Take a photo of a barcode or cover
crybabybea's reviews
251 reviews
Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Sustain a Thriving Garden by Tammy Wylie
informative
3.0
Good primer but nothing too crazy, didn't have a lot of details but gave me a good starting point
Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice by Jennifer Mullan
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Really really good and packed with information about how to dismantle white supremacy and other harmful systems in the mental health space. It's definitely geared toward practitioners but there is plenty of information for participants and clients as well.
Kind of a side note, but this offered a lot about burnout that I wasn't expecting, so I was pleasantly surprised as I read Emily and Amelia Nagoski's Burnout and felt disappointed that it didn't seem to have an intersectional lens. This offered a lot more to think about that was actually applicable to my life.
It talks about things that you probably more or less know about if you've read any timely books on psychology and mental health, such as epigenetics and intergenerational trauma, but it collects all of the research done in one place and the author uses it to explain how the colonized, white supremacist system tries to keep us from exploring those areas of trauma. Which is why decolonizing is so important.
I also really appreciated the sections about spirituality. Jennifer Mullan paid a lot of respect to different spiritualities, even those that she may not agree with, and honored their importance in the healing of grief and rage.
I think this is a 6/5 in terms of being a resource, but as a reading experience it got to be a bit much at times. You should be aware before reading this that it is a resource book and guidebook, which may make many of the chapters feel repetitive. Each chapter ends with a summary of the points discussed, a collection of ideas for pracitioners to begin implementing decolonial healing, and a set of affirmations to use when dealing with issues that might come up. There are also, intermittently, reflection questions that try to get you to break your habit of thinking and shift your perspective.
100% worth the read, I learned so much and had a lot of epiphanies.
Kind of a side note, but this offered a lot about burnout that I wasn't expecting, so I was pleasantly surprised as I read Emily and Amelia Nagoski's Burnout and felt disappointed that it didn't seem to have an intersectional lens. This offered a lot more to think about that was actually applicable to my life.
It talks about things that you probably more or less know about if you've read any timely books on psychology and mental health, such as epigenetics and intergenerational trauma, but it collects all of the research done in one place and the author uses it to explain how the colonized, white supremacist system tries to keep us from exploring those areas of trauma. Which is why decolonizing is so important.
I also really appreciated the sections about spirituality. Jennifer Mullan paid a lot of respect to different spiritualities, even those that she may not agree with, and honored their importance in the healing of grief and rage.
I think this is a 6/5 in terms of being a resource, but as a reading experience it got to be a bit much at times. You should be aware before reading this that it is a resource book and guidebook, which may make many of the chapters feel repetitive. Each chapter ends with a summary of the points discussed, a collection of ideas for pracitioners to begin implementing decolonial healing, and a set of affirmations to use when dealing with issues that might come up. There are also, intermittently, reflection questions that try to get you to break your habit of thinking and shift your perspective.
100% worth the read, I learned so much and had a lot of epiphanies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, War, Deportation
Revenge: Stories by Yōko Ogawa
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
A fun collection of stories that shows Yoko Ogawa's signature blunt prose, but nothing too special in terms of the stories themselves. Ogawa made an interesting choice to connect all the stories via the many characters, but it ended up falling flat for me and felt more like a fun gimmick than something impactful. I felt like the stories just missed going a bit deeper into the themes they were exploring.
I definitely felt Edgar Allen Poe vibes with the short stories though, and they made for a fun, weird romp.
I definitely felt Edgar Allen Poe vibes with the short stories though, and they made for a fun, weird romp.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Blood, Murder
Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference, and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by Jessica McDiarmid
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.25
A very compassionate, thorough account of the tragedy of MMIW on Canada's Highway of Tears.
I really appreciated how the author spent time with many of the standout cases of the Highway of Tears, and took an empathetic point of view on not only their case but their life and the way they affected their relatives and friends. I have a lot of issues with the genre of true crime, and I felt like this book was done with love & care with respect to the victims and their loved ones. If you are a fan of true crime, you will like the way this is written.
Jessica McDiarmid also made sure to talk about the many systemic issues, pointing out all the broken cogs in a broken wheel.
There were some times I wish the argumentation was a bit more solid and in-depth, and there could have been more acknowledgment of 2SLGBTQIA+ people, but to be honest, the breadth of this issue is huge, with so many systemic issues that play a role that could each have their own book. I have to appreciate that the author tackled this issue and the respectful way she approached it.
