August: Color Me Brown Book Challenge
CONGRATULATIONS, WINNERS: Rhapsody at Rhapsodyinbooks, Allison at Read Into This!, Erika at Made by Momma , Doret at Happy Nappy Bookseller and Liz at A Chair, Fireplace & ATea Cozy.
Originally, I said we'd have 3 winners but with 121 links, I increased it to 5. Thank you all for incredible participation. As I promised, there is more. Every Monday, begining September 7th, I will feature 5 links to CMB reviews I find across the blogosphere. Once a month, I'll select reviewer among these links to receive a free book from our Prize Bucket. You won't have to link back to us. You don't have to do anything except what you already are: reading and reviewing books that reflect the diversity of our world. To spread the loot, a reviewer can only win once a year for CMB. Of course, there are so many other ways to win free books here.
Thanks again to all of you for making this challenge a huge success.
Read and review POC books through the month of August. We'll have a random drawing for 3 reviewers at the end of the challenge. Drop us a link to your review to be eligible. +3 entries for any sidebar link/tweet or blog post about this challenge. Contest limited to US residents.
If you want books, here are some options:
1) Request your library buy it. Many will when a patron asks. I have a wonderful library system and every request has been purchased.
2) Look for dated POC on trade sites like Paperbackswap.com I understand folks can't buy every book they want to read. I know I can't.
3) Contact the author directly. Many will send you a copy. They don't have endless stashes but believe me they love being asked for books for review.
4) Send me a review of book by POC writer. Every month I do a drawing for a free book for reviews we publish.
5) Color Online runs trivia quizzes. Same deal. Enter the drawing win a book. And winners pick their prizes from our Prize Bucket.
6) Book Loan Program at Color Online. For all active members at Color Online, I will loan you a book. Just pay for return shipping. I run a library with more than 3000 books. Our collection is 90% women 80% POC. You can see a partial list of our collection here. Let me confess, cataloguing online has not been my priority. If you don't see a title, ask. I'll be happy to see if we own it. *You must be an active member. If you need clarification, write me.
I want books in readers' hands. If you commit to read and review, I'll send you the book.I think I have effectively addressed the access issue.
Read brown, people.
Please post book titles in your links.
Posts
79 comments:
I will spend this time to update our shelves and our Prize Bucket.
I want you all to remain very motivated.
I recently ordered a copy of a cool moonlight after your mentioned it, and I read it in one sitting this morning - what a lovely book. I'll be reviewing it next week. I have a few others lined up for August. Thank you for all your recommendations!
Thank you, Nymeth.
Please remember to leave us a link.
I'm in!
If you're looking for book options, click on any tag in this post.
I'm doing round-up post on Monday and will include this and will do my best to read a book for the challenge. (Once I get through all the space books for my September column.... :)
Excellent - thank you!
Thanks Colleen,
And I need to recheck your Asian challenge. Is it country specific? I plan to post for it.
This is *great*, Susan--you've covered all the bases! No one can make excuses any more...
Susan,
I'm in. I have "Locomotion" on hold at the library and will choose more from the Color Online website.
The One shot is SE Asia - so Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore....I think that's it. Oh yeah - Thailand! It's for August 12th - any book set there or any book by an author from there. I'll link to it again on Monday as a reminder.
Thanks. I'll post reminders here as well.
Of course you know I'm totally doing this challenge and it's linked in my sidebar. I think this challenge is really great. Plus, if I win the drawing, I can stop drooling over The Other Side of Paradise. lol
~Tashi
No, you'll have to keep drooling with me. I don't have it yet. What did do was ask my library to buy a copy. We will get one. Let's hope a donor is reading this. :-)
Looking forward to having more than a few places to go to talk about books featuring people of color. This makes me very happy.
Okay, I posted about the challenge and what I plan to do to participate: http://zenleaf.blogspot.com/2009/07/color-me-brown-august.html
Ooh, I'm in, for at least one or two books--and I'll pass this to Tanita if she doesn't already know. Excellent!
