lmwanak's reviews
207 reviews

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

 

It deals with themes of colonization and racism; in fact, one of the narrators is extremely racist. And yet, whereas Babel triggered me enough that I had to stop reading, it is different for Poisonwood. Maybe because the narrators were white Baptists missionaries who traveled to the Congo and failed in their attempt to Christianize the village they settled in. The father's superiority is crushed, and his refusal to learn from his mistakes dooms his family. In this book, racism has consequences. There’s still a hint of superiority and exoticism in a few of the narrators’ voices. But it’s also interesting that one of the girls ultimately chooses to make the Congo her home and marry a Congolese man. 

Also, I really enjoyed how religion is depicted in this story. My favorite scene is when the previous missionary comes to visit with his Congolese wife. Brother Fowles, a Catholic, doesn’t worship the tyrannical God—if anything, his God becomes more pagan, more earthy/nature, and also more forgiving. He asks more questions than sermonizes, and the father grows more and more irate. This contrast of ideals ultimately proves the family’s downfall; not only does the village vote to not follow Jesus, but the father’s own family ultimately leaves Christianity. 

And yet, the father’s presence still haunts them all, which is sad considering he never speaks directly to the reader in the book. Even the mother’s presence feels like it’s in the background, her purpose and voice shaped by the father. It’s a tragedy, but I also don’t know of any other way of telling the story. 

Overall, I liked it, more for its storytelling conventions and deconstruction of the narrators. I need to follow this book up with Nisi Shawl’s Everfair, to hear actual Congolese voices. 

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

It was hard for me to get into the book. The start of the book was slow and the characters unlikeable. also there were some graphic scenes that was hard to read. Read the content warnings.

Penguins and Golden Calves: Icons and Idols by Madeleine L'Engle, Madeleine L'Engle

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective

3.0

 The only reason I got the book was that someone in the Almost Heretical FB group posted a quote from her Bible chapter. That said, I was simultaneously comforted and annoyed by her words. Half the time, her questions drove me crazy. “Why this happen? Why that? Why?” It had a very liberal-white-woman feel to it, and a good chunk of the time, I found myself wondering what she would make of today’s climate. 

At the same time, there were points in the book that made me think, and even agree. Her view of the Bible was very much not the evangelical inerrancy. And she is strongly of the opinion that the Bible is written by people and she has feelings that the Old Testament God is not the God she follows in love (which was shown through Jesus). Overall, I wasn’t in a good space to appreciate all of her words. I want to read it again when I’m in a better place (and over ebook so I can annotate it better). 

Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A hard story, but also a story about generational trauma and its effects. There’s also the thing of how awful actions can catch up with you. The Orisha gods are figured prominently in this in a way that is both scary and healing.  Ti-Jeanne is always led by her emotions, but in the end, she’s able to overcome them and take ownership of her thoughts and actions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Body horror

Moderate: Drug abuse

Possession by A.S. Byatt
Did not finish book.

Stopped at Ch. 10. Byatt has a gorgeous grasp on language but I couldn't get pass the blandness of the characters, the belittling of feminism, and what looked to be a tragic lesbian trope.  The fact that I used to own this and now don't tells me that I didn't think much of it back then either.

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

A bit too dark for me right now. I want to read lighter stuff. Plus, it's on my phone. I'm going to give myself a break and pick it up again at a later date.

The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I own this book. It's a fun romp through a Faeryland updated with electrical power. A thick standalone where I already know the ending, yet still manages to charm and fill me full of dread at all the right places.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

Reading this has been so good for my soul. I'm still struggling to find words. Riley writes with the same emotional heaviness that I've been carrying for the past decade--a disillusion to the Christian faith that it is not as perfect and blessed as it crows about. And yet, she also digs deep to find what exactly is at the core of our faith, and why overall, she keeps on believing, although it no longer looks like what it was before. She has help through mentors such as Alice Walker, Howard Thurman, and her own grandmother as to what faith should look like. 

I read this book slowly as I could, and yet I felt like I wasn't slow enough. It was so good and thoughtful. I want to read it again and create practices and rituals that will deepen my faith and help others. 

Every Tongue Got to Confess by Zora Neale Hurston
Did not finish book.

I initially got this for the stories, but then bought a copy of Mules and Men from Half Price books. I'll be reading that one first.