I really appreciated how the author spent time with many of the standout cases of the Highway of Tears, and took an empathetic point of view on not only their case but their life and the way they affected their relatives and friends. I have a lot of issues with the genre of true crime, and I felt like this book was done with love & care with respect to the victims and their loved ones. If you are a fan of true crime, you will like the way this is written.
Jessica McDiarmid also made sure to talk about the many systemic issues, pointing out all the broken cogs in a broken wheel.
There were some times I wish the argumentation was a bit more solid and in-depth, and there could have been more acknowledgment of 2SLGBTQIA+ people, but to be honest, the breadth of this issue is huge, with so many systemic issues that play a role that could each have their own book. I have to appreciate that the author tackled this issue and the respectful way she approached it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
I'm almost 300 pages in and I still do not give two fucks about anything and I actually physically dread picking this back up. I don't even want to try to finish it for brownie points to say I did it.
I went in prepared for complex world-building, a lush cast of characters, political intrigue and magic... I got some guy's poorly written D&D campaign. It's not confusing or complex, it's just boring and the author isn't a good enough writer to pull it off. The plot is contrived, the characters have no depth, the dialogue is boring, and the author builds the world through pages of infodump. Literally like you are reading a D&D campaign.
The preface annoyed me so bad I should have known this wasn't going to be good. I'm finally giving up after he introduced a character that talks only in the third person.
I went in prepared for complex world-building, a lush cast of characters, political intrigue and magic... I got some guy's poorly written D&D campaign. It's not confusing or complex, it's just boring and the author isn't a good enough writer to pull it off. The plot is contrived, the characters have no depth, the dialogue is boring, and the author builds the world through pages of infodump. Literally like you are reading a D&D campaign.
The preface annoyed me so bad I should have known this wasn't going to be good. I'm finally giving up after he introduced a character that talks only in the third person.
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.25
This was a really beautiful, atmospheric read that explored themes of grief, love, and loss. It's categorized as horror because there are some supernatural elements as well as some truly creepy scenes (especially for us with thalassophobia) but I would say it leans more literary than true heart-pumping horror, if that matters to you. Definitely strong gothic vibes.
I loved the moments of queer love; the safe space of meeting with other queer people, the uncomfortable boundaries queer couples have to draw in public to keep themselves safe, the way queer relationships cause rifts in families, the way queer people come together in community in times of hardship. It was bittersweet and a bit of a melancholic perspective that I felt worked well.
The best part of this book though is definitely the exploration of grief and of love found and lost. I found it incredibly moving, especially Miri's perspective as she struggles with learning to love Leah again after she comes back changed and broken. There were some incredibly poignant scenes where Miri's inner monologue goes through memories of "my Leah", the Leah she fell in love with and the desperation to have just one sliver of that joy again was heartbreaking. I think it would be relatable to anyone who has had relationship troubles of any kind, not even specifically loss via death or disappearance. I have never experienced a heavy loss, and still found parts of Miri and Leah's relationship relatable and poignant. For me, I think this speaks to the author's ability to write about grief wholly and fully -- not just the grief of loss but the bittersweet grief of human connection, change, and memory.
The usage of the ocean as a metaphor for grief was genius and really made everything hit harder for me. I loved that the book was split up into parts named after the different sections of the sea as the grief got deeper and eventually turned into acceptance. Really impressive and I think the author pulled it off so well.
I loved the moments of queer love; the safe space of meeting with other queer people, the uncomfortable boundaries queer couples have to draw in public to keep themselves safe, the way queer relationships cause rifts in families, the way queer people come together in community in times of hardship. It was bittersweet and a bit of a melancholic perspective that I felt worked well.
The best part of this book though is definitely the exploration of grief and of love found and lost. I found it incredibly moving, especially Miri's perspective as she struggles with learning to love Leah again after she comes back changed and broken. There were some incredibly poignant scenes where Miri's inner monologue goes through memories of "my Leah", the Leah she fell in love with and the desperation to have just one sliver of that joy again was heartbreaking. I think it would be relatable to anyone who has had relationship troubles of any kind, not even specifically loss via death or disappearance. I have never experienced a heavy loss, and still found parts of Miri and Leah's relationship relatable and poignant. For me, I think this speaks to the author's ability to write about grief wholly and fully -- not just the grief of loss but the bittersweet grief of human connection, change, and memory.
The usage of the ocean as a metaphor for grief was genius and really made everything hit harder for me. I loved that the book was split up into parts named after the different sections of the sea as the grief got deeper and eventually turned into acceptance. Really impressive and I think the author pulled it off so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Shutter by Ramona Emerson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Boring, don't like the writing, don't care about the plot, don't really care for cop stories. I thought the paranormal aspect and the perspective of a Navajo woman would make up for it but meh.
