The Thompson Library & Archives Blog

Tips to Read Diversely

Black History Month shouldn't be the only time to focus on the lives, work, and creations of the black community (or any month celebrating any other community, think June as Pride Month or November as Native American History Month). How to read diversely and what counts as diverse reading is part of the ongoing discussion in the online bookish community (Booktok, Bookstagram, Booktube, and countless blogs and podcasts), and it has never been easier to diversify your reading. But how to start? Where to begin? Read on!

First off, what are diverse books? We liked this definition from Victoria at Bibliolifestyle:

"Diverse books are books written by marginalized authors, and they often feature stories about characters that are also marginalized.  Marginalized writers usually include but are not limited to writers of color, queer writers, disabled writers, gender-diverse writers, and all writers at intersections of identity, etc.  Diverse books are not limited to specific genres, culture and identity do not have to be at the center of the storyline, and diverse stories aren’t always meant to represent or reflect real life.  Diverse books aren’t always written to teach or educate – they are also written to entertain or provide an escape."

Victoria goes on to share some tips on how to read diversely more consistently and we've added a few of our own:

1. Start with genres you already love to read. If you aren't a fan of romance, then choosing a Sapphic romance featuring a black main character probably won't help. But if you like science fiction, then intentionally seeking out sci-fi books written by Asian authors will make the pursuit more enjoyable.
2. Look for "own voices books," or books whose main characters share the same identity as their author. This can lead to a more authentic view point, but remember that it will not be a definitive portrayal of that experience.
3. Use "heritage months" as a reminder or a jumping off point. Knowing what group is being celebrated at a particular time can help you stretch your reading, especially because that's when the lists of recommendations start to come out. Haven't read any books by Latinx authors, maybe pick one up in September. Haven't read any books with disability representation? Find one for October. Again don't just read these books because it matches the month, use them as a chance to explore.
4. Follow diverse creators/influencers on social media. The online bookish community is HUGE! If you are only seeing the same titles over and over, branch out and follow new creators.
5. Join a book club, reading challenge, or subscription box (if you can afford it) that focuses on diverse reading. We've got a few suggestions:
   1. Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge: an annual challenge the focuses on diversity in author and genre.
   2. POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: an annual challenge that is a bit more of a scavenger hunt, but still has a diversity focus
   3. Feminist Book Club: a monthly online book club and subscription box (though you don't have to but the subscription to join in the chats) with a focus on intersectional feminism.
   4. Noname Book Club: a monthly online book club that began in 2019 and focuses on POC authors.
   5. There are hundreds of other reading challenges you can join; search StoryGraph's Challenge Directory for more ideas.
6. Read across genres. Are the books you read all starting to sound the same? Time to switch it up! Try some nonfiction if you only ever read fiction - biographies and microhistories are great genres to start with. Never tried a horror novel? Maybe pick one up. You can always DNF it.
7. Read across time. You don't have to go all the way back to the "classics," but only focusing on new releases is going to make your TBR list grow exponentially.
8. Read across geography. So many books are being published and translated around the world, why limit yourself to one country?
9. Be mindful of what you read and continually recommit to reading diversely. Take a hard look at your bookshelves and, if you use a site or app like StoryGraph or Goodreads, check your currently reading list from time to time to see how diverse it is.
10. Make small goals for yourself and take stock of your journey. It can be overwhelming at the beginning, so try small achievable goals. Gradually you may not even realize how diversely you are reading, so look back over what you read every month or year to see how far you've come.