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3littlewordz's reviews
178 reviews
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I picked this up because Dr. Kalanithi's wife was interviewed for another book I recently finished, Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn. I've also seen it recommended several times. My God! I was crying while driving and listening to the audiobook. For such a young life full of potential to be taken so soon... as Lucy, Paul's wife said in the epilogue: "Paul's death was tragic, but he is not a tragedy." Even before his diagnosis, he thoughtfully pondered what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of either great, collaborative care, or the care that unfortunately seems to be the standard in the US (far too short, not collaborative and open between doctor and patient, etc). Because of his deep love of literature, Paul's writing was deep and reflective, approaching his terminal diagnosis and death with nuance rarely seen.
I mourn for the contributions Dr. Kalanithi could have made to neurosurgery, science and literature. He deserved more years!
I mourn for the contributions Dr. Kalanithi could have made to neurosurgery, science and literature. He deserved more years!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
In Conversations on Love, Natasha Lunn uses her own life experiences and interviews with leading experts on relationships and love (familial, friendship, and romantic) to dig into finding love, nurturing and sustaining love, and dealing with the loss of love, either through divorce, dissolution of friendships or death. The combined immersive experience of reading the physical book while listening to the audiobook has been fantastic! Each interviewee recorded for the audiobook and hearing their personalities emphasized their points even further. Digesting and discussing this text would be a great exercise with your partner and/or loved ones.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Grief, and Death of parent
Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine by Uché Blackstock
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Legacy by Dr. Uche Blackstock is a must-read if you touch healthcare in any way, or if you're a student of how racism, sexism, and health intersect. I nodded knowingly in agreement for each stat and story Dr. Blackstock introduced, having read many other texts and articles on the topic of racism in healthcare and pulling from my personal experience. Dr. Blackstock touched on racism and exclusion in medical academic training spaces, implicit bias among healthcare providers, lack of access in minority communities, how the pandemic exacerbated health disparities, and my passion, diversity (or the lack thereof) in clinical trials. I especially appreciated Chapter 15's call to arms for every subset of society - every single one of us has a stake in and work to do to radically overhaul this system. Legacy is yet another book to add to the syllabus when educating yourself on racism in medicine and healthcare.
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This was an 8 month journey to complete 😂
I enjoyed overall and it provided so much context to the news I remember reading during Obama's first term. It was incredibly well-written, detailed but LONG. My goodness, oh so long. I could have read it straight through in a week or so, but I have to space out the density with other books. Still, I'm very ready for the next installment, which should cover the second campaign and term.
I enjoyed overall and it provided so much context to the news I remember reading during Obama's first term. It was incredibly well-written, detailed but LONG. My goodness, oh so long. I could have read it straight through in a week or so, but I have to space out the density with other books. Still, I'm very ready for the next installment, which should cover the second campaign and term.
Christmas in Rose Bend by Naima Simone
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is Harlequin modernized and i enjoyed! I'm not the biggest romance reader, but will read Black authors. Figured a quick Christmas romance read was just the thing for my low-key Christmas. This was easy to predict, but still fun to read. Definitely laughed out loud a few times and there was a lot of spice 😉
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America by Kiese Laymon
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall, I enjoyed this debut novel. The premise of the story was simple yet bold and intriguing - what does it mean to be Black in a world without White people? What makes a person Black, White or other? Is Black a phenotypic description or something deeper? I appreciated how the plot explored these concepts and more, particularly how racism and white supremacy can infect your psyche and push you to practice it in the absence of oppression. It also beautifully displayed the power of unity without requiring uniformity (word to Audre Lorde).
Unfortunately, some of the story got lost in the convoluted, flowery descriptions and some plotlines could have been better explored. The ending seemed unfinished - not like a cliff hanger, but like the author had a deadline to meet and rushed to throw something together. Overall though, great read that I couldn't put down! Looking forward to what Cebo Campbell gives us next.
Unfortunately, some of the story got lost in the convoluted, flowery descriptions and some plotlines could have been better explored. The ending seemed unfinished - not like a cliff hanger, but like the author had a deadline to meet and rushed to throw something together. Overall though, great read that I couldn't put down! Looking forward to what Cebo Campbell gives us next.
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed this book overall. It was mostly well-paced until we reached the end, which flew by. My one retraction was tue family dynamic. It seems in many of our stories we have extremes: an absolute horrible mother (or father) with seemingly no explanation as to how they got that way, or a single parent who has to sacrifice almost all of themselves to make sure their kids are good. I'd love more nuance.
skin & bones by Renée Watson
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Death of parent
Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Way too light on the dialogue. Felt so rushed and repetitive. Aware it's targeted to a YA audience, but there could have been far more nuanced and developed. We get introduced to two new civilizations in around 350 pages? Ehh. Not horrible, but could have been far more developed.