How to Spot a Fascist by Umberto Eco
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Some interesting points but it's just three essays, so it didn't get as deep as it could have. The information that was here was useful and eerie. A good primer to Umberto Eco I suppose.
The Wings Upon Her Back by Samantha Mills
If you want intense world-building with high-stakes political maneuvering, complex magic/technology systems, and a loveable cast of characters, I don't think you would like this. However, if you like more literary-type scifi that focuses on the philosophical, the introspection of one character, and open-ended questions that make you think, then definitely pick this one up.
dark
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
A really solid debut that pleasantly surprised me. It does suffer from some debut novel crunchiness, but overall I think it really showed Samantha Mills' talent and I like the ideas she had to offer. The author has a clear voice with some interesting stylistic choices that were tastefully done without being heavy-handed or overused.
This book is a bit different from other science fiction books with similar vibes. It does feel like a young adult dystopia in the sense that we see the typical setup; castes of people who each follow their own guidelines, an upper government overtaken by corruption and descending into authoritarianism, a main character who breaks the mold of the world she was given. But I felt the author added her own spin on the story we know well to give it a step up. She made the interesting choice to take a myopic view on the main character, telling the story in a split POV - the main character's time as an initiate in the military, then the main character's time after being removed from the military and subsequent disillusionment.
The main character is definitely morally grey. There are times you see her fight her military programming and you are literally begging her to make a different decision than you know she's going to make. She herself is sort of lost; how do you know what's right or wrong when the thing you've been told is right your whole life is suddenly pulled out from under you? I also appreciated that Zemolai is truly just a normal person who was manipulated into believing she was righteous. She's not stupid, or lacking skill, or in a desperate situation that she had no choice but to join. She made the choice, and continued to make choices that she thought were right, and she fights her own shame as she comes to the realization that the choices she made were harmful. I really liked the experience with her and I think the hyper-focused lens paid off in that sense.
But this decision the author made had its drawbacks too. I think this would have benefitted with some polishing on the world-building as well as the structure of the POVs. Personally, I would have liked to spend a bit more time with Zemolai as a soldier before her disillusionment. I felt like we were kind of thrown into her making the decision that incites the main plot, and it messed up the build-up of her character arc just a bit. I would have also liked to see just a bit more world-building, a bit more experience with the other sects. The cast of characters besides Zemolai fade into the background and basically serve as plot devices.
I think the author had a very particular goal in mind with this book, and it definitely shows, for the better or for the worse, depending on who you ask. For me, it really worked, and I found Zemolai's experience incredibly timely, relatable, and well thought-out. I liked how open-ended the story was left, so it became a sort of mirror for the reader to project onto. The struggle Zemolai faces could look like anything depending on the person; a toxic boss, generational cycles of abuse, an abusive partner, a religious leader, a political dictator. For that reason I think that means a lot of people can get a lot out of this book depending on their life experience and where they are at in their journey.
I think this beautiful quote sums up the overall theme:
This book is a bit different from other science fiction books with similar vibes. It does feel like a young adult dystopia in the sense that we see the typical setup; castes of people who each follow their own guidelines, an upper government overtaken by corruption and descending into authoritarianism, a main character who breaks the mold of the world she was given. But I felt the author added her own spin on the story we know well to give it a step up. She made the interesting choice to take a myopic view on the main character, telling the story in a split POV - the main character's time as an initiate in the military, then the main character's time after being removed from the military and subsequent disillusionment.
The main character is definitely morally grey. There are times you see her fight her military programming and you are literally begging her to make a different decision than you know she's going to make. She herself is sort of lost; how do you know what's right or wrong when the thing you've been told is right your whole life is suddenly pulled out from under you? I also appreciated that Zemolai is truly just a normal person who was manipulated into believing she was righteous. She's not stupid, or lacking skill, or in a desperate situation that she had no choice but to join. She made the choice, and continued to make choices that she thought were right, and she fights her own shame as she comes to the realization that the choices she made were harmful. I really liked the experience with her and I think the hyper-focused lens paid off in that sense.
But this decision the author made had its drawbacks too. I think this would have benefitted with some polishing on the world-building as well as the structure of the POVs. Personally, I would have liked to spend a bit more time with Zemolai as a soldier before her disillusionment. I felt like we were kind of thrown into her making the decision that incites the main plot, and it messed up the build-up of her character arc just a bit. I would have also liked to see just a bit more world-building, a bit more experience with the other sects. The cast of characters besides Zemolai fade into the background and basically serve as plot devices.
