alexdicanio's reviews
361 reviews

It's Not About the Burqa by Mariam Khan

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

This is a great collection of essays, all by Muslim women from a myriad of backgrounds. I will never know what it is like to experience life as a Muslim, or a woman of color, but this collection helped to strengthen my understanding of what Muslim women experience. 

I do not rate personal life stories/memoirs. 

Definitely recommend. 

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

 The premise of this is so interesting. For the most part, I enjoyed the slower pacing, which gave the reader a sense of eeriness and anxiety about what was to come, but there were a few times when it just seemed like the plot wasn't going anywhere. 

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

emotional informative relaxing medium-paced

 This was an incredible graphic novel. Highly recommend.

Disclaimer: I do not rate memoirs. 

100 Inspirational Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson by David Smith

fast-paced

3.0

Lightbringer by Claire Legrand

emotional tense slow-paced

4.0

Self-Reliance and Other Essays (Amazonclassics Edition) by Ralph Waldo Emerson

inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.25

The Trials of Life: A Natural History of Animal Behaviour by David Attenborough

slow-paced

3.0

Planet Earth in audiobook format. Thank you Sir David Attenborough

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad

challenging informative reflective

4.0

This is an excellent book that I think every white person should read. 

I believe that I'm self-aware; I'm an intersectional feminist, but there is always room for improvement to be a better ally to BIPOC. I thought about posting some powerful quotes from this book, but based on what I knew before reading this, and an idea that was reinforced with this book, when it comes to racism and systems of oppression, white people should not be leading the conversation, we need to be listening, we need to truly listen to understand how we can be better allies for people of color. So, I'd highly recommend reading this and really diving in deep. It will be uncomfortable, there's no prize at the end, no cookie, it's just the right thing to do. 

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75