Brian Slattery
White Readers Meet Black Authors
I was delighted to come across the utterly appropriately titled blog White Readers Meet Black Authors, “your official invitation into the African American section of the bookstore,” maintained by novelist Carleen Brice. There is little I can say about this blog that Brice hasn’t said already, from the video she has on the blog itself to the piece she wrote in December 2008 for the Washington Post. When she started the blog, New York Magazine viewed it as a publicity stunt, and it is that. But Brice is also getting at something very real about the book market; just read the blog and see if you don’t agree with her. But more importantly, read the blog for the books she champions.
Thanks to White Readers Meet Black Authors, I’ve been devouring Victor LaValle’s The Ecstatic, and his latest book, the very well-reviewed Big Machine, just might be next. I bought both at the same time at McNally Jackson, and the woman behind the cash register smiled.
“Going on a LaValle bender?” she said.
“It looks that way,” I said.
She nodded. “You won’t be disappointed.” I believe her.
Comments
2 Responses to “White Readers Meet Black Authors”
Comment
Carleen’s site has introduced me to many new authors I probably would never have heard of and in return I have passed those books or names on to my friends and family. The only reason I found her website, was because I had read that her book Orange Mint and Honey was being made into a LMN movie, with Jill Scott. I was watching #1 Ladies Detective Agency at that time. I loved it and was ready to watch anything with Jill Scott in it, but I decided I wanted to read the book first. Best thing I have ever done.
I also came across Victor LaValle via Carleen’s site and went straight to the local library to check it out. LaValle must already have a strong fanbase because even at my library within a predominantly white area, Big Machine is checked out for months. So disappointed, I went to an indie bookstore and bought a copy of ‘The Ecstatic”. Love it.