy Tan, but I liked this book better. Olivia is American-born Chinese while her older sister Kwan-Li was born and raised in China. The book is about Olivia and how she learns to navigate and come to peace with her disparate cultural identities. This is a very common struggle from children of immigrants who are born in the USA.
My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas
Don’t let names deceive you! Thomas is truthfully a Chinese-born woman who emigrated to the USA as a teenager. She’s classified as a romance novelist, but I recommend you pick up her Lady Sherlock series no matter what! This book was my first introduction to her work. He was a British spy in the late 1800s in Chinese Turkestan. She was a Chinese spy. They meet. They fall in love. A misunderstanding tears them apart. They meet again many years later in London where she’s on a mission to steal from a museum.
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
I didn’t realize Nafisi is a US citizen until I was looking for books for another post. So I’m adding her here. This is a memoir about her life as a college professor in the Islamic Republic of Iran before she was expelled. A fascinating look into a different culture, what I remember most is how culture shapes how we act, and yet lessons and meanings from books not of our culture can still have meaning.
Bonus Books:
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
If you’re not a poetry reader but want to be, this is a great first book. Kaur is Canadian by way of India, which meant she didn’t fit the criteria for this post. But this book is excellent so I had to share.
Salt by Nayyirah Waheed
I don’t know this poet’s nationality so I couldn’t list her. But I just devoured her two books. Nejma is the other.
My blog posts have obviously already included authors who identify as minorities and people of color from the USA. So for this post, I’m going to try to pick American authors on my shelf who fit this category who haven’t gotten a mention yet.
How We Became Human< by Joy Harjo
As one of our contemporary poet laureates, Harjo is a poet who also is a member of the Mvskoke Nation. This is a collection of her work across the decades. Fun fact: I saw her read in person, and she tends to recite her poetry like jazz.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
This is generally a mainstay of high school curriculums, and yet it still gets censored. It’s about Esperanza, a Chicana (girl of Mexican descent in the USA), and her life as she grows up dealing with culture, inequality and class in Chicago.
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
Most people think of The Joy-Luck Club when they think of Amy Tan, but I liked this book better. Olivia is American-born Chinese while her older sister Kwan-Li was born and raised in China. The book is about Olivia and how she learns to navigate and come to peace with her disparate cultural identities. This is a very common struggle from children of immigrants who are born in the USA.
My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas
Don’t let names deceive you! Thomas is truthfully a Chinese-born woman who emigrated to the USA as a teenager. She’s classified as a romance novelist, but I recommend you pick up her Lady Sherlock series no matter what! This book was my first introduction to her work. He was a British spy in the late 1800s in Chinese Turkestan. She was a Chinese spy. They meet. They fall in love. A misunderstanding tears them apart. They meet again many years later in London where she’s on a mission to steal from a museum.
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
I didn’t realize Nafisi is a US citizen until I was looking for books for another post. So I’m adding her here. This is a memoir about her life as a college professor in the Islamic Republic of Iran before she was expelled. A fascinating look into a different culture, what I remember most is how culture shapes how we act, and yet lessons and meanings from books not of our culture can still have meaning.
Bonus Books:
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
If you’re not a poetry reader but want to be, this is a great first book. Kaur is Canadian by way of India, which meant she didn’t fit the criteria for this post. But this book is excellent so I had to share.
Salt by Nayyirah Waheed
I don’t know this poet’s nationality so I couldn’t list her. But I just devoured her two books. Nejma is the other.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt. 11: Milestones
In our blog, milestones in literature help children understand what’s coming up in their own lives, i.e. loosing a tooth, a new baby in the family, etc. But, it’s important that books show how milestones are different depending on each person.
So for this post, I’m not really sure how I’ll tackle this from an adult perspective. Let me dig around on my shelf and see what I come up with.
[Time passes]
Ah! Here’s what I’ll try and do—when young people confront adult events or when they go through a desired or undesirable rite of passage!
Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples (SPOILERS)
I read this book JHS, and I still love it. It’s about Shabanu who is a young girl who is a young girl living in the Cholistan desert with her family. They are camel farmers. A lot of the is driven by her sister’s upcoming arranged marriage. But it ends in blood feuds and her own arranged marriage to a man several decades her senior for peace. As a young American, it was an introduction to a different culture, but Shabanu was and is a truly admirable heroine. The sequel Haveli is also very good.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson (SPOILERS)
Fighting for more independence and dealing with grief are all part and parcel of the human experience. It’s always more difficult when you have to deal with it at a younger age than others. The 2007 movie adaptation was also very good and faithful to this wonderful book. I cried buckets.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
One of my favorite rereads, our protagonist Salamanca Hiddle deals with lots of adults themes—love, loss, understanding our parents, untangling perception and truth, etc and etc. It’s funny and sad like a true slice-o-life book should be. For the sake of our diversity post, I’ll also point out Sal is a descendent of two Native American tribes, Seneca and another one I forget—but it’s only a small part of the story. This book is a great example by the author about how your cultural identity can shape a story without taking it over.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
We all face moments in our lives when our bubbles pop. For teenage Kit who grew up in luxury in the late 1680s Carribbean, that’s when her parents die. Now she must move to her aunt’s home in a Puritan town in New England. She faces different cultures and beliefs. She must constantly step outside her comfort zone, and she must learn to question her own and others beliefs. I read this historical fiction book in elementary school, and it’s still good!
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
There’s a reason this book is a classic! Narrated by David from his birth until his adulthood, we see him deal with poverty, cruelty, friendship, love, marriage, mystery, the building of his profession and fortune, adventure and etc. Like any Dickens novel, David encounters a cast of unique characters all spinning out their own lives and stories as well as they can based on their circumstances. And that’s something we all need to realize!
So for this post, I’m not really sure how I’ll tackle this from an adult perspective. Let me dig around on my shelf and see what I come up with.
[Time passes]
Ah! Here’s what I’ll try and do—when young people confront adult events or when they go through a desired or undesirable rite of passage!
Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples (SPOILERS)
I read this book JHS, and I still love it. It’s about Shabanu who is a young girl who is a young girl living in the Cholistan desert with her family. They are camel farmers. A lot of the is driven by her sister’s upcoming arranged marriage. But it ends in blood feuds and her own arranged marriage to a man several decades her senior for peace. As a young American, it was an introduction to a different culture, but Shabanu was and is a truly admirable heroine. The sequel Haveli is also very good.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson (SPOILERS)
Fighting for more independence and dealing with grief are all part and parcel of the human experience. It’s always more difficult when you have to deal with it at a younger age than others. The 2007 movie adaptation was also very good and faithful to this wonderful book. I cried buckets.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
One of my favorite rereads, our protagonist Salamanca Hiddle deals with lots of adults themes—love, loss, understanding our parents, untangling perception and truth, etc and etc. It’s funny and sad like a true slice-o-life book should be. For the sake of our diversity post, I’ll also point out Sal is a descendent of two Native American tribes, Seneca and another one I forget—but it’s only a small part of the story. This book is a great example by the author about how your cultural identity can shape a story without taking it over.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
We all face moments in our lives when our bubbles pop. For teenage Kit who grew up in luxury in the late 1680s Carribbean, that’s when her parents die. Now she must move to her aunt’s home in a Puritan town in New England. She faces different cultures and beliefs. She must constantly step outside her comfort zone, and she must learn to question her own and others beliefs. I read this historical fiction book in elementary school, and it’s still good!
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
There’s a reason this book is a classic! Narrated by David from his birth until his adulthood, we see him deal with poverty, cruelty, friendship, love, marriage, mystery, the building of his profession and fortune, adventure and etc. Like any Dickens novel, David encounters a cast of unique characters all spinning out their own lives and stories as well as they can based on their circumstances. And that’s something we all need to realize!
