Reading and Diversity: 10 Ways to Read Your Way to France by Emma of Words and Peace

Thank you, Emma, for joining us today for our final guest post on diversity in books!

Reading and diversity:

10 ways to read your way to France

While talking recently about diversity in books, a blogger told me: “all the books I've read from French writers or that take place in France are pretty much historical fiction.  I would love to be able to diversify that.”

Following this wish, I propose you 10 ways to read your way to France, either through French authors, French topics, or books set in France. The following are recent books I have personally thoroughly enjoyed or about which I heard a lot of very good things.

And as November is nonfiction month for many book bloggers, I will start with nonfiction:

1.      History/Socio-economics:
France on the Brink: A Great Civilization in the New Century, by Jonathan Fenby (Skyhorse Publishing, August 2014): awesome analysis of the last 50 years in France, perfect to understand what’s going on right now there and go beyond touristy clichés.

For pure history/biography:
I highly recommend Marie-Antoinette’s Head: The Royal Hairdresser, The Queen, And The Revolution, by Will Bashor (Lyons Press, October 2013): through the biography of Léonard Autié, Marie-Antoinette’s personal hairdresser, the author presents the panorama around the French Revolution from an original perspective.

2.      Travel essays:
If you feel travel guides always lack this je ne sais quoi, here is an amazing volume with great descriptions of places in France you may not even have heard of. The author adds her own personal experience and recommendations. You will learn a lot about the history, geography, and culture of the country as well: 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go, by Marcia DeSanctis (Travelers’ Tales, October 2014)

3.      Memoirs:
I could recommend you tons of books here, it seems these past months everyone has moved to France and is writing about their experience!
You have the hilarious and right on stories relating Vicki’s experience as an expat in France: Confessions of a Paris Party Girl, followed by Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer by Vicki Lesage (both books self-published in 2014).
In We’ll Always Have Paris (Sourcebooks, April 2014), Jennifer Coburn visits Paris with her teenage daughter.
And Samantha Vérant shares her amazing story of falling in love with a French man, ignoring his letters for decades, and finally reconnecting and ending up marrying him: Seven Letters from Paris (Sourcebooks, October 2014).
I can’t but talk to you about how this couple struggled to purchase and renovate their house of their dream on a tiny paradise-like island off the Western Coast of France. Their story of courage and perseverance, or call it foolishness and stubbornness if you wish is presented in The French House, by Don Wallace (Sourcebooks, June 2014).

4.      Literary fiction:
Comes to mind a book written by Grégoire Delacourt, a French author, quite present in the media right now: My Wish List (Penguin, March 2014): on what would you do if you won the lottery?
And one written by an American author, Adria J. Cimino: Paris, Rue des Martyrs (Agency Editions, Fenruary 2014): a beautiful narrative connecting different people living in the same street in the Montmartre neighborhood.

5.      Historical novel:
As the blogger I quoted above hinted at, no lack of choice here. One of the most recent I read is A Paris Apartment (St Martin’s Press, April 2014). Michelle Gable based her novel on the true story of an apartment in the 9^th arrondisssement that had been abandoned just before WWII and never opened for 7o years.
Historical romance:
It’s really a historical novel, but the story told was a romance in real life. Heloise and Abelard are probably THE most famous French couple, even though they lived back in the 12^th century. Unfortunately, they are no longer well known on this side of the ocean. So you really don’t want to miss this phenomenal opportunity to read about them, through A Sharp Hook of Love (Simon & Schuster, October 2014) written by Sherry Jones.

6.      Paranormal:
If you enjoy the mix historical fiction and paranormal, I have one name for you: M. J. Rose. Her last two books, Seduction - where you will meet Victor Hugo (Atria Books, May 2013) and The Collector of Dying Breaths - with Catherine de Medici and her perfumer (Atria Books, April 2014) are set in France as well as her upcoming novel: The Witch of Painted Sorrows, set in 1890 Belle Époque Paris (to be published in March 2015 by Atria Books).

