SIGN UP POST: #Diversiverse is coming October 4-17!!

It seems that I get progressively later each year in planning the A More Diverse Universe event.  I apologize for the lapse on my part!  Suffice it to say, it will be a bit later this year, but it's still happening!

Please SAVE THE DATE(S) for October 4th - 17th for A More Diverse Universe!  These are the weeks directly after Banned Books Week in the United States, which I think works nicely.  Hopefully, you can read a book that has been challenged during Banned Books Week and then write it up for review during A More Diverse Universe.

This is the third year that I'm hosting A More Diverse Universe.  The criteria for participating are the same as they were last year:

• Read and review one book
• Written by a person of color
• During the first two weeks of October (October 4th-17th)

That's all!  SO EASY, right?  It's what you'd probably do, anyway, right?  It's basically the lowest bar for participation of any reading challenge you've ever participated in, right?  In which case, there's really no excuse to not sign up, right?

Right!

I don't think I can say much more about the many reasons that exist for reading diversely than I have already said before.  Hopefully I don't need to convince anyone.  But if I do, try me.  I am happy to engage in the discussion as privately or as publicly as you would like.  The main point I'd like to make is:

Reading diversely is important because we live in a global world.  Period.  If you read books only by white authors, you are limiting yourself to less than 30% of the world's experience of race and culture.  If you read books only by Christian authors, you are limiting yourself to only about 33% of the world's experience of religion.  If you read books only by authors in developed countries, you are limiting yourself to a very privileged view of what the world has to offer you.  If you read books that focus only on Western thought, history, and philosophy, you are missing out on many rich and varied traditions and worldviews that have informed and continue to enrich the way we view the world today. 

And, to continue reiterating my own points, I would like to make super-duper, extremely clear that reading diversely is not difficult.  IT WILL NOT LIMIT YOUR READING SELECTIONS.  This I promise you.  If you take nothing else away from this post, please remember this:

Reading diversely may require you to change your book-finding habits.  It ABSOLUTELY does not require you to change your book reading habits.

Authors of diverse backgrounds write books in every genre, from science to romance, from urban fantasy to graphic memoirs.  It may take you a little longer to find these books as they don't always get the same amount of hype and press, but you absolutely can find them.

Still feel intimidated and want some help?  I'm here for ya.  Seriously, I would like to make this as easy as possible for you and all your friends and all the world to participate, so here's what I suggest:

• You can check out the #Diversiverse tab on this blog, which has EVERY SINGLE REVIEW from A More Diverse Universe since the event started in 2012.  Find your favorite blogger and see what s/he recommends you to read.
• If you click on the #diversiverse label here on this blog, you will find even more books that qualify for the A More Diverse Universe tour that I read and reviewed.
• I have a list of links in this post that direct you to different websites and public library lists that focus on reading diversely.  
• Last year, I did a #diversiverse deep-dive of suggestions for two genres, non-fiction and historical fiction.  Check out the comments section for even more suggestions.

Last year, I gave people one month's notice on #diversiverse and got over 100 people to sign up.  So this year, I am giving everyone two months' notice in the hopes that even more people sign up and participate.  Please spread the word and get reading!