I think the author had a very particular goal in mind with this book, and it definitely shows, for the better or for the worse, depending on who you ask. For me, it really worked, and I found Zemolai's experience incredibly timely, relatable, and well thought-out. I liked how open-ended the story was left, so it became a sort of mirror for the reader to project onto. The struggle Zemolai faces could look like anything depending on the person; a toxic boss, generational cycles of abuse, an abusive partner, a religious leader, a political dictator. For that reason I think that means a lot of people can get a lot out of this book depending on their life experience and where they are at in their journey.
I think this beautiful quote sums up the overall theme:
Every step forward is a choice, and every choice is made in the shadow of choices we’ve made before. You are every person you have ever been, continual and simultaneous, an iterative being composed of a million decisions, large and small. The question is not whether you can shed the past, but at what point you begin to control your future.
If you want intense world-building with high-stakes political maneuvering, complex magic/technology systems, and a loveable cast of characters, I don't think you would like this. However, if you like more literary-type scifi that focuses on the philosophical, the introspection of one character, and open-ended questions that make you think, then definitely pick this one up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Amazing. I'm learning this year that I really enjoy nonfiction written by journalists, and Stephanie Foo is no exception. Her writing is accessible and engaging, seamlessly blending personal anecdotes, interviews, facts, and studies to support her main thesis. Foo's intelligence and self-reflection shine through her writing. Her clever humor and insightful conclusions were inspiring. The book feels like a journey alongside her, offering lessons in healing from trauma.
This is a must-read if you struggle with C-PTSD, or even if you just struggle with trauma or a different mental illness that affects your daily life. Even if you're familiar with C-PTSD, there's much to learn. The book's sad, hard-to-get-through moments are balanced with heartening and meditative insights, showing that healing is non-linear but ultimately intensely rewarding.
Foo's perspective as an Asian-American adds depth to her memoir, offering compassion for her family's experiences and the broader Asian-American community. She explores her family's past, connecting her trauma with collective experiences, and acknowledges the complexities beyond stereotypes.
I especially liked the penultimate part, which focused on her sessions with Dr. Jacob Ham. She unlocked a lot of self-discovery by having an open, loving, accepting relationship with her therapist. It was so heartfelt and inspiring to see that relationship blossom and ultimately help Stephanie recover and learn to accept love and kindness rather than self-flagellating and sinking into shame spirals. He emphasized the importance of reconnection and repair and revealed to Stephanie (and to me as a reader) that regulating your emotions and triggers is just the first step in a super complicated dance involving complex relationships and the damage and repair that happens in human connection.
The final couple of pages had me a complete sobbing mess. I really appreciated Stephanie's choice to end the book with a self-reflection about accepting her C-PTSD for what it is; not something that makes her broken and unlovable, but something that makes her who she is.
I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by the author so it feels intimate and personal. She also included the original audio recordings of her sessions with Dr. Ham, which was a really neat addition that made the audio experience feel more transformative.
This is a must-read if you struggle with C-PTSD, or even if you just struggle with trauma or a different mental illness that affects your daily life. Even if you're familiar with C-PTSD, there's much to learn. The book's sad, hard-to-get-through moments are balanced with heartening and meditative insights, showing that healing is non-linear but ultimately intensely rewarding.
Foo's perspective as an Asian-American adds depth to her memoir, offering compassion for her family's experiences and the broader Asian-American community. She explores her family's past, connecting her trauma with collective experiences, and acknowledges the complexities beyond stereotypes.
I especially liked the penultimate part, which focused on her sessions with Dr. Jacob Ham. She unlocked a lot of self-discovery by having an open, loving, accepting relationship with her therapist. It was so heartfelt and inspiring to see that relationship blossom and ultimately help Stephanie recover and learn to accept love and kindness rather than self-flagellating and sinking into shame spirals. He emphasized the importance of reconnection and repair and revealed to Stephanie (and to me as a reader) that regulating your emotions and triggers is just the first step in a super complicated dance involving complex relationships and the damage and repair that happens in human connection.
The final couple of pages had me a complete sobbing mess. I really appreciated Stephanie's choice to end the book with a self-reflection about accepting her C-PTSD for what it is; not something that makes her broken and unlovable, but something that makes her who she is.
I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by the author so it feels intimate and personal. She also included the original audio recordings of her sessions with Dr. Ham, which was a really neat addition that made the audio experience feel more transformative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Rape, Xenophobia, Murder, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
There is no actual car accident but there is an incident of abuse in which the author experiences her father driving maniacally and threatening to kill everyone in the car.