Ellie Reads

This episode, I’ll be focusing on the author Becky Albertalli, and talking about the #ownvoices movement in YA literature. Albertalli recently wrote an essay in Medium, expressing that she felt forced to reveal her bisexuality because of weaponising the #ownvoices movement. More on this topic: Becky Albertalli's coming out essay: https://medium.com/@rebecca.albertalli/i-know-im-late-9b31de339c62 The #ownvoices movement: https://www.corinneduyvis.net/ownvoices/ Vulture's article on authors writing outside their own experience: https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/who-gave-you-the-right-to-tell-that-story.html Why we need #ownvoices: https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/harperkids/3-reasons-why-ownvoices-books-matter

In this episode, Ellie reads 'Such a Fun Age' by Kiley Reid and talks about the image of the 'good white person' as represented in the novel.  You may also like:  'The Mothers' by Brit Bennett 'An American Marriage' by Tayari Jones 'Little Fires Everywhere' by Celeste Ng 'Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race' by Reni Eddo-Lodge www.instagram.com/x.elliereads.x www.elliereads.co.uk

In this episode, Ellie looks at the coming out story narrative in YA fiction and asks whether we've moved past it. The book in this episode is 'The Falling in Love Montage' by Ciara Smyth. More on this topic: Coming Out 2.0: https://www.malindalo.com/blog/2013/10/coming-out-2-0?rq=coming%20out Queer young adult fiction grows beyond the coming out story: https://www.salon.com/2018/06/25/queer-young-adult-fiction-grows-beyond-the-coming-out-story/ You may also like: 'Amelia Westlake' by Erin Gough 'We Are Okay' by Nina LaCour IG: x.elliereads.x

Welcome to a new podcast talking about books, produced by me, Ellie. Each episode, I'll talk about a book I'm reading and what it provokes me to think about, whether that's its theme, craft, or wider context. Get in touch and tell me what you're reading!  email: [email protected] instagram: @x.elliereads.x twitter: @elliethouret