tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post3376505652391562671..comments2024-03-01T03:24:19.577-05:00Comments on Chick with Books: The Sunday Salon... and Should we Read American Dirt by Jeanine CumminsSuzanne Yesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00340451897624838384noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post-83729311411660500332020-02-02T13:06:26.171-05:002020-02-02T13:06:26.171-05:00A friend is reading American Dirt for their book c...A friend is reading American Dirt for their book club and posted a story about possible plagiarism in the book on her Facebook page. It seems like every month some book is being charged with plagiarism. I feel a little bad if I read the book and enjoyed it but at the same time is it really my fault? How much "due diligence" do I need to do before reading for enjoyment? Great discussion!<br /><br />Donna at <a href="https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/01/life-reading-and-blogging-wrap-up.html" rel="nofollow">Girl Who Reads</a>Girl Who Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567066995224650190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post-20881903907583159612020-01-29T21:07:21.158-05:002020-01-29T21:07:21.158-05:00Personally, I don't think we should feel guilt...Personally, I don't think we should feel guilty about the books we read. Even if we wanted to read more #ownvoices books, they are not as easy to find. At the end of the day, reading is supposed to be fun and not work. We also all have our comfort zones. No matter how much I'm pushed, I may not want to experiment with my comfort zones, when it comes to my hobby.<br /><br />That said, I agree with Literary Feline and pussreboots that #ownvoices books are not getting promoted as much. Would the same book under a Mexican author's name have been promoted just as well and sold just as well? Many who have read American Dirt have actually loved it so who the author is should not matter, by that argument. Except it seems to. I think that's what all the controversy is aiming at. We see this happening with movies too. Why not cast an Asian/LGBTQ/physically challenged person for an Asian/LGBTQ/physically challenged role than have someone else pretend to be that?<br /><br />To me, this is a very new but liberating mindset. It's also a challenging one because now there's more work involved. As a non-white non-American, I love it when I see more of me represented in books and movies. I also detest it when I see those classic stereotypes, whether in accent, behavior, or beliefs. A bulk of the books I read have no one like me in there and when I do recommend books that feature characters like me, I don't see a lot of interest. I don't take it personally, it's just reality - we're all complex humans after all with clear interests at the end of day. <br /><br />Thank you for this great post! I enjoyed reading everyone's opinions (which in itself is very diverse). :-) Athirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post-57649554544411180092020-01-27T05:51:46.129-05:002020-01-27T05:51:46.129-05:00Our online assignment writers aim to become a help...Our <a href="https://myassignmenthelp.com.au/assignment-help-online/" rel="nofollow">online assignment</a> writers aim to become a helping hand of the students who need a proficient assignment writing help to balance out their academics with work.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03709301790768196085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post-4095992631951354982020-01-26T23:59:38.650-05:002020-01-26T23:59:38.650-05:00I have chosen to pass on American Dirt. I don'...I have chosen to pass on American Dirt. I don't want to contribute to a broken aspect of publishing. <a href="http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comments_01/what_are_you_reading_0127.html" rel="nofollow">My weekly update</a>pussrebootshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02167235847991793325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post-35148013468467363752020-01-26T19:00:50.511-05:002020-01-26T19:00:50.511-05:00Truly, I prefer authors who have first hand knowle...Truly, I prefer authors who have first hand knowledge about sensitive topics they write about, either through their background and/or personal experience. So I might pass on American Dirt. I am reading now a book about Jamaican immigrants in the US, written by a Jamaican who is a university prof in the U.S. So it seems closer to being authentic. The book is Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn. The book also has LGBT themes and the author made big news on the island when she married her partner there. (Jamaica is well known for being anti LGBT).Harveehttp://bookdilettante.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post-26046755193783154122020-01-26T17:09:21.161-05:002020-01-26T17:09:21.161-05:00For me, in fiction, the quality of the writing is ...For me, in fiction, the quality of the writing is the most important thing. In nonfiction, it can make a big difference who is writing!<br />https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/01/26/sunday-post-22-1-26-2020/Emma at Words And Peace / France Book Tourshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09426924864218623976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post-39603792831973348832020-01-26T16:40:15.396-05:002020-01-26T16:40:15.396-05:00American Dirt had been getting so much praise the ...American Dirt had been getting so much praise the beginning of the month, and then wham! Suddenly it's been nothing but negative as of late. I hadn't really been considering reading the book, although it does sound like something I would gravitate towards.<br /><br />I have such mixed feelings about the controversy. I am all for #ownvoice narratives and feel we not only need more of them, but also that they deserve to be promoted more than they are. I do feel systematic racism is real and has worked against marginalized writers for too long in not allowing their voices to be heard. Should the publisher have put more money and time into promoting an #ownvoices author? Yes. I want to see them do that overall in general. It's long overdue.<br /><br />I haven't read American Dirt and cannot speak for the book itself. Every book will have its detractors. It sounds like an action packed and emotional read. Perhaps Cummins could have used a sensitivity reader to work through some of the stereotypes or inaccuracies critics are pointing out. I don't know. Maybe she had one. Do I think authors should be limited in the perspective they write from based on their identity and experiences? Not really, no. When I think of all the great books I've read that wouldn't have been written if that were the case. And as a genre reader, I think it would be quite stifling. Not to mention limit the audiences such stories might reach. It's a very slippery slope. Where would we draw the line? And if a book like Cummins does open up someone's eyes to the horrors migrants face then isn't it a good thing? Maybe it will open someone up to exploring other literature on the subject and lead them to books by authors with more intimate experience or a more direct cultural or identity connection to the subject matter. <br /><br />As you pointed out, it is fiction. And even within one culture, there are many different perspectives and lifestyles and stories that can be told, not to mention dialects, slang, and behaviors. I do think there is more pressure on authors to be more conscientious and sensitive to certain cultural and identity nuances today--and rightfully so. But in the end, it mostly will depend on what you want and expect to get out of your reading as the reader, won't it? <br /><br />Anyway, just my two cents, which is about all it's worth, if that. Haha Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447574405650512339.post-1847262922230965182020-01-26T14:00:12.860-05:002020-01-26T14:00:12.860-05:00The first I heard about the controversy over Ameri...The first I heard about the controversy over American Dirt was late this week. I'm not sure what I think about the controversy. A good writer is a good writer. Can we only write stories about our own cultures? I think people write best about stories they are interested in. I think stories can be researched. Will there be errors in what is written? Of course. That always happens, even in the best books. I know that I get annoyed with all the controversy in our world over every little thing. Should we really be fighting about everything that arises? <br /><br />I do plan to read the book later in February. I am eager to read this story.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing information about the controversy.<br /><br />Have a lovely week.Deb Nance at Readerbuzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128529491888701996noreply@blogger.com