The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

RENAISSANCE READING - In Honor Of Zora Neale Hurston (Born January 7, 1891– Died January 28, 1960) Famous Harlem Renaissance Author…
A. Read A Novel That Was Written By An African American That Also Has An African American Protagonist.
OR
B. Read A Non-Fictional Account Of The Harlem Renaissance Or A Biography/Autobiography Of An Important African American Figure From That Time Period. Ex. Langston Hughes Or Billie Holiday

If you need suggestions for books to read for this task post a request here.

Links

A bibliography from Georgetown University, compiled from newsgroup postings -- the clickable links are to the text of the posting recommending that reference.
http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/bassr/tamlit/collab_bib/harlem_bib.html


Cornell University
http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana/guides/harlemrenaissance.html

Cal State University
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/9biblio.html

Great lists! I'm going to read Jazz by Toni Morrison

Can anyone suggest a novel that fits this task that they have read and like? Thanks!

Manday wrote: "Can anyone suggest a novel that fits this task that they have read and like? Thanks! "

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and
Native Son by Richard Wright are very good.

Manday wrote: "Can anyone suggest a novel that fits this task that they have read and like? Thanks! "

I'm going to read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. It is an excellent YA book.

pjreads wrote: "Manday wrote: "Can anyone suggest a novel that fits this task that they have read and like? Thanks! "

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and
N..."</i>

Those are two great recommendations, pjreads. Seconded!

Also,
- [book:The Color Purple and The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker
I liked Temple better (ever so slightly). Though it is not a sequel to Color Purple, some characters do reappear.

If you're looking for something a bit more off the beaten path:

- Erasure by Percival Everett
- The White Boy Shuffle A Novel by Paul Beatty.
Both great if you like satire or the unconventional. Don't read if you're easily offended.

- Sarah Phillips by Andrea Lee
I loved this novel. If you are even a little bit of a feminist, the first story will enrage you! It is a novel in stories, so don't be deterred by reviews that call it a "collection of short stories." (They're wrong!) All of the stories are connected through a central protagonist (Sarah Phillips).

These are African American authors I have read & would recommend:

Gloria Naylor
James Baldwin
Ntozake Shange
Octavia E. Butler
Edward P. Jones
Pearl Cleage
Richard Wright
Ralph Ellison

thanks everyone! sounds like some great options!

There's also Roots by Alex Haley.

Katie wrote: "pjreads wrote: "Manday wrote: "Can anyone suggest a novel that fits this task that they have read and like? Thanks! "

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston..."

Katie, thanks for reminding me about Erasure! I've been wanting to read it.

I'm sure anything by Toni Morrison fits.

Would any African American book work here for the first task? My library has a section devoted to African American lit.

Why is it so hard to get answers around here? I don't want to read the wrong book and get no points.

Sarah, I'm sure with the holidays not everyone has a chance to get on the computer as frequently. Just be patient - questions do eventually get answered.

My understanding of the first part of the task is that any book written by an African American would be fine so long as it has an African American protagonist (ie, main character or narrator).

I just finished Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond which is about the illegitimate black daughter of anti-civil rights senator Strom Thurmond. It concerns her relationship with him against the backdrop of the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights movement. She actually lived in Harlem for a time during the Harlem Renaissance. Would this work for this task?

Bueller?

Anyone have an answer for me?

Lindsey wrote: "Bueller?

Anyone have an answer for me?"

Have you asked in the Winter Challenge QUESTIONS thread?

That's the thread where Cynthia answers questions for the 5/10/15 point tasks. The 5/10/15 point threads here are for getting suggestions and sharing book ideas for the tasks.

PJ is correct I generally meant these threads for people to give suggestions for books that will work and for the members who designed tasks to answer questions on their tasks. If you have a specific question on the 5/10/15 tasks that I designed it should go in the questions thread or a message may be sent to me directly.


Lindsey wrote: "I just finished Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond which is about the illegitimate black daughter of anti-civil rights senator Strom Thurmond. It concerns her re..."

El wrote: "Sarah, I'm sure with the holidays not everyone has a chance to get on the computer as frequently. Just be patient - questions do eventually get answered.

My understanding of the first part of t..."
I will take that book.
El is correct if it is written by an African American and it has a main character who is African American and it is fiction it works for the first option.

pjreads wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Bueller?

Anyone have an answer for me?"

Have you asked in the Winter Challenge QUESTIONS thread?

That's the thread where Cynthia answers questions for the 5, 10, 15 and 20..."


Ooooh ok. I thought that these ones were for finding out if the books were ok. Thanks :)