Diversity in Reading Meme

I'm nabbing this from Susan, but I'm afraid I'm going to do even worse than she felt she did.  I am a totally predictable reader, staying well within my comfort zone.  Time to take note of my weaknesses.

Name the last book by a female author that you've read.
I'm afraid this is going to be the only easy one for me.  I read mostly women authors.  I recently finished Georgette Heyer's The Talisman Ring.

Name the last book by an African or African-American author that you've read.
Nothing in the last three years--I'm too embarrassed to go back further.

Name one from a Latino/a author.
The closest I can come is Death Rites by Alicia Giménez-Bartlett.  She's actually Spanish.  There was a time not too many years back when every third book I read was by a Latino author, so I wonder if I sort of 'read myself out'.   

How about one from an Asian country or Asian-American?
Not really.  The closest I can come is Peter Ho Davies's The Welsh Girl.  Davies is Welsh/Chinese.  Yes, that is a bit of a stretch, and I read the book two years ago! 

What about a GLBT writer?
Thanks to the Slaves of Golconda, I read Jeanette Winterson's Sexing the Cherry.  I also read Affinity by Sarah Waters earlier this year. 

Why not name an Israeli/Arab/Turk/Persian writer, if you're feeling lucky?
Again, a couple of years ago I read The Calligrapher's Night by Yasmine Ghata, an author of Turkish lineage who now lives in France.

Any other "marginalized" authors you've read lately?
Would Serbian author Zoran Zivkovic count?  Last year I read a collection of his short stories, Steps Through the Mist.

And here I thought I was doing pretty well by reading nine books so far this year that are works in translation.  The thing is they are all European authors.  I guess I need to shuffle my books around a little and try for more diversity in my reading.

Comments

[Denise Rogers]

If you are looking for a moving book by an African-American author, I'd recommend Zora Neale Huston's book Their Eyes Were Watching God. I've taught it many times, and my students generally love it.

[Danielle]

Denise--Thanks. I think I have a copy of that one on hand. I will have to pull it out now! It's one of those books I've been meaning to read for a while.

[claire]

Hi Danielle, don't feel so bad. We all have our comfort zones in reading. Mine would be books from different cultures, so this is the meme for me. However, just to let you know, I love the books you pick, they evoke your personality. So no need to change that. :D

[Kristen M.]

I'm with you ... many of the books I read that are set in foreign countries are written by British or American hyphenates. I read a decent amount of Spanish, Russian and Indian authors but I apparently need to branch out a bit more!

[litlove]

I actually think you did really well. I can't remember ever reading an Asian author, or an African one, so you have nothing to be ashamed of!

[Claire]

Hi Danielle, I borrowed your meme.

We all have different approaches to reading and that's what is so great about the blogosphere: we discover new books/writers/cultures as well as discovering what we like/feel comfortable with as a reader.

I read from different cultures a lot but recently I have found myself more focused on Classics I haven't yet read, women writers and particular imprints, including Persephone and Virago, which for the most part I owe to you.

There are so many books in the world, many of which I think it is important to at least sample, but I also think it is equally important to read out of pleasure and not obligation, read what you enjoy and not what you think you should read.

[Dorothy W.]

If I just gave my answers, I might not do too badly, but if I give explanations, it wouldn't sound as good -- most of my answers would be books I read for book groups! I read Chester Himes, an African-American recently, but I wouldn't have if he weren't a book group choice. Same for Jeanette Winterson and also Cristina Garcia. Thank God for book groups!

[Matt]

I'm going through stages and binge, but I do cull my readings from several genres, translated literature included. This is a fun meme that would help take inventory of my reading, think I'll snag it from you. :)

[Danielle]

Claire--My comfort zone is pretty much the books you see on my sidebar! It's nice to venture outside it sometimes, though, but you're right that this is very much my personality!
Kristen--I tend to read a lot of British lit, some American lit and a smattering of other books. I am definitely trying to read more books in translation, but I admit that they've been mainly European authors.
Litlove--I never really think about the books I read-in terms of variety of where an author's from, so it's interesting to see what I end up reading. It's an excuse to look for more books to read, I guess!
Claire--I'll have to go and see what books you came up with. I go in phases as well. At one time I read loads and loads of Latino authors, but not so many lately. I think I've actually branched out more by getting recommendations online--but there are only so many books you can read in a year. I wouldn't mind varying things a bit more and will see what I can do (what books are on my shelves) that I can read to make some sort of balance.
Dorothy--I agree with you when it comes to book groups. They are a great way to read outside my normal choices. I am very predictable in my reading, so they add a little variety.
Matt--I am trying to read more foreign authors this year, so I will have to search out some non-European authors as well. I do lots of binge reading when it comes to a certain type of story! I'm looking forward to seeing what your answers are!

[iliana]

I really liked this meme and am planning to post my answers tonight. It is always a bit surprising to see what we've read isn't it? And, yea, the first question is an easy one for me too. I read way more women authors.

[Danielle]

Iliana--I'll have to pop on over and see which books you've read. The first question was the only easy one for me! :)