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one_womanarmy's reviews
242 reviews
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Angela Davis's Freedom is a Constant Struggle is not just a collection of speeches and essays; it's a powerful and profoundly moving testament to the interconnectedness of liberation movements and the enduring fight for justice. This book earns a resounding five stars for Davis's unwavering commitment to intersectionality, her sharp analysis of power structures, and her words' timeless relevance which brought me hope and illumination in our current political climate.
Davis masterfully weaves together historical context with contemporary struggles throughout a series of lectures and essays, demonstrating how seemingly disparate movements – from Black liberation to prison abolition, from gender equality to Palestinian rights – are all threads in the same fabric of resistance against systemic oppression. She reminds us: "freedom is a constant struggle." Progress is not linear and requires constant vigilance. I appreciated that her essays often repeat the same essential facts, examples and even aphorisms. By the end of the book, I felt that I had really understood her philosophy and picked up some important notes because there was simplicity and elegance to the main themes throughout every essay.
At a time when I am struggling with progressive division, I found her approach to solidarity to be particularly enlightening. As she states, "We have to learn how to be in solidarity with each other even when it is uncomfortable." This call for uncomfortable solidarity was a recurring theme, pushing readers to examine their own complicity and consider the struggles beyond their immediate experience.
One of the book's greatest strengths lies in Davis's ability to connect seemingly abstract concepts like capitalism and imperialism to the lived experiences of marginalized communities and real people. She dissects the prison industrial complex, arguing that it is not a system of punishment for individuals but a tool of hegemonic social control, perpetuating racial and economic inequality. "Prisons do not disappear problems, they disappear human beings," she powerfully asserts, highlighting the dehumanizing nature of incