mollysmith1313's reviews
129 reviews

Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries Who Shaped Our History . . . and Our Future! by Kate Schatz

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

It’s such a short book, but it’s clearly written for younger readers, so that’s fine. The diversity in this list of women is refreshing and remarkable. I think it would be cool if this book was available in most school libraries beyond 5th grade. 
Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World by Rowan Blanchard, Jamia Wilson

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

It’s a great book about the Women’s March(es) of Jan 2017. I was working on a cruise ship with little internet when all this happened, so going back and learning more about it is really helpful.
What Unites Us by Elliot Kirschner, Dan Rather

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informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

This book sounded interesting from the description, and I did find his insights gave me a lot to ponder. A couple lines that stood out to me were, “Many who are most vocal in championing a free, open, and dynamic economy are the same political factions that suppress these principles when it comes to the currency of ideas.” And [In reference to George Orwell’s “1984”] “Orwell understood that a government that is beyond the reach of accountability has little incentive to tell the truth.” I appreciate the focus of civic participation in this book. And I appreciated being told what America was like (from his singular perspective at least) well before I was born. It helps me mentally bridge the gap between my mind and how I imagine much older folks feel about where the country is or what the future might look like. 
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is such a reflective cozy read. If you enjoy interesting stories about everyday people doing everything things with a sprinkle of extraordinary bonds between seemingly different characters, you’ll like this one. I very much enjoyed the perspectives of the octopus and Tova. The narrator for the audiobook did a great job capturing so many different characters. 
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Rad American History A-Z: Movements and Moments That Demonstrate the Power of the People by Kate Schatz

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE BOOK! My spouse and I took turns reading this book out loud to each other, and we both learned so much. It definitely included a lot of history I did not learn in school, but it also included events that happened during my lifetime I just didn’t know a lot about. This book includes history of feminism, civil rights, climate and environmental activism, music, and so much more. I’m buying a bunch of copies of this book to give as gifts because I truly think it’s deserving of such, and it’s easily my favorite book read in 2024.
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Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Sonia Paoloni, Christian Staebler

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challenging informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

Yes, it’s a book about the origins of Redbone. But it also mentions the American Indian Movement (AIM), United Indians of All Tribes occupying Alcatraz, the Heart of the Earth Survival School, and the Trail of Broken Treaties, the mass slaughter of Lakotas at Wounded Knee, and the occupation and siege of Wounded Knee in 1973. And how Redbone’s song, “We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee,” was a political song banned in the U.S., but played in Europe. Then it talked about the band breaking up, and what happened to all the members after that.
Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place by Neema Avashia

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

The book is just what it is described to be. A very interesting read. It felt like I was listening to a very extended NPR story. 
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Reading about the mother who abducted this girl, and the family complicit with it, makes me so sick with anger. Listening to the experiences of grief surrounding deaths and lost pregnancies is really tough to listen to as well. I ended up being to overall upset at the content to continue, but I applaud the author anyway. It truly is a well-written book.
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The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

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4.0

I normally keep an arms length away from self help books, but this one was a quick read, very funny, and came to me highly recommended from a guy at work. I think it should be required reading for everyone between the ages 20-30. I think it’s a really great book with a ton of food for thought and practical ways to evaluate how you view your values and the f**ks you give. The only reason I knocked it down one star is because a few times there were brief sections of the text I didn’t connect with, and sometimes certain ideas were repeated a little more than I thought necessary. But I still highly recommend.
Life Isn't Binary: On Being Both, Beyond, and In-Between by Meg-John Barker, Alex Iantaffi

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3.0

I really liked other books Meg-John has contributed to, so I thought I’d check this out. It’s full of a a lot of thought provoking ideas on how to challenge a ton of the binaries we use in everyday life. I gave 3 stars because some parts of the book dragged a little bit for me, but admittedly maybe I just wasn’t connecting with some of the material. And it’s a book I don’t feel the desire to reread. That being said, if you love journaling and meditating on these ideas, I highly recommend this book to you.