7.      Romance:
If you prefer contemporary romance, Juliette Sobanet is THE author to follow, with her Paris series: Sleeping With Paris, Honeymoon in Paris, Kissed in Paris, Midnight Train to Paris, Dancing With Paris, One Night in Paris. Are you dreaming yet?

8.      LGBT:
I also have an author to recommend for this genre: Alyssa Linn Palmer and her series Le Chat Rouge. In which she invites you to take a walk on the darker side of Paris, and enter a jazz club on the Left Bank… See The Paris Game, and Moonlight & Love Songs.

9.      Mystery:
A very popular series in France, even adapted on T.V. is fortunately available in English translation, thanks to Le French Book. If you like the combo mystery + French wine, and really, who would not, you will love each of the volumes in the Winemaker Detective Stories by the duo Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen. The title says it all: Benjamin cooker is both a master winemaker and an astute detective. A few of the titles already available may inspire you, and not just to go open a bottle for yourself: Treachery in Bordeaux, Grand Cru Heist, Nightmare in Burgundy, and Cognac Conspiracies.

10.   Thriller:
Book Bloggers International recently published my post on The French Thrill, where I explained how French crime fiction is now making top of the list in front of Scandinavian authors. So I would like to end this list with a woman who really blew my mind, Frédérique Molay. She has received several awards in France. Her latest Crossing The Line starts with the super original idea of a message hidden in the tooth filling of a dead man. As a teaser, do you want to know what was written there? “I was murdered!” If this does not grab you…
The good news is that her next one, The City of Blood, comes out in January!

If you feel stuck in your reading program in the same old same old, this list should help you insert some fine diversity in your TBR, while making you travel to France and stroll in the City of Lights.

Thank you, Emma, for joining us today!  Leave a comment for Emma below!

A Lesson Learned: Diversity in Books by Nadia A. of A Bookish Way of Life

Please welcome back to the blog, Nadia, of A Bookish Way of Life!

A LESSON LEARNED: DIVERSITY IN BOOKS

Sandra Cisneros was my first reading experience with a Latina author.  I was nineteen, attending college, and majoring in English Literature.  I’d chosen Latinos in Literature as one of my courses, because it sounded interesting.  Mind you, I’m Latina and for some reason I found the idea of reading books about my own culture to be interesting.  My Mexican culture was a part of me that I didn’t really identify with.  Sure, I spoke Spanish, listened to my mom’s CDs by Gilberto Perez and Ramon Ayala, ate tacos and enchiladas - but that was extent of my Mexican cultural knowledge.  As for books, well all of mine were written by ‘dead white guys’ or whoever was topping the latest bestseller lists.  I grew up in a small town reading Christopher Pike, The Babysitter’s Club and Sweet Valley High – what did I know about diversity in books? 

The first day in my Latinos in Literature class, the professor gave us our syllabus filled with names I could pronounce, but didn’t recognize.  She spoke about the importance of Hispanic culture and how this class would open our eyes to a world of literature that was integral to American history and culture.  Her passion for this genre was so effusive and inspiring that I found myself eagerly opening up the first page to The House on Mango Street.  Reading about Esperanza’s life filled with rice sandwiches, Spanish phrases, and hardworking parents that woke up before the crack of dawn was like coming home.  I found myself within these pages, these words, these characters, and their stories.  I could speak the language, recognize the neighborhood, smell the food, wear the clothes and fit right in.  This story was my story.  Sandra Cisneros’ words represented my culture, my family, and me.  

As a result of reading this book, I began to seek out books by other Latino authors and immersed myself in stories that felt both familiar and foreign.  I also encouraged family and friends to diversify their reading repertoires as well.  This class was integral in teaching me the importance of reading diversely and it was a lesson that I’ve kept with me ever since.  By reading authors of color I’ve learned more about myself and the world at large.  I’ve found myself inspired, fulfilled, and excited about the different countries, cultures, and people I’ve read about.  

Diversity in Books: Military by Chris of WildMooBooks

Please welcome back Chris of Wildmoo Books!  

Diversity in Books: Military 

The issue of diversity in books and reading books about diversity is once again a hot topic. I’m going to assume that anyone reading this article already understands and values the importance of diversity within novels as well as the importance of seeking out books that bridge social divides.

