helenecats's reviews
218 reviews

Sad by Design: On Platform Nihilism by Geert Lovink

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

2.75

We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This is an excellent choice for #womenintranslationmonth A short, addictive read. Our narrator works as a moderator for Facebook (even though the website is not explicitly mentioned, there are many clues) and she takes us through the highs and lows of her job, as well as her friendships and relationships, some more dysfunctional than others…

I was surprised to see so many negative reviews on Goodreads. For me, this book packed a punch and succeeded in showing how dehumanised people are on and offline, and the real trauma and desensitisation people face long-term.

Even though it is fiction, most of it was inspired by accounts from actual moderators. I went on to read some of the newspaper articles on that topic, which are quoted at the end, and it seems like the author didn't make many things up, sadly.

The toxic relationships, last few pages and the abrupt ending frustrated many readers, but I thought it was all quite clever. 

If you like unreliable narrators, queer rep, and can cope with the trigger warnings (I'm sure the full list is easily available - I won't include them here as I'm scared my post will be taken down!) Then I say go for it. Please chat with me about it in the comments, as the last time I was so engrossed in a book was probably when I read Tender is the Flesh.

My Body by Emily Ratajkowski

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

I got the ebook for 99p and read it in 4 days. Her writing style was engaging and quite candid. On the other hand, I felt disappointed by the lack of exploration of deeper themes. It is effectively an account of her professional life so far - the good, the bad and the ugly. There are also bits about her mum, her first boyfriend and her husband.

It felt a bit voyeuristic at times and the essays were not written in a chronological or even logical order. I was perplexed about the absence of commentary about the impact of her choices on other young women and girls, as well as boys. No self-awareness when it comes to her life choices, which completely play into the hands of the male gaze and capitalism. 

Have I learnt anything by reading this book? Not much, no. I was already aware of how objectified women in the fashion/modelling industry are. Especially beautiful ones with her body type.

I usually highlight lots of passages from memoirs and non-fiction books. In this one, I've highlighted barely any. They are valid reflections (albeit somewhat naive) but they don't seem to be accompanied by concrete actions or life changes 🤔 

Would I recommend it? Again, I'm not sure. Perhaps for young women who are considering this career path? She has made a lot of money, but is she actually happy? She does not go there, really. And the events that happened after the book make me sad. I didn't find the book as a whole empowering. But nor do I find her IG feed relevant and fun to look at… Soooo yeah. 

Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism by Aja Barber

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Very good indeed. I follow Aja on Instagram  so thought I'd finally read her book. There was a lot in it that I already knew, but nonetheless, it is worth a read to unpack the clusterf*ck that is today's fast fashion industry. 

Why 4 and not 5 stars? I believe the book went in quite a few different directions and the structure was a bit disjointed. I was more shocked and convinced to change my shopping habits when I read No Logo by Naomi Klein a few years ago. I think this book could have delved deeper into the actual facts/data. Aja has clearly done a lot of reading and researching, but it's not explored/cited consistently throughout.

I appreciated her personal perspective as a Black woman who does not fit today's ridiculous beauty standards when it comes to body size. 

I think the target demographic is probably girls and young women in the Global North who have grown up with social media and are now addicted to shopping. In that sense, it is a great call to action, and she gives a few concrete tips of what can be done to change bad habits.

Ironically, I have just seen last week a big Instagram campaign by one of the worst fast fashion offenders (the brand name starts with S) who paid influencers to tour their "innovation centre" in China. Their posts were glowing and super enthusiastic about the working conditions there. They did not mention the other places where they make clothes (which are clearly sweatshops) or the environmental impact of churning out so much cheap clothing. There was a clear backlash, but also lots of support for these women. They should definitely read this book...!

Your Driver Is Waiting by Priya Guns

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious 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

4.0

I finished Your Driver is Waiting weeks ago, and I did enjoy it very much, so here are my thoughts, with very mild spoilers.

What I liked:
- The sarcasm / dark sense of humour / bluntness of the narrator. Damani is an Indian American taxi driver who uses an app called RideShare (basically Uber) and she did a great job at picking apart all the issues of that line of work.
- The interactions with her clients which were often hilarious 
- The commentary on class, racism, sexism and performative activism. The background of protests, whilst Damani is trying to make enough money to survive and provide for her and her mum who is mentally ill.
- The bi rep. Damaging is unapologetically sexual and doesn't discriminate based on gender. Yet even with her self-confidence, she falls for someone who I personally found obnoxious - but that's one of the points of the story!

What could have been better:
- I actually would have liked a longer book with more POVs. 
- There are quite vulgar/explicit parts which won't be for everyone (I actually didn't mind it myself) 
- The book is hard to put into one genre. There's a bit of romance, sex, action, activism, some poetic/literary passages… Again I enjoyed that, but it might be disconcerting for some.

All in all, this would make a good TV series/movie. Apparently this is a retelling of Taxi Driver, but I never watched it, so it didn't really have an impact on my reading experience. I haven't seen this much on Bookstagram, and reviews are mixed. I'm keen to know why...?

A good choice for both #aapimonth and #pridemonth!