OK! Have posted to Finding Wonderland, and have also tweeted about it. Now, to look at my library's online catalog for goodies...
I'm in! Which is appropriate because I'm reading Their Eyes Were Watching God in a couple of weeks. Thanks for hosting, Susan!
Hi Susan - I wanted to leave you the link to my review of a cool moonlight. I didn't enter it in the Mr Linky because you might be using it to draw the giveaway winners, but I wanted to help spread the word about this lovely book anyway. I hope leaving it here is okay!
I've been reading tons of books for the 50bookspoc challenge on Livejournal, but have been lazy about writing up reviews. This might just be the motivation I need.
Hi there, I'm not elligible for the drawing (UK girl) but I'm already taking part in 'Diversity Rocks' (I think I'm at two titles out of my personal challenge to read all the applicable books currently in my house, which is about fourteen, by end of year)so I'll make August my 'kick on' month for that challenge.
First review:
http://regularrumination.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/review-if-you-come-softly-by-jacqueline-woodson/
Lu,
Fantastic review. Rhapsody said the same thing: why didn't somebody warn her. :-)
This is great. I'm already reading a suitable book (Kwei Quertey's 'Wife of the Gods'). It's a Mystery, so I think I'm going to go with a POC-genre fiction theme for my reviews. I've got a suitable FSF on hold at the library for the next one. Anyone want to recommend a Romance, or maybe even a Western (are there any?) for my 3rd?
Great challenge!
I have been participating in a livejournal challenge, to read 50 books by an author of color in a year: 50books_poc on livejournal.
My reviews so far are linked here:
http://rachelmanija.livejournal.com/tag/50+books+poc
Would you like me to add your general link or specific reviews.
Dropped a link in the box. I reviewed three books: 3 Willows, Kendra, and Feathers.
I'm excited.
Thanks, Keenai!
Reviewed His Invisible Wife by Shelia Goss. I hope this is where I share it. It was such a great book!
5 Stars:
His Invisible Wife takes a fun topic and builds it into a great romance. From Shelia Goss, who is quickly becoming what I consider to be the queen of woman's fiction and cozy reading, I would expect nothing less than this charming read. All of her books are written with `readability' in mind. The main character seeking vengeance finds love instead. The secondary main character seeking money one dimensional monetary advancement finds love instead...although that seems simple that's what Fiction is...however, its the way Ms. Goss carries that 'simple' storyline one step further that makes her reading enjoyable. Pick up all her books if you really want to know what good cozy reading is all about.
Hi Q,
You share your review on your blog and leave us a link with Mr. Linky in the original post. If you don't have it on your blog, that's okay.
Thanks for participating.
Susan
I definitely want to do this. I'm afraid I left a link to my post about the challenge on the Mr. Linky. I realize now that only review posts go there. I don't know if you can remove it or not. Sorry. My post is here:
http://freshinkbooks.blogspot.com/2009/07/color-me-brown-book-challenge.html
Thank you.
Susan - I left my review on Mr. Linky but don't put my name in the drawing. Thanks!
Thanks for the review, Gavin. I'll remember not to put your name in. I'm guessing you have plenty of books, but that's probably most of us. lol
We have 10 links already! Oh, I'm so excited.
Please check out the reviews and do comment.
Susan, I will continue to link but you can leave my name out of the drawing as well.
I love what Keenai, said about Woodson's Feathers.
I made a post about the challenge and recommended several plays for reading here:
http://lectitans.livejournal.com/85252.html
I left a link about just the first chapter of Kinky Gazpacho, I'm going to do each chapter, but I won't keep linking.
Alisa, not a western but about migrating west. I highly recommend, Flying West, an anthology of plays by Pearl Cleage. The title play is informative, entertaining, telling. For romance, I'd recommend Cleage's, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day.
22 links! If you want to find your next great read, check here.
25 links and counting. Color up the blogosphere, people. :-)
This sounds great - I just signed up.
gaby
Excellent idea.
I will do my part to spread the word.
Thank you!
Oh man. I wish I would have thought to put the title of the book on my Mr. Linky's.
