It’s no secret that I love books. And, it’s no secret that I’ve been recently rallying for a larger awareness of minority authors. This year, I made it my New Year’s resolution to read twenty books written by minority authors because I think it’s important to celebrate their voices and understand other cultures and histories. I think there’s so much emphasis placed on English and French authors in literature classes, and there’s not enough emphasis placed on ethnic authors.
So, I’ve decided to take the challenge of promoting minority authors into my own hands. Here, I’ve crafted a list of amazing books–all written by minority authors and all in their native language. Let’s get ready to read!
- A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Bachman
-
Goodreads: 4.36
Read it if you: are looking for a quirky, funny, heartwarming story
Don’t read it if you: hate old people, cats, or togetherness
- My Tender Matador – Pedro Lemebel
-
Goodreads: 4.29
Read it if you: are all about transgender inclusion and are yearning for a unique love story
Don’t read it if you: get easily grossed out by sex scenes
- The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
-
Goodreads: 4.12
Read it if you: appreciate the Jewish voice and/or want to learn more about the Holocaust
Don’t read it if you: can’t handle crying or are a neo-Nazi
- One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
-
Goodreads: 4.06
Read it if you: love trippy, fast-paced novels
Don’t read it if you: hate referencing a family tree
- Pedro Paramo – Juan Rulfo
-
Goodreads: 4.05
Read it if you: like fragmented narratives and death metaphors
Don’t read it if you: won’t pay attention to the subtelties of the narrative line
- Siddhartha – Herman Hesse
-
Goodreads: 4.01
Read it if you: are all about that ~spiritual~ life
Don’t read it if you: are looking for a racy plot
- Book of Lamentations – Rosario Castellanos
-
Goodreads: 3.98
Read it if you: like realistic, historical fiction
Don’t read it if you: dislike books that incorporate foreign language into the narrative
- The Stranger – Albert Camus
-
Goodreads: 3.97
Read it if you: like that Existentialist/Absurdist thing
Don’t read it if you: are looking for a long book with a complex plot
- The Alchemist – Paolo Coelho
-
Goodreads: 3.85
Read it if you: are trying to find your way in this big ol’ world
Don’t read it if you: don’t believe in destiny or fate
- The Odyssey – Homer
-
Goodreads: 3.75
Read it if you: love an action-filled plot with tons of drama
Don’t read it if you: can’t stand the violence or sexism
*Writer’s note: please read Robert Fagles’ translation, as the text reads like a modern novel in this edition
All of these books are amazing, so no matter which one you pick to read, you won’t be sorry. From classical Homer to contemporary Bachman, this list has got a recommendation for just about every reader. Pick one up and get reading!