It seems my opinion is completely different to everyone in this thread.
Sybil Nelson said:
What attracted me to read this novel, is because it's about an African-American teen who wants better for herself, than to become a statistic. No offence to any black people, but I don't care to read the books African-Americans write because it's usly about sex, drugs or what ever. Not to say there arnt any novels by Caucasins that follow those same things. But when I look for a book by a black person I can never find a good read and actually say I like it. And for once I actually did!
So, I don't think this is a racial slur or offense to you as a writer, Sybil, but to Black Authors in general. And I think the reader just is not as eloquent as we writers can be in expressing ourselves.
"What attracted me to read this novel, is because it's about an African-American teen who wants better for herself, than to become a statistic."
Okay, I have not read your book, but I can assume this high end summary of the plot is accurate? What is bad about this sentence? The reader has highlighted she liked the content and was attracted to it.
"No offence to any black people, but I don't care to read the books African-Americans write because it's usly about sex, drugs or what ever."
I'm going to be honest and say this is true. Most of the mainstream literature from Black professionals gets noticed because its about down and outs who aspire to be better, and so there does tend to be a lot of profanity, sex and drugs involved as typically the character they are writing about comes from that kind of environment. No doubt there are
hundreds of African Americans or Black British writers who don't write about this (I'm one of them), but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
Not to say there arnt any novels by Caucasians that follow those same things.
No, but there is a lot less as this is not a defining cultural stereotype for Caucasians. The reader shows some awareness here that you cannot neatly group Black and Caucasian authors simply by book content.
"But when I look for a book by a black person I can never find a good read and actually say I like it. And for once I actually did"
Okay, interesting, this reader actively seeks out works by black authors. Makes sense as she/he has previously expressed she likes this kind of good feel read. She then says she enjoyed your book, she was for once not let down.
This reader has found you, enjoyed your work and was surprised. I don't think his/her comments on race were a reflection on you at all, but on the work produced by others which (unfortunately) reinforce deeply ingrained stereotypes. Your book seems like it may cover topics to bring this kind of comment to the forefront - namely, a good feel read about an ethnic youth who overcomes cultural issues that put the character at a disadvantage.
Your instant response was to jump to the conclusion your race is a barrier in getting new readers? Why? I am Black British, and whilst I could bemoan the fact this might put me at a disadvantage if someone was to see my profile picture, I quite simply feel it does not. Frankly, if a reader is dense enough to come to that decision about any race outside their own then I want nothing to do with them.
I don't think this review is offensive. I think it's honest and a reflection of this readers experiences with books by Black Authors. I think the reviewer simply did not have the tact to express themselves properly. You can tell by the tone and errors in the review this person may not be very worldly.
I urge you all to read between the lines here and approach this with a less defensive attitude.
We do love to jump and cry racism whenever someone mentions the word "black" in any way that could be interpreted as negative. Being a black person myself, this is not offensive, but I can understand why you might have felt singled out, sine it was a review of your book.