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karessa_proctor's reviews
133 reviews
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
"How could she compare the lives lost? One genocide against another-how did they balance on the scale of justice? And who was she, to imagine that she could make that comparison?"
Thoughts on characters:
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"How could she compare the lives lost? One genocide against another-how did they balance on the scale of justice? And who was she, to imagine that she could make that comparison?"
- A near perfect portrayal of how the oppressed can become the oppressor when we disregard history.
How I felt reading it:
- Emotional damage
- I was hooked by the book but devastated the entire time.
- 0-75% "oh this isn't that triggering"... PART III: .... "lord have mercy on my soul"
- This book really packed a lot of content into 527 pages. I felt like I was reading 3 different books in one.
Thoughts on characters:
- Rin used to be just a bratty but brave kid that ripped out her womb because her period was an inconvenience (so real for that). When we left her she was a woman who had become what she hated. She's so much more than "female rage".
- Altan I knew you were crazy off rip... but you didn't deserve the hand you were dealt.
- Nezha got better with age. I hope you are alive and in the second book because I am interested to see how you change.
- Jiang was spitting facts
- Kitay this world does not deserve you
On Palestine by Ilan Pappé, Noam Chomsky
5.0
-I appreciated how much we went into history but also directly correlated it to what was happening at the time the book was written
- I also appreciated the parallel’s drawn to South Africa.
- "The only chance for successful struggle against Zionism in Palestine is the one based on a human and civil rights agenda that does not differentiate between one violation and the other and yet identifies clearly the victim and the victimizers."
- I also appreciated the parallel’s drawn to South Africa.
- "The only chance for successful struggle against Zionism in Palestine is the one based on a human and civil rights agenda that does not differentiate between one violation and the other and yet identifies clearly the victim and the victimizers."
Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
3.5
-Really interesting way to highlight the school to prison pipeline to kids
- More of a coming of age story than a superhero story
- I wished I was more into it but the action was really all saved for the end.
- More of a coming of age story than a superhero story
- I wished I was more into it but the action was really all saved for the end.
Black Looks: Race and Representation by bell hooks
4.75
My hope is that folks read this to understand and truly analyze what she says here. I think folks get in their feelings when maybe someone in pop culture gets called out but if you put aside your feelings long enough to really conceptualize what she is saying here, you might free yourself.
Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery by bell hooks
4.75
Brilliant. “Time and time again I find myself saying to myself and Black woman friends who make excuses to justify not leaving stressful jobs, if the job is killing you then you are not really enriching your life in any way by staying in it". It is not an exaggeration to say that this book healed me in many ways. While portions may be outdated as I read it in the year 2024 (original came out in 1993) it is actually sad just how relevant it is today.
Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis
5.0
This book caused me to really challenge myself to assess the belief system that has been fed to me my entire life. Having finished the book, I want to dive into practical solutions for “if not prison then what”. We can all start where she goes into the portions of society that would need to resolved in order for people to not have to commit crimes.
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole
4.0
- This book reads more like a slow burn of creepiness and then ends with a more classic “thriller” style of writing.
- Writing a thriller about gentrification is such a brilliant concept. Love it.
- I like that we get duel POV’s. One from an “insider” and an “outsider”.
- As a Black Biracial woman who has struggled with mental health, I really related to the subtle gaslighting that comes through here. You get used to not being believed so while gentrification is very much real, this made it seem even more real.
- Sydney Green apologists until I die. I see that other reviews are labeling her as “bitter” and “angry” and I’m sitting here like, okay and? Does she not have a right to be? Are we reading the same book? Y’all’s privilege is showing.
- (possible spoiler but it really) I loved that the neighborly “we take care of each other” comes full circle.
- Knocking 1 point because I wish the portions that felt more like a classic thriller were a little longer.
- Writing a thriller about gentrification is such a brilliant concept. Love it.
- I like that we get duel POV’s. One from an “insider” and an “outsider”.
- As a Black Biracial woman who has struggled with mental health, I really related to the subtle gaslighting that comes through here. You get used to not being believed so while gentrification is very much real, this made it seem even more real.
- Sydney Green apologists until I die. I see that other reviews are labeling her as “bitter” and “angry” and I’m sitting here like, okay and? Does she not have a right to be? Are we reading the same book? Y’all’s privilege is showing.
- (possible spoiler but it really) I loved that the neighborly “we take care of each other” comes full circle.
- Knocking 1 point because I wish the portions that felt more like a classic thriller were a little longer.
The Chicken Chronicles: Sitting with the Angels Who Have Returned with My Memories: Glorious, Rufus, Gertrude Stein, Splendor, Hortensia, Agnes of God, the Gladyses, & Babe: A Memoir by Alice Walker
3.25
I found this boring and intriguing at the same time. I have a dog who I also view as my child but it was fascinating how utterly introspective she gets about them. I wonder if the blog just caused her to dig deeper about her feelings towards her chickens or if she look creative liberty.
Twisted Hate by Ana Huang
I fear that I have hot takes here so buckle up.
Hot take 1: I feel like this was the most well written of the bunch. This was also the most realistic. The first two seemed like they would truly never happen. As opposed to this one that feels like some people probably have a similar story.
Hot take 2: Josh Chen… they could never make me like you…. (Sucks teeth nervously). I’m sorry y’all but what he did to her when he found out about her lies and betrayal was BEYOND lies and betrayal. What Jules did was awful and not okay but humiliating someone in a sexual manner is beyond unforgivable… beyond. It disgusted me deeply and I wished they did not end up together. I wish she chose self-love.
Hot take 3: I think Stella is book number 4 but she’s so underutilized in the entire series that it makes it hard to be excited for the next book.
That being said. I was interested and liked the book nonetheless.
3.75
I fear that I have hot takes here so buckle up.
Hot take 1: I feel like this was the most well written of the bunch. This was also the most realistic. The first two seemed like they would truly never happen. As opposed to this one that feels like some people probably have a similar story.
Hot take 2: Josh Chen… they could never make me like you…. (Sucks teeth nervously). I’m sorry y’all but what he did to her when he found out about her lies and betrayal was BEYOND lies and betrayal. What Jules did was awful and not okay but humiliating someone in a sexual manner is beyond unforgivable… beyond. It disgusted me deeply and I wished they did not end up together. I wish she chose self-love.
Hot take 3: I think Stella is book number 4 but she’s so underutilized in the entire series that it makes it hard to be excited for the next book.
That being said. I was interested and liked the book nonetheless.
Twisted Games by Ana Huang
3.5
This one was definitely better than the first. There was an actual plot and I actually wanted the couple to be together. I think these storylines are just not for me but I can see why people like them!