You know what, this is exactly why I haven't given it a go. It's stems fron the harlequin romance 'Sheikh' trope, where the H doesn't behave like a practising Muslim, and the culture is primarily used as a device by the authors to portray an 'other' controlling man. The opposite end of the spectrum is where yet again the Muslim character isn't shown to be practising, and their inclusion is there for a plot device nothing to do with true representation. When Penny Reid has written characters from different cultures to herself, you can see she has researched them, and embedded the culture in every aspect of the written character. Just out of interest, how was representation problematic in 'Take a Hint Dani Brown'?
@@zenk7002 Maybe the author has a great intention by trying to represent Islam in her book, but I really wonder if she even did a research first. Being a muslim doesn’t limited to having Arabic names, wearing scarves, or saying “Alhamdulillah” and “Inshallah”. What the male character did (extramarital sex) is one of the greatest sins in Islam. It’s considered as Zina. Even something small as dating isn’t allowed is Islam because of this, because dating could lead to Zina. This is the reaseon why it’s a big deal to me. Sometimes, I still can tolerate muslim characters not praying or missing prayers, because believe me I have friends who do that too. But doing a great sin? HELL NO. I hate that some people say something along the lines of “oh he doesn’t practice so it’s okay”. BRUH. NO. Whether he practices or not doesn’t change the fact that ZINA is HARAM and he shouldn’t be doing that. He grew up in a muslim household, dang it. HE FREAKING ACKNOWLEDGED LYING AS HARAM BUT NOT ZINA??? you are joking me, i have to laugh. I’d rather have no representation than being misrepresented. I’m actually so tired of being misinterpreted in books just so the books and characters could fit the western standard better😔 People even applaud the representation. You all know nothing about Islam and it shows.
@@nazaninslife Eek. I'm waiting for the day an author writes a character that looks like me, and reflects my culture/belief system . 'Marriage of Convenience' is the perfect trope for this. Or friends to 'in love.' I've been a lifetime romance addict. There have been studies on the fact that if the race/culture of a character isn't explicitly or implicitly shown, people assume the characters they're reading are White. Tbh, I'm living for Black and Asian representation in romance over the past few years, because it gives me hope that one day I'll read about someone like me.
I appreciate the conversation here-- I've actually heard the opposite (but perhaps from folks who are interested in seeing characters who come from a Muslim cultural background but are not shown to be practicing very strictly?), so I appreciate having this perceptive to share when I talk about this book. Thank you!
@@bookslikewhoa I don't wear a hijab, and my personal development as a Muslim needs work. I don't judge, and know of fellow Muslims who have been in relationships outside marriage or have drunk alcohol. In media/books, however these things make me uncomfortable because it's not a representation as a whole of Islam. I'm not planning on reading the book, but I'm still of a mind that this is a case of baby steps going in the right direction.
The Eighth Detective was SUCH a fun and fascinating read, it felt like an interactive puzzle-type experience where the author was directly 'responding' to the reader on every page. So delightful to read!
I'm so glad you've been recommending The Eighth Detective because I'm not sure I would have picked it up otherwise and it is amazing! I'm not even halfway through and it's already subverting the expectations I have for a murder mystery. It's the kind of book that's going to live in my head for a long time.
Mara I love that you blend critical reviewing with enjoyment so well! I feel like the perennial book blogging discussion of "do you read critically or for enjoyment?" often overlooks the fact that for many of us those things overlap! I am so excited to get to Black Sun!
I love all the romance you picked! They are the ones in my rec to people who want to try romance list too! I really want to read Ring Shout this year. The cover freaks me out though 😂
Just finished Jane Doe and loved it. First book of 2021 is a five star read! Way better start to my reading year than 2020. Thanks for the recommendation!
I love the infographics you showed about the type of books and authors you read! Really original and well done. My new year's resolution is to read more non-European/American literature and more books written by LGTB authors (e.g. own voices).
Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of the overall story (there were 2 too many twists for me), I am glad you put The Eighth Detective on here. And I can recognize it as an impressive debut novel. The sheer creative plot structure makes me excited to read Alex Pavesi's next novel. I would love to read more mystery novels this year that do not have a British/Eurocentric focus and am looking into black mystery writers of the 20th century like Chester Himes and Barbara Neely (who actually won the Agatha Award in 1992).
