Item: Letters to a Writer of Color
Rating: 4.50
Author: quirkycat

A vital collection of essays on the power of literature and the craft of writing from an international array of writers of color, sharing the experiences, cultural traditions, and convictions that have shaped them and their work

These seventeen essays by celebrated writers of color start a more inclusive conversation about storytelling and encourage readers and writers to re-evaluate the codes and conventions that have shaped their assumptions about how fiction should be written. Edited by Deepa Anappara, author of Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, and Taymour Soomro, author of Other Names for Love, this anthology features writers from around the world, from a diversity of backgrounds and across genres, including: American Dirt critic Myriam Gurba, who describes the circle of Latina writers she has always worked within; award-winning novelist Tahmima Anam, who writes about giving herself permission to be funny as an artist of color; and New York Times opinion columnist Mohammed Hanif, who recalls censorship he experienced at the hands of political authorities.

Combining memoir with aspects of craft, this book asks readers and writers to be more inclusive not only in what they read, but how they read, and introduces them to diverse storytelling traditions and techniques. Filled with important questions about the state of fiction and what the future might hold, this is a touchstone for aspiring and working writers and for curious readers everywhere.

Book Summary:

Letters to a Writer of Color is a collection of essays exploring literature, and its impact on sharing experiences. As such, it delves into the lives and stories of real people, covering cultural traditions and other elements that impacted these authors' works.

My Review:

If there is a book that needs to exist today, it's Letters to a Writer of Color. There are a lot of reasons to love this collection of essays. The first reason is (I hope) pretty obvious. More than that, I adore that it discussed the need for more inclusive publishing and reading practices.

Yeah, you read that right! We can all be better about reading more inclusively (myself included – I'm working on it, but as I said, we can all do better). These essays help explain that it isn't just what we read but how we read. I loved that point.

If you have the time, please go and read Letters to a Writer of Color. It'll open your eyes and help share new perspectives.

Highlights:
Nonfiction
Essays

Thanks to Random House Trade and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Letters to a Writer of Color

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Jun 1, 2023

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