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Post read-a-thon update
Thanks to the ladies who participated. I hope everyone enjoyed what they got a chance to read today. I finished two books (His Own Where by June Jordan and No Sweetness Here by Ama Ata Aidoo) and I started a third (Color Blind by Precious Williams). I have selected two winners for a book of their choice from The Book Depository valued up to $15.

Congrats Beverly and Goddesspt2!!
Welcome to the 12 hour read-a-thon and if you're joining for the first time, welcome to the challenge. The only rule is that books must geographically reflect the diaspora meaning authors should be from North America, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. The diaspora refers to the dispersal of people of African descent as a result of the slave trade.

This mini-read-a-thon is a way for those new and established challenge participants to catch up on the amount of reads to which we've committed. I've surpassed my commitment but haven't been geographically diverse as much as I planned.

As promised, I'm giving away a prize. Actually, I'm going to be really generous and give away two. I'll select two participants to win their choice of book (valued up to $15) from The Book Depository. This makes it open worldwide. And I hope the choices are from the diaspora (*wink*). What do you have to do? Just come by here updating us on what you're reading. The more you comment, substantially that is, the more chances you have to win. When I say substantial, I mean comment thoughtfully on what you're reading or what someone else is reading. Please no frivolous random comments just to get the swag. :)

Don't forget we're also on Twitter and the hashtag is #afrodiaspora.

So, let's get into some comfortable spots and enjoy African diasporic literature today.
 


Comments

Beverly
07/10/2010 7:33am

Thanks for this mini-read-a-thon as I have been looking to read for some time to The Long Song by Andrea Levy.
I have read her prior and enjoyed them.
The other reasons I am looking forward to reading this book is that the author said her aim for writing this book is to instill pride in anyone who has slave ancestors and also this book is an example of metafiction - a term I had not heard before.

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goddesspt2
07/10/2010 7:42am

Good morning, I'm starting my day with Black Water Rising by Attica Locke. The book was shortlisted for the 2010 Orange Prize

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Vasilly link
07/10/2010 9:12am

Morning everyone! I have no idea what I'm going to start reading first. Maybe The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore since I just bought it last night. Happy reading!

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Phyllis
07/10/2010 10:25am

I, too, am reading The Long Song with Ms. Beverly.

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goddesspt2
07/10/2010 3:23pm

Just finished up Black Water Rising. Very good murder suspense. My next book is Who Slashed Celanire's Throat? by Maryse Conde set in Guadeloupe.

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Beverly
07/10/2010 5:26pm

@ goddesspt2 - I read Black Water Rising and enjoyed the story. But I was always curious on how much this novel had crossover appeal. Not that the book does not deserve the attention it received but wonder why this book and not some other books by authors of color.

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Beverly
07/10/2010 5:33pm

I have not been able to finish The Long Song because of some work commitments.
Andrea Levy is such a wonderful storyteller that I do recommend her works. I have seen growth in each of her successive works. I am really enjoying the techniques of the narrator adding her comments on the story that she is writing which is the story of file which spans the years when GB eliminated slavery in their colonies. An interesting use of humor to explain the situations - does not distract the pain of slavery that the characters felt but also showed how by working together they made their lives a little bit more bearable without the masters knowing.

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goddesspt2
07/10/2010 7:34pm

@Beverly, while the novel was good, I was surprised that it was on the Orange Prize shortlist. It doesn't seem to be the type of book or genre (murder suspense/thriller ala Grisham and his ilk) that would garner such a honor. Not sure if the Mayor's gender and race (white, female) had something to do with it and her "liberal" leanings. I was particularly put off by the scene where she bogarted her way on stage, grabbed the mic and proceeded to tell Black folks what they needed to do.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this (thanks browngirl for sponsoring). I finished 2 books :)

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BrownGirl
07/10/2010 7:43pm

Thanks everyone who participated. This is it for comments counted for the giveaway. I'm glad I could facilitate a few folks getting some reading time in. I'll post the winners as an update to this post.

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Mel u link
07/10/2010 7:49pm

I commend to anyone interested in contemporary Africa fiction the web page of the Caine Prize-given every year since 2000 for the best short story by a person of African descent-you can read this year and last years winners online at the web page as well as the four stories that were short listed this year for the competition-all of the stories are very much worth reading and in some cases will introduce you to a writer just starting her career that you can follow-

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