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hopeloveslit's reviews
311 reviews
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
4.0
In under 120 pages, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century delivers pragmatic advice for readers on opposing authoritarianism. Synder draws on 20th-century history to give well-rounded lessons that highlight the importance of defending democracy. This book is a must-read for those unfamiliar with oppressive regimes or for anyone looking to know how to fight them. Knowledge is power.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
2.75
Brave New World is a dystopian novel about a futuristic society that engineers and conditions humans in predestined ways. The society is controlled by technology, science, and a substance called soma. The characters are encouraged to be promiscuous and designed to crave instant gratification.
Huxley explores profound themes such as the sacrifice of individual freedom and other prevalent ideas like the pursuit of happiness. I do believe everyone would benefit from reading this book once. However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. The pacing was too slow for me. Honestly, this tiny book felt like it would never end.
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
If Beale Street Could Talk follows Tish and Fonny, a young couple expecting a baby. Unfortunately, Fonny is falsely accused of a r*pe and imprisoned for the crime. Baldwin explores themes of systemic racism, love, and loyalty as Tish tries to prove Fonny's innocence. I enjoyed this novel, and the themes are powerful. Baldwin’s prose is stunning as usual.
3.25
“Though the death took many forms, though people died early in many different ways, the death itself was very simple and the cause was simple, too: as simple as the plague: the kids had been told that they weren’t worth shit and everything they saw around them proved it. They struggled, they struggled, but they fell, like flies, and they congregated on the garbage heaps of their lives like flies.”
If Beale Street Could Talk follows Tish and Fonny, a young couple expecting a baby. Unfortunately, Fonny is falsely accused of a r*pe and imprisoned for the crime. Baldwin explores themes of systemic racism, love, and loyalty as Tish tries to prove Fonny's innocence. I enjoyed this novel, and the themes are powerful. Baldwin’s prose is stunning as usual.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
3.5
I Who Have Never Known Men is a dystopian novel about an adolescent girl, our narrator, and thirty-nine women imprisoned underground. How did they get there? No one is sure, and the only clue is the guarded men who watch them. My favorite thing about this novel is how ambiguous everything is. The loose ends ultimately left me feeling haunted. Overall, I’d recommend this book if you like stories about survival, identity, and human connection.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
3.0
Although I enjoyed The Giver, I expected it to blow me away. I’m not sure why this dystopian novel didn’t hit the mark. The way the world functions didn’t surprise me much. Ultimately, I think I’ve read too many similar stories. Nonetheless, I’d recommend this novel to readers new to the genre.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
4.0
“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
Animal Farm is a satirical novel that explores dictatorship and revolution, but not in the way you’d think. Orwell tells the story of farm animals who revolt against their human owner. The animals hope to gain freedom from humans, equality, and a better life. However, their hopes crumble as the new leader, Napoleon, and his pigs quickly become corrupt. They form a dictatorship that leaves the animals worse off than ever before. The novella reflects the real world well and the wicked desire of some humans to corrupt and gain political power. I can’t recommend this book enough. I see why The States want to ban it! They wouldn’t want their citizens overthrowing the government.
Animal Farm is a satirical novel that explores dictatorship and revolution, but not in the way you’d think. Orwell tells the story of farm animals who revolt against their human owner. The animals hope to gain freedom from humans, equality, and a better life. However, their hopes crumble as the new leader, Napoleon, and his pigs quickly become corrupt. They form a dictatorship that leaves the animals worse off than ever before. The novella reflects the real world well and the wicked desire of some humans to corrupt and gain political power. I can’t recommend this book enough. I see why The States want to ban it! They wouldn’t want their citizens overthrowing the government.
Maya Angelou: The Complete Poetry by Maya Angelou
4.5
“I am the dream and the hope of the slave.”
Maya Angelou’s poetry is remarkably moving and ferocious. I resonated with almost every poem. This collection is a must-read for poetry lovers and African-American readers.
My favorite poems:
Late October, Tears, On Diverse Deviations, When I Think About Myself, We Saw Beyond our Seeming, My Guilt, Wonder, Songs for the Old Ones, Phenomenal Woman, Refusal, The Lesson, Momma Welfare Roll, Willie, Woman Work, One More Round, Still I Rise, These Yet to Be United States, and Why Are They Happy People?
Maya Angelou’s poetry is remarkably moving and ferocious. I resonated with almost every poem. This collection is a must-read for poetry lovers and African-American readers.
My favorite poems:
Late October, Tears, On Diverse Deviations, When I Think About Myself, We Saw Beyond our Seeming, My Guilt, Wonder, Songs for the Old Ones, Phenomenal Woman, Refusal, The Lesson, Momma Welfare Roll, Willie, Woman Work, One More Round, Still I Rise, These Yet to Be United States, and Why Are They Happy People?
Harbour Grids by Zane Koss
1.25
Performance: 1 star
The narrator was robotic.
Poem: 1.5 stars
Although the poem touches on a good topic, I didn’t like the delivery. Also, there’s a lack of emotion within this piece.
The narrator was robotic.
Poem: 1.5 stars
Although the poem touches on a good topic, I didn’t like the delivery. Also, there’s a lack of emotion within this piece.
bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward
3.0
This collection is a mixed bag, but I still enjoyed it. Bone features some moving and powerful poems. I appreciate Yrsa Daley-Ward for being so raw and unapologetic. The topics Ward explores are paramount.