lilahs_literacy_corner's reviews
50 reviews

To Be Young, Gifted, and Black: An Informal Autobiography by Lorraine Hansberry

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

My goodness. Miller's writing in this, the way she makes poetry out of sorrow and love out of the darkest moments are such a gift. Patroclus, made such a poet when in the presence of Achilles is so beautiful and so tragic. The way they ruin each other softly and kiss each others wounds is so painfully sweet. These two ruined me, and I loved every moment of it.

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

5.0

As a Black, Latina, Queer femme, I absolutely adored this. The way I CRIED, I laughed, I felt warm, I felt angry, at home. Ms. Jasmine Mans did such a excellent job of showing the rawness of being a woman, a black woman, a queer woman, a black queer woman. She really spoke to the complexity of being in a black community, the way its sometimes a war within yourself, other times a soft bed to lay in. 

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

A story told from the perspective of a 12 year old, yet the words she utters are some of the most heartbreaking and wise things ever said. What I find most endearing about this book is Esperanza doesn't even see her light, like many of us who grow up in houses with struggle, in societies of xenophobia and racism, we cannot see our light. Yet it shines so brightly through her words. The mear determination she has in leaving and letting go, to come back is something I think as poc, we are all familiar with. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicide attempt

The Symposium by Plato

challenging funny informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose by Immanuel Kant

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Rebecca by Donald Barthelme

funny informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Grief, Car accident, Murder

Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Outing

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

<spolier>The Crucible does a fantastic job at making you dislike every character you come across with the exception of a few. Every character us just as if nit more insufferable as the next, however I believe thus has less to do with the characters or the play and more to do with the mentality of the Pilgrims in real life. The historical accuracy and the novels great job at showing the consequences of social, sexual, and religi9n repression is something that intrigued me the most. I think the portrayal of factional and how this act of divide truly leads to the downfall of civilization, the downfall of Salem. The "us" vs. "them" mentality if the townspeople I'd what led to the hysteria they faced. If it wasn't for the ever-present urge to spite your neighbo  in hopes of climbing up the social ladder, I believe the trials would've never occurred in the first place.