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fix the System, Not the Women by Laura Bates

challenging informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

I read Everyday Sexism a few years ago and Men Who Hate Women last year. Both must reads. I am adding this one to the list of 5-star non-fiction reads. It is extremely well-written and covers so many aspects of violence against women and girls. It also touches on intersectionality. I will recommend it to all. In particular, men, boys, parents and teachers need to read it!!

How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

I finished this one in a couple of days - I was hooked! How To Kill Men And Get Away With It by Katy Brent is a very polarising book. With a title like that, no wonder. Most of the critical reviews I read took issue with some of the explicit sex scenes and with the veganism, rather than the actual killing.

I didn't mind the above. I read this on my holiday, very quickly, and it felt like watching a satirical series, a mix between Sex and the City (privileged women having fun), Made in Chelsea, and a detective story / film noir.

Is the main character full of contradictions and unlikeable? Yes, of course. But she has gone through a lot of trauma. Are the side characters one-dimensional? Yes, mainly. But that is the case in many blockbusters / contemporary fiction. Is the plot full of twists, with some more predictable than others? Yes to that too - yet I kept reading.

It had interesting reflections on the treatment of girls and women, but I think this book would not really "land" amongst a male readership, or people not already identifying as feminists. If you liked My Sister The Serial Killer, you probably will enjoy this one. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but it was entertaining.

Although - do check the trigger warnings beforehand!!

Letters to a Writer of Color by Taymour Soomro, Deepa Anappara
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.

I got the ARC for free from NetGalley (without requesting it) because I read and liked Other Names for Love. Unfortunately I quickly realised I'm not the intended audience for it. If you are a writer I think I would definitely recommend it. I am not one, so quickly got bored. Sorry!

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Phew! It took me a very long time to read this because it is such a heavy book. It is definitely well-researched and well-written. It felt like watching a movie. I did prefer the Poisonwood Bible, but would still recommend this to people interested in addiction, the opioid crisis, foster care, and growing up poor in rural America. I liked the ending. Do check the trigger warnings beforehand. 

Coming Home by Sawyer Cole Hobson

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I was delighted when I received an ARC of Coming Home. It took me longer than it should have to read it, because I was reading 2 other books at the same time. Otherwise, I am sure I would have flown through these 147 pages. Because it read like a conversation with a friend.

Sawyer Cole has written a book which many will find relatable, in one way or another. Even though I didn't grow up in America, even though I'm not trans nor non-binary, I recognised myself in many passages. For instance, their religious upbringing, or their love of reading.

Whilst I really loved all their reflections about their childhood, teens and their 20s, I wish this book had been slightly longer. Or perhaps written a year later. Sawyer Cole has met great people online (I won't go into more detail so as not to spoil the book) but I wanted to know more. Have they found offline queer spaces where they feel they belong? What was the reaction of the people in their new town? Maybe a sequel is in the works? I'd read it for sure.

It is so heartwarming to read about how someone can overcome their trauma and tell the reader about it in such a candid way. Exactly what I needed after reading A Little Life. I also LOVED the gratitude expressed towards educators who had a positive impact on their life, and the honesty when discussing mental health and medication.

We need more books like this, and they need to be read by parents and teens alike. 

Choice quotes:
"There’s no time stamp on becoming your authentic self."

"We could talk all day about how times have shifted, but the fundamental truths of love and acceptance should be the pillars in a family—including the extended familial branches on the tree."

"there’s beauty in the breakdown if you just allow yourself to break down."

"It's also important to not hand the tools to someone else. You’re the sculptor. Only you have your vision. Only you know the path you want to take. You are the one equipped to build your future however you see it. Handing these tools to someone else oftentimes leads to disaster. Be it parents, siblings, friends, or significant others. Remember, your vision is yours. You can explain it to them, you can share it with them, but don’t let them dictate your future. The tools are yours. The future is yours. Your future is your masterpiece, and yours alone. People can share in it, they can be by your side as you achieve it, but remember that at the end of the day, it’s still yours."

"This is why it’s so important that as adults we create these safe spaces and environments for the younger generations to authentically be themselves without us forcing anything on them, i.e., gender reveals being a big one. This is where the societal constructs begin. This is where we begin to put people in boxes they may not belong in. This is why it’s important that we are educated and knowledgeable about things around us, both as a society and culturally."

"One of my aunts, who now condemns my “behavior”, said she didn’t doubt it because “I came out like a football player at birth.” Whatever that means. I’ve never understood the correlations of sports to male figures as if women and nonbinary/gender non-conforming people cannot be athletic. But again, those small-town vibes are real."

"For those that have kids, we talk so much about needing a village to raise them, but we fail to forget that adults need villages, too. We need to surround ourselves with people who want to see us thrive, not make us uncomfortable. That’s sometimes the hardest part about coming out; not knowing who stays in your village and who leaves—be it willingly or unwillingly."

"“Stop drawing attention to yourself.” “Why do you have to be so different?” “You’re going to get made fun of.” What if, instead of asking those questions or saying those things, we simply let others exist? When one is living authentically, it’s easy to appear different."