That's a great goal-- that's on my horizons for 2022... I feel like I have a huge backlog of mysteries on my existing TBR that I need to make progress on, and then I want to be more intentional about venturing outside of my comfort zone of isolated closed circles :)
Ha ha! I was so SURE et pleased to see Take A Hint, Dany Brown! I'm not much of a romance reader but thanks to you I started to read some of them, including this series! Thank you and Happy New year!
i always get so excited to go read when i watch your videos. i also always sit with good reads open and ready because you have so many good recommendations. happy 2021, wishing you all of the best reading endeavours this year! 😊
Some of my favorites this year were Cards On the Table and Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie. Also, Hunting Demons for the Ill-Equipped by Annette Marie and Omens by Suzanne Wright. Really enjoyed Dani Brown, but not quite top of list. I tend to be very hard on contemporary romance though, in general so that I liked it as much as I did is a testament to the author. Presently reading and loving The Eighth Detective so it may make 2021's list.
I’m curious as to whether the eighth detective would appeal to readers like me who don’t have a lot of experience with mystery. Is it solely intended for the advanced mystery readers or would you recommend it for the newbies?
Hi! Very nice video! You were so happy! I've read Jane Doe because of you and enjoyed it, not made it to my favorites though. I'm very interested in The eight detectives. Clark is going to be translated into Spanish this year, so I will definitely chek it out. It's not Ring Shout, but I'll get to "taste" his style. Alyssa Cole has some very awesome premises to her books. I've read one, The AI who loved me and it went somewhere unexpected! I'm going to read more of Hibbert, I wish she continue with her paranormal novelas. Have a nice day, Mara! E.
I think I’m going to have to give Black Sun another chance because I read about 50 pages and just wasn’t feeling it, but this was also right after finishing The Priory of the Orange Tree, so I think I just might have been burnt out on fantasy
These romance books works wonder for getting me out of reading slump. PS- If you love god walking among us trope try Paternus triloy by Dyrk Ashton. Its loaded with it, I mean the book covers speaks for itself. 😉
I think my best reads of 2020 were Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. It was my first time reading Jane Austen and both stories were excellent. I can't wait to read a ton of retellings!
Thank you for the recommendation of Black Reconstruction in America. My mother passed this year. She was a lifelong Southerner born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Before she died, we talked a lot about how things would have different if white churches had been more welcoming during that time. I’m anxious to read this book.
LOL I'm too picky about it probably! I defined 4.5 as favorite of the year & 5 as all time favorite at some point, so that really narrowed the field :D
The book I enjoyed the most was The Black Sun (through your recommendation). My top 3 in different catagories: Fiction: Black Sun, Smoke bitten and Shards of hope (not caught up on this series yet -on my 2021 goals tho) Non-fiction: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and you; No visible bruises and The radium girls YA: House of Earth and Blood, From blood and ash, Clap when you land MG: Closer to nowhere by Ellen Hopkins, Orion lost by Alastair Chisholm and The space we're in by Katya Balen Graphic novels: Spy x family vol. 3, Good talk by Mira Jacob and Space boy, vol 5 I read 183 books last year. I am not as selective as you with my 5 stars, but I have found that at 55, I really only pick up books I know I will enjoy (even the one's that challenge me :)) so I very rarely rate books lower than a 3 because I just DNF them and I don't rate what I don't read. I look forward to your 2021 content. Arohanui from NZ x
@@bookslikewhoa Thanks! Something that really resonated with me was the comment Simon Savidge made about his grandfather's only regret in life was finishing books he didn't enjoy. I want to stretch my reading but at the same time I don't have time at 55 to read a lot of books that don't bring me joy. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Fun list! Thanks for sharing and putting a couple on my list. I picked top books by what I enjoyed most as well- my top was Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson- loved world he built, characters and how much I thought about it all as I read it- epic adventure and glad to meet this new to me author.
Haha I have a whole video on it if you're curious, but at a high level, I have a very high reading speed as a result of grad school & I don't really watch TV anymore so it gives me more time to read
Hello, I really like your videos and reviews. However, 1.86% of the books you've read got a 5 star....... So how MANY books did you rate with a 5?...Stats are what's slowly killing Davinchi-humanity ... I know the whole world is going all "Murrican" but why not read more outside of the english-speaking world?? T.T Who else if not YOU?? p.s. always looking forward to your videos, and I can't thank you enough for introducing ruby dixon to me ^.^
