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kolorful_kay_reads's reviews
123 reviews
Killing the Story: Journalists Risking Their Lives to Uncover the Truth in Mexico by Témoris Grecko
4.0
"You don't see the warning signs because you get carried away by this dynamic, this cycle of information and violence." -- Killing the Story (Témoris Grecko)
Police without uniform, abducting and attacking peaceful protestors and members of the press. Criminal punishment for those who confess (falsely) under duress. An epidemic that politicians refuse to acknowledge as a threat because it'll hurt the country's economy. Is this story about life in the USA today? No, it's about Mexico only six years ago.
You will enjoy this book if...
* You are an American who is waiting for "the warning sign" before you start worrying 'too much'
* You are a firm believer in free speech
* You have an interest in the political climate of Mexico
and/or
* You enjoy stories of journalism
This book may be dense at times but is an incredibly important and relevant read for my American friends. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm incredibly thankful to have picked-up this book. This has permanently change how I spend my money with businesses, how I vote, and what I'm willing to do to keep my freedom of speech.
Police without uniform, abducting and attacking peaceful protestors and members of the press. Criminal punishment for those who confess (falsely) under duress. An epidemic that politicians refuse to acknowledge as a threat because it'll hurt the country's economy. Is this story about life in the USA today? No, it's about Mexico only six years ago.
You will enjoy this book if...
* You are an American who is waiting for "the warning sign" before you start worrying 'too much'
* You are a firm believer in free speech
* You have an interest in the political climate of Mexico
and/or
* You enjoy stories of journalism
This book may be dense at times but is an incredibly important and relevant read for my American friends. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm incredibly thankful to have picked-up this book. This has permanently change how I spend my money with businesses, how I vote, and what I'm willing to do to keep my freedom of speech.
The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah
5.0
Have you ever had a moment where you've broken down and felt like you wanted or needed to be saved (generally, not necessarily in a religious context)? Then, have you ever received a saving grace in that moment - a strong hug, a kind word, or anything that gives you hope? This book is THAT feeling bottled up into a beautiful story.
With a haunting third person narrative from an #OwnVoices author, "The Beauty of Your Face" manages to capture the most painful moments of life while providing hopelessness and hopefulness to its reader. It shows what different paths we can take with our adversity and how it leads us to the best and worst moments of our life. This book made me feel... human and whole.
You will enjoy this book if....
* You enjoy stories of the ups-and-downs of life
* You enjoy characters that are flawed and yet so loveable and understandable
Note: You should absolutely read this (even if you have little-to-no understanding of the Muslim religion); while I would not say this book is "about" religion - it is heavily featured on behalf of some of the characters. It provides some easy-to-understand descriptions of traditions and beliefs that are helpful for context --- and you can choose to educate yourself more in depth by leaving Google open while you read OR you can fly through the story without missing a beat.
With a haunting third person narrative from an #OwnVoices author, "The Beauty of Your Face" manages to capture the most painful moments of life while providing hopelessness and hopefulness to its reader. It shows what different paths we can take with our adversity and how it leads us to the best and worst moments of our life. This book made me feel... human and whole.
You will enjoy this book if....
* You enjoy stories of the ups-and-downs of life
* You enjoy characters that are flawed and yet so loveable and understandable
Note: You should absolutely read this (even if you have little-to-no understanding of the Muslim religion); while I would not say this book is "about" religion - it is heavily featured on behalf of some of the characters. It provides some easy-to-understand descriptions of traditions and beliefs that are helpful for context --- and you can choose to educate yourself more in depth by leaving Google open while you read OR you can fly through the story without missing a beat.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
5.0
"My Dark Vanessa" is so much MORE than many of the reviews state and more in-depth than any of the novels I've read about with this topic. Though, yes, there are graphic scenes - this story is not about abuse. This is a story about a victim living with the shame of their abuse and how their (and their support systems') responses to trauma cause cyclical, additional trauma and shame to form. It isn't a rape scene that will break a reader down; it will break you to see how women are repeatedly used and shamed by their friends and families, the systems created to prevent these atrocious acts from happening again, and their own selves. If you have ever found yourself thinking "I don't understand why she didn't tell somebody" or "She should have come-forward sooner," this book is a read for you.
I would like to note something for potential readers that is not a criticism of the book, but a helpful tip for readers. Referring to this book as a "Must read" is dangerous - trigger warnings aside with that comment. It should be noted that this book gives a perfect view into Vanessa's trauma but Vanessa is not all women. And that's where my caution lies. If you read this book, you will not be all-knowing; you need to continue to read. There are many reactions to trauma that are impacted by topics not included in this book (and do not need to be included in the novel, given the background of the titular character). There is some nods to socioeconomic status and gender, and little-to-none on race. My next read is "Excavation" by Wendy C. Ortiz, if you're looking for additional recommendations.
Given my background, I'm going to include some very specific trigger warnings below. Please note that this is meant to help other survivors and won't contain explicit spoilers, but may be more than most people would like to know.
.
.
.
.
* Explicit rape scenes, albeit short
* Journalism and social media is included in the storyline
* Mismanagement of cases is included in the storyline and, depending on the individual, it should be noted police are not involved
* This book spends excessive time discussing things you may have done to take control that further exacerbated shame and self-loathing
I would like to note something for potential readers that is not a criticism of the book, but a helpful tip for readers. Referring to this book as a "Must read" is dangerous - trigger warnings aside with that comment. It should be noted that this book gives a perfect view into Vanessa's trauma but Vanessa is not all women. And that's where my caution lies. If you read this book, you will not be all-knowing; you need to continue to read. There are many reactions to trauma that are impacted by topics not included in this book (and do not need to be included in the novel, given the background of the titular character). There is some nods to socioeconomic status and gender, and little-to-none on race. My next read is "Excavation" by Wendy C. Ortiz, if you're looking for additional recommendations.
Given my background, I'm going to include some very specific trigger warnings below. Please note that this is meant to help other survivors and won't contain explicit spoilers, but may be more than most people would like to know.
.
.
.
.
* Explicit rape scenes, albeit short
* Journalism and social media is included in the storyline
* Mismanagement of cases is included in the storyline and, depending on the individual, it should be noted police are not involved
* This book spends excessive time discussing things you may have done to take control that further exacerbated shame and self-loathing