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jiujensu's reviews
453 reviews
Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church by Chrissy Stroop, Lauren O'Neal
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Stories of leaving the faith. So many of these make me think of stories from my experience. These folks make me want to write mine down.
The Last American Road Trip by Sarah Kendzior
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Kendzior is one if the most earnest and heartfelt writers I've ever read. She writes about Missouri, being an American, her travels and her family and weaves in politics so skillfully I promise you might not realise - or at least won't mind.
I almost went through and listed all the destinations and tourist attractions, because I want to see all of them, but there are many and that isn't a review. I did especially enjoy descriptions of the tourist traps on Route 66, the accidental cult site encounter, the ghost story, and if course all the Western deserts, parks and arches.
The most inspiring thing throughout the book - and a value I hold dear - is to be open to experiences. And open to people too, though that can be a challenge for this introvert. As with our country, we should be so with people - open to the beauty or quirkiness and honest about the flaws through history.
* I received this book as an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. I chose to write an honest review, though it isn't required.
I almost went through and listed all the destinations and tourist attractions, because I want to see all of them, but there are many and that isn't a review. I did especially enjoy descriptions of the tourist traps on Route 66, the accidental cult site encounter, the ghost story, and if course all the Western deserts, parks and arches.
The most inspiring thing throughout the book - and a value I hold dear - is to be open to experiences. And open to people too, though that can be a challenge for this introvert. As with our country, we should be so with people - open to the beauty or quirkiness and honest about the flaws through history.
* I received this book as an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. I chose to write an honest review, though it isn't required.
The Thorn and the Carnation Part 2 by Yahya Al-Sinwar
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is the second half. What to say.
Here's a few sort of negative things and then a few positive.
Some parts are repeated sort of - but that's due to it being smuggled out of prison in parts. He should get a pass.
I also have to say that as a "novel" I can't really say that there's necessarily a fictional plot. I've read some articles about the work and it seems he may have wanted to chronicle a part of Palestinian history of the resistance using composite characters and not necessarily centering himself. It does read more like a history in parts because the events actually did happen. You can decide what you think about that.
Whatever you think about the story or classification, I think he did well in this second half covering differing viewpoints of the Palestinian people, the different attitudes toward Oslo, toward resistance operations, toward what was called suicide bombings and other elements.
Definitely worth a read - especially given the author's role in the resistance and his demise. I think it'll provide some insight you don't expect, especially if you're used to reading US commentary on the Palestinian struggle for rights and self determination.
https://annas-archive.org/md5/e9d7f17d739babed8f20e93ce62b581d
Or
https://t.co/iBiJk1Ewjp
Here's a few sort of negative things and then a few positive.
Some parts are repeated sort of - but that's due to it being smuggled out of prison in parts. He should get a pass.
I also have to say that as a "novel" I can't really say that there's necessarily a fictional plot. I've read some articles about the work and it seems he may have wanted to chronicle a part of Palestinian history of the resistance using composite characters and not necessarily centering himself. It does read more like a history in parts because the events actually did happen. You can decide what you think about that.
Whatever you think about the story or classification, I think he did well in this second half covering differing viewpoints of the Palestinian people, the different attitudes toward Oslo, toward resistance operations, toward what was called suicide bombings and other elements.
Definitely worth a read - especially given the author's role in the resistance and his demise. I think it'll provide some insight you don't expect, especially if you're used to reading US commentary on the Palestinian struggle for rights and self determination.
https://annas-archive.org/md5/e9d7f17d739babed8f20e93ce62b581d
Or
https://t.co/iBiJk1Ewjp
If I Must Die: Poetry and Prose by Refaat Alareer
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
If you didn't want to read a history like Khalidi's Hundred Years War, this book will answer you quickly if you want to know about Oct 7, is it about Hamas, are both sides to blame, what's the deal with Israel and Palestinians anyway. Refaat Alareer's personal account and recollections of past Israeli aggression should cover most of the basics, the unvarnished truth, in a way you likely haven't heard before if you are a CNN, NPR, NYT, Washington Post consumer. The human element is missing from those reports, but supplied in full in If I Must Die.
This gutted me:
The last two chapters are transcribed from voice notes posthumously. It's devastating. He talks about kindness despite the devastation, helping his students even as his home is bombed, & kindness begetting kindness. They killed him. US indifference & money and Israel's barbarity. We killed him. His only weapon was an Expo marker.
Please buy it and read it.
The last two chapters are transcribed from voice notes posthumously. It's devastating. He talks about kindness despite the devastation, helping his students even as his home is bombed, & kindness begetting kindness. They killed him. US indifference & money and Israel's barbarity. We killed him. His only weapon was an Expo marker.
Please buy it and read it.
Touba and the Meaning of Night by Shahrnush Parsipur
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
I didn't always love the characters and choices, but I can't deny the main character is a strong lady. She begins and ends life in two different Iranian revolutions. The characters around her seemed to change with the times more than she - but I guess that's true with all generational differences. The Sufi mysticism throughout was fun, especially contrasted with Touba's rather traditional views. I wish I knew more about Iranian folk tales because I know they are incorporated, but I think I learned a little too.
Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Bethany Joy Lenz
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Audiobook. I had no idea about the cult stuff even though I did catch more than a few seasons of this show. I appreciate the insights and conclusions and lessons she learned. Her analysis is applicable to a lot of culty things, scams or getting taken advantage of. Very relatable. I've read a lot about 419, MLM, and wellness scams - and I love what she says about it not being an intelligence thing - it hits you at a low point or where something's missing. It could happen to anyone since we all have weaknesses. It's also satisfying that she described growth and optimism from what she endured.
The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
This is one I've seen referenced in a lot of things I've read so I thought I should read from the source. It's not exactly a how to manual for revolution, but it does explain everything about colonialism, even down to the mental illnesses induced and the alleged scientific explanations colonizers use for their racism. The context is Algeria, but of course you can see it is relevant to the US, Palestine and any other colonized place.
Then He Sent Prophets by Mohamed Seif El Nasr, Mohamed Seif El Nasr
5.0
Then He Sent Prophets is a historical fiction set in the 1300 or 1400s around Fes and Granada. I learned a bit more about the history of the region from the book and things I looked up as a result of reading. That will continue.
Sometimes, things happening so long ago can seem written such that you feel every year of the distance - not so with this book! These characters are vivid and very much alive - maybe you know people like them. The themes are universal - war and peace, faith vs religion, family and loyalty. Even if you aren't familiar with the history, you can very much enjoy the quest and characters and the plot as it winds its way around the cities.
The ending snuck up on me in a fabulous way, but of course I won't be saying any more about that!
*I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes, things happening so long ago can seem written such that you feel every year of the distance - not so with this book! These characters are vivid and very much alive - maybe you know people like them. The themes are universal - war and peace, faith vs religion, family and loyalty. Even if you aren't familiar with the history, you can very much enjoy the quest and characters and the plot as it winds its way around the cities.
The ending snuck up on me in a fabulous way, but of course I won't be saying any more about that!
*I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.