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myevergrowingbookshelf's Reviews (520)
Blackout
Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, Ashley Woodfolk, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Tiffany D. Jackson
This book has been one of my most anticipated reads of the summer, those authors, that book cover, those sprayed edges, that storyline!
“The beautiful thing about the piano is you got white keys and you got black keys. And the only way to make the most beautiful, magnificent, and poetic noise is with both sets of keys working in tandem.”
Emmanuael Acho invites us to have those conversations that we may be hesitant to have, with him in Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man. As he says, it needs to get uncomfortable for us to make progress.
This book is incredible. It’s a fantastic way to start conversations, or to know when to jump in to another conversation when needed. Emmanuel covers everything. And even though this is non fiction, and he covers some seriously heavy stuff, it felt like you were talking to a friend.
I was shocked by some of the history, like I knew quite a bit before reading it, I still remember some of my GCSE history work, and I’ve read and researched other books, videos, speeches, films, etc. But what I didn’t know was that a black woman called Crystal Mason was jailed for 5 years because she voted when she was ineligible. She had missed the fine print that she could no longer vote as she was a formerly incarcerated person, so assumed she was still okay to vote, and even though her name was missing on the voting roll, figured she’d go through the checks afterwards. Let me just repeat that, jailed for 5 years for trying to vote. And this was in 2016, so not exactly that long ago right? At the exact same time as well, a white judge had deliberately turned in fake signatures to ensure he had a place on the ballot. This man, fully knowing what he was doing, only got 2 years. Compare those two cases. And again, 2016!
I could go on and talk to you about many other things from this book, I mean, that’s the point of this book isn’t it, to get conversations started. And I am more than happy to have these conversations, please do DM me, but I do recommend you read this one yourself too. It’s one I’ll be recommending for a long time.
Emmanuael Acho invites us to have those conversations that we may be hesitant to have, with him in Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man. As he says, it needs to get uncomfortable for us to make progress.
This book is incredible. It’s a fantastic way to start conversations, or to know when to jump in to another conversation when needed. Emmanuel covers everything. And even though this is non fiction, and he covers some seriously heavy stuff, it felt like you were talking to a friend.
I was shocked by some of the history, like I knew quite a bit before reading it, I still remember some of my GCSE history work, and I’ve read and researched other books, videos, speeches, films, etc. But what I didn’t know was that a black woman called Crystal Mason was jailed for 5 years because she voted when she was ineligible. She had missed the fine print that she could no longer vote as she was a formerly incarcerated person, so assumed she was still okay to vote, and even though her name was missing on the voting roll, figured she’d go through the checks afterwards. Let me just repeat that, jailed for 5 years for trying to vote. And this was in 2016, so not exactly that long ago right? At the exact same time as well, a white judge had deliberately turned in fake signatures to ensure he had a place on the ballot. This man, fully knowing what he was doing, only got 2 years. Compare those two cases. And again, 2016!
I could go on and talk to you about many other things from this book, I mean, that’s the point of this book isn’t it, to get conversations started. And I am more than happy to have these conversations, please do DM me, but I do recommend you read this one yourself too. It’s one I’ll be recommending for a long time.
This book is beautiful. It’s full of hope, heartbreak and love. I took my time reading this, even though in its graphic novel form and it could easily be a quick read. I didn’t want to rush it, I needed to be able to read it when it had my full attention. Omar’s story will stay with you. I was in floods of tears by the end of it. Especially with the current Afghan refugee And what I didn’t realise until the authors note at the end, was that this is all completely true. (Yes I realise that Omar’s name is on the front cover, don’t ask me how I didn’t click
This book definitely had me stumped, I thought I knew who the killer was and how it was going to end, but I was completely wrong
I’ve only recently discovered books in verse, and every one I’ve read so far (including this one), I’ve loved! There’s something about being able to tell a whole story in less words, so beautifully, and not missing anything out. This one in particular was incredible. The emotions behind each verse, the heartbreak, the language, it was all so powerful and beautiful. And I loved listening to this one as an audiobook, it was beautiful, and the fact that the author narrated it herself, even better!
Xiomara was such a fab protagonist, I loved that she just wanted to be herself, and she did that. She’s such a strong, empowering person, I loved her! My heart went out to her at points, like I actually had to pause listening because I needed to process what was happening, and of course, my eyes welled up at one point.
I would definitely recommend this one, five stars from me!
Xiomara was such a fab protagonist, I loved that she just wanted to be herself, and she did that. She’s such a strong, empowering person, I loved her! My heart went out to her at points, like I actually had to pause listening because I needed to process what was happening, and of course, my eyes welled up at one point.