Most conversations about books & diversity seem to focus on race and gender, with some voices advocating for class, sexual orientation, cultural, and religious diversity.

There’s another divide that I’m concerned about that I think can begin to be bridged by reading and that’s the military-civilian divide.

Most 'first world' countries no longer have compulsory military service and now have a huge percentage of civilians with no connection to the military. This translates into voters, business leaders, and politicians who do not have a basic understanding of or interest in the military. The military machines of these countries are increasingly controlled by very small inner circles.

Some experts believe that the increased military actions of the U.S. may be due to having an all-volunteer force and a citizenry that has, to be blunt, no skin in the game. About 0.5 % of Americans serve in the military, down from 12% during WWII when it seemed like “everyone” was in the military or had a family member that served.

Here’s a link to an article on the topic that also contains links to some of the primary articles on the issue of the military-civilian divide.

On a personal level, I’m a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who identifies as a lesbian. More people have been shocked by my “coming out” as a veteran than as a lesbian, which I think speaks volumes about people’s experience with and/or awareness of these segments of society. I’ve recently had friends from two different families with zero military experience who had their worlds rocked when their teens announced they want to join the military.

Reading about the military can help people understand various aspects of the military beyond the stereotypes, headlines, and Hollywood glamorization. Granted, there are many books that glamorize the military or that are action-adventure tales bordering on fantasy. These books may be entertaining, but they do little to help bridge the military-civilian divide. In fact, some may even widen the gap. But there are, however, some thoughtful novels and memoirs written by veterans as well as thought-provoking nonfiction works by civilians.

Two of my recent favorites are Matternhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes and The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier’s Education by Craig Mullaney.

Two highly readable, nonfiction titles by civilians that I often recommend are Soldier’s Heart: Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point by Elizabeth D. Samet and Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power by Rachel Maddow.

Two recent titles by women veterans are Shade It Black: Death and After in Iraq by Jessica Goodell and Hesitation Kills: A Female Marine Officer’s Combat Experience in Iraq by Jane Blair.

Two online resources for finding more military books:

Military Professional Reading Lists: Reading lists from each branch of the military.

War Through the Generations: Reading challenge & book reviews grouped by war.

To sum up: Why read about the military? I think the two primary reasons are:

1. To understand the service and sacrifice of your fellow citizens.

2. To understand what your government is doing or has done in the world or within its borders.

All of my reading recommendations concern the U.S. because that's my area of interest, but I’d love to hear recommendations from readers around the world. Thanks for reading!

Diversity Guest Post: Autobiography Class by Nadia A. of A Bookish Way of Life

Please welcome to the blog, Nadia, from A Bookish Way of Life.

When I was in England studying for my degree in Women’s Studies, I decided to take a class about autobiographies written by women.   I thought it would be a great way to learn more about the art of autobiography within a literary context, especially as my thesis would expound on this genre.  I excitedly looked over the class syllabus and anticipated the discussions we’d be having over works by Maxine Hong Kingston, Maya Angelou, and Margery Kempe to name a few.  Imagine my surprise and disappointment when class began and my classmates declared that they couldn’t relate to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and therefore felt that they couldn’t contribute to the discussion.  

It didn’t make any sense to me why they didn’t want to dissect this book; after all, we were English majors and that was what we did.  The penny finally dropped when someone admitted that being “white” and “British” precluded them from talking about a book written by an African-American woman.  Race was the issue.  I couldn’t believe it.  Since when did you have to be African-American to understand a book by an African-American author?  Did this mean that my interpretation of Pride and Prejudice was invalid because I was Latina and not British?  Suffice it to say, that day in class was eye-opening for me.   Not only did I realize how my classmates perceived me as being “other” and “different”, but I quickly surmised how much they lacked in their understanding of the need for diversity in books.  

