Hello there, I want to try to diversify my reading since I realize I read so many White Girl ™ books, so the one I selected, I heard people say “It is my baby! Don’t you dare say one bad thing about it!” and raving about how amazing it is and I found a copy at the library, picked it up and….
I find it’s okay. But it’s not phenomenal- I’m not 100 percent sure what is happening and the whole way the world works is extremely confusing the slower pacing is off for me and it isn’t grabbing my attention like the others, plus it’s kind of long (480-500 pages).
I feel bad since I know it’s a good thing to do to read authors who aren’t in your same culture or experience, yet at the same time, it’s not fair that I give them “pity” or make them more special than the others as I would any White Girl ™ book fair and square.
I feel horrible saying this or feeling this way bc this book means so much to other people and speaks to them so much, and I don’t think it’s bad at all. I do like the main character and exploring her trauma and experience as well as the blossoming love story and I am curious about how things will resolve and the answer to the big mystery she’s trying to solve.
So should I A) just read it super slowly and wait until the audiobook is available from Libby (audiobooks I find help).
or
B) DNF it and try to find something else?
​
(out of curiosity, please do not murder me for this, but the book is Legendborn by Deonn)
by BlindSongbird
12 Comments
Just read something else. There’s lots of non-white author out there who have written books that might fit you better.
Just DNF it, and maybe try a different non ‘white girl’ book. (What counts as a ‘white girl’ book anyway?). It’s good to diversify your reading but it doesn’t mean you have to like any and every other book that isn’t your favourite genre.
If it were me, I wouldn’t DNF it just yet. If you’re rooting for the main character and you’re interested in the premise of the book, that seems like it’s worth the time to me.
It can be challenging to “connect” in the same way with books from writers who come from different cultural/racial backgrounds. Maybe read some articles or reviews from other NW/POC readers and literary critics to provide some context that you may be missing which will help you to enjoy it more.
I read a compilation of short stories about non-white experiences called “before you suffocate your own fool self” by Danielle Adams.
I was drawn to it because I’d fallen out of love with reading and I thought short stories would better help me find my way back, I’m whiter than white but still found it engaging and a way to look into and learn about a different culture, if that’s what your looking for I recommend it
Reading is a solo sport. You get to play it however you want. Read books you think you’ll like.
Read what you want. Speaking for myself, I exclusively ~~read~~ listen to audiobooks. Because I can do it while I wash the dishes or whatever. Also, you can change the speed and listen to them faster.
If you want to learn stuff, figure out what you’re interested in and read nonfiction in that subject. It’s actually *fun* to learn.
Finally, I would suggest, in life, don’t listen to so many opinions. A little bit of sociopathy is a good thing.
How many posts a day in this sub are about “DNF”? If you want to read a book, read it. If you do not like the book, stop reading it. If you do not like the book but have a compulsion to finish it anyway, read it. No is going to judge or condemn you because you stopped reading a book you did not like. If you are reading for entertainment…
Read what you like. You don’t have to read anything because someone else liked it or because it’s not a white girl book (wtf that means).
Over the course of my life, my reading preferences have naturally diversified themselves. As you grow, age, develop, mature, evolve….. your reading tastes will too.
Life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy.
The thing about going outside of your comfort zone is that it’s not always going to be comfortable. Reading with the goal of broadening your horizons is not going to be as fun as reading for fun.
Life is too short to waste time on something you aren’t feeling. The vibes don’t vibe with you and that’s okay. There have been amazingly critiques and well loved books I couldn’t stand. Keep expanding your horizons, but reading should be fun. If it’s not fun and you can’t follow the story, read something else.
Regardless of who the author is or what your goals were going into the book, there are too many amazing stories out there for you to waste time reading a book you don’t like 🙂 and you’re not a bad person/wrong for not liking a book! Art is so subjective. I don’t know what exactly you tend to gravitate towards, but here are some books by POC authors you might try instead.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi – Autobiography in graphic novel form about a woman in Iraq/Austria after the Islamic revolution during her early adulthood. Truly one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi – Sci-fi/historical fiction. Retelling of Frankenstein set in early 2000s Iraq. Large, sweeping cast and great political intrigue.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – YA novel set in modern-day America. It somehow manages to provide very serious commentary on police brutality/racism while also being funny, uplifting, emotional, and very character-centered. One of my all-time favorite books.
The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – Fantasy. Retelling of a Hindu epic from a woman’s POV. Some elements of historial-fiction, some magic/myth.
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich – Literary fiction. An intergenerational story of one family set on a Native American reservation. Marie Kashpaw (one of the main characters) is an amazing character and a strong af lady. This may be slow to get into, but Erdrich is a beautiful writer & every time I finish one of her books, I’m blown away.
Extra rec: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (literary fiction). I haven’t read it yet, but have loved other things written by her and have heard from several people that this is her best.
It’s okay to DNF a book that’s not working for you.
That said, if the book you’re reading is a worthwhile book, sometimes pushing through is the right choice even if you’re not quite the right reader for it.