lambchop12's reviews
51 reviews

Women, Race, & Class by Angela Y. Davis

challenging informative inspiring sad slow-paced

4.5

Loved all this book had to say, but idk if it was the writing or the audiobook I was listening to (spoken by some guy on YouTube), but I kept falling asleep every few pages :( that's more of a me problem tho.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Plot-wise, this was a lot of boring nothing at times, but in general, it's so beautifully written in certain places that I can't be mad at it.

I CAN be mad, however, at them not pressing charges on Maya, like ????

How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Should've been titled "Why Some People Should Blow Up A Few Pipelines, also Gandhi Sucked and Jesus Would've Encouraged Property Violence".

I disagree with the way some of the stuff is said, but the general thesis of the book makes sense to me. 

Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis

challenging hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Some reviews mention that the speeches can be repetitive and that she's not really saying anything new and I don't disagree. I do wish she went into much more detail about certain things, but this book is more a collection of ideas than it is an information hub if that makes sense? It gives you the starting ground to go forward with your anti-capitalist, anti-racist, prison abolitionist, feminist journey through the world. 

Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think this book tries to be a little too clever and smart with what it has to say but ultimately I really enjoyed it and I'm impressed that a man had such a nuanced take on womanhood.

She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

3.25

It's very heartfelt and sincere and I deeply appreciate that about it, but it's also an incredibly uneven book, and I'm sure there's meaning to be found in that (life is full of ups and downs and all that), but just the general quality of the writing and significance of the stories are all over the place. Still such a lovely woman, though.

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

It sometimes meanders on things and it’s not saying too much new, but it’s a good look into how issues that we often don’t look at as feminist issues truly affect women, and how white feminism hurts us as a whole.

No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I really want to give this 5 stars because of how emotional it made me, but there were some passages that just completely went over my head. Still a very surprising read! I went in expecting some commentary on internet culture, and came out with a new appreciation for life.

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.5

A little disjointed at times, but there are some really impactful thoughts in here. I don’t agree with hooks on everything, but the idea that “love and abuse cannot coexist” really hit me hard as I was a child with emotionally hurtful and neglectful parents. I might need a second read to really absorb some of the ideas because she kind of started losing me towards the end with the talk of angels (I’m a Jew and believe they exist, but I was still hoping for a more secular look at love).

All in all, pretty nice and I’d like to read more from her.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.75

I feel like I would’ve liked this more if I was more into science fiction writing, but I’m unfortunately not, so Butler’s writing style put me off a little bit. It made it feel as though things were happening to the characters rather than the characters doing things? There are some really great ideas, quotes, and themes present in the book, but I feel like parts weren’t really discussed as much as I would like? I found Dana to be a little boring, but, at best, that allowed me to see myself more in her position than I thought I would. I wasn’t really a fan of the ending, but the general premise was really interesting and stressful to read (and I mean that mostly as a compliment).