My Challenges

Welcome to the 2023 Southern Literature Reading Challenge! We'll focus on books and authors from the southeastern region of the United States. Table of Contents: Definition of "The South"RulesBIPOC AuthorsNew and Optional for 2023: CategoriesReading SuggestionsLevelsSpread the WordSign Up PostsReview LinksWrap Up Posts Definition of "The South" Definitions of the South are flexible, so I’ve decided to base my definition on the current makeup of the Southern Legislative Conference: Alabama Arkansas Florida Georgia Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri North Carolina Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia West Virginia That said, I'm not looking for a debate and I'm flexible. These are only guidelines so use your best judgment. Rules Read books by Southern authors set largely in the South You can read any genre, including fiction or nonfiction, classics, or contemporary works You can read books meant for any age group Crossovers with other challenges are fine Any format that you choose is also acceptable The challenge will run from January 1 through December 31, 2023 A blog is not required for participation; you can also link to reviews on other sites such as GoodReads or Instagram Sign up anytime throughout the year I’ve tried to keep this simple but if you have any questions, reach out in the comments, via social media (links in my sidebar), or my contact form. Most importantly, have fun! BIPOC Authors As a White woman from the South, I debated whether I should revive this challenge because of the ongoing racial injustices throughout the country. Some of our books glorify slavery, racism, Jim Crow laws, the Civil War, and the issues surrounding them, each of which I wholeheartedly condemn. Ultimately, I decided that, while these flaws must not be ignored and are a shameful part of our heritage, they do not constitute the entirety of that…