Reviews tagging 'Racism'

This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley

13 reviews

trippalli's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

A poetic reflective memoir with beautiful writing and picturing emotional but also hard to hear stories of survival and persistence. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship

heathermcc54321's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

This is the first longer piece I’d read from the author, having followed her “Black Liturgies” on social media for some time. A mix of family memoir and a spiritual reflection rooted in the Christian tradition (but not restricted by it), the book draws in womanist and liberationist writers to explore our embodiedness as source of sacred wisdom.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence, Addiction, Rape, and Racism

ashleycmms's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Drug use, and Death

Moderate: Racism and Misogyny

Minor: Gun violence

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Mental illness

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

smileykylie's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Drug use, Racism, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, and Rape

aweekinthelife's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

4.5

my first re-read where i switched formats. read the physical book back in 2022 and checked out the audiobook for the 2023 re-read. the audio wasn't my favorite, but listening to it in a different format did make different parts of the book feel more salient so it was still a worthwhile time. the print book also took me quite some time to read through while audiobooks (esp non fiction) go by much faster for me. 

Cole Arthur Riley has such a beautiful and insightful way with words and this book is beautiful and compelling. to me, the book feels mostly memoir with reflections on ancestry and origin, faith, and woven together in a way where the author tells you about her life and lineage while encouraging readers and listeners to reflect themselves. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Racism

Moderate: Rape, Addiction, and Sexual violence

elizastiles's review

hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Racism, and Child abuse

unsuccessfulbookclub's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

Wow. I am once again very mad at myself for waiting so long to read a book.

Some books feel like cold water on a hot day - quenching, refreshing, invigorating, simple but awe-inspiring. This is one of those books. It is incredibly comforting and also challenging in the best way. It made me think, it made me feel, and most of all, it inspired me to connect more deeply with my faith in a way that enriches everyone around me. To seek God in the mundane. To lament that the world is cruel and people are horrible but to continue to hope and rejoice when things are made right. To rest. To resist capitalism’s erosion of my humanity and that of those around me.

Cole Arthur Riley is super talented. This book feels like literary fiction in its style. It’s beautiful and moving. I found myself underlining and rereading passages that resonated with me but also because the words were put together in unique and compelling ways. 

👍🏻Recommended! If you enjoy meditative, spiritual stories and beautiful prose, you will like this. If you enjoy bell hooks or Audre Lorde, this will resonate with you. If you are seeking a way to belong to a faith that has been twisted to exclude you? You will like this.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Pedophilia, Racism, Violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Slavery

kbbru's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Racism

fabell6's review

inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Beautiful book to be savored. Every few paragraphs I wanted to journal or sit in contemplation. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Racism, and Gun violence