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elj_ne's review
slow-paced
3.5
Interesting, but I felt often a little like obvious facts dressed up academically and a bit dry/repetitive at points. Mostly about how the issues that cause gentrification are multiple and intersectional.
mwaltos's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
First of all, what an evocative title! Not only is it attention grabbing, it also alludes to the basic structure of the book. Kern’s novel starts with a very brief and concise overview of the history of the term gentrification, and then spends the vast majority of the book focusing on the various perspectives and beliefs about gentrification that inhibit resistance and naturalize the process. The book is written with a well executed intersectional lens which exposes how the “class story” of gentrification insufficiently captures the complexity of the issue. To fully understand how gentrification works, one needs to see how racism, ableism, sexism, and anti-queer sentiment fuels gentrification and makes the process disproportionately affect marginalized groups.
Towards the end, Kern starts to articulate an intersectional framework that can serve as the basis for anti-gentrification advocacy. Additionally, she includes some brief case studies of resistance, such as community land trusts or protests against evictions, and enumerates a variety of actions one can take in their daily life to limit their contribution to gentrification.
Kern writes in an accessible style that I highly respect and does a great job of referencing other scholars, especially ones with marginalized identities. This a great place to start if you are not particularly knowledgeable about gentrification, but it might serve you better as almost an annotated bibliography if you are more of an expert on housing issues.
Memorable Quote: "If our frame ignores or minimizes race, sexuality, gender colonialism, or ability, chances are our solutions will not form adequate barriers against the forces that drive gentrification or protect those vulnerable to displacement” (175).
freckled_frog_boi's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
As many stars as I can give it!!
This is an amazing read and I have been recommending it to all my friends as I worked my way through the book. I’m so excited to reread this in the future and write out a tbr list of other books that were mentioned in the text.
So incredibly important, a must-read!!
This is an amazing read and I have been recommending it to all my friends as I worked my way through the book. I’m so excited to reread this in the future and write out a tbr list of other books that were mentioned in the text.
So incredibly important, a must-read!!
macncheese_pdf's review
4.0
4.5 STARS
Thank you to NetGalley and Verso for the e-book! Gentrification Is Inevitable and Other Lies begins with Leslie Kern explaining the origins of gentrification in north London. With emphasis on the change of language, Kern shows that the way language has been changed to make the act seem less as harmful and more beneficial to communities by using terminology in the vein of ‘urban renewal’ and ‘revitalization’ to name a few. Analyzing connections between gentrification and culture, money, class, communities and more, she challenges readers to dismantle the ‘common sense’ train of thought that it is inevitable. In connection to other works on the topic, I was glad to see reference to Sarah Sculman’s The Gentrification of the Mind, another great read on the topic. I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Verso for the e-book! Gentrification Is Inevitable and Other Lies begins with Leslie Kern explaining the origins of gentrification in north London. With emphasis on the change of language, Kern shows that the way language has been changed to make the act seem less as harmful and more beneficial to communities by using terminology in the vein of ‘urban renewal’ and ‘revitalization’ to name a few. Analyzing connections between gentrification and culture, money, class, communities and more, she challenges readers to dismantle the ‘common sense’ train of thought that it is inevitable. In connection to other works on the topic, I was glad to see reference to Sarah Sculman’s The Gentrification of the Mind, another great read on the topic. I highly recommend!
emilyanne_'s review
informative
fast-paced
5.0
I learned so much from this book. I'd recommend it to anyone who has heard the term "gentrification" thrown around and wants some clarification.
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