Tuesday Book Chat | Do you like to read about characters from another race or nationality?

Posted byIola Goulton @iolagoulton 7 Comments on Tuesday Book Chat | Do you like to read about characters from another race or nationality?
Do you like to read about characters from another race or nationality?

It’s Iola here. Welcome to our Australasian Christian Writers Tuesday Book Chat, where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.

Today’s question is:

Do you like to read about characters from another race or nationality?

I know. It’s kind of a trick question. Those of us who live Down Under have little choice—there aren’t a lot of books set here, so we have to read about characters from different races or nationalities.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation in a comment on this post or in a comment on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group. Or, if you’re feeling wordy (like me), write a blog post and link to it in the comments.

Let’s chat!

Author

  • Iola Goulton @iolagoulton

    Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat.

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Published by Iola Goulton @iolagoulton

Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat.

7 replies on “Tuesday Book Chat | Do you like to read about characters from another race or nationality?”

  1. It would be simplistic to say yes for the reason you said but in saying that I have read books with Black Americans as the hero/heroine and they have been strong books. I have read books set in India with Indians and whites. With the Black American’s on the whole I wouldn’t distinguish them from whites. The same with Latino’s except the names. Some Black authors are a little more edgy with their books.
    I remember reading a few books with American Indians as either Hero or Heroine and they have been great reads. To me as long as its a good book well edited I am willing to give it a try.
    On asking the question I realise now how few mixed race books etc their are. Yes the Americans do have some historical with the Swedish and even Germans and both tend to have conflict. It makes me realise books with other races and Nationality (besides white American) are really lacking.

    1. Yes – Christian fiction (and fiction in general) does not do a good job of featuring non-white characters. I’m like you. If it’s a good story and well edited, then I’m interested.

  2. One book that stands out for me was The Book Thief. Set in Nazi occupied Germany, Leisel & Rudi lived in Himmel (Heaven)St. It was wonderful. I like Sarah Sundan’s books often set in war-torn countries also.

    1. I haven’t read The Book Thief, but I did see the movie (don’t judge me!). It was excellent. The World War II books can teach us a lot about the importance of loving our neighbour vs. hating them.

  3. Yes, although it would tend to be different nationalities than races. I think it’s fascinating to see speech patterns and certain aspects of nationality revealed in different characters, and how this can lead to (cultural) misunderstandings – and interesting stories!

    1. After living in London and working in an office with all sorts of nationalities (and attending a church with members from 20 different countries), I definitely got used to seeing and hearing the different nationalities. There weren’t too many cultural misunderstandings, but there were plenty of stories! I’d like to see that multiculturalism better reflected in fiction.

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