Authors of color are integral in helping to provide us with an array of opinions and perspectives about different cultures, races, and religions.  We need to read diversely in order to learn more about the world around us.  How else are we going to begin to relate to one another, if we can’t even connect on a literary level?  Books are the perfect means for encouraging and promoting diversity.  After all, isn’t the point of reading to escape from our own insular world and read about someone else’s?

Favorite Books Set in India by Tanya M. of Mom's Small Victories

Photo credit: Taj Mahal on Wikipedia

As co-host of the set your own rules Travel the World in Books Reading Challenge, it's no secret that I love to read about different countries and cultures. Reading is the easiest and most frugal way to travel the world until we save up the money and find the time to get there in person. Since my family is from India and my chronic illness prevents me from visiting, I have been immersing myself in books set in India. These books bring me a sense of comfort like only family can and growing up in America, a real sense of what living in India might be like. Today, I'm sharing with you my favorite books set in India so you can travel to this beautiful, vibrant and socially diverse country yourself.

If You Like Historical Fiction and Forbidden Love, Read Under the Jeweled Sky by Alison McQueen....

  Under the Jeweled Sky is a breathtakingly beautiful story about Sophie, the daughter of an affluent British doctor, and Jag, an Indian servant to the Maharaja. From different social classes and different cultures, being seen together would be disastrous. Yet Sophie and Jag find ways to be together and the story that transpires is full of intense first love and drama. Set during India's independence from the British empire, I learned about what was a joyous time for many also that threw many into utter poverty, destitution or even death. I could not put this book down and it made me want to read more about this time during India's history. See my full review of Under the Jeweled Sky by Alison McQueen for more details on why I loved and learned so much from this magnificent book.

If You Like Indian Food and Strong Female Characters, Read The Forgotten Daughter by Renita D'Silva...

Be warned, don't read The Forgotten Daughter by Renita D'Silva on an empty stomach if you like Indian food. Each chapter from mom Shilpa's point of view starts with a mouth-watering recipe and food plays an integral part of the story. As Shilpa says in the book, "every food has a feeling, a memory. Every important milestone in my life has a food associated with it. That is why this diary couldn’t just be for recipes. That is why I am narrating the story of my life via food.” Growing up, the kitchen was the heart of our home, where we spent the most time together enjoying good food, each other’s company and a whole lot of good times. Not only is The Forgotten Daughter delicious, it's an emotional journey and story about self-discovery, forgiveness and testing the limits of mothers’ love. A great pick for the foodie reader who enjoys a deep emotional drama. See my full review of The Forgotten Daughter by Renita D'Silva for how this book made me feel and what it made me remember.

If You Like Stories About International Adoption, Read The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda...

I credit The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda for kickstarting my obsession with reading 2 years ago. Never before had I encountered a book that made my heart ache for my grandparents in India and the last time I saw them so many years ago. A book I was so enamored with, I could not put it down and felt compelled to share it's greatness with my readers in my first book review. The Secret Daughter is about Kavita, a poor Indian woman who gave birth to a girl in a place where only sons were wanted. Kavita has no choice but to give her daughter away in order to save her life but she yearns for her everyday and feels guilty about the choice she made. Asha is adopted by an American wife and an Indian husband who live in the US. Asha's adopted mother, Somer, struggles with raising a daughter who wants to learn about her culture and find her birth mother. Somer wonders if her bond with her daughter is strong enough to overcome whatever it is Asha discovers in India. Another dramatic read that highlights the differences between growing up in America and India for a girl, the pain of infertility and loss, and the undying hope mothers have for their children. See my full review of The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda.

If You Like Nonfiction About Growing Up In India, Read First Darling of the Morning by Thrity Umrigar

