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veethorn's review
5.0
I cried so many times while reading this book I made strangers in multiple countries worry about me. Possibly I shouldn't have been reading it in public. But it's beautiful, joyful, painful and I'm so glad it exists. Read it. It will make your next step a little easier.
mugren's review against another edition
1.0
How dare you compare this trash to the work of Ta-Nehisi Coates and James Baldwin?!
I was expecting the letters to cover a variety of dangerous times, rather than just 'Oh, no! Trump is now president'.
This is basically a book full of letters from 30 writers who have lived with blinders on in a world supposedly full of rainbows and fairies. Trump being elected president shouldn't be such a surprise for so many people, and the world can't get better if people don't wake up and realize that!
The only letter I liked was by Io Tillett Wright.
I was expecting the letters to cover a variety of dangerous times, rather than just 'Oh, no! Trump is now president'.
This is basically a book full of letters from 30 writers who have lived with blinders on in a world supposedly full of rainbows and fairies. Trump being elected president shouldn't be such a surprise for so many people, and the world can't get better if people don't wake up and realize that!
The only letter I liked was by Io Tillett Wright.
rekastormborn's review
5.0
I found this book to be by turns inspiring, tear-inducing, funny, heart-wrenching, and comforting. If the results of the 2016 presidential election left you reeling I highly recommend this book. It provides the comfort of not being alone in your confusion but also good advice on how to move forward and frame your next step moving through this.
shirleenr's review
4.0
full review - to come
I'd recommend. I foresee myself reading Radical Hope when I'm depressed about our current political climate in the U.S.. Favorite contributions: Mona Eltahawy, Karen Joy Fowler, Francisco Goldman, Kate Schatz. Aya De Leon, Jeff Chang,
Question for anyone who read this book: Thoughts about the unifying device - each writer addresses their letter to their children? 95% of the writers wrote to actual children. Cristina Garcia' wrote to a child she imagined 7 generations from now into the future. Did this m.o. irritate anyone? Or become a restraint on the essays that backfired, in your opinion?
I'd recommend. I foresee myself reading Radical Hope when I'm depressed about our current political climate in the U.S.. Favorite contributions: Mona Eltahawy, Karen Joy Fowler, Francisco Goldman, Kate Schatz. Aya De Leon, Jeff Chang,
Question for anyone who read this book: Thoughts about the unifying device - each writer addresses their letter to their children? 95% of the writers wrote to actual children. Cristina Garcia' wrote to a child she imagined 7 generations from now into the future. Did this m.o. irritate anyone? Or become a restraint on the essays that backfired, in your opinion?
amyetherington's review
4.0
On 8th November 2016, Donald Trump was elected as the 45th President of the United States. Since then many Americans have been overcome with fear, worrying about what will become of American society during Trump’s administration. Carolina de Robertis was no exception to this fear and in response to the newly elected President and his policies she put out a call for action. Radical Hope is the outcome to this call. De Robertis reached out to fellow writers and activists asking for letters, predominantly letters of love, addressed to the citizens of today and those of past and future generations in order to help spread hope during times of uncertainty.
This is powerful stuff. In the aftermath of Trump’s election the fear felt by so many across America was so strong it shook the U.K. and other countries throughout the world. In this collection many different writers come together to share their letters to loved ones, strangers, and children of the future. Each of them is unique but they all share one thing in common: the hope for a better future. Some of the contributors to this work include Celeste Ng, Meredith Russo, Chip Livingston, Lisa See – some more well-known than others but as writers they use their words to create a sense of solidarity, regardless of race or religion or sexual orientation.
The letters in this book provide a voice to numerous different stories from all walks of life. The writers themselves come from countless countries including Syria, Egypt, India, Mexico, Guatemala, Russia, as well as various places throughout Europe and each of them identifies the United States as their home. Each letter focuses on a different life and a new story waiting to be told. They are intelligently written; each one branded with the author’s own unique style. The definitive message that stands out from this collection is about hope and how words help to spread that hope, but it is also about not being silent and vocalises stories about courage and strength in order to fight hatred and anger. In the current political climate Radical Hope is the perfect commentary on how affairs of government affect the lives of ordinary people.
