A while back I wrote a post about having an author type. I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers and a lot of the writers I read regularly looked a lot alike. I decided I wanted to make sure my reading was more diverse. I think I’ve done OK, but I haven’t really checked in on the goal regularly. So, this is the first of a possible monthly check-in to see how I am doing.
I have read 6 books so far this year.
4 of them were written by women. Two by men.
4 of the authors are white.
2 of the authors were lawyers. 2 were journalists.
4 of the books were mystery/thrillers.
2 of the books were historical fiction. One of those was also one of the mystery/thrillers.
1 book was a non-fiction book.
1 book was YA. It was also one of the historical fiction books.
Not a bad start. I’m assuming my reading from the Youth Media Award books will help diversify both subject and author for a while.
The World's Common Tater 
I think it’s a very good start. I’ve always thought your reading was pretty diverse anyway. I tend to go on a jag with a particular genre or writer, throwing in something different for a change now and then. To be honest, I try not to think too hard about it. All I want is to enjoy what I’m reading, which is why I just stopped reading Franzen’s Crossroads 50% in. I wasn’t enjoying it, didn’t really like any of the characters, and was even dubious about the story line. Now I know, I don’t have to read Franzen.
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I don’t think about it when picking books. I read from reviews, awards, and the authors I like. I’m just happy when I see they don’t all look alike.
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If four were white what were the remaining two ?
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Black and Chinese-American
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Check these out. Anthony Doerr, Paulette Jiles and Eric Larson. Great authors, great books. James Ellroy if you want a taste of 1940s crime noir.
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Thanks. I will take a look
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I purposely being to book clubs so I can vary my reading
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I just joined a local book club. I’m hoping that makes me read different things
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You know, I’m going to do the Barnes and noble bingo challenge. It’s on my blog from last Friday. Maybe look at it as a goal to get you to read different genres. I know I’m already wondering what I’ll do for sci fi….
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I think I will try it. It will be good for me
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👍
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From my experience, once you notice something like this, the opportunity to read new and different authors and genres appear (somewhat like LA’s suggestion of the Barnes & Noble bingo). I wrote a piece regarding the rising success of Nigerian authors, only to notice that the Nigerian authors I’d read were from only one tribe. Since then, I’ve kept an eye out for authors from other tribes so I get a more rounded view. But unless I’d noticed, I’d have gone on as before. I hope you enjoy widening your reading Tater.
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Yeah. I didn’t realize how similar all of the authors I read were until someone mentioned an author type and I looked.
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