How to Use This Blog
Diversify Your Reading is a clearinghouse of blog reviews of books by authors underrepresented in English-language publishing today. It is not a traditional blog with regular topical posts. Here are a few quick tips for using the blog. For more details, see our About page.
Finding Reviews
Under categories on the right-hand side of the page, you will see a list of the types of authors featured. Just click on the category to find a complete list of posts with reviews of books by authors that fit that category. You can see a complete list of groups covered on our master list page.
Staying Up-to-Date
Don’t want to continue to visit the blog to see if new reviews are available? Because most of the new content will appear in the comments and only gradually be moved to the posts, the best way to get links to the latest reviews is by subscribing to comments. Subscribe to the comments RSS feed to get all comments delivered to your feed reader of choice, or subscribe to receive comments by e-mail. You can also follow us on Twitter to receive tweets when new comments appear.
If you’re only interested in reviews for one category, leave a comment on the post you’re interested in and check the option to subscribe to that post’s comment feed or to subscribe by e-mail. As participants add links to their posts in the comments, they’ll be delivered right to you!
Submitting Reviews
Have you reviewed a book by an author from an underrepresented group on your blog? Leave a link to your review in the comments to the relevant post. It would be helpful if you would also provide some more specific information about the author’s background (nationality, race, etc.). As time allows, we will add your link to the list within the post. Your blog will also be added to our blogroll.
Please be aware that comments with more than four links will go into a spam folder. We will retrieve and approve those as we spot them, but if you’d prefer to have your comments appear immediately, please leave only four links per comment.
For more details, see our About page.
Buttons Now Available!
Want to spread the word about Diversify Your Reading? We now have buttons that you can display on your blog. Enjoy!
Many thanks to Clare of The Literary Omnivore for the great designs!
Middle Eastern Authors in Asia
This post will include reviews of books by Middle Eastern authors from Asia (Turkey, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, Iran, Cyprus). Authors featured here may also appear in the other Asian author posts, depending on their country of origin.
Have you reviewed a book by a Middle Eastern author from Asia? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
Various
Beirut39 (anthology): Reviewed at This Book and I Could Be Friends
Adams, Suzane (Israeli)
Laundry:Reviewed at This Book and I Could Be Friends
al-Harez, Siba(Saudi Arabia)
The Others: reviewed at A Book Blog of One’s Own
al-Shaykh, Hanan (Lebanese, Wikipedia)
The Story of Zahra: reviewed at This Book and I Could Be Friends
Ebadi, Shirin (Iranian, Wikipedia)
Iran Awakening: Reviewed at things mean a lot
Etzioni-Halevy, Eva (Israeli, Author Site)
The Triumph of Deborah: Reviewed at Presenting Lenore, Caribousmom
Haddawy, Husain (translator) (Iraqi, Author Site)
The Arabian Nights: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Katzir, Judith (Israeli, Wikipedia)
Dearest Anne: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Mehran, Marsha (Iranian, now living in North America and Ireland, Author Site)
Rosewater and Soda Bread (sequel to Pomegranate Soup): Reviewed at Saving My Sanity
Moaveni, Azadeh (Iranian-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Lipstick Jihad: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Satrapi, Marjane (Iranian-born French, Wikipedia)
Persepolis: Reviewed at Shelf Love (Teresa), Shelf Love (Jenny), things mean a lot, Caribousmon (part 1 and part 2)
Embroideries: Reviewed at things mean a lot
Middle Eastern North American Authors
This post includes Middle Eastern authors living in North America.
Have you reviewed a book by an Middle Eastern author in North America? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
Various
Beirut39 (anthology): Reviewed at This Book and I Could Be Friends
Amirrezvani, Anita (Iranian-American, Author Site)
Blood of Flowers: Reviewed at Arch Thinking
Jarrar, Randa (Kuwaitian and Egyptian-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
A Map of Home: Reviewed at Book Addiction
Mahdi, Muhsin (Iraqi-American, Wikipedia)
The Arabian Nights: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Moaveni, Azadeh (Iranian-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Lipstick Jihad: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Nafisi, Azar (Iranian-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Reading Lolita in Tehran: Reviewed at Reading Extravaganza
Sofer, Dalia (Iranian-American, Wikipedia)
The Septembers of Shiraz: Reviewed at Presenting Lenore
Asian North American Authors
This post includes Asian authors living in North America.
