This month I’m aiming to diversify my reads as much as possible, as I’ve realised to my shame my shelves are not that diverse. Sure I have some authors on my shelves that aren’t white, straight, cisgendered, and able-bodied but it’s not enough, and with my promise to promote black authors and their work on my blog this week and with it being Pride Month, I need to start doing better.
I realise this list isn’t hugely diverse. I am limited at the moment as I don’t want to buy a lot of books and I want to actually read what’s on my shelves, also I live in a very rural area so my library’s selection is small and not very diverse. I have ordered a couple of books on this list, but no more than that so everything else on this list is either preowned or from the library as I don’t have a lot of resources to make this as diverse as it should be. However, I am doing the best I can with what I have.
I don’t often impose a strict TBR on myself but I am going to this month and here are the books I know I will read this month (this probably won’t be all of the books I read this month though!)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
I borrowed my mum’s copy for this and I’ve already started the book and I’m loving it so far. Angelou was a very talented writer, and I can’t quite put into words everything this memoir is making me feel. However, I do highly recommend it already, I think it’s a necessary read.
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
My copy of this arrived this morning and I could not be more excited to start it! This is Coates’ first fictional novel and he has many acclaimed non-fiction books, I’ve not read any of them but I’ve been watching videos that feature him for a while now as I think he’s very intelligent but also an eloquent speaker, and I’m always interested in what he has to say. I’m excited to see how well this all transfers into his writing.
On The Come Up by Angie Thomas
I’m only fifty pages into this but I’m really enjoying it so far. Thomas is fantastic at setting up stories and narratives, and her writing just sucks me in til the point where I know trying to escape or putting the book down is a futile effort. I think this will be probably be a four or a five stars from me.
Hood Feminism: Notes From The Women That A Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
I don’t think there’s many white girls or white women out there who have not been guilty of participating in ‘white feminism’ before. Out of ignorance I have certainly done it before, but I’m aware of it and I’m trying to educate myself on how to be a better feminist, which is important always but especially right now. This book is one of the steps I’m taking in trying to better educate myself.
When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfox
I have this on Audible and I haven’t started it yet but I will soon because this sounds incredible! I’m really in the mood for a book about friendships and all the reiews I’ve seen for this have been overwhelming positive. I also can’t believe I haven’t got round to reading it yet.
The Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera
I realise Adam Silvera is not a black author, however I am also reading books this month that feature LGBTQ+ characters, topics or that are by LGBTQ+ authors. I am also trying to read from books already on my shelf, and this is on my shelf, so I will be picking this up at some point. I haven’t seen people talk about this book in a while but I’m excited to try it!
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Again this is not by a black author, but it features LGBTQ+ characters and I own it, so it’s going on my TBR this month. I can’t believe I haven’t read this yet, it seems like everyone else has, and it also seems like they all loved it – hopefully I’ll feel the same way.
What are you guys reading this month?
Moonlit Books 
I hope you have a good reading month!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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THank you! x
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I love On The Come Up and They Both Die At The End ❤
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I’m loving On The Come UP at the moment! It’s great to hear someone endorse two of these books!:)
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