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Just finished and I’m speechless. The writing and storytelling is excellent. The story itself is so powerful. This book is giving me the “post-read blues.” I wish it kept going. I think this book should be read in schools because its message is so important.
*SPOILERS*
I thought Letty (though she sucks!!) being included in the story was so so so important for white readers, especially white women. There’s generally two main reactions to experiencing oppression: 1) I want to have privilege, and if I get it, I will never let it go (even at the expense of others like me) and 2) I want to dismantle the system so all people like me can have that privilege. Letty falls into the first category, and I think most readers hate her, but we really need to examine if we in fact are like Letty. Do we try to lift ourselves up without lifting others up? Do we believe all can share the wealth, or are we so fearful that it will be taken from us, we will do anything to keep it? While it’s important to understand the fear that Letty (and white women) experience in revolution, we must challenge it. Brave women before us sacrificed so much so that we might have better lives. They were afraid, but still they endured.
Letty’s character calls people of privilege to be brave and put their privileges on the line for others. We can hate and be angry at Letty all we want, but we need to reflect on our own lives and hold ourselves accountable. We need to vote for others, not just ourselves. We need to include other voices, not just ones that we’re comfortable with. We need to change, not just sit comfortably in our ivory towers.
I also really appreciated the ending, sad as it was. Revolution does not happen without sacrifice and tragedy, unfortunately. Revolution takes time and collaboration, which the author beautifully exhibited. There also comes splits of ideas, and the age-old question of is violence or peace more powerful in revolution is inevitable.
Easily one of the best books I’ve ever read.
*SPOILERS*
I thought Letty (though she sucks!!) being included in the story was so so so important for white readers, especially white women. There’s generally two main reactions to experiencing oppression: 1) I want to have privilege, and if I get it, I will never let it go (even at the expense of others like me) and 2) I want to dismantle the system so all people like me can have that privilege. Letty falls into the first category, and I think most readers hate her, but we really need to examine if we in fact are like Letty. Do we try to lift ourselves up without lifting others up? Do we believe all can share the wealth, or are we so fearful that it will be taken from us, we will do anything to keep it? While it’s important to understand the fear that Letty (and white women) experience in revolution, we must challenge it. Brave women before us sacrificed so much so that we might have better lives. They were afraid, but still they endured.
Letty’s character calls people of privilege to be brave and put their privileges on the line for others. We can hate and be angry at Letty all we want, but we need to reflect on our own lives and hold ourselves accountable. We need to vote for others, not just ourselves. We need to include other voices, not just ones that we’re comfortable with. We need to change, not just sit comfortably in our ivory towers.
I also really appreciated the ending, sad as it was. Revolution does not happen without sacrifice and tragedy, unfortunately. Revolution takes time and collaboration, which the author beautifully exhibited. There also comes splits of ideas, and the age-old question of is violence or peace more powerful in revolution is inevitable.
Easily one of the best books I’ve ever read.