Have you reviewed a book by an Asian author in North America? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
Agarwal, Shilpa (Indian-American, Author Site)
Haunting Bombay: Reviewed at Book-a-Rama
Ali, Samina (Indian-American, Wikipedia)
Madras on Rainy Days: Reviewed at Book Addiction
Cheva, Cherry (Thai American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
DupliKate (young adult): Reviewed at In Bed with Books
de la Cruz, Melissa (Filipina-American, Author Site)
Girl Stays in the Picture: Reviewed at The Englishist
The Van Alen Legacy: Reviewed at In Bed with Books
Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee (Indian-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
One Amazing Thing: Reviewed at Good Books and Wine
Dumas, Firoozeh (Iranian-American, Author Site)
Funny in Farsi: Reviewed at Let’s Eat, Grandpa! Let’s Eat Grandpa
Laughing Without an Accent: Reviewed at Caribou’s Mom
Eteraz, Ali (Pakistani-American, Author Site)
Children of Dust: Reviewed at Book Addiction
Ford, Jamie (Chinese-American, Author Site)
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: Reviewed at In Bed with Books
Freeman, Ru (Sri-Lanken-American, Author Site)
A Disobedient Girl: Reviewed at Book Addiction, Caribou’s Mom
Hosseini, Khaled (Afghan, living in US, Author Site, Wikipedia)
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Reviewed at Book Addiction
James, Tania (Indian-American, Author Site)
Atlas of Unknowns: Reviewed at BrownGirl BookSpeak
Kadohata, Cynthia (Japanese-American, Author Page, Wikipedia)
Kira-Kira: Reviewed at Book Addiction
Kim, Derek Kirk (Korean-American, Author Page, Wikipedia)
The Eternal Smile (graphic novel): Reviewed at The Englishist
Kogawa, Joy (Japanese-Canadian, Wikipedia)
Obasan: Reviewed at things mean a lot
Kwok, Jean (Chinese-American, Author Site)
Girl in Translation: Reviewed at Feminist Texican
Lahiri, Jhumpa (Indian-American, Publisher Site, Wikipedia)
Interpreter of Maladies (short stories): Reviewed at Book Addiction
Unaccustomed Earth (short stories): Reviewed at Book Addiction, Caribou’s Mom
The Namesake: Reviewed at Feminist Texican
Lee, Chang-Rae (Korean American,Wikipedia)
The Surrendered: Reviewed at Reading Extravaganza
Min, Anchee (Chinese American, Wikipedia)
Becoming Madame Mao: Reviewed at Presenting Lenore
Mistry, Rohinton (Indian-Canadian, Wikipedia)
A Fine Balance: Reviewed at Book-a-Rama, Fluttering Butterflies
Family Matters: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Nasser, David (Iranian-American, Author Site)
Jumping Through Fires: Reviewed at Let’s Eat, Grandpa! Let’s Eat Grandpa
O’Malley, Bryan Lee (Korean-Canadian, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Lost at Sea (graphic novel): Reviewed at things mean a lot
Otsuka, Julie (Japanese-American, Author Site)
When the Emperor Was Divine: Reviewed at things mean a lot
Poblete, Pati Navalta (Filipina-American)
The Oracles: My Filipino Grandparents in America: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Pon, Cindy (Chinese-American, Author Site)
Silver Phoenix (young adult): Reviewed at Presenting Lenore, Book Gazing
Revoyr, Nina (Japanese-American, Author Site)
The Age of Dreaming: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Rocks!, Misako (Japanese, living in U.S., Author Site)
Detective Jermain, vol. 1 (graphic novel): Reviewed at In Bed with Books
See, Lisa (Chinese-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Peony in Love: Reviewed at Book Addiction, Caribou’s Mom
Shanghai Girls: Reviewed at Caribou’s Mom, The Reading Life
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: Reviewed at A Bookshelf Monstrosity
Syjuco, Miguel (Filipino, living in Canada, Wikipedia)
Ilustrado: Reviewed at Sasha and the Silverfish
Tan, Amy (Chinese-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
The Joy Luck Club: Reviewed at Book Addiction
Tsukiyama, Gail (Chinese-Japanese-American, Author Site)
The Street of a Thousand Blossoms: Reviewed at Reading Extravaganza
Umrigar, Thrity (Indian-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
If Today Be Sweet: Reviewed at Book Addiction
The Space Between Us: Reviewed at Caribou’s Mom
Verghese, Abraham (Indian-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Cutting for Stone: Reviewed at Book Addiction
Woo, Sung J. (Korean-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Everything Asian: Reviewed at Book Addiction
Wu, Fan (Chinese-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Beautiful as Yesterday: Reviewed at This Book and I Could Be Friends
Xiaolong, Qiu (Chinese, currently living in the U.S., Wikipedia)
Death of a Red Heroine: Reviewed at Everyday Reads
Yang, Gene Luen (Chinese-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
American Born Chinese (graphic novel): Reviewed at things mean a lot, Book Addiction, Lightheaded, Good Books and Wine
The Eternal Smile (graphic novel): Reviewed at The Englishist
Yee, Lisa (Chinese-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Millicent Min: Girl Genius (young adult): Reviewed at Presenting Lenore
Geektastic (story): Reviewed at In Bed with Books
Yoo, David (Korean-American, Author Site)
Stop Me If You’ve Heard This Before: Reviewed at Presenting Lenore
Latino North American Authors
This post includes Latin American authors living in North America.
Have you reviewed a book by an Latin American author in North America? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
Alarcón, Daniel (Peruvian, living in California, Author Site, Wikipedia)
War by Candlelight: Reviewed at Arch Thinking
Allende, Isabel (Chilean, living in California, Author Site, Wikipedia)
The House of the Spirits: Reviewed at Shelf Love
My Invented Country: Reviewed at things mean a lot
City of Beasts: Reviewed at things mean a lot
Alvarez, Julia (Dominican American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
In the Time of the Butterflies: Reviewed at Caravana de recuerdos
Aridjis, Chloe (Mexican American, Wikipedia)
Book of Clouds: Reviewed at Feminist Texican
Calcines, Eduardo F. (Cuban American, Publisher Site)
Leaving Glorytown: One Boy’s Struggle under Castro (children’s book): Reviewed at World of Words
Casares, Oscar (Mexican American, Author Site)
Brownsville:Stories: Reviewed at Feminist Texican
Cisneros, Sandra (Mexican American, Author Site)
Caramelo: Reviewed at Color Online
de Ferrari, Gabriela (Peruvian American)
Gringa Latina: Reviewed at Caravana de recuerdos
DeLucio-Brock, Anita (Illustrator, Mexican American, Illustrator Site)
Grandma and Me and the Flea/Los meros meros remateros (picture book): Reviewed at World of Words
Diaz, Junot (Dominican American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao: Reviewed at 1330v
Engle, Margarita (Cuban American, Publisher Site)
The Poet Slave of Cuba (children’s book): Reviewed at World of Words
Ferreras, Alberto (Spanish, raised in Venezuela, lives in the U.S., Author Site)
B an in Beauty: Reviewed at In Bed with Books
Garcia, Cristina (Cuban, living in America, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Dreaming in Cuban: Reviewed at Of Books and Bicycles
I Wanna Be Your Shoe Box: Reviewed at Reading in Color
Goldman, Francisco (born in U.S. to Guatemalan mother, Wikipedia)
The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed the Bishop? Reviewed at Caravana de recuerdos
Gomez, Iris (born in Colombia)
Try to Remember: Reviewed at Feminist Texican
Hernandez, Gilbert (Mexican-American, Wikipedia)
Heartbreak Soup: Reviewed at things mean a lot
Human Diastrophism: Reviewed at things mean a lot
Herrera, Juan Felipe (Mexican American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Grandma and Me and the Flea/Los meros meros remateros (picture book): Reviewed at World of Words
Jiménez, Francisco (Mexican American, Author Site)
Reaching Out (young adult): Reviewed at World of Words
Lainez, Rene Colato (Salvadoran American, Author Site)
Playing Lotería/El juego de la lotería (picture book): Reviewed at World of Words
Samartin, Cecilia (Cuban-American, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Tarnished Beauty: Reviewed at In Bed with Books
Santos, John Phillip (Mexican American, Wikipedia)
Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation: Reviewed at Caravana de recuerdos
Stork, Francisco X. (Mexican American, Author Site)
Marcelo in the Real World: Reviewed at Jenny’s Books
Asian Authors in Latin America
This post will include Latin American authors of Asian descent.