Do I have a diverse bookshelf Pt 10: STEM
Since I’m trying not to repeat titles, this is getting harder and harder. And while I’ve read many STEM books and am an ex-owner of a few that I liked ... We’ll I’m not sure what I’ll find on my shelf now!
Our blog defines STEM books as literature that helps children understand word problems and the vocabulary of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). For our purposes, I’m going to see if I have any titles that touch on those topics in particular. Actually now that I think about it, I’ll probably have a few professional books on the subject as I work in tech. Hmmm, I’m not sure if I should count scifi and fantasy science a la A Wrinkle in Time or His Dark Materials trilogy as one, too.
Onward!
Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L Evans
I actually haven’t read this yet so maybe this choice is a cop out? But when I did my bookshelf purge, I put aside a small amount of books that I had never read but would finally make an effort to complete. (Currently, I’m reading Gogol’s Dead Souls). (2023 Edit: I read it! It's great!)
The Sirens of Mars by Sarah Stewart Johnson
I love this book! It's such a great reminder about how we are only so recent in our knowledge of the universe BUT that the universe and our planet is so old. It shows how discovery isn't an instance but a hundred million instances that with hindsight allow you to say AHAH! Learn all about how we as the human race learned/are learning about Mars!
The Musical Illusionist by Alex Rose
This collection of short stories I purchased after attending the debut reading of the author. It’s a fusion of science and magical realism. I honestly don’t remember much about this book but that I enjoyed it. In flipping through the pages, it looks like a scientific journal, but it’s hybridized with scientific images and poetry. Oh yes! That’s right: Each short story is catalogued in the Library of Tangents. So it’s like reading through the miscellany you’d find in an archive.
Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology by Lawrence Weschler
Speaking of miscellany, the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles is a wonderful example of it. The museum aims to provoke by disorientation, bringing us back to a time when museums weren’t about facts and science as more about wonder. The first time I visited, I was so confused. Weschler’s book explains the method behind the seeming madness.
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
The movie adaption is based on this book. Is it a memoir? Is it non-fiction? Is it a history? Who knows! But it’s wonderful. Orlean takes us deep into the lives and histories of the people who love and loved to cultivate and genetically modify orchids. I especially loved her descriptions of how the original Victorian adventurers were also orchid thieves.
Color Workbook by Becky Koenig
The science of color will make you question everything you thought you knew about color. This is a professional book I read while in design school. It broke my brain.
Bonus book because I haven’t read 1 of the books on this list:
My Mistress, Humanity by Chuck Rosenthal
So much real STEM work owes its inception to science fiction. This is a re-telling of Frankenstein set in a dystopian 2015 where the weather has gone crazy. The monster in question is a dragon.
Our blog defines STEM books as literature that helps children understand word problems and the vocabulary of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). For our purposes, I’m going to see if I have any titles that touch on those topics in particular. Actually now that I think about it, I’ll probably have a few professional books on the subject as I work in tech. Hmmm, I’m not sure if I should count scifi and fantasy science a la A Wrinkle in Time or His Dark Materials trilogy as one, too.
Onward!
Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L Evans
I actually haven’t read this yet so maybe this choice is a cop out? But when I did my bookshelf purge, I put aside a small amount of books that I had never read but would finally make an effort to complete. (Currently, I’m reading Gogol’s Dead Souls). (2023 Edit: I read it! It's great!)
The Sirens of Mars by Sarah Stewart Johnson
I love this book! It's such a great reminder about how we are only so recent in our knowledge of the universe BUT that the universe and our planet is so old. It shows how discovery isn't an instance but a hundred million instances that with hindsight allow you to say AHAH! Learn all about how we as the human race learned/are learning about Mars!
The Musical Illusionist by Alex Rose
This collection of short stories I purchased after attending the debut reading of the author. It’s a fusion of science and magical realism. I honestly don’t remember much about this book but that I enjoyed it. In flipping through the pages, it looks like a scientific journal, but it’s hybridized with scientific images and poetry. Oh yes! That’s right: Each short story is catalogued in the Library of Tangents. So it’s like reading through the miscellany you’d find in an archive.
Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology by Lawrence Weschler
Speaking of miscellany, the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles is a wonderful example of it. The museum aims to provoke by disorientation, bringing us back to a time when museums weren’t about facts and science as more about wonder. The first time I visited, I was so confused. Weschler’s book explains the method behind the seeming madness.
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
The movie adaption is based on this book. Is it a memoir? Is it non-fiction? Is it a history? Who knows! But it’s wonderful. Orlean takes us deep into the lives and histories of the people who love and loved to cultivate and genetically modify orchids. I especially loved her descriptions of how the original Victorian adventurers were also orchid thieves.
Color Workbook by Becky Koenig
The science of color will make you question everything you thought you knew about color. This is a professional book I read while in design school. It broke my brain.
Bonus book because I haven’t read 1 of the books on this list:
My Mistress, Humanity by Chuck Rosenthal
So much real STEM work owes its inception to science fiction. This is a re-telling of Frankenstein set in a dystopian 2015 where the weather has gone crazy. The monster in question is a dragon.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 9: Socioeconomic Books
Reading books about people outside of the middle class can increase tolerance! So for this category I’m looking at books about people who’s lives are framed by their class and wealth.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
A story written about the “redneck” Bundren family and how all the family members cope differently with the death of the matriarch, Addie. Truly a literary masterpiece, this is my favorite Faulkner work. Each chapter is based on a different character’s perspective, and he makes each voice unique.
The Works of Jane Austen
I’ve reread these books so many times, and the stories are framed by the needs and distinctions of class. In the famous Pride and Prejudice, Austen opens the book with the famous lines, “a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of wife.” In Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwood sisters are disinherited by their brother and must move in with relations. In Persuasion, the heroine had to reject her love because he wasn’t rich, but she lives in a noble family who has no money. Characters do so many things because of how they are entitled or not by money!
Fences by August Wilson
This is a contemporary play about a Black family in PittsburghTroy struggles with his two sons and his wife over issues of race, class and generational struggles. I saw this on stage, too. It was a great production!
Pegasus in Flight by Anne McCaffrey
I used to own all of Anne McCaffrey’s books. Then I got rid of them, and now I own a few. This book is set in a future where X-men type people exist and because of overpopulation, the disparities between class are more acute. One of the main characters, Tirla, lives in a slum and navigates her way between multiple social classes and ethnic groups. As an adult, I appreciate how much the privileges Talents (X-men type people) can section themselves off from the chaos of Tirla’s world.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The quintessential American book about the pursuit of the American dream, class inequality and the Jazz Age. Gatsby was poor. Now he’s rich. Does that make him happy? Read to find out.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
A story written about the “redneck” Bundren family and how all the family members cope differently with the death of the matriarch, Addie. Truly a literary masterpiece, this is my favorite Faulkner work. Each chapter is based on a different character’s perspective, and he makes each voice unique.
The Works of Jane Austen
I’ve reread these books so many times, and the stories are framed by the needs and distinctions of class. In the famous Pride and Prejudice, Austen opens the book with the famous lines, “a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of wife.” In Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwood sisters are disinherited by their brother and must move in with relations. In Persuasion, the heroine had to reject her love because he wasn’t rich, but she lives in a noble family who has no money. Characters do so many things because of how they are entitled or not by money!
Fences by August Wilson
This is a contemporary play about a Black family in PittsburghTroy struggles with his two sons and his wife over issues of race, class and generational struggles. I saw this on stage, too. It was a great production!
Pegasus in Flight by Anne McCaffrey
I used to own all of Anne McCaffrey’s books. Then I got rid of them, and now I own a few. This book is set in a future where X-men type people exist and because of overpopulation, the disparities between class are more acute. One of the main characters, Tirla, lives in a slum and navigates her way between multiple social classes and ethnic groups. As an adult, I appreciate how much the privileges Talents (X-men type people) can section themselves off from the chaos of Tirla’s world.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The quintessential American book about the pursuit of the American dream, class inequality and the Jazz Age. Gatsby was poor. Now he’s rich. Does that make him happy? Read to find out.
