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joehardy's reviews
320 reviews
Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson
5.0
This book tell the story of the Attica prison riot and its aftermath. Although it drags a bit during the drawn out court proceedings in the middle, Thompson shines a light on an important and abhorrent event that forces readers to question the motivations behind the state that they participate in. The actions taken by the state in the aftermath of the riot concerning both prisoners and non-prisoner victims is a tableau for the unspoken moral depravity that has existed throughout our countries history but has become less overt since the Civil Rights era came to a close. You will come away from this book questioning the efficacy not only of the American justice system, but of the governing frameworks that ya sallowed undeniable, reprehensible actions to continue to take place to this day.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
5.0
This book seems to have received a ton of negative reviews from people who were unprepared for the intense multifaceted violence that James articulates. While this is a valid criticism, I didn't find the depravity of the book to be that much worse than other fantasy novels I've read (looking at you GoT), although, like many other fantasy works, everything is kind of over-sexual. Hyperfocusing on the shocking events that take place overlooks the wonder the is Black Leopard, Red Wolf. James' writing is intoxicating, and the world that he creates is both vivid and layered while the plot constantly makes you question your knowledge and the knowledge of the characters James creates. The idiosyncrasies of Black Leopard, Red Wolf are intensely refreshing. James pulls from African tradition both for his characters and world, and seemingly for the nature of his storytelling. Within a genre that is oversaturated with northern European style sword-and-shield characters, orcs and dragons (seriously fuck dragons, they're dumb as hell), Black Leopard, Red Wolf provides an exhilarating story with will surely remain with you long after you finish it.
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe
4.0
A collection of short stories in which some were wonderful and some were rather dull. The highlight of the book for me was Silltoe’s use of vernacular, and the humor he instilled throughout. Solid 3.5, would like to read another of his works.
Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy
4.0
I read the majority of this book as I was in the process of moving, a context that may have amplified my personal difficulties with the book. It took me quite a while and McCarthy's eccentric style and archaic, unusual vocabulary made reading in short, sporadic bursts a difficult means to understanding what was going on. Bascially, I'm saying that it was CONFUSING, for me. Actually, the main plotlines were relatively simple to follow as they traced the historical events of the Glanton Gang. It was moreso the minutia, where McCarthy really indulged his drive to pontificate where I became lost. Ultimately, however, the brilliance of Blood Meridian overcame my poor approach to reading and comprehending the book. The characters were mysterious. The setting was breathtaking. And the writing was as stunning as anything I've encountered thus far. The downsides were that there were literally zero female characters and the depictions of Native Americans were oftentimes cliche. I did see that this may be because McCarthy intended Blood Meridian to be a parody of the stereotypical westers, however, I'm not sure if that claim has been substantiated. Overall, for me, the pros outwieghed the cons. The book was thoroughly enjoyable and I hope to read it again at some point, ideally in a less chaotic setting.
3.8/5
3.8/5