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moonyreadsbystarlight's reviews
576 reviews
What's Your Pronoun?: Beyond He and She by Dennis Baron
informative
3.75
Star ratings are hard. This has a lot of neat information, but it's not a book for everyone. And the more I think about it, the more critiques I have tbh.
This history of the gender neutral pronoun was interesting. I did learn a lot - the majority of it focused on the 1800s and early-mid 1900s (though it does touch on times before and after as well). I didn't know that there was so much pronoun discourse in these early days - nor how similarly it was used politically by people (largely white men) to degrade and deflect from more tangible issues*.
This history of the gender neutral pronoun was interesting. I did learn a lot - the majority of it focused on the 1800s and early-mid 1900s (though it does touch on times before and after as well). I didn't know that there was so much pronoun discourse in these early days - nor how similarly it was used politically by people (largely white men) to degrade and deflect from more tangible issues*.
This was, however, quite repetative. I didnt mind so much in the beginning because it was a lot that I didnt know, but by the time the last chapters of the book came around, it was a little cumbersome. I think since they included the chronogy chapter, they could have cut or integrated some examples earlier in the book.
While the discussion about the past was very strong, I don't think the discussion of contemporary neopronoun usage was. That is actually what I came into the book knowing more about, so it was a little dissapointing to see how little it was engaged with when he was making his case for singular they at the very end of the book. I don't even really disagree that "they" makes the most sense as a singular gender neutral term more broadly (considering how the language has evolved organically... though I do take issue with some of his reasoning - but this review is already too long without all of that). But I don't think he engaged with current neopronoun usage enough. I don't expect it to be handled with the same rigor as the rest of the book (because his research is clearly more historical - a current look into it all would be quite different) but I think it could have been improved.
All that is to say, it has a lot of information. I found it very interesting and would recommend it to people already interested in the topic of historical pronoun usage with the caviat about repetition. However, if you're on the fence about reading a book that's about grammar and grammar seems a bit dry to you, this might not be the best one to start with (intro and first chapter are interesting if you want the main points, but the rest does get a but in the weeds).
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*not that pronouns are unimportant. But when "but the integrity of the English language!" is the focus when women or trans people are facing, like, violence... it's pedantic at best and an accessory to violence at worst.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Deadnaming
Plantains and Our Becoming: Poems by Melania Luisa Marte
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
3.0
I feel sort of bad criticizing a poetry collection, especially knowing how personal they can be. But I had a lot of mixed feelings about this collection.
There were some poems in this that I liked or made me feel. I thought it started really strong with the first several poems. And even on into the book, I particularly enjoyed the ones about her family members, and some in the beginning of part two.
However, some of this felt corny and politically confused. For every little bit of interesting commentary or revolutionary reference, there were three or more poems with empty liberal buzzwords/phrases that served no real end. And unfortunately, the parts that felt more trite impacted pieces that I think I could have liked alright had I seen them alone and not in context of these others.
There were some poems in this that I liked or made me feel. I thought it started really strong with the first several poems. And even on into the book, I particularly enjoyed the ones about her family members, and some in the beginning of part two.
However, some of this felt corny and politically confused. For every little bit of interesting commentary or revolutionary reference, there were three or more poems with empty liberal buzzwords/phrases that served no real end. And unfortunately, the parts that felt more trite impacted pieces that I think I could have liked alright had I seen them alone and not in context of these others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Genocide, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
Generations: A Memoir by Lucille Clifton
emotional
reflective
5.0
This is a short but compelling and poetic memoir of a family. It ripples and echoes around various ancestors to show us a partial and particular picture of the author and her family. This isnt an epic about the details of a family, but the details that are shared speak volumes about family and do paint a vivid emotional picture about the dynamics of this family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Slavery, Medical content, and Murder
An Unexpected Turn by Meka James
adventurous
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
A cute little novella. Two very different personalities but they come that come together in a realistic way. There is a lot about autonomy and trust that I really appreciate (I picked this up bc that's what I saw in the other novella that I've read by this author as well).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Grief
Pageboy by Elliot Page
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
5.0
I really loved this! It seems like the nonlinear story telling is something that folks seem really divided on, but I thought he did it really well. I enjoyed the way he wrote generally speaking, but also specifically the nonlinear narrative.
I really resonated with the way he described some more internal experiences - as a fellow pisces, that internal escapism is unfortunately quite a mood (especially re: the closet and gender dysphoria). I really enjoyed the different aspects of relationships he discussed in here and the discussion of boundaries and autonomy. There were definitely some hard parts to read emotionally, but it was all really well done and I really liked this book!
I really resonated with the way he described some more internal experiences - as a fellow pisces, that internal escapism is unfortunately quite a mood (especially re: the closet and gender dysphoria). I really enjoyed the different aspects of relationships he discussed in here and the discussion of boundaries and autonomy. There were definitely some hard parts to read emotionally, but it was all really well done and I really liked this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Excrement, Vomit, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Body shaming, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Colonisation
Imagination: A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
5.0
This was such an incredible book! The author discusses how Imagination is essential for social change. In order to change the world, we must first have a vision in mind. But she doesn't leave it there in some vauge terms - there are examples of so many different ways that the current larger social imaginations ideas are harmful and examples of how alternatives have been imagined and even implemented. She shows the importance of imaginations and how imperative it is to have creative solutions that center solidarity and community to change the systems and create a world we want to live in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Cannibalism
Palestinian Walks: Forays Into a Vanishing Landscape by Raja Shehadeh
inspiring
reflective
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death and War
Squire by Nadia Shammas
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This was interesting, well thought out, and beautiful. I loved a lot of the characters but the thing that really stood out was the discussion around history.
I do think that it was rushed some near the end, but considering the time restraints of a standalone with a large concept like this, it's understandable. This was really engaging overall with some really neat details in the art and themes.
I do think that it was rushed some near the end, but considering the time restraints of a standalone with a large concept like this, it's understandable. This was really engaging overall with some really neat details in the art and themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Unfamiliar, Vol. 2 by Haley Newsome
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse