marionhoney's reviews
338 reviews

The Body Is Not an Apology, Second Edition: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.

Would prefer to read the print version. For some reason kept having to rewind because I’d lose focus. Probably a me and my current attention-span problem as love that the author reads the narration. 

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Homophobia, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Biphobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Outing, Classism, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, and Rape

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Fun!

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Whoa mama

Negroes with Guns by Robert F. Williams

dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

This should be required reading in all American high schools. Why weren't we taught this?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Police brutality, Hate crime, and Gun violence

Minor: Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

dark funny medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Antisemitism and Racism

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I really enjoyed reading the Introduction last, as it gave more context to what was going on in Steinbeck’s life that influenced the writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Gun violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Sexism, Fatphobia, and Violence

Anarchist Communism by Peter Kropotkin

challenging hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Classism, Racism, Slavery, Murder, and Colonisation

The Lost Landscape by Joyce Carol Oates

dark reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

I have had this on my bookshelf for many years having originally acquired it for free. I was reading it to charity shop it, but ended up liking it so much that I am keeping it now to read again one day. She writes, her style is how I imagine I would write if I were to pen a memoir.

There were a couple moments of unexamined antiblackness-in-the-US that didn't sit well with me (imagery of a boy eating watermelon, her proximity to race riots in Detroit). That I wish had been acknowledged or explored further. Also the way she speaks about her autistic sister... I don't want to judge someone's grief and how they process difficult circumstances. But I kept thinking about how much I've been exposed to disability justice in the last year and how this felt so far from that framework. These elements complicated my feelings toward the author for what otherwise was close a 5-star reading experience for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Suicide, Sexism, Racism, Animal cruelty, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Violence, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Cancer, Classism, Sexual violence, Cursing, Dementia, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, and Rape

Decolonising My Body: A Radical Exploration of Beauty and Self-Care Rituals Around the World by Afua Hirsch

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5