Have you reviewed a book by an Latin American Asian author? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
Asian European Authors
This post includes European authors of Asian descent.
Have you reviewed a book by an Asian author from Europe? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
Ali, Monica (British, Bangladeshi descent, Wikipedia)
In the Kitchen: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Alentejo Blue: Reviewed at Caribou’s Mom
Ishiguro, Kazuo (British, Japanese descent, Wikipedia)
Never Let Me Go: Reviewed at Shelf Love, things mean a lot, Book Addiction, The Reading Life, Feminist Texican
The Remains of the Day: Reviewed at things mean a lot
The Unconsoled: Reviewed at Evening All Afternoon
A Pale View of Hills: Reviewed at Fluttering Butterflies
When We Were Orphans: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Rushdie, Salman (Indian-born British, Wikipedia)
The Enchantress of Florence: Reviewed at Shelf Love
Midnight’s Children: Reviewed at things mean a lot, Caribou’s Mom
Sijie, Dai (Chinese-born French, Wikipedia)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress: Reviewed at Book Addiction, Caribou’s Mom
Walsh, Helen (British-Malaysian, Publisher’s Page, Wikipedia)
Once Upon a Time in England: Reviewed at Gaskella, Shelf Love
Xīnrán, Xuē (British-Chinese, Wikipedia)
The Good Women of China: Reviewed at Book Addiction
Middle Eastern European Authors
This post includes links to reviews of books by Middle Eastern authors of European nationality.
Have you reviewed a book by a Middle Eastern author from Europe? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
Various
Beirut39 (anthology): Reviewed at This Book and I Could Be Friends
Mehran, Marsha (Iranian, now living in North America and Ireland, Author Site)
Rosewater and Soda Bread (sequel to Pomegranate Soup): Reviewed at Saving My Sanity
Satrapi, Marjane (Iranian-born French, Wikipedia)
Persepolis (graphic novel): Reviewed at Shelf Love (Teresa), Shelf Love (Jenny), things mean a lot, The Englishist
Embroideries (graphic novel): Reviewed at things mean a lot, The Englishist
Indigenous Authors in Asia
This post includes reviews of books by authors from indigenous cultures in Asia, such as the Pashtun, the Hmong, the hill people of Southeast Asia, and other groups listed here. Authors featured here may also appear in the other Asian author posts, depending on their country of origin.
Have you reviewed a book by an indigenous author from Asia? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
The Dalai Lama (Tibetan, Wikipedia)
Freedom in Exile: Reviewed at Reading in the North
Toer, Pramoedya Ananta (Indonesian, Wikipedia)
This earth of Mankind: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Black African Authors
This post will include reviews of books by black authors from Africa. Authors featured here may also appear in the other African author posts, depending on their country of origin.
Have you reviewed a book by a black author from Africa? Add a link to your review to the comments, and we’ll add it to the list.