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 8: Disabilities
Oh, hmmm.... The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down from the last post would’ve counted here. Anyway onward! Here our blog says a diverse shelf also contain stories about people with disabilities. These stories help us understand that people with disabilities are normal. They have the same hopes and dreams. They can be heroes or villains like anyone else.
I’m a little worried about this category. Let’s see what I come up with.
[5 minutes later]
That actually wasn’t too hard. Let’s start with an obvious one:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
I think Steinbeck is the first author to appear twice in my lists! Welcome! Many American read this book in school. It’s about two migrant workers George and his pal Lenny who is mentally disabled. The story is about people’s perceptions and how they get all tangled up. It’s a sad story. You’re going to cry.
Deerskin by Robin McKinley (Trigger Warning)
While I was perusing my bookshelf, I remembered that disabilities can be invisible, too! This is a fantasy story about Lissla Lissar a beautiful princess who is abused by her parents then sexually assaulted by her father; he rapes her. His actions almost destroy her, and she must find a way to find herself again. When I think about it now, this entire book is really about her recovery. And that’s a rare thing to see.
The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso
The author is a young woman in her 20s when she acquires an autoimmune disease. While trying to live life, she struggles with medical blood cleansings, collapsed veins, chest catheters, depressions and how to articulate what’s happening. This is a lyrical memoir—a mix of poetry and memory.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (Spoilers!)
The generally unsung sister of Charlotte and Emily, Anne also wrote books. And I was quite surprised by this when when I saw an adaptation of it. The miniseries sent me off to read the book. Written from the perspective of a young man, Gilbert Markham is intrigued by the mysterious and beautiful widow Helen and her young son. He later finds out she has run away from her alcoholic husband. A very contemporary novel about alcoholism, spousal abuse and parental trauma.
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
It’s Zimbabwe in the year 2194! General Mastika’s three children disappear from their house, and their parents call on three unusual detectives who have special abilities based on their disabilities. The Ear has super sensitive hearing, the Eye has great vision, and the Arm is super empathetic. The three embark on an adventure through wealthy hotels and the underground to get the children back!
Bonus Title: I have this as an ebook:
Deaf Lit Extravaganza Edited by John Lee Clark
I attended a panel of deaf and hearing-impaired authors and bought this book! Like all oppressed minorities, I didn’t realize society had tried to ban sign language for many, many years. There’s poetry, fiction, memoir and history in this anthology!
I’m a little worried about this category. Let’s see what I come up with.
[5 minutes later]
That actually wasn’t too hard. Let’s start with an obvious one:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
I think Steinbeck is the first author to appear twice in my lists! Welcome! Many American read this book in school. It’s about two migrant workers George and his pal Lenny who is mentally disabled. The story is about people’s perceptions and how they get all tangled up. It’s a sad story. You’re going to cry.
Deerskin by Robin McKinley (Trigger Warning)
While I was perusing my bookshelf, I remembered that disabilities can be invisible, too! This is a fantasy story about Lissla Lissar a beautiful princess who is abused by her parents then sexually assaulted by her father; he rapes her. His actions almost destroy her, and she must find a way to find herself again. When I think about it now, this entire book is really about her recovery. And that’s a rare thing to see.
The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso
The author is a young woman in her 20s when she acquires an autoimmune disease. While trying to live life, she struggles with medical blood cleansings, collapsed veins, chest catheters, depressions and how to articulate what’s happening. This is a lyrical memoir—a mix of poetry and memory.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (Spoilers!)
The generally unsung sister of Charlotte and Emily, Anne also wrote books. And I was quite surprised by this when when I saw an adaptation of it. The miniseries sent me off to read the book. Written from the perspective of a young man, Gilbert Markham is intrigued by the mysterious and beautiful widow Helen and her young son. He later finds out she has run away from her alcoholic husband. A very contemporary novel about alcoholism, spousal abuse and parental trauma.
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
It’s Zimbabwe in the year 2194! General Mastika’s three children disappear from their house, and their parents call on three unusual detectives who have special abilities based on their disabilities. The Ear has super sensitive hearing, the Eye has great vision, and the Arm is super empathetic. The three embark on an adventure through wealthy hotels and the underground to get the children back!
Bonus Title: I have this as an ebook:
Deaf Lit Extravaganza Edited by John Lee Clark
I attended a panel of deaf and hearing-impaired authors and bought this book! Like all oppressed minorities, I didn’t realize society had tried to ban sign language for many, many years. There’s poetry, fiction, memoir and history in this anthology!
Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 7: Immigration & Refugees
Immigration is a hot topic, according to our blog, and therefore it is important to include books about the many different types of immigrant experiences in the world—refugees included. I’ve read some really good books in this category, but what do I still own? Let’s see.
Keys of the Kingdom by A.J. Cronin
Immigrant stories happen everywhere, and you can feel like an immigrant your entire life. This book is about Father Chisholm who is sent as a young Scottish priest to a remote China. It describes his life as he learns about the people and culture and how they learn about him. It describes the dissonance that occurs from his superiors who don’t live in China and from Chinese officials. It’s a book about faith, compassion and openness.
Fullblood Arabian by Osama Alomar
In the preface, we learn that the author was driven into exile from Syria and how he had to repatriate himself in the US. As the short story/poetry collection was published in 1999, this was before the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Anyway, this is a gorgeous book that bends several genres. It’s translated as well—and I always love a good translation. Oh! I wish I could post an excerpt! Check him out!
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
This is a nonfiction account about how everyone had the best of intentions and failed miserably in helping a young girl because of cultural misunderstandings. She, Lia, is a Hmong refugee in the United States with a medical condition. Fadiman is meticulous in outlining all the culture clashes—historical, political, religious, scientific, etc—that shape the outcome. Truly, this is a book I still think about and mention even if its been 20 years since I read it.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Here we see the American experience is an immigrant experience. The Trasks come from the East Coast to California. The Hamiltons come from Ireland to America and then Salinas. Lee and his family immigrate from China and his parents work the railroad to Salinas, CA. It’s a family epic that shows how generation upon generation builds on top of, continues and breaks cycles. I’ve loved this book since high school.
Magnetic Refrain by Nicky Sa-eun Schildkraut
I got this poetry book after hearing the author read at a conference. Adopted by American parents from her native Korea, the author’s poetry explores this life between two cultures. It’s an interesting read about how it’s hard to find out where and how you belong.
Keys of the Kingdom by A.J. Cronin
Immigrant stories happen everywhere, and you can feel like an immigrant your entire life. This book is about Father Chisholm who is sent as a young Scottish priest to a remote China. It describes his life as he learns about the people and culture and how they learn about him. It describes the dissonance that occurs from his superiors who don’t live in China and from Chinese officials. It’s a book about faith, compassion and openness.
Fullblood Arabian by Osama Alomar
In the preface, we learn that the author was driven into exile from Syria and how he had to repatriate himself in the US. As the short story/poetry collection was published in 1999, this was before the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Anyway, this is a gorgeous book that bends several genres. It’s translated as well—and I always love a good translation. Oh! I wish I could post an excerpt! Check him out!
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
This is a nonfiction account about how everyone had the best of intentions and failed miserably in helping a young girl because of cultural misunderstandings. She, Lia, is a Hmong refugee in the United States with a medical condition. Fadiman is meticulous in outlining all the culture clashes—historical, political, religious, scientific, etc—that shape the outcome. Truly, this is a book I still think about and mention even if its been 20 years since I read it.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Here we see the American experience is an immigrant experience. The Trasks come from the East Coast to California. The Hamiltons come from Ireland to America and then Salinas. Lee and his family immigrate from China and his parents work the railroad to Salinas, CA. It’s a family epic that shows how generation upon generation builds on top of, continues and breaks cycles. I’ve loved this book since high school.
