2010 South Asian Author Challenge

Swapna is hosting the South Asian Author Challenge. She says:

This challenge is to encourage people to read books by South Asian Authors – South Asia being India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Please not that it does not include the Middle East! The books can be from any time period, contemporary or classic.

There are two requirements for a book to qualify for the South Asian Author Challenge, both of which must be met:1) The author must be of South Asian descent. It doesn’t matter if they’re third or fourth generation, or are only half South Asian – I’m pretty flexible on this issue.

2) The book must be about South Asia in some way. It doesn’t have to be set in South Asia, as long as it’s about the culture or history in some way. On the other hand, it can be set in South Asia and not be about South Asians.

We don’t really need a list for this challenge, but I am thinking of these:

There are four different commitment levels:

• 3 books
• 5 books
• 7 books
• 10 books

Partial list of Guidelines:

1. No lists required.
2. Book reviews are not required (but are encouraged).
3. You can participate even if you do not have a blog.
4. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
5. Books in translation are allowed.
6. Re-reads count.

There will also be a prize for those who sign up before January 1, and another for those who complete it.

I don’t need a list to start with but I am signing up to read 5 books, and considering some of these:

• Burnt Shadows, by Kamila Shamsie
• Unaccustomed Earth, by Jhumpa Lahiri
• The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie
• The Wishmaker, by Ali Sethi
• Brick Lane, by Monica Ali
• The Black Album, by Haneif Kureishi

Actual:

• One Amazing Thing, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Oh…and, still not really here.