Good Day, Bookworms!
I’m going to give you a tip. If you’re looking to diversify your bookish repertoire, you can’t beat lurking on Twitter. The #diversebookbloggers hashtag is simply a wealth of information on phenomenal books written by and/or starring folks of diverse backgrounds. That is how I came to discover the gem that is Sofia Khan is Not Obliged
Finding love in London has never been the simplest endeavor, but dating while also being an observant Muslim adds a certain level of complexity. At 30, Sofia Khan has been hearing the old “hurry up and get married” line from her family for years. But Sofia is not one to settle. Just ask her recently jilted for being too close to his parents boyfriend. (And really. Can you blame her? I have a fabulous relationship with my in-laws, but I still wouldn’t want to move in with them indefinitely.) During a bout of dating frustration, Sofia finds herself roped into, of all things, writing a book on Muslim dating.
Following Sofia on her journey through dating and compiling stories for her book is seriously freaking charming. The book is a little Bridget Jones’s Diary
I haven’t been super vocal about the fact that I’m trying to read diversely, because I’m not an expert on diverse literature and I’m still exploring and learning. Buuuuuuut, I’m totally into trying to read diversely. Yay diverse books! It can be a little overwhelming though, because a lot of the diverse books I’ve read feature really intense, heavy themes. They’re often incredibly powerful and important stories that need to be told, but emotionally wrenching literary fiction isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I know that I, at least, need the occasional palate cleanser, and that’s why Sofia Khan is Not Obliged
Talk to me, Bookworms! If your partner wanted to share a dwelling with his extended family, would you be cool with it, or would you run for the hills like Sofia?
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mwgerard
The first step is making an effort and you certainly have! That is a great hashtag to follow for ideas. Well done!
wordsfor
Awww, thanks. I don’t feel like I deserve special credit, I just wanted to make everyone aware of where they can go for awesome recs!
A.M.B.
I’d run for the hills! Well, maybe it would depend on the in-laws. I’m so glad you enjoyed this book. The Muslim community is very diverse, but Sofia’s family reminded me so much of my own extended family. I loved seeing someone I could identify with in fiction.
wordsfor
Awww! I want to meet your family now, they sound like fun if they’re like Sofia’s crew!
Jenny @ Reading the End
I’d run for the hills! I barely like living with people I already like, let alone people with whom I might possibly have a somewhat fraught relationship.
Remind me, are you a romance novel reader? Cause if that is an area that would scratch the fluffy books itch, I can make some recs to diversify your reading there. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP OUT IN THIS WAY.
wordsfor
I have been known to enjoy a romance novel from time to time, particularly if they involve quirky protagonists and witty banter. SEND ME ALL THE RECS, JENNY!
Megan M.
Oh dear Lord no. I couldn’t live with MY extended family anymore. No.
DoingDewey
This sounds like such a cute, fun read! And I’m definitely going to be taking your advice about using twitter to find diverse reads. Something I currently struggle with is that I’m mostly reading review copies and it’s harder to find recommendations and reviews a few months in advance when I’m doing my review copy requesting. I think reading more backlist books might be important for my ability to do the sleuthing I need to in order to read more diversely.