Independent Study & Computer Program

[coniraya]

This semester is killing me even more than last year but that might have to do with the fact that I'm taking four classes, hosting a reading series and editing a lit mag this semester. I'm trying to return to LJ (yeah right how many times have I said that?) but things haven't settled in a rhythm yet, I'm hoping they do in the next couple of weeks

Comments

[zillahseye]

Oh, man. I know I have a lot of books to recommend you, but I'd have to refresh my memory (when not on so much pain medication) about which had problematic areas. I would never rec a book where a character of color was portrayed in an offensive way because I wouldn't have finished it--but while reading purely for pleasure I might've missed some issues. I would also like to rec books written by men and women of color if possible. I'm lucky, my library has a lot. Remind me if I don't get back to you!

To tide you over, I've heard good things about Liar by Justine Larbalestier. She's a white author, but from her blog and Twitter and from actions she's taken I'd trust her to write characters of color. Maybe direct folks to that information so they can use it in processing the book.

I'll keep looking.

[zillahseye]

Oh, an older series I loved as a kid--Meredith Pierce wrote The Darkangel Trilogy which. Dammit. Do you mind if I spoil you for the outcome? Let me know and I'll tell you why I think it's so interesting.

[coniraya]

Feel free to spoil, I love spoilers!

[zillahseye]

It's fantasy/sci fi. TThere are different races in the world as designated by skin color and geography, but skin color doesn't have a 1:1 relationship to our world's stereotype of certain skin colors (it's difficult to point to X race and say 'oh they're supposed to represent Y on our planet', in other words). It starts off as an ordinary--well, all right, a beautifully written but stereotypical--girl's fantasy novel. The main character, a kind, intelligent, and brave woman, has three novels' worth of adventures. She rescues a prince who once had no heart by giving him her own, and frees all his ghostly wives as well. She sails the seas and resurrects the ancient beings who rule the various territories. She finds the woman who first 'seeded' their world and built it, and takes from her the power to change everything for the better. Her companion through much of the journey is a woman who is described as 'black' and who serves as friend, confidante, and protection. But much of the time, the heroine thinks of her poor rescued

[zillahseye]

Oh! And how could I forget the Young Wizards series by Diane Duane--both protagonists are Hispanic and it's a huge and popular series.