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letsgolesbians's reviews
2163 reviews
Against Erasure: A Photographic Memory of Palestine Before the Nakba by Sandra Barrilaro, Teresa Aranguren
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
5.0
“our eyes seldom encounter palestine before the israeli return; a palestine not defined by its ailments but defined by its industries and cultures. yet, it is important to resist the urge to romanticize that era. one must situate these photographs within the proper socio-economic context and ask about what is not represented in these images—who had access to cameras? who was behind these cameras? what can be said of those who lived far from the flashing lights and tape recorders? where do we look for their fossilized legacies?”
an important reminder from mohammed el-kurd in the forward to the 2024 edition of against erasure, and one we should keep in our minds when we look through photo collections. i don’t have answers to his questions, but they stayed in my mind as i studied the photos in this book.
against erasure features photos from palestine before the nakba, and several photos of refugees fleeing their home cities in 1948 and of refugee camps. palestine was very much not “a land without a people” but a land taken from a people who cherished it. there are photos of families in traditional and in modern dress, of the palestine broadcasting services, of visiting dignitaries.
also included are a couple of poems, and six essays/forwards about palestinian history, the importance of photos within history, and the photo collection process for the book. i found the essays to include thoughtful analysis recognizing nuance (imagine that!).
the photo on the cover is a group of girls playing basketball in kalandia, west bank in the 1950s. i included my press t-shirt in the photo as a reminder that photographers like our beloved motaz have been forced to become photojournalists. similarly, the family albums some of these photos came from should have just been family memories but instead have become an important part of a denied history.
against erasure is currently available on the haymarket website. i highly recommend requesting your library purchase this book, and purchasing one for yourself if you can after the strike.
All I Asking for Is My Body by Milton Murayama
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
an absolutely important perspective. i think i enjoyed the afterward by franklin s. odo, analyzing the themes and execution of story, more than the actual book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Pregnancy
Dead Man's Folly: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sorry to my neighbors, i definitely yelled loudly and slammed the table when the murderer/twists were revealed
Fat Off, Fat On: A Big Bitch Manifesto by Clarkisha Kent
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
This Is Paradise by Kristiana Kahakauwila
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this is paradise is a collection of six stories taking place in hawai’i, showcasing the parts of the islands and her people that tourists don’t know about/don’t care about/choose to ignore. colonization and capitalism have presented us with an idea of paradise, and the reality of that idea is not paradise-like at all.
the author, kristiana kahakauwila, is hawaiian and grew up in california, and a couple of the stories feature characters raised in the diaspora and returning to their islands. one of these stories, thirty-nine rules for making a hawaiian funeral into a drinking game, was a particular favorite of mine; a list by a character who lived off island and whose father lived off island and how that impacts their place in their family. i love a list in general, and i love short story collections that include formats outside of prose and poetry; being able to convey story and emotion different ways is a creative strength.
the old paniolo way, the final story, has a gay male protagonist. 🏳️🌈
many trigger warnings for this book, including animal fighting, animal death, death, murder, infidelity, and death of a teenage child
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
i do not enjoy a woman who judges unhoused people and people who have done time but has no issue being a bookie, stealing, throwing trash on the ground, and using phrases like “mental midgets.” the villain felt like a caricature, several obvious things happened, no one learned a lesson. will not be continuing with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Cancer
Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
great mystery, made me loathe rich people even more than i already do.
After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
LOVED this one, nice job agatha