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alicia_ann_reads's reviews
483 reviews
Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus by Rick Perlstein
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Disclaimer: I went into this book with a very mediocre understanding of basic US Politics (I'm Canadian)
I read this as part of a bookclub.
My bookclub peeps get 5 stars for helping me understand things
The book gets 3 stars.
It was incredibly informative, you could tell it was well researched by the fact that 30% of the book was actually notes, although nothing in the actual text had labelled endnotes.
Sometimes I felt like I was reading a suspense book where I already read all the spoilers.
The author does a good job of meandering to his point but starting it, going off on several related tangents (while name dropping at least 20 new people per chapter) to finally circle back to the original point. Only by this time I've often forgotten who we were talking about.
[I want to tell you about this, but before I can do that I need to tell you about this and this, but to understand that you really need to know about this, okay back to the first this, a conclusion and then finally the first point is made]
If I'd have had a little prior knowledge about who some of these people were, perhaps iad have followed along a little better.
The second half of the book which covers the convention, primary and the final campaigning was pretty interesting.
I read this as part of a bookclub.
My bookclub peeps get 5 stars for helping me understand things
The book gets 3 stars.
It was incredibly informative, you could tell it was well researched by the fact that 30% of the book was actually notes, although nothing in the actual text had labelled endnotes.
Sometimes I felt like I was reading a suspense book where I already read all the spoilers.
The author does a good job of meandering to his point but starting it, going off on several related tangents (while name dropping at least 20 new people per chapter) to finally circle back to the original point. Only by this time I've often forgotten who we were talking about.
[I want to tell you about this, but before I can do that I need to tell you about this and this, but to understand that you really need to know about this, okay back to the first this, a conclusion and then finally the first point is made]
If I'd have had a little prior knowledge about who some of these people were, perhaps iad have followed along a little better.
The second half of the book which covers the convention, primary and the final campaigning was pretty interesting.
They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom by Dena Takruri, Ahed Tamimi
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I listened to this vida audiobook and it was fantastic.
This is both a memoir, a historical overview and a call for resistance.
Ahed Tamimi talks about her life growing up in the West Bank, her call to activism/resistance and her experience in the Israeli prison system.
It's fantastic for people first learning about apartheid, and outside of Gaza, highlights Israeli settler colonialism and just how Palestinians have been treated.
This is both a memoir, a historical overview and a call for resistance.
Ahed Tamimi talks about her life growing up in the West Bank, her call to activism/resistance and her experience in the Israeli prison system.
It's fantastic for people first learning about apartheid, and outside of Gaza, highlights Israeli settler colonialism and just how Palestinians have been treated.
Squire by Sara Alfageeh, Nadia Shammas
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.5
I loved the story and art of this graphic novel, I think it's a pretty excellent way to demonstrate power imbalance, war, self identity and justice.
I really appreciated the notes from the authors at the end explaining their intentions and a bit of history.
Definitely going to read this again with my child.
I really appreciated the notes from the authors at the end explaining their intentions and a bit of history.
Definitely going to read this again with my child.
Pollution Is Colonialism by Max Liboiron
informative
slow-paced
3.0
This rating doesn't really mean anything.
I learned some interesting things, and several other things went over my head.
I read this to challenge myself with non fiction and topics I'm not super familiar with.
I really appreciated how the author reflect a lot on the Land and how different areas have different practices and how they could adjust their scientific testing accordingly.
I learned some interesting things, and several other things went over my head.
I read this to challenge myself with non fiction and topics I'm not super familiar with.
I really appreciated how the author reflect a lot on the Land and how different areas have different practices and how they could adjust their scientific testing accordingly.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book!!
This is a top tier read for me. Diverse, multifaceted characters, plot and the world building!
The characters in the book are also telling the story, and you get these little brief interludes when they argue amongst themselves or insert a quip before diving back into the story I've never seen before.
This flourishes with Arab culture and folklore, and was so tense, and so many completely unsurprising things occurred!
I love that the characters are older.
This book is queer normative and fantastic.
This is a top tier read for me. Diverse, multifaceted characters, plot and the world building!
The characters in the book are also telling the story, and you get these little brief interludes when they argue amongst themselves or insert a quip before diving back into the story I've never seen before.
This flourishes with Arab culture and folklore, and was so tense, and so many completely unsurprising things occurred!
I love that the characters are older.
This book is queer normative and fantastic.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I don't typically rate memoirs, but this one was just so good.
Partly because I could see my own trauma all throughout and it was written in the second person which made it incredibly cathartic; but also because the author interspersed her memoir with information, other stories and events that paralleled or highlighted her, and others experiences and was written in an almost poetic manner.
Just such a phenomenal book.
Partly because I could see my own trauma all throughout and it was written in the second person which made it incredibly cathartic; but also because the author interspersed her memoir with information, other stories and events that paralleled or highlighted her, and others experiences and was written in an almost poetic manner.
Just such a phenomenal book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content
Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcohol
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I mean this was okay... It was really a Romeo and Juliet retelling... But there were nods to it.. albeit kind of annoying ones.
I loved the idea of the madness/monster but it felt like there was so much missing.
There were so many character POVs that didn't really need to be there, and weren't super easy to differentiate on the audiobook; whether that be narrator or a lack of distinct voices from the author, or both.
The ending surprise was decent.
I originally chose this for the trans female rep but she's mostly a side character.
I loved the idea of the madness/monster but it felt like there was so much missing.
There were so many character POVs that didn't really need to be there, and weren't super easy to differentiate on the audiobook; whether that be narrator or a lack of distinct voices from the author, or both.
The ending surprise was decent.
I originally chose this for the trans female rep but she's mostly a side character.
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.75
I really loved this book.
The author breaks down first what radical self love means, and then uses it to break down several questions/categories of internalized fatphobia, racism, trans and queer phobia etc.
This book speaks on intersectionality and our implicit bias.
My favourite analogy was the use of language, how even when we learn new languages our default is to think in our native language and translate it into the new; even if we evolve to speak the native language less and the new language more, thoughts will still pop up in our native language.
Those are our Implicit biases and she goes on to explain how they aren't actually our thoughts but the social conditioning we've grown up with, and that was powerful to me.
Plus they cover 😍
The author breaks down first what radical self love means, and then uses it to break down several questions/categories of internalized fatphobia, racism, trans and queer phobia etc.
This book speaks on intersectionality and our implicit bias.
My favourite analogy was the use of language, how even when we learn new languages our default is to think in our native language and translate it into the new; even if we evolve to speak the native language less and the new language more, thoughts will still pop up in our native language.
Those are our Implicit biases and she goes on to explain how they aren't actually our thoughts but the social conditioning we've grown up with, and that was powerful to me.
Plus they cover 😍
The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Really enjoyed this book!
Loved the flower magic and magic in general, loved the blossoming relationships that I hope find some sort of close in the next book as there are lots of loose threads.
Loved the flower magic and magic in general, loved the blossoming relationships that I hope find some sort of close in the next book as there are lots of loose threads.
Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care by Kelly Hayes, Mariame Kaba
informative
medium-paced
5.0
As someone who is working at being ally, reading and learning about activism is really helpful.
I found this book easy to follow and I really appreciated the various topics discussed.
I loved that throughout the focus really remained on small ripples, community and self care.
I found this book easy to follow and I really appreciated the various topics discussed.
I loved that throughout the focus really remained on small ripples, community and self care.