This is a tricky one to review in some respects because despite the book’s overarching themes and collective message, some of the letters spoke to me more than others. Like any short story or essay collection, some are going to stand out more depending on the reader and that very much applies here. But the purpose behind all of these letters is a powerful one and the fact that they are all written by a different contributor adds to the message of the book. It speaks to so many on numerous levels that whoever picks it up will surely find a letter within its pages that they identify with.
This is a stunningly powerful book that I believe most readers will benefit from and I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to read it.
Radical Hope was sent to me for review by The Bookbag.
This is powerful stuff. In the aftermath of Trump’s election the fear felt by so many across America was so strong it shook the U.K. and other countries throughout the world. In this collection many different writers come together to share their letters to loved ones, strangers, and children of the future. Each of them is unique but they all share one thing in common: the hope for a better future. Some of the contributors to this work include Celeste Ng, Meredith Russo, Chip Livingston, Lisa See – some more well-known than others but as writers they use their words to create a sense of solidarity, regardless of race or religion or sexual orientation.
The letters in this book provide a voice to numerous different stories from all walks of life. The writers themselves come from countless countries including Syria, Egypt, India, Mexico, Guatemala, Russia, as well as various places throughout Europe and each of them identifies the United States as their home. Each letter focuses on a different life and a new story waiting to be told. They are intelligently written; each one branded with the author’s own unique style. The definitive message that stands out from this collection is about hope and how words help to spread that hope, but it is also about not being silent and vocalises stories about courage and strength in order to fight hatred and anger. In the current political climate Radical Hope is the perfect commentary on how affairs of government affect the lives of ordinary people.
This is a tricky one to review in some respects because despite the book’s overarching themes and collective message, some of the letters spoke to me more than others. Like any short story or essay collection, some are going to stand out more depending on the reader and that very much applies here. But the purpose behind all of these letters is a powerful one and the fact that they are all written by a different contributor adds to the message of the book. It speaks to so many on numerous levels that whoever picks it up will surely find a letter within its pages that they identify with.
This is a stunningly powerful book that I believe most readers will benefit from and I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to read it.
Radical Hope was sent to me for review by The Bookbag.
applescc's review
5.0
Beautiful book. So many different voices and perspectives all raised in solidarity. Loved it.
kendrarousseau's review
4.0
My librarian tucked this in my bag, and she was right that I needed it right now. I appreciated the many letters expressing why and how to hold on to hope in the midst of such despair in our country. Of course, these were written 4 years ago after the election, so I would love to read an updated version. Now that we’ve seen JUST how bad things have gotten, and we see people continue to blindly support this bigoted, hateful, corrupt man despite all the evidence and reasons not to, how do we continue to hold on to hope? Some of the letters felt more powerful than others, but on the whole I loved slowly reading through this anthology, one or two letters a day, and feeling assured that there is still reason for radical hope.
heystaceykay's review
2.0
So glad this collection exists; the fears expounded upon throughout the various letters are still being experienced by so many of us who see the callousness with which the underprivileged are treated. The main reason this received just two stars is because the writers’ tones varied so dramatically from one letter to the next. It became nearly impossible for me to retain my concentration across the different “chapters.” Still a worthy book with which to spend time.
alltheradreads's review
5.0
Absolutely loved this one. It’s exactly the words I needed in this political season in America that often leaves me feeling discouraged and hopeless. These letters written by so many diverse and brilliant authors are wildly different from one another, collectively pointing to hope, beauty, bravery, and a better tomorrow. They are rich, moving, heartfelt, striking, and convicting. They opened my eyes and broke my heart and encouraged me so much. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum or how you feel about the state of things these days, I highly recommend reading this one if for no other reason than to better understand how others are feeling these days. This should be required reading for all Americans right now, really.