Collegedale Public Library discussion

For January, we will be reading an "Own Voices" book.

OwnVoices refers to an author from a marginalized or under-represented group writing about their own experiences/from their own perspective, rather than someone from an outside perspective writing as a character from an underrepresented group.

https://modernmrsdarcy.com/own-voices...

We look forward to the discussion from this topic!

I'm reading Always Only You. one of the main characters is autistic and the author is autistic.

I've been meaning to read "The Hate U Give" so this is the perfect opportunity!

Since I already have it, I'm gonna read "George" by Alex Gino.

Rebekah wrote: "I'm reading Always Only You. one of the main characters is autistic and the author is autistic."
I'm quite curious about this one, but it looks like it's the second book in a series. Have you read "Only When It's Us" (Bergman Brothers #1)? If so, would you recommend reading it before "Always Only You"?

hi Sheri, I don't know how to reply directly on Goodreads! but no I did not read the first book (Only When It's Us) and Always Only You is pretty stand alone. the series is about a family of siblings so it references the couple from the first book and there was probably some info about the family in the first book but I haven't felt like I missed anything!

Good to know...thanks, Rebekah! Adding it to my want-to-read list!

I really liked my pick!

I am reading If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo.

This looks like a good choice, Sheri!Sheri wrote: "Since I already have it, I'm gonna read "George" by Alex Gino."

This sounds really good, Rebekah! I will have to add it to my TBR. Have you ever read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion? I really enjoyed that series. Rebekah wrote: "I'm reading Always Only You. one of the main characters is autistic and the author is autistic."

I think this is a very important read. I need to read her other books. Olivia wrote: "I've been meaning to read "The Hate U Give" so this is the perfect opportunity!"

Have you read This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel?

Sheri wrote: "Since I already have it, I'm gonna read "George" by Alex Gino."

Kelly, yes! Actually twice. I listened to the audio in May 2020 and gave it five stars. So at Thanksgiving when we took a road trip to my niece's farm in Texas, I listened again with Brian. We both loved it! Are you enjoying "If I Was Your Girl"?

I was having a hard time getting a book for this challenge and the only book I had access to was "George" by Alex Gino, which I have been enjoying. I was able to get "Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" by Issa Rae which is one that I was interested in reading.

I just finished reading a middle grade Own Voices novel by Ruth Behar called Lucky Broken Girl, it was really good!

I suppose an american marriage counts, read that for my book club. Must say that I'm really enjoying seeing the discussion.

Katherine wrote: "I just finished reading a middle grade Own Voices novel by Ruth Behar called Lucky Broken Girl, it was really good!"
Good to know! I still enjoy quality middle grade books, so will definitely add this to my TBR list.

This morning I finished We Are Okay, an Own Voices book by Nina LaCour; it was heavy but beautiful.

Looks like you have a couple of good choices, John!

John wrote: "I was having a hard time getting a book for this challenge and the only book I had access to was "George" by Alex Gino, which I have been enjoying. I was able to get "Misadventures of Awkward Black..."

This one looks really interesting!

Katherine wrote: "I just finished reading a middle grade Own Voices novel by Ruth Behar called Lucky Broken Girl, it was really good!
"

I love Tayari Joneses books!

Sara wrote: "I suppose an american marriage counts, read that for my book club. Must say that I'm really enjoying seeing the discussion."

Katherine, you have started off the challenge with a bang!

Katherine wrote: "This morning I finished We Are Okay, an Own Voices book by Nina LaCour; it was heavy but beautiful.
"

I just borrowed We Are Okay. Excited to try a different kind of book.

Christina wrote: "I just borrowed We Are Okay. Excited to try a different kind of book."
I hope you enjoy it!

So We Are Okay...was interesting. Not my normal kind of read but I did it. I got a bit confused in it.

Christina wrote: "So We Are Okay...was interesting. Not my normal kind of read but I did it. I got a bit confused in it."
Kudos to you for trying something new and outside your comfort zone!

Glad that you are participating in the challenge, Christina!

Christina wrote: "So We Are Okay...was interesting. Not my normal kind of read but I did it. I got a bit confused in it."

Over the weekend I finished Queenie, a novel about a young Jamaican woman's experience living in London. Written by Candice Carty-Williams, it opened my eyes in a big way to the truth that racism is not only an American problem; Carty-Williams' protagonist battles discriminatory treatment from her fellow British citizens as frequently as PoC in the United States. An intense but at times humorous read, I found it to be enlightening on a perspective I will never have myself.

I read Between the World and Me. It definitely gave me a different perspective to think about. I didn't really enjoy the style of writing but I did appreciate his perspective. Between the World and Me

Brynn wrote: "I read Between the World and Me. It definitely gave me a different perspective to think about. I didn't really enjoy the style of writing but I did appreciate his perspective. [book:Between the Wor..."
That's good to know! It's on my TBR list, thank you for sharing!

It is a very important book. Glad that you were able to read it for the challenge, Brynn!

Brynn wrote: "I read Between the World and Me. It definitely gave me a different perspective to think about. I didn't really enjoy the style of writing but I did appreciate his perspective. [book:Between the Wor..."

Very enlightening book, Katherine!

Katherine wrote: "Over the weekend I finished Queenie, a novel about a young Jamaican woman's experience living in London. Written by Candice Carty-Williams, it opened my eyes in a big way to the tru..."

Katherine wrote: "Over the weekend I finished Queenie, a novel about a young Jamaican woman's experience living in London. Written by Candice Carty-Williams, it opened my eyes in a big way to the tru..."

Good to know...thanks for sharing, Katherine. It's on my TBR list, but now I want to find it sooner than later.