Twenty Things I've Read #9

My new (hopefully weekly!) links recap format continues. 

As mentioned in week 1, there are some sites which could quite conceivably fill this list between them EVERY WEEK as they constantly produce amazing posts - and I find it way too hard to single them out! So instead, I will just list them at the start of each post. If you're not reading the following, you are REALLY missing out.

Safe Space
Media Diversified
LGBTQ Reads
The Pool
Teen Vogue 

Addition: Given the current political climate, I would strongly suggest also reading EVERYTHING Celeste Pewter tweets; she is incredibly insightful and her tweets on US politics have helped me figure out which things going on are reasonably worrying and which are absolutely terrifying.

The Twenty:

I'm so excited to read Here We Are: Feminism For The Real World, Kelly Jensen's anthology featuring a bunch of amazing contributors! Go to this page to read Kelly talking about the book AND interviewing 4 of the writers in the anthology. Elsewhere, John Scalzi has a great - if petrifying - post on the first fortnight of Trump. And Mother Jones asked "Is It Time For The Democrats To Wage All-Out War Against Trump?" On a brighter note, Mackenzi Lee's Bygone Badass Broads are ALWAYS a highlight! Yesterday's, on ghostbuster Rose Mackenburg, was especially awesome. Also, lots to add to my TBR from Locus's recommended reading list of great 2016 fantasy and sci-fi.

Bustle and EW also both published great lists which have added considerably to my TBR, with Nivea Serrao writing for EW on 26 fantastic authors of Muslim descent to read right now and Swapna Krishna for Bustle on 11 books by Muslim women that show the many facets of Islam. And in the interests of seeing even more books from Muslim authors in the future, Kaye storified a great list of agents currently seeking Muslim voices. I'm also loving the Good Assistant blog, written by a Muslim woman working in UK publishing  (and tipped by @missellabell, one of my absolute favourite people on Twitter, as "the next Devil Wears Prada. Funny, brilliant, timely.") Speaking of people working in publishing, Aa'Ishah - the aspiring editor who'll be shadowing Ruth Bennett, editor of the Stripes anthology A Change Is Gonna Come - wrote about her excitement to be working on the book. I can't wait for this one and it's a great piece by her, and by Ruth. 



I am getting super-organised this year, which I may have mentioned a few dozen times. I'm trying to decide whether to follow my amazing friend (and organisation QUEEN) Julianne's lead, and take up time tracking. I think it will probably scare me with how much time I waste (which is probably a good reason to do it, I guess?) Speaking of my fabulous friends, I loved Grace's January recap. And a piece which has been RT'd by lots of my friends (understandably; it's great!) is this Twitter thread by 'Badass Librarian' Jennifer Iacopelli showing why you shouldn't mess with librarians! After initially being really excited for Riverdale, I have mixed feelings on watching the first two episodes. Preeti Chhibber shared her live tweets while watching episode one, which are definitely worth reading, and given the acearo erasure in the show, you should definitely check out this @mikaylamic thread on the importance of acearo rep.

There's a great piece on Scene TV looking at Idris Elba's speech to the House of Commons one year ago about the lack of diversity in British TV and film, and seeing what's changed since then. Also yay bookshops! Brilliant piece here from Claire Armitstead in the Guardian on how Waterstones returned to profit. And B & N's site has 15 authors discussing loving yourself, immigrating to the U.S., and more in February’s YA Open Mic, a really interesting read. Another wonderful discussion here, with Elsie Chapmamn moderating a roundtable on writing diversely. (Six fabulous authors there, with Riley Redgate and Heidi Heilig being two particular favourites of mine.) Finally, for Black History Month, the fantastic Fiyah magazine - the home of black speculative fiction - have reopened subscriptions! I would HIGHLY recommend getting on board.

My Posts:

Most of my posts were looking back at the month just gone - I had a two part book haul, with books bought and received from publishers and friends. I also compiled my mini reviews (originally on Litsy and on Letterboxd) of books read and films seen in January.  I actually blogged every day in January, and wrote about it here. And my Shorts on Sunday feature continued, with Perdita Cargill joining me. (Check back tomorrow when her daughter, and Waiting For Callback co-author, Honor will be with me!)