Things I have been thinking about.
May. 19th, 2009 06:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
supermouseToday's offering from the world_of_wol Dreamwidth community: Popo-chan, the amazing transforming owl which has to be seen to be disbelieved. I've seen it before, but it was great to go there again.
I learned today about Missing Black Woman syndrome - where the main character is a white male and his two sidekicks are a) a white female and b) a male who is either socially inept or black. The post I linked to illustrated the phenomenon in an amusing way.
I've read lots of recommendations for books by non-white authors where the protagonist, the main character, is not white. I am looking forward to buying some. What are your favourite chromatic books? (I like 'chromatic' as a term). I already recommended Returning My Sister's Face, but I have to also mention having been charmed by The Marriage Bureau for Rich People, an Indian take on the Jane Austen milieu. The link is to a review of the book. I did get the feeling it was written very much with non-Indians in mind, but what the heck. If there's a sequel, I will read it.
I also went out in the very much pouring rain, only to be greeted very quickly by bright sunshine and a large rainbow over the hills. It was well worth getting wet for, as was my eventual tea of a white poppyseed-topped plaited bun, boursin, on-the-vine tomatoes (bought days ago) and a chocolate eclair. *Nom*.
I learned today about Missing Black Woman syndrome - where the main character is a white male and his two sidekicks are a) a white female and b) a male who is either socially inept or black. The post I linked to illustrated the phenomenon in an amusing way.
I've read lots of recommendations for books by non-white authors where the protagonist, the main character, is not white. I am looking forward to buying some. What are your favourite chromatic books? (I like 'chromatic' as a term). I already recommended Returning My Sister's Face, but I have to also mention having been charmed by The Marriage Bureau for Rich People, an Indian take on the Jane Austen milieu. The link is to a review of the book. I did get the feeling it was written very much with non-Indians in mind, but what the heck. If there's a sequel, I will read it.
I also went out in the very much pouring rain, only to be greeted very quickly by bright sunshine and a large rainbow over the hills. It was well worth getting wet for, as was my eventual tea of a white poppyseed-topped plaited bun, boursin, on-the-vine tomatoes (bought days ago) and a chocolate eclair. *Nom*.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-19 11:57 pm (UTC)(Psst! Missing Black Woman Formation, like in formation-flying).
I read Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie last year, it is a good book. It's set in Nigeria - and Biafra - before and during the Nigeria-Biafra war. It's a beautiful book, and all the characters in it feel like real people.
Recently I finished reading Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell, and that was good. It's science-fiction and it's fast-paced and full of adventure. Problem: it was published by Tor.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 07:18 am (UTC)How explodey and shooty is Half of a Yellow Sun? Does it have a happy ending?
With Tor books, I'll still buy the books that get it right. Which The Soprano Sorceress and The Spellsong War *so* didn't. Or I could read the book at your place when I visit? (I has a train ticket!)
no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 04:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-20 04:28 pm (UTC)Thanks!