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emilyatmidnight's reviews
395 reviews
First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung
5.0
This is an amazing story that connects you to humanity and shows war and bloodshed for the horror it it. This is such a gripping tale. I cried so much but would read it again in the same day!!
TW: extreme violence, and sexual assult
TW: extreme violence, and sexual assult
Utopia by Thomas More
3.0
A very interesting read. It depicts a theoretical communist society, but interestingly one that goes to know effort to suggest any equality in value or rights of the sexes. There were a decent few thing that I thought were both valuable and good, while there were plenty of things I disagreed with.
Overall, I'm very glad I read it! It was interesting to see the full carry through of a lot of these ideas.
Overall, I'm very glad I read it! It was interesting to see the full carry through of a lot of these ideas.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2.0
It was an interesting story, but nothing special. Not worthy of being a part of every highschooler's curriculum, and certainly not worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with anything called a classic. Though it was interesting enough for a short read.
Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden
1.0
I really didn't like this book.
She starts out by basically saying "if you care about your body at all, stop using hormonal birth control, and if you don't? Don't even bother reading this book. Stop now" but then paragraphs later says that there are many circumstances when hormonal birth control really is the best option, but she down plays it as much as possible.
She also recommends the least effective form of birth control, the rhythm method, telling us that doctor's tell you know to use it because they don't think you are smart enough to do it, but you are. But all the while, she makes constant quips like "I bet you didn't know this" "I bet you didn't learn this in health class" "I'll bet you never understood this before."
Additionally, she suggests the rhythm method like it's the end all be all and that hormonal birth control was just something they did to put women down. But like, having control yourself over when you have a baby (without having to stop having sex) is the height of female liberation. I have a friend who tried the rhythm method but her husband pushed her to have sex anyway and she is having a baby during nursing school now. My friend was shamed by this book into thinking that the only method that is respectful of your body is the rhythm method and in the process she lost control of her body. I think turning people off of options is dangerous.
I have many other thoughts, but I can't sort through them now.
I could only get through the first half (part 1) before I felt so completely talked down to and talked over that I had to put it down.
I'd give it zero stars if I could.
She starts out by basically saying "if you care about your body at all, stop using hormonal birth control, and if you don't? Don't even bother reading this book. Stop now" but then paragraphs later says that there are many circumstances when hormonal birth control really is the best option, but she down plays it as much as possible.
She also recommends the least effective form of birth control, the rhythm method, telling us that doctor's tell you know to use it because they don't think you are smart enough to do it, but you are. But all the while, she makes constant quips like "I bet you didn't know this" "I bet you didn't learn this in health class" "I'll bet you never understood this before."
Additionally, she suggests the rhythm method like it's the end all be all and that hormonal birth control was just something they did to put women down. But like, having control yourself over when you have a baby (without having to stop having sex) is the height of female liberation. I have a friend who tried the rhythm method but her husband pushed her to have sex anyway and she is having a baby during nursing school now. My friend was shamed by this book into thinking that the only method that is respectful of your body is the rhythm method and in the process she lost control of her body. I think turning people off of options is dangerous.
I have many other thoughts, but I can't sort through them now.
I could only get through the first half (part 1) before I felt so completely talked down to and talked over that I had to put it down.
I'd give it zero stars if I could.
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
3.0
Very interesting storyline. This book sheds a lot of light on the hecka confusing movie by the same name.
But PLEASE, if you want to watch the movie, read the book first or you will be so confused it'll drive you mad. The movie isn't one of those movies you can just think about longer and then understand. They straight up just don't tell you anything
But PLEASE, if you want to watch the movie, read the book first or you will be so confused it'll drive you mad. The movie isn't one of those movies you can just think about longer and then understand. They straight up just don't tell you anything
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
5.0
This is the history book that every adult and child needs to read to really understand America.
I remember wondering why black people were more frequently poor than white people (I had heard racist explanations like "they don't work as hard" "they just spend their money on drugs" etc, but I was never able to believe those things were even a big part of the problem). This book holds the answers.
I learned about racist housing in college, but we barely touched the surface of the real history discussed in this book.
If you ever wonder "what do people *really* mean when they say institutionalized racism?" Or "why do so many people think reparations are important?" Then this book is for you.
Take time to understand the history taught in this book before you shut down a conversation about modern racism in America.
I remember wondering why black people were more frequently poor than white people (I had heard racist explanations like "they don't work as hard" "they just spend their money on drugs" etc, but I was never able to believe those things were even a big part of the problem). This book holds the answers.
I learned about racist housing in college, but we barely touched the surface of the real history discussed in this book.
If you ever wonder "what do people *really* mean when they say institutionalized racism?" Or "why do so many people think reparations are important?" Then this book is for you.
Take time to understand the history taught in this book before you shut down a conversation about modern racism in America.