Be sure to also subscribe to the comments feed or leave a comment and click “subscribe by e-mail” to get the latest updates.
Abani, Chris (Nigerian, Wikipedia)
Song for Night: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Abouet, Marguerite (born in Cote d’Ivoire, currently living in France Wikipedia)
Aya: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi (Nigerian, Wikipedia)
The Thing Around Your Neck: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Purple Hibiscus: Reviewed at things mean a lot, Book Addiction, Caribou’s Mom
Half of a Yellow Sun: Reviewed at Page 247, Maw Books, Caribou’s Mom
Ajak, Benjamin (Sudanese, Publisher Site)
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan: Reviewed at Maw Books
Akpan, Uwem(Nigerian, Wikipedia)
“An Ex-Max Feast” (short story): Reviewed at Caribou’s Mom
Asgedom, Mawi (Ethiopian, Wikipedia)
Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy’s Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard: Reviewed at Maw Books
Bâ, Mariama (Senegalese, Wikipedia)
So Long a Letter: Reviewed at Of Books and Bicycles, Shelf Love
Bashir, Halima (Sudanese, Publisher Site)
Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur: Reviewed at Maw Books
Beah, Ishmael (Sierra Leonean,currently living in US Wikipedia)
A Long Way Gone: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Deng, Alephonsion (Sudanese, Wikipedia)
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan: Reviewed at Maw Books
Deng, Benson (Sudanese, Wikipedia)
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan: Reviewed at Maw Books
Deng, Valentino Achak (Sudanese, Author Site)
What Is the What? (with David Eggers): Reviewed at Booklust
Dirie, Waris (Somali, Wikipedia)
Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad: Reviewed at Maw Books
Hari, Daoud (Sudanese, Wikipedia)
The Translator: Reviewed at Book Addiction, Maw Books, Caribou’s Mom
Ilibagiza, Immaculee (Rwandan, Author Site, Wikipedia)
Left to Tell: Reviewed at Book Addiction, Maw Books
Iweala, Uzodinma (Nigerian, now living in U.S., Wikipedia)
Beasts of No Nation: Reviewed at Caribou’s Mom
Jal, Emmanuel (Sudanese, Wikipedia)
War Child: A Child Soldier’s Story: Reviewed at Maw Books
Korn, Fadumo (Somalian, currently living in Germany Feminist Press)
Born in the Big Rains: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Kpomassie, Tete-Michel (Togo, currently living in France Wikipedia)
An African in Greenland: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Laye, Camara (Guinea, Wikipedia)
The Dark Child: Reviewed at Multiculturalism Rocks!
Maraire, J. Nozipo (Zimbabwean, currently living in US Wikipedia)
Zenzele: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Mezlekia, Nega (Ethiopian born, currently living in Canada Wikipedia)
Notes from the Hyena’s Belly: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Nazer, Mende (British-Sudanese, Wikipedia)
Slave: My True Story: Reviewed at Book Addiction, Maw Books
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (Kenyan, Wikipedia)
Petals of Blood: Reviewed at This Book and I Could Be Friends, Caravana de recuerdos
Nunn, Malla (South African, Wikipedia)
A Beautiful Place to Die: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair
Nwaubani, Adaobi Tricia (Nigerian, African Writing)
I Do Not Come To You By Chance: Reviewed at Page247
Okri, Ben (Nigerian, Wikipedia)
The Famished Road: Reviewed at things mean a lot
Oyeyemi, Helen (born in Nigeria, currently living in UK. Wikipedia)
White is for Witching: Reviewed at Gaskella
Quartery, Kwei (born in Ghana, currently living in US Author Website)
Wife of the Gods: Reviewed at A Striped Armchair, Maw Books
Salih, Tayeb (Sudanese, Wikipedia)
Season of Migration to the North: Reviewed at This Book and I Could Be Friends, Caravana de recuerdos, Shelf Love
Soyinka, Wole (Nigerian, Wikipedia)
Death and the King’s Horseman: Reviewed at Evening All Afternoon