I would definitely recommend this one, five stars from me!
I loved this book! If you’ve followed me for a while now you’ll know I love a multiple narrative, and this one delivered! Sometimes six could be too much, but it really wasn’t in this book. I loved all the characters, but I think Monica was my favourite, although I did love Hazard’s story too. What I loved about this book was that it showed how our actions can affect another person, that the simplest thing to us, could make a difference to someone else.
I thought the storyline was so unique, something I hadn’t seen before, and it’s not often I find a book where I’m rooting every single character. Of course, no one is perfect in this, no one ever is, but there’s something about them all that just makes you love them regardless.
I think that this would be make such a lovely film one day! I’d love to see that happen!
I thought the storyline was so unique, something I hadn’t seen before, and it’s not often I find a book where I’m rooting every single character. Of course, no one is perfect in this, no one ever is, but there’s something about them all that just makes you love them regardless.
I think that this would be make such a lovely film one day! I’d love to see that happen!
If you know me, you’ll know I’m a HUGE Lindsey Kelk fan! Her new book On a Night Like This is out in November (one day after my 30th birthday so my preorder is going to be a birthday present to me from me
Practically Perfect by Katy Brand is the perfect read for any Mary Poppins fans. I loved it! It’s a non fiction read, exploring how Mary came to life, what she can teach us, and what it is that we all know and love about her.
From the first chapter alone, I felt motivated by the person Mary Poppins is. I suddenly had the urge to tidy my daughter’s playroom and unhaul loads of toys she’s grown out of, and to organise my house from top to bottom, and know that I could do it because Mary could. (Side note, I started the playroom unhaul a couple of days ago and it’s still not done
From the first chapter alone, I felt motivated by the person Mary Poppins is. I suddenly had the urge to tidy my daughter’s playroom and unhaul loads of toys she’s grown out of, and to organise my house from top to bottom, and know that I could do it because Mary could. (Side note, I started the playroom unhaul a couple of days ago and it’s still not done
I’m a huge Carrie fan! I love musicals, and she’s a West End actress, I love reading, and she’s an author, safe to say I was always going to enjoy her stuff! I’ve seen her in a couple of shows, she was fab as Wednesday in The Addams Family and I LOVED Heathers the musical! And way before my bookstagram, I met her at a book signing (it was the first real event I went to by myself, I normally go to things like this with friends, but none of them were free but I didn’t let it stop me!)
Anyway, I’ve read all of her fiction books and I’ve loved them! When The Curtain Falls is my favourite! But somehow it took me so long to read her first book, this non fiction pick! It’s obviously different to her novels, this is more a ‘how to’ book so it doesn’t have that little bit of magic that her novels do.
If I’m being honest (which I always always aim to be with you), I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I think I had big expectations because I love Carrie so a non fiction by her so that might be on me. And I don’t think it’s the book as much, just that I read it at the wrong time. This book talks about how to handle high school, how to deal with break ups, how to live your teenage life gracefully and handle those awful tricky teenager situations. Those situations that as a 29 year old, I just don’t really get myself into anymore. I loved the anecdotes about herself, hearing more about her life that I didn’t know, but the ‘how to’ bits just didn’t work for me. I do think if I had read this as a teenager I would’ve really enjoyed it, in fact, I probably could’ve used it!
So although it wasn’t quite what I expected and I might not have enjoyed it as much as I’d have liked, it was a good book, just not for 29 year old me. I think that it’s a good book for a young teenager to read though definitely!
Anyway, I’ve read all of her fiction books and I’ve loved them! When The Curtain Falls is my favourite! But somehow it took me so long to read her first book, this non fiction pick! It’s obviously different to her novels, this is more a ‘how to’ book so it doesn’t have that little bit of magic that her novels do.
If I’m being honest (which I always always aim to be with you), I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I think I had big expectations because I love Carrie so a non fiction by her so that might be on me. And I don’t think it’s the book as much, just that I read it at the wrong time. This book talks about how to handle high school, how to deal with break ups, how to live your teenage life gracefully and handle those awful tricky teenager situations. Those situations that as a 29 year old, I just don’t really get myself into anymore. I loved the anecdotes about herself, hearing more about her life that I didn’t know, but the ‘how to’ bits just didn’t work for me. I do think if I had read this as a teenager I would’ve really enjoyed it, in fact, I probably could’ve used it!
So although it wasn’t quite what I expected and I might not have enjoyed it as much as I’d have liked, it was a good book, just not for 29 year old me. I think that it’s a good book for a young teenager to read though definitely!