casieb's reviews
157 reviews

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

challenging hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

North Woods: A Novel by Daniel Mason

adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

I truly loved this book. It was beautifully detailed, I felt completely emersed in this story and didn't want to put it down. There are lots of characters and story lines which can make it hard to follow. But each character is connected from one to the next. It is beautiful, magical and laugh loud funny at times. Loved this story! this is one that I will re-read and probably love it even more each time. As I got to the end I found myself excited to go back and read again.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

I'm not sure I'm smart enough to truly appreciate this book. I couldn't connect or really understand what was happening. Don't let my 2 stars deter you. I just couldn't figure out or connect. clearly with its awards it's an excellent book.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

2.0

Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom by Derecka Purnell

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This is so incredibly thought provoking. I am new to abolition but the books I've read have changed how I think of everything. When recommending abolition books I've read I always say you should read Michelle Alexander's book the New Jim Crow first because I don't believe you, or rather white people like myself, can truly be open to progressive change unless you understand how completely and corruptly the prison industrial complex is failing all of American society. This book is The New Jim Crow and abolition in one. I will always recommend The New Jim Crow but this book is incredible. Everyone should read this book. And when it comes to abolition there are so many incredible recommendations but I think this should be everyone's starting point!

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

3.5

This book was very informative and worth reading. His choice to never mention the genocide being committed by zionists in Isreal was incredibly disappointing. He mentioned Isreal and Palestine in passing so this definitely seemed intentional. The information in this book is important and worth reading. Referencing Isreals current and on going fascist atrocities would have helped connect everything and educated many who have no doubt be subjected to genocidal propaganda. One of his main points on fascism. I didn't rate this book higher because of this very important  hole in the conversation. But this book is still important and worth reading.

America: The Farewell Tour by Chris Hedges

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

There There by Tommy Orange

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This is a little hard to follow because there are so many characters but it is worth it!