tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post2269597292146800087..comments2024-03-28T14:39:26.897-04:00Comments on We Live and Breathe Books: Discussion: Why I Read OwnVoices BooksKiersten Kozbialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00538943081866009856noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-24778794504847032802018-10-29T05:59:37.554-04:002018-10-29T05:59:37.554-04:00I have read some really well researched books, but...I have read some really well researched books, but there is just that little extra "something" you can pickup on, when someone is writing from experience. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-40382612431994000502018-10-28T20:48:41.477-04:002018-10-28T20:48:41.477-04:00We can certainly see the world through someone els...We can certainly see the world through someone else's eyes in a book---and the best way to do that is with an OwnVoices author. I do think it's possible for people to write from perspectives outside their own, but some stories are best told by the people who live them.<br /><br />Nicole @ <a href="http://feedyourfictionaddiction.com" rel="nofollow">Feed Your Fiction Addiction</a>Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addictionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637114079800138680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-52501302939807995222018-10-17T06:02:50.676-04:002018-10-17T06:02:50.676-04:00It's subtle, and I think what I like the most,...It's subtle, and I think what I like the most, is that some OwnVoices authors will be less afraid to say things that I think a majority author would tiptoe around. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-70712386733782942612018-10-16T22:30:05.899-04:002018-10-16T22:30:05.899-04:00I too feel the same not everyone can make it their...I too feel the same not everyone can make it their own. But an author doing it themselves makes it more...likeable. I agree when you live in a diverse culture and someone shares it with you - you get to sorta live it too. <br /><br />MaryMary @ StackingMyBookShelves!https://www.blogger.com/profile/07510254497363581723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-27873290725894757892018-10-14T18:57:19.729-04:002018-10-14T18:57:19.729-04:00I actually wanted to read Jason Reynolds' book...I actually wanted to read Jason Reynolds' books after hearing him on a panel. He moved me and won me over, and I just love his backstory. I agree, Long Way Down was SO powerful. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-89298478115682705042018-10-14T18:56:03.142-04:002018-10-14T18:56:03.142-04:00I read books written by all sorts of authors, but ...I read books written by all sorts of authors, but I prefer my diverse reads to be OwnVoices. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-48472872447645815952018-10-14T18:06:59.545-04:002018-10-14T18:06:59.545-04:00I LOVE this post! Long Way Down is such a powerful...I LOVE this post! Long Way Down is such a powerful book and I love hearing Jason Reynolds speak!<br /><br />(This is Amber Elise @ Du Livre btw. I broke my PC so I'm using my husband's. Oops)Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13763591418180372372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-48081569855232825302018-10-14T16:09:33.564-04:002018-10-14T16:09:33.564-04:00Great topic Sam! I read "all kind of voices b...Great topic Sam! I read "all kind of voices books LOL But yes Own voice have another "ring" to them.Beware Of The Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146867538038694877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-7891109307664417472018-10-14T11:47:33.243-04:002018-10-14T11:47:33.243-04:00I feel like a "gazer" may tiptoe around ...I feel like a "gazer" may tiptoe around things that an OwnVoices author wouldn't too. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-24948625470500296832018-10-14T11:46:35.164-04:002018-10-14T11:46:35.164-04:00You pretty much nailed it - it's one out of ma...You pretty much nailed it - it's one out of many. I wish people would realize that we are the sum of our parts and not just our parts. The number one argument for diversity in all media is to represent more than the majority, and I think movie studios, publishers, etc should give the general population more credit, and believe that we are open to reading/seeing diverse stories. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-55800879209683016372018-10-14T10:42:45.093-04:002018-10-14T10:42:45.093-04:00Great topic and I agree with you 100%. It's a...Great topic and I agree with you 100%. It's always great to see diversity in any book but I think it just takes the experience to a deeper and more nuanced level when it's ownvoices. It's an entirely different perspective when it's someone researching and trying to portray a certain rep than when it's someone who actually represents the rep they're portraying.Suzanne @ The Bookish Librahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116292880784513187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-35790612815374805492018-10-14T10:28:09.805-04:002018-10-14T10:28:09.805-04:00I agree! Diversity is good to have but also when i...I agree! Diversity is good to have but also when it comes down to the actual experience, ownvoices do a much accurate representation - and even then, it's one out of MANY. Regardless, the experience is important because there will be a reader out there who will read the book and find they AREN'T alone. There are others just like them.Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08649156623055831699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-26672796840057604342018-10-14T07:33:57.124-04:002018-10-14T07:33:57.124-04:00Their personal story may be quite different from t...Their personal story may be quite different from the norm or stereotype and also different from someone else within their own "group", because it's a combination of things that shape who we are. I know I am not the result of just being white or first generation or catholic. These are parts of the whole. