It's been a very long time since i paused reading this, dear god I don't remember anyone :((

“Stories [in books] are like people Atticus, loving them doesn’t make them perfect. You try to cherish the virtues and overlook their flaws. The flaws are still there though.”

This whole conversation feels very contemporary to the “should we read problematic authors” debates every reader communities have these days. This quote hits home concerning some books I have read prior to know the values of certain authors (or prior to them just showing their true face). While I wouldn’t platform any of their work or buy anything from one of them once I’m made aware, it’s hard to stop loving those stories sometimes — even when learning what the authors really stand for shed some lights on details I (consciously or not) overlooked when I first read them.

I guess that’s what “death to the author”stand for for me. Once a story is shared, it doesn’t belong to only them anymore but also to each of us, and how our own beliefs gave a new shape to the story.

I wanted this to be the year where I read more nonfiction: the year where I gained deeper knowledge of social and political topics I'm already interested in; the year where I broadened my understanding of not only issues that I face, but also, perhaps more importantly, the issues that challenge those outside of my own experience. I want to read Not a Nation of Immigrants, Let This Radicalize You, How to Be an Antiracist, and others like them. I put these books onto my e-reader. I want to gain new knowledge so that I can fight harder, understand more, help more.

But I'm American. This week happened, and I'm tired. I feel like I need to read these books and others like them more than ever before, but it just all weighs so heavily on me now. It makes me sadder than I already am, and it feels like... so much? I feel like it's a failing that I'm more drawn to Ten Tomatoes That Changed the World right now, or that I'd really like to read my first Brandon Sanderson. I don't feel like I know enough, or do enough, or contribute to the conversation like I should. Being this drained from simply the idea of learning more feels like self pity, and I really am seeking to broaden my mind outward right now.

I don't know. I don't know if I need to read these with a friend, or if I need a kick in the ass to stop whining, or what. I guess I'm looking for suggestions? Or... something.

I was wondering if I could suggest few romance books by BIPOC authors for this quest? And, if others have suggestion for it, they can do as well? (Updated) If yes then, these are my suggestions (Pick any) :

1. Natasha Bishop : Only for the week
2. Esha Patel : Offtrack
3. Jamie Wesley: A legend in the baking
4. Nisha J.Tuli : Queen of Shadows and ruin
5. Talia Hibert :Get a life, Chloe Brown
6. Cheyanne Brubakker : Madness and Mercy (Dark romance)
7. Ana Huang : Twisted hate (Dark romance, adult romance)
8. Our vicious oaths - N.E Davenport ( Highly recommend it for dark fantasy)