alyx's reviews
113 reviews

Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

4.75

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho

hopeful informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

3.75

Very elementary--which isn't a bad thing! I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to anyone well-read in Black history, anti-racist praxis, or critical race theory, BUT I think this is a great read for white people (and potentially non-Black people of color, but I can't speak to that pov!) just beginning their journey just starting to think critically about anti-Blackness in our society. 

As someone who's read and reflected a decent amount about race and racism (I'm no expert, but I sincerely hope I'm no longer a beginner), I enjoyed this book because it was a good model of how to start conversations and frame basic concepts to other, less racially aware white people without jumping too far ahead to theory and making them shut down.

Acho is a wonderful writer and narrator (I listened to the audiobook), and I enjoyed his unique (compared to other prominent Black American writers) analogies and perspective.

Daemon Voices by Philip Pullman

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers by Faith G. Harper

4.0

Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052–2072 by Eman Abdelhadi, M.E. O'Brien

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present by Dara Horn

dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

4.25

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance Comic Book: Revised and Expanded by Gord Hill, Pamela Palmater

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense 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

4.5