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-1607684077094275002018-10-14T07:31:43.531-04:002018-10-14T07:31:43.531-04:00I feel like we are seeing more and more OwnVoices ...I feel like we are seeing more and more OwnVoices books, and also a lot more diversity with respect to sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, mental illness, and disability. The mirror is getting bigger, and that's a good trend in publishing. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-33939977039518413842018-10-14T01:00:59.528-04:002018-10-14T01:00:59.528-04:00Thanks for sharing about own voices. I have heard ...Thanks for sharing about own voices. I have heard some criticism about own voices. Everyone’s experiences are as valid as another. Their personal story maybe quite different from the norm or stereotypes. You have some great books on your list, many I’ve read. I love own voice stories and their unique POV. ❤️❤️Dani @ Perspective of a Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15431727579736210318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-18988540311571981982018-10-13T23:16:54.240-04:002018-10-13T23:16:54.240-04:00I agree, there is something unique and more authen...I agree, there is something unique and more authentic about an #OwnVoices book. I definitely reach for those first if I'm picking up a book about a marginalized character. I love When Dimple Met Rishi, Saints and Misfits, Six of Crows, The Memory of Light, and To All the Boys. Many of the others are on my TBR.Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsensehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12100606566359762426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-77369172284391719592018-10-13T20:18:19.395-04:002018-10-13T20:18:19.395-04:00That's exactly it. Everyone's experience i...That's exactly it. Everyone's experience is personal, and to say it's bad rep just seems really wrong to me, when they are speaking about themselves. --sigh-- Turtles and WDMR are both so wonderful. John Green really shared a part of himself with Turtles, and Menon's books are just fun and adorable. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-81226821927939607082018-10-13T19:03:50.899-04:002018-10-13T19:03:50.899-04:00Turtles all the way down and When Dimple Met Rishi...Turtles all the way down and When Dimple Met Rishi are two books I recently got and am looking forward to being able to read soon. I love the example you used for describing how you feel about Ownvoices books and reviews, and I completely agree with you. I don't think you can critique someone else's personal experience as well, especially as with some things although it might all fall under the same title and label, everyone's experience can still be quite distinctly different. I am so appalled to hear that so many Ownvoices author's are being attacked :/Olivia's Catastrophehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12706765857201768908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-81386701535424924572018-10-13T14:04:32.856-04:002018-10-13T14:04:32.856-04:00I have always felt like TV, movies, and books need...I have always felt like TV, movies, and books need to properly represent people without resorting or propagating stereotypes, because they could possibly be the only exposure some people have to those, who are different from them. I would think urban fantasy would not be too hard to incorporate diversity, but I guess it comes down, to some degree, that more diverse authors need to be writing those books. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-42340155410580212542018-10-13T14:00:04.598-04:002018-10-13T14:00:04.598-04:00I think they are one of the best ways to learn abo...I think they are one of the best ways to learn about people and customs that you might not know a lot about, and I trust the rep more, when it comes from someone within a particular community. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-58841137679304380132018-10-13T11:15:11.886-04:002018-10-13T11:15:11.886-04:00Being from Brazil the stereotyping that goes on af...Being from Brazil the stereotyping that goes on after I tell someone that is disheartening. OwnVoices books are awesome! I love hearing about authentic representations of different cultures and people in books (specially in YA). I would love to see that bleed more into paranormal romance and urban fantasy (which is what I read he most). Mikkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01008418560667560640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-53451559285250563392018-10-13T10:21:41.357-04:002018-10-13T10:21:41.357-04:00I live in a rural area and the smaller towns I liv...I live in a rural area and the smaller towns I live close to are pretty white. That's part of the reason I enjoy reading #OwnVoices books.Lauren Stoolfirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777860030600932061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-10378682109915141592018-10-13T06:24:58.061-04:002018-10-13T06:24:58.061-04:00I have such complicated feelings about when an aut...I have such complicated feelings about when an author from a majority group does writes a book, because they can't seem to win there. If they don't have diversity, people are negative about it, but if they include diverse characters, there is usually some sort of backlash too. But if I had two books in front of me with MCs from a minority group, be it sexuality, disability, religion, ethnicity, or race, I would pick the OwnVoices book first. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-24364022951542905572018-10-13T06:19:51.644-04:002018-10-13T06:19:51.644-04:00I read the book after his death, and it was one of...I read the book after his death, and it was one of the reasons I cried so much at the end. It was so hopeful, but then he lost the fight. It was heartbreaking. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-74159312082648921252018-10-12T22:01:40.114-04:002018-10-12T22:01:40.114-04:00Yes, yes, and once again, yes.
Though It's Ki...Yes, yes, and once again, yes.<br /><br />Though It's Kind of a Funny Story breaks my heart since the author eventually died from his depression. Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06296827820807569574noreply@blogger.com