The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

10.6 - Stand Up For Your Rights
On August 6, 1965 US President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law a significant events in the civil rights movement. In honor of this event let's read...A book (fiction or non-fiction) where someone faces discrimination (racial, gender, religious, age, sexual orientation etc.). (EXAMPLE: Shanghai Girls)

If you need suggestions OR have suggestions for books to read for this task post them here.

Would The Chosen work for this task? Or My Name Is Asher Lev?
If not, I might read When the Emperor Was Divine.

Would The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks work for this task?

Cindy wrote: "Would The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks work for this task?"
It's hard to tell from the description but it doesn't seem as if discrimination plays a role in why her cells were taken without her knowledge - I haven't read it but if there is is discrimination involved I'll take it.

Cait wrote: "Would The Chosen work for this task? Or My Name Is Asher Lev?
If not, I might read When the Emperor Was Divine."

I think The Chosen works a little better than the other Potok and When the Emperor Was Divine definitely works.

I'll put in my review why I think Henrietta Lacks is definitely about discrimination. I can also use it for another task, so if people who have read it chime in and say it isn't about discrimination, I'll move it.

If this helps, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is on a Goodreads list of books about discrimination

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/85...

If not approved, you could also use it for 5.3!

If any of you are interested in discrimination of gays, Edmund White is awesome.

I have read Henrietta Lacks--and it fits the discrimination pattern very well, some in subtle ways and some more overt. Very interesting book

From the goodreads list: Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Hardcover, 353 pages), which definately fits, (right??)

Also from the goodreads list, and here's my question: would The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. LeGuin work? I haven't read this book yet, so I don't know if it would or not.

Thanks Cynthia!

Cynthia would the book The Reader by Bernhard Schlink work for this task? From what I understand it's discrimination against people who can't read and post war Germany.

The Kite Runner is on the list that was posted. Would that work? I've never read it so I have no idea from the description.

Would Chains work? It's about a slave girl - that sounds pretty discriminating to me.

For those who haven't read A Thousand Splendid Suns, I would highly recommend it for this task. It's a quick read, & it was incredible!

I am trying to work Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides into this challenge, but don't know if sexual discrimination is part of the story though I would think it is a possibility. It is on the Goodreads list... But has anybody read it? The book description doesn't really mention the discrimination someone like this character must suffer.

L wrote: "I am trying to work Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides into this challenge, but don't know if sexual descrimination is part of the story though I would think it is a possibility. It is on the Goodreads..."

This is about as classic a case of discrimination as you'll find, though perhaps not as obvious as we tend to think.

For this task...basically if you can give at least on example of how the character or person was discriminated against its fine.

Does anyone know if Sarah's Key contains an example of discrimination? I'm assuming that it does since it's set in Occupied France during WW2 but I'm not sure.

Petra wrote: "Does anyone know if Sarah's Key contains an example of discrimination? I'm assuming that it does since it's set in Occupied France during WW2 but I'm not sure."

Yes, Sarah and her family were Jews.

Elizabeth wrote: "Petra wrote: "Does anyone know if Sarah's Key contains an example of discrimination? I'm assuming that it does since it's set in Occupied France during WW2 but I'm not sure."

Yes, ..."

Thank you, Elizabeth! That's perfect then. I was hoping to read it soon.

I would very much like to fit in The Bingo Palace in this challenge. Since I haven't read it, it's hard to know if it would fit here, but Erdrich writes of the plight of the northern plains Indians, certainly a group much discriminated against. Hopefully, you'll approve this one.

Petra wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Petra wrote: "Does anyone know if Sarah's Key contains an example of discrimination? I'm assuming that it does since it's set in Occupied France during WW2 but I'm n..."

It is an excellent read, and worth a kleenex or two.

I'm reading Brixton Beach by Roma Tearn at the moment. That would count for this task. The start of it is set in Celon and a character is discriminated against in hospital while giving birth because she is of the wrong race leading to a devastating outcome. It's a really good book so far so would recommend it.

I plan to read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I'm planning on The Book of Negroes for my book - it is supposed to be amazing and has been on my TBR list for a while now.

I'm planning on reading My Name is Mary Sutter.

Girl in Translation would also work for this.

Both are newly released books.

Jen wrote: "I'm planning on The Book of Negroes for my book - it is supposed to be amazing and has been on my TBR list for a while now."

Oooo...I've got this one on my TBR too! ;)

Warriors Don't Cry: The Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High was really good

And I believe The Help would work

Liz wrote: "For those who haven't read A Thousand Splendid Suns, I would highly recommend it for this task. It's a quick read, & it was incredible!"

Awesome, if this is approved, I just bought this and i really like the kite runner nad heard this was really good too!

Does the discrimination have to be involving one individual person, or can it be about the group as a whole? I was thinking about reading Shut Out, which is about the Red Sox and their history of racial discrimination - while I'm sure there are specific individuals cited in the book, the impression I get from reviews is that it's more of a general account of their patterns and practices.

Sandy wrote: "Does the discrimination have to be involving one individual person, or can it be about the group as a whole? I was thinking about reading Shut Out, which is about the Red Sox and the..."

That's fine.

Cynthia wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Does the discrimination have to be involving one individual person, or can it be about the group as a whole? I was thinking about reading Shut Out, which is about the R..."

Thanks, Cynthia.

Can I use Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It tells the story of the Wicked Witch from her point of view as being discriminated because of the way she looks.

Jason wrote: "Can I use Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It tells the story of the Wicked Witch from her point of view as being discriminated because of the way she looks."

yes

Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata tells the story of discrimination against Japanese Americans during WW2.

Would China Witness: Voices from a Silent Generation work?

Alice wrote: "Would China Witness: Voices from a Silent Generation work?"

It's not clear from the description if discrimination is involved but if it is described yes.

Could a book about your friends discriminating against you did work? I was thinking of reading Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers. I know it's kind of a stretch.

I'm not sure whether or not Some Girls Are works, but I just want to mention that I read that book a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it. I went through so many emotions reading it, mainly anger, but I don't regret reading it not one bit. If you do read it, hopefully you enjoy it.

Cynthia? Yes, no?

oh, i was goig to ask about that one, because I just got it the other day!

Liz wrote: "I'm planning on reading My Name is Mary Sutter.

What about The Memory Keeper's Daughter ? I think the father shows discrimination here.

I haven't read either of these books so could anyone tell me if either of these books would work: The Abstinence Teacher or The Help. Thanks.

The Help definitely works.

Thanks, Liz!!!

I read a lot of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. If a person is discriminated against because they are part werewolf, etc. will that work?

Valorie wrote: "I read a lot of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. If a person is discriminated against because they are part werewolf, etc. will that work?"
Yes because that would essentially be race discrimination.

Sarah wrote: "What about The Memory Keeper's Daughter ? I think the father shows discrimination here."

I'll take it.

Could Practical Magic work for this?

What about Push? Haven't read it so don't know, but guessing there is some discrimination in there (maybe even about weight??)

Julie wrote: "What about Push? Haven't read it so don't know, but guessing there is some discrimination in there (maybe even about weight??)"

yes

Grace wrote: "Could Practical Magic work for this?"

Doesn't sound like it fits from the GR summary, but if you can explain the discrimination then okay.