marionhoney's reviews
338 reviews

Ghosts of Westfield by Nicole R. Kobrowski

funny informative mysterious fast-paced

1.5

Does it need a proofread and an editor? Is 99% of it speculation? Yes. Was there uncomfortable interchangeable referring to enslaved people as 'fugitives?' Mmhmm. But for all its white-person-self-publishing-a-paranormal-local-history-book-in-2011 faux pas, it was very silly and I did enjoy moments of how ridiculous it was. I even came away with one spooky nightmare because I am highly suggestible. This is a loving 1.5 star rating.

I wish there was more exploration of the indigenous people that lived in Indiana rather than the passing mention. But to be fair, this was written before the decolonising lenses on US history expected now.

Content Warnings

The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.75

The main love interest was a dickhead. I was expecting more feminism but there was still so much centering of men, male desires and cliched truths pushed about how motherhood compels women to act in a certain way. With the glorification of revenge and violence and domination — it just wasn't for me.

Content Warnings

Practical Anarchism: A Guide for Daily Life by Shuli Branson

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 88%.

Want to start again from the beginning

The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells

Go to review page

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

Revolutionary Hope: A Conversation Between James Baldwin and Audre Lorde by James Baldwin, Audre Lorde

Go to review page

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.

Content Warnings

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

Go to review page

challenging dark sad medium-paced

4.25

It’s a collection of speeches from 2013-2015 so there was a lot of repetition of topics and anecdotes. If you are already a year into radical leftist activism, much of what’s said will feel familiar. There were a couple moments of impressive facts presented where I wanted more sources provided, though I appreciate this was a speech transcript. But even some added footnotes would have been nice. I could hear an imagined someone wanting to pick apart a fact by saying where did she get such and such historical evidence.

Overall, I came away from the book with a better grasp of how Palestine, Black liberation and indigenous justice are interrelated.

Witchcraft: A Very Short Introduction by Malcolm Gaskill

Go to review page

challenging informative medium-paced

2.0

I listened to the audiobook and unfortunately did not enjoy the voice of the narrator so this likely impacted my experience. There were too many subtle tones of Western white supremacy and academic imperialism for me to fully feel comfortable with the author's analysis and relaying of historical documents. All books are political; ones that claim to take a neutral point of view of history often, even if unintentionally, reinforce the status quo and oppressive systems.

Circe by Madeline Miller

Go to review page

adventurous dark fast-paced