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mesy_mark's reviews
749 reviews
The Book of Queer Prophets: 24 Writers on Sexuality and Religion by Ruth Hunt
emotional
informative
reflective
3.0
Except for a couple of essays, this is about Christian authors reflecting on their views of their faith with their queerness, Wish there was more diversity in religions presented but overall it was nice to hear how people have come and gone and some come back to faith even though they were told queer is sin. Some even became higher-ups in the church. All learned to see god in a way that honored themselves versus damnation. I listened to the audiobook with multiple feminine and masculine voices reading each essay. Pairing different voices one after another, I could settle into each essay with a new one from the last so it wasn't confusing as it transitioned from essay to essay. Overall it was interesting seeing personal reflections on religion that damned could be a religion that loved.
The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I liked this book even if I have issues with how it depicts open marriages. Lucy and Owen are having a dinner with friends who had opened their marriage. It gets our couple thinking, could they do it if they followed some ground rules and ended it in 6 months? One thing about ethical nonmonogamy is open communication. There can be don't ask don't tell in the relationships but Lucy and Owen lying to each other about their sides is not ENM. This book also explores other areas in this quaint community this couple lives in/ All the wives do everything and the men are strung along. There is a rich billionaire whose conservative values are brought true when he gets a trans woman teacher who came out mid-year on paid leave because well. transphobia. Some marriages are stale and sexless leading to issues and detanglement making you think all you need is sex to be good in a relationship (when we know there is more than that). It is told in multiple viewpoints, like Little Fires Everywhere, with plots weaving in and out to complete this audiobook read by a feminine voice. I was laughing at some parts, shaking my head saying that it is not ENM, and wondering what if the ending went a different way? It was a good read as I ran to add to the list of books I have read.
Hillbilly Queer: A Memoir by J. R. Jamison
slow-paced
0.25
This gets such a low rating because I spent my time more irritated at him rather than hearing him out. JR has privilege so maybe he just can't see where others are more affected by right-wing dogma but bridging across the aisle can only work inside the family not in the large sense without both parties doing it. And the right has dug their heel in the ground going the opposite way. Onto the actual book to see the real reason why it is such a low-star book.
The book dragged on and seemed more like a book to revisit memories rather than get somewhere meaningful. I say this because what would have been interesting is the build of the last couple of chapters being the main point of the book. While a trip down memory lane is good it was just a trip when his big thing was the political divide and every time except for one time he always just didn't say anything about his views to his father when given the chance.
Going on the segment about families that vote different party lines inside the family and how learning to see each other just leads to a build of understanding. With that then went into his father's trump vote to another vote in the Trump/Biden election. Seeing that bridge and arc was much more interesting rather than just him dancing around his father's feelings on right-wing dogma and constantly wondering if he should bring up his marriage when asked because he is in a hillbilly area. The way he wrote about these main things was the same time and time again it was predictable when coming back up.
The book dragged on and seemed more like a book to revisit memories rather than get somewhere meaningful. I say this because what would have been interesting is the build of the last couple of chapters being the main point of the book. While a trip down memory lane is good it was just a trip when his big thing was the political divide and every time except for one time he always just didn't say anything about his views to his father when given the chance.
Going on the segment about families that vote different party lines inside the family and how learning to see each other just leads to a build of understanding. With that then went into his father's trump vote to another vote in the Trump/Biden election. Seeing that bridge and arc was much more interesting rather than just him dancing around his father's feelings on right-wing dogma and constantly wondering if he should bring up his marriage when asked because he is in a hillbilly area. The way he wrote about these main things was the same time and time again it was predictable when coming back up.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A Slow Buner
Ari and Dante are Mexican a American Boys growing up in time before smart phones. Staring at a swim at a pool and becoming friends since they interact with each others lives, no matter how different they are amongst their similarities, as each goes through trails. Ari coming to terms with himself and his brother being in prison and Dante openly gay. The pair stick with each through it all.
Over all the book I really slow paced. At times I needed to stop to pick up a more faster pace book. But I am glad I got through it as it is a rewarding read to get through.
Ari and Dante are Mexican a American Boys growing up in time before smart phones. Staring at a swim at a pool and becoming friends since they interact with each others lives, no matter how different they are amongst their similarities, as each goes through trails. Ari coming to terms with himself and his brother being in prison and Dante openly gay. The pair stick with each through it all.
Over all the book I really slow paced. At times I needed to stop to pick up a more faster pace book. But I am glad I got through it as it is a rewarding read to get through.
Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders by Jennifer L. Gaudiani
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
4.25
This is a book that looks into the medical complications of eating disorders in an empathic and holistic approach. While mainly focusing on the medical as it is what this book is about, it does mention how the whole body is important. Focusing on all-inclusive language and not pegging a specific stereotype for having an eating disorder being it gender or body size, this author runs through potential medical complications of prolonged eating disorders and gives case studies as examples. It is factual and easy to listen to as the narrator's voice is listenable to the ears. With the breakout of case studies the text doesn't get dry and is real-life applicable.
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib
inspiring
medium-paced
2.25
I'll start out with the positives of this book. Excellent that there is a representation of queer Muslims. The readability of this book was good, easy pace and easy voice to listen to. Always interesting to read about another queer person's life experience especially one where family ties (although strained) are still kept.
As for the negatives, the process of Samra's mother and father, devout Muslims, going from marrying her off at sixteen to being okay with two divorces, not wearing the head covering, and being openly queer needed more exploring. I would have loved to see more of that sifting point where the family put aside religious dogma and embraced their daughter for their daughter. Another point is that the discussion on her dating life heavily focuses on the cis men she has dated/married but it really glosses over the queer relationships. She was in an abusive relationship and she just talked about how her mother thought the woman was not right for her. And it's only mentioned that she also dates transgender and nonbinary people. I would have loved to see more of her exploration of relationships on the queer side compared to the cis men she dated. And lastly, the book is titled We Have Always Been Here. And her going into her photography about showcasing queer Muslims fits for the title and would have loved more of an exploration of meeting and photographing these people all over not just the one shoot she mentions.
Overall it is very impactful to have diverse stories even among minority groups. Samra has come to terms with her face and identity and is proud of who she is. An extreme strength but more areas in the book could have been explored more deeply instead of surface-level sketches.
As for the negatives, the process of Samra's mother and father, devout Muslims, going from marrying her off at sixteen to being okay with two divorces, not wearing the head covering, and being openly queer needed more exploring. I would have loved to see more of that sifting point where the family put aside religious dogma and embraced their daughter for their daughter. Another point is that the discussion on her dating life heavily focuses on the cis men she has dated/married but it really glosses over the queer relationships. She was in an abusive relationship and she just talked about how her mother thought the woman was not right for her. And it's only mentioned that she also dates transgender and nonbinary people. I would have loved to see more of her exploration of relationships on the queer side compared to the cis men she dated. And lastly, the book is titled We Have Always Been Here. And her going into her photography about showcasing queer Muslims fits for the title and would have loved more of an exploration of meeting and photographing these people all over not just the one shoot she mentions.
Overall it is very impactful to have diverse stories even among minority groups. Samra has come to terms with her face and identity and is proud of who she is. An extreme strength but more areas in the book could have been explored more deeply instead of surface-level sketches.