Let’s talk bookish is a weekly meme, created and hosted by Rukky @Eternity Books and Dani @Literary Lion, here different topics will be discussed.
This weeks topic is ‘What is the meaning of diverse books?’, Which I think is a very interesting but hard topic!
We talk a lot about diverse books and reads, but what really makes a book diverse?
So I’m a straight white girl from West-Europe, non-religious. So basically what is said to be the most ‘common’ character arc haha.
So, to me, a diverse book contains any kind of character that is different then me. This can be a character from a different part of the world, Asia/Africa/South-America (I do not consider USA to be diverse from me), any different skin colour, different sexuality, but also religion! I see this as diverse to me since these characters will have grown up in different circumstances from what is ‘normal’ to me. So from these characters I can learn a lot! Best is of course if these characters are written by an author having similar backgrounds as the character. For example a Muslim author knows way better how it is to be a Muslim then a non-religious author!
Are books written by authors or about characters from Eastern Europe (Lithuania, Ukraine, Hungary, etc) considered diverse?
With the previous question I did not list this as a ‘different’ location then me, but actually it should be there. I know how it is to grow up in West-Europe, and I’ve lived in Estonia (East-Europe) for a year, and I can definitely say that there are quite some differences. Main thing is that West is considered rich, while East not so much (of course this does depend on location), and you can definitely see that in certain places!
Would you consider a book set in Spain about a Spanish main character diverse? Why or why not?
To me personally, not so much. Since I do not see Spain as very different as The Netherlands. Of course there are differences, but not enough for me to really call it diverse. On the other hand, I would consider Spanish characters from South-America as diverse. Since they are more different then me!
Does diverse mean character or authors from South America, Asia and Africa, or from different religious, sexual, ability etc backgrounds only?
(This question is worded a bit confusingly?!) I think I already kinda answered this question. To me characters or authors from a different location as me (South-America, Asia, Africa), as well as having a different religion, sexuality or ability are considered diverse.
I hope I worded this discussion in a right way, without saying something wrong..! I do think the meaning of diverse is very personal. I also think it is very important to read books from diverse authors or with diverse characters, since it can learn you a lot about the world!
I see things very similarly to you I think! I’m not in a lot of minorities so generally diverse reads aren’t about characters who are like me. I think that that makes them even more interesting to read because it explores stories and points of view that I’ve never thought about.
http://literarylion.ca/what-is-the-meaning-of-diverse-books-lets-talk-bookish/
Exactly! It is always good to see different point of views, we can learn so much from that!
I really enjoyed your perspective. As a white American I don’t consider that perspective diverse (in most circumstances, there are always perspectives) but I would consider a Western European perspective slightly more diverse depending on the context of the book.
Either way, reading broadly and being open to new perspectives is definitely important to being a well rounded reader!
Of course there are always exceptions! And there are definitely some differences between America and Western Europe!
I think being open for new perspectives is very important!
I think it’s really important to make a point to read diverse books, too. I agree the questions this week were kinda confusing as well!
It is!
Luckily I’m not the only one haha
I see things very similarly! If the book portrays a character growing up in very different circumstances than I did (whether they relate to ethnicity, sexuality, religion or location), I’ll consider it diverse, though I’d also say there is a scale to that diversity. If I’m reading about a gay Korean character that’s definitely more diverse than a straight French one… And even though I don’t live in the US, I wouldn’t say a book about your standard white American highschool girl is diverse… Diversity also needs to show me things I haven’t seen portrayed in literature before! And I also think the book itself needs to have a certain variety of characters; they can’t all have the same background and opinions. So I guess I don’t really have a concrete definition either? Lol. I just like to see variety in what I read!
I totally agree with you! I don’t see a white American as diverse either!
And new things in literature is also definitely diverse!
And indeed a good variety in character arcs also helps!
It is quite a broad question haha so hard to answer!