The latest one is for The House You Pass on the Way.
E,
Titles help. Link again. Readers are more likely to click on the titled one. And I'm the score keeper. I know how many entries you'll have for the drawing.
Sorry but I'm not getting how I'm supposed to link. Can anyone help?
Hi Alyssa,
I'll add it for you. Next time, click on the "Mr. Linky" box. You'll see a line to paste your link.
Thanks,
50 links! YAY
Are you reading and commenting to these reviews?
Posted a link to February Flowers by Fan Wu. And linked to Color Online on my blog.
How about including Canadian residents in the prize draw :)
Niranjana,
Shipping is an issue for me. Maybe we can create a stamp fund for Color Online. I'm happy to ship to Canada. Anyone willing to send me postage.
I was wondering Canada was excluded for any specific reason--didn't realize it was a cost issue. I am of course very happy to pay for shipping if I win something!
Posted a link to Paul Robeson's "Here I Stand."
New essay "The Gates Affair:Why We Care" yours to publish
Dear readers and webmasters,
Author Daniel Bruno Sanz has written an essay about Gatesgate. We encourage its publication and distribution.
Regards,
Navas S.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
- 4th Amendment to the The Constitution of the United States of America
71 links!
I have a weekend contest just because. Stay tuned.
You asked me to post the link here, so here you go:
Skunk Girl review at Bildungsroman:
http://slayground.livejournal.com/531102.html
Hi LW,
Actually, there is a complete list with Mr. Linky. No worries. Thanks for responding so quickly.
Love all the awesome links here! Hope you're also accepting nonfiction reviews. :)
Hi, Jama
Yes, we are. Link away!
Can we post a link to a back review? We reviewed a great series for young readers by an African American man (featuring an African American girl) several months ago.
Hi Jennifer,
Yes, you can. Welcome to Color Online. Join in the discussions.
We're glad you're here.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and introducing me to your lovely space. Just added my link to the Mr. Linky...hope I did it right. :)
Hi Jacqui,
Welcome and thanks for the compliment and link. Did you see Renee's feature, too?
Please come back. We'd love to chat more with you.
I added three picture books from my Booklights post today.
Thanks Pam!
I just added a picture book folktale set in Zambia. Wonderful imagery and great information!
Thanks!
We've had an incredible response. Thank you all.
There is more to follow. We won't be stopping with this challenge.
Am I too late for the challenge? What is POC? My mind is drawing a blank. I love coming to this blog.
Linked to my review of The Fourth Canvas by Rana Bose. The piece appears in the progressive Canadian zine rabble. So it's not a blog post, but I hope it not excluded from linking for that reason?
Hi Tea,
POC- People of color. Challenge runs till August 31st.
Drop us a link. Love to have you participate.
Niranjana,
Thanks for the link. Excluded? No way, I'm happy to see brown in any space.
Duuuuuh! I knew my brain was half asleep. Thanks. I'm sorry to have missed this challenge. I won't miss the next one. I hope you give it again.
teakettle58@yahoo.com
Tea,
You still have 3 days to participate. Drop a link to any book with poc characters or writers for August.
Just got mine in under the wire - I bet it's the only book with an a 1/2 Latino, 1/2 AK Native protagonist! ha!
Did you get the box of books I sent?
Here are all mine that I did this month in one clump (hope that is okay):
Anahita's Woven Riddle by Meghan Nuttal Syres
Samurai Shortstop by Alan Gratz
Little Sister and The Heavenward Path by Kara Dalkey
POC - the list (my list)
Color Me Brown makes Omnivoracious News
Scroll down towards the bottom.
YAY! We have winners. Check top of original post to see who won.
Okay, this happens, occasionally. I have a prize book, Shine, Coconut Moon and I cannot find the name/address of the winner. If you requested this book, please contact me ASAP.
I apologize but there were several winners this month.
Thanks,
Susan
It is rather interesting for me to read this article. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.
It was extremely interesting for me to read this blog. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I would like to read more on that blog soon.
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