Magnetic Refrain by Nicky Sa-eun Schildkraut
I got this poetry book after hearing the author read at a conference. Adopted by American parents from her native Korea, the author’s poetry explores this life between two cultures. It’s an interesting read about how it’s hard to find out where and how you belong.
Do I have a diverse bookself? Pt 6: Race & Ethnicity
Our reference considers these books as a tool to build radical consciousness for racial justice and to build awareness of the color-blind frameworks in our societies today.
So I’ll list books in which the authors or characters make that a priority.
Black Boy by Richard Wright
This is the author’s retelling of his upbringing in the South as a black boy and his eventual realization that his writing will be how he will reach the soul of humanity. What drew me most to this title when I read it as a teenage girl was Wright’s evolution into an artist. I would reread the parts where he described his hunger to put power into his words. I try to emulate that even today.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The characters are victims of colonialism and the Indian caste system—specifically Untouchables vs. Touchables. But Roy’s book makes a definitive argument for the injustice of it all. Much like Tess of the d’Urbervilles, I remember being so angry at the burden these characters had to bear because of SOCIETY. While reading, I knew forbidden love was going to happen. But I was still glad for it in spite of the consequences that came after.
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks
In college, my playwriting professor introduced us to this play. Then I got to see it in real life. It’s about two brothers who are African-American named Lincoln and Booth. The play details their struggles with race, poverty, violence, women and their troubled upbringing. The stage is just a room, but it’s really America. It’s amazing.
Modern Irish Drama Edited by John P. Harrigton
When I studied abroad in Ireland, I learned that A LOT of Irish drama is political and race-based because the British colonized, subjugated and tried to “integrate” them for centuries. I also learned how a lot of famous writers I thought were English actually were Irish! Please include on the list: Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Bernard Shaw and W.B. Yeats.
Hymn for the Black Terrific by Kiki Petrosino
I heard the poet at a reading, and I wanted this book specifically for a set of poems. She coopts the degrading language written by Thomas Jefferson in his book Notes on the State of Virginia where he argues for the superiority of white Americans over their black slaves. Petrosino takes something ugly and turns it into something beautiful. Power reclaimed!
So I’ll list books in which the authors or characters make that a priority.
Black Boy by Richard Wright
This is the author’s retelling of his upbringing in the South as a black boy and his eventual realization that his writing will be how he will reach the soul of humanity. What drew me most to this title when I read it as a teenage girl was Wright’s evolution into an artist. I would reread the parts where he described his hunger to put power into his words. I try to emulate that even today.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The characters are victims of colonialism and the Indian caste system—specifically Untouchables vs. Touchables. But Roy’s book makes a definitive argument for the injustice of it all. Much like Tess of the d’Urbervilles, I remember being so angry at the burden these characters had to bear because of SOCIETY. While reading, I knew forbidden love was going to happen. But I was still glad for it in spite of the consequences that came after.
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks
In college, my playwriting professor introduced us to this play. Then I got to see it in real life. It’s about two brothers who are African-American named Lincoln and Booth. The play details their struggles with race, poverty, violence, women and their troubled upbringing. The stage is just a room, but it’s really America. It’s amazing.
Modern Irish Drama Edited by John P. Harrigton
When I studied abroad in Ireland, I learned that A LOT of Irish drama is political and race-based because the British colonized, subjugated and tried to “integrate” them for centuries. I also learned how a lot of famous writers I thought were English actually were Irish! Please include on the list: Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Bernard Shaw and W.B. Yeats.
Hymn for the Black Terrific by Kiki Petrosino
I heard the poet at a reading, and I wanted this book specifically for a set of poems. She coopts the degrading language written by Thomas Jefferson in his book Notes on the State of Virginia where he argues for the superiority of white Americans over their black slaves. Petrosino takes something ugly and turns it into something beautiful. Power reclaimed!
