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Reviews tagging 'Torture'
War Against All Puerto Ricans: Revolution and Terror in America's Colony by Nelson A. Denis
6 reviews
yasidiaz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
As a Puerto Rican, born and raised on the island, this was a difficult but necessary read. Oftentimes, I found myself indignant, enraged, and heartbroken. As an independentista (independist) myself, reading about the rise and fall of the Nationalists tore me to pieces, but as Angela Davis reminds me Freedom is a constant struggle. Just like el Maestro, Pedro Albizu Campos, I will never stop dreaming about a Puerto Rico Libre.
The book read like a novel, the way it narrated different key moments of the nationalist movement. The way it described the abuses imposed by the US government on my homeland... I had to stop at times. It is a hard read, but if you want to read more about US Imperialism, this is a very needed read. The Nationalist Party might have died with Albizu Campus, but the need for free Puerto Rico hasn't, the abuses of the empire might not be the same, but are still here.
And lastly,
Puerto Rico y Palestina libres serán.
The book read like a novel, the way it narrated different key moments of the nationalist movement. The way it described the abuses imposed by the US government on my homeland... I had to stop at times. It is a hard read, but if you want to read more about US Imperialism, this is a very needed read. The Nationalist Party might have died with Albizu Campus, but the need for free Puerto Rico hasn't, the abuses of the empire might not be the same, but are still here.
And lastly,
Puerto Rico y Palestina libres serán.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Torture, Mass/school shootings, Violence, Colonisation, Police brutality, and Gun violence
tine9625's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
An engaging, concise history of the rise and fall of the nationalist party in Puerto Rico.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Colonisation, Murder, and Gaslighting
audreylee's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
A fascinating history of colonized Puerto Rico. The author does an exceptional job of setting the atmosphere and describing the people who played a large part in that history. Occasionally, the author uses second-hand information while painting a first-hand picture of an event without making clear his sources. "The Barber" received this treatment twice. Using that second-hand information casts doubt on some of the veracity of this history. When it comes to the history of U.S. medicine and the military in Puerto Rico, the author at least once makes a claim because the U.S. government had done it before and since it was likely, they must have done it again. That isn't good enough in a nonfiction book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
maneatingbadger's review
dark
funny
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Racism, and Colonisation
cc0906's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
This book is a gripping and devastating read, but such a necessary one.
I'm a Puerto Rican woman who grew up in the states. I was taught the bare minimum about Puerto Rico in school, and my relatives didn't really speak of the island's past, so I endeavored to find a good book to teach me its history from the time the U.S. colonized it in 1898. Here, Denis has put together a meticulously researched account of the events that took place in Puerto Rico in the first half of the 20th century.
Let me emphasize that this is not an easy read. It took me a while to get through the book because at times, the accounts were hard to stomach and I needed to read it in small doses. But it's important to learn of the atrocities the U.S. has perpetuated against the people of Puerto Rico and others. It's important to know of Puerto Rico's turmoiled past to understand its troubled present. And it's important to keep the stories of the victims alive.
I do wish that the book more thoroughly covered the last 70 years, and at times it was a little repetitive due to the way the book is structured, but overall, this was a great read on the subject.
I'm a Puerto Rican woman who grew up in the states. I was taught the bare minimum about Puerto Rico in school, and my relatives didn't really speak of the island's past, so I endeavored to find a good book to teach me its history from the time the U.S. colonized it in 1898. Here, Denis has put together a meticulously researched account of the events that took place in Puerto Rico in the first half of the 20th century.
Let me emphasize that this is not an easy read. It took me a while to get through the book because at times, the accounts were hard to stomach and I needed to read it in small doses. But it's important to learn of the atrocities the U.S. has perpetuated against the people of Puerto Rico and others. It's important to know of Puerto Rico's turmoiled past to understand its troubled present. And it's important to keep the stories of the victims alive.
I do wish that the book more thoroughly covered the last 70 years, and at times it was a little repetitive due to the way the book is structured, but overall, this was a great read on the subject.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Confinement, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Medical trauma, and Colonisation
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, and Police brutality
Minor: Child death
riverofpages's review
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Everyone, especially in the Western world should read this book. Despite the fact that the pain I felt became more excruciating by the page, it’s now one of my favorite books. It’s filled with so many shockers (if you’re new to the histories of people of color) that include YOU as a central character. Should motivate anyone into action. Also the writing is very engaging.
I wish he’d write an exposé on race in Puerto Rico next but it seems he has no plans to continue writing books.
I wish he’d write an exposé on race in Puerto Rico next but it seems he has no plans to continue writing books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, War, Gun violence, Violence, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Genocide
Minor: Murder, Vomit, and Slavery
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