Thirty Umrigar is one of my favorite Indian authors. She moved me with the story of 4 Indian friends reuniting after a terminal cancer diagnosis in The World We Found and brought the topic of suicide to the forefront in The Story Hour just when Robin Williams committed suicide. She's a talented writer who writes heartwrenching dramas but I was most intrigued by the story of her childhood, quite a drama in itself. In First Darling of the Morning, Thrity shows us how she is caught in the middle between an abusive mother and a doting father. Thrity's life was full of simple joys and difficult realizations about the culture and country where she lived. An India full of dichotomies, the oppressively poor living among the privileged; the squalor amidst the splendor; the forgotten among the revered. This book took me back to India the one trip I remember. To those hungry faces impossible to forget and the same feeling not understanding why we could not help the hungry children begging for food. See my full review of First Darling of the Morning by Thrity Umrigar for more about Thrity's life and what it made me remember and long for in my last trip to India. Thanks Book Bloggers International for allowing me to share some of my favorite books set in India, a country dear to my heart. Don't forget to stop by and sign up for our Travel the World in Books Reading Challenge anytime and check out our book reviews by continent linkups to get great book recommendations from around the world. What books have you enjoyed set in India? What books bring back wonderful childhood memories for you? Where would you like to travel to in real life or in books? I'd love to hear from you!

About Tanya from Mom's Small Victories

Writer and owner behind Mom's Small Victories. I'm a A SAHM of 3 crazy boys and wife to Superhubby. I cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis, by focusing on things I love and celebrating my small victories in everyday life. I am obsessed with reading, love to cook my family delicious meals, travel and share tips on staying positive with a chronic illness. Let me know what small victories you celebrate today, life is short, let's treasure it!

Featuring Shan of Curled Up with a Good Book and a Cup of Tea

Today please welcome Shan, 

who blogs at Curled Up with a Good Book and a Cup of Tea.

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What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?

I'm not very creative and when I was trying to come up with a name for my blog, I just couldn't. And then I took a look at myself, sitting there in my reading spot, curled up under a blanket and with a cup of tea and I thought, that works! And being new to the blogging world, I didn't realize just how long a name it was! So I tend to shorten it to Good Books and Tea.

How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging for just over 3 years now. It's hard to believe that it's been that long, the time has certainly flown by.

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

I have very diverse reading tastes and my blog reflects that. I don't think I fit into any genre boxes and there is something for everyone.  

What genres do you write about most, and why?

Canadian Literature (CanLit) and British Chick Lit. Those are my two favourite genres and I seem to be reading more and more of them as time goes by. I also find that diversity is a major theme in my reading and I enjoy books with characters and stories from all cultures.

What's your earliest memory of reading?

Honestly, so many of my early memories have to do with books. I can remember the books I loved from a very early age. Though not the earliest memory, I remember as a child I would get upset when I'd have to turn out the lights for bed, so I'd take my book to the bathroom and sit on the edge of the tub and keep reading, thinking I could fool my parents. Every single night.

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

Hell to the no! I barely can tolerate folding over the pages. I've been noticing more and more that people are writing in library books and that really gets on my nerves. Especially when they are getting it wrong.

What's your favorite place to read?

On the beach. But since that doesn't happen very often for me, my bed or in the corner of my L shaped couch.

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

neatly organized by genre. On the big bookshelf, the top shelf is for autographed books and 2014 releases. The second shelf is for CanLit. The third shelf is for books I love from any year. The bottom shelf is classics and health and environment. The smaller bookshelf has three shelves for Chick Lit and one shelf for Urban Christian Fiction. Any book that doesn't fit on either shelf is in a pile somewhere in my bedroom.

My TBR pile is...

on the shelves of my bedside table. It never seems to go down.

To DNF or not to DNF?

In the past I would push on with a book no matter how much I didn't like it. But I've decided no more and last year I started to DNF. It's very liberating.

What's one book that intimidates you?

Any classic over 400 pages. There are so many that I want to read but the length intimidates me. I've been working on The Count of Monte Cristo for the past year and half. I prefer to read a new book every few days rather than spend weeks on one.

What are 3 of your must-read blogs?

Novelicious
Farm Lane Books Blog
Leeswammes' Blog
52 books or bust

What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)

The Exacting Friend - it makes sense, I'm very ordered about my reading, keeping lists of what I want to read and sticking to it. And of course, I don't have time to read all the books I want to read, nobody has that much time!

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Thank you for joining us today, Shan! 

Remember to check out Shan's blog, 

Curled Up with a Good Book and a Cup of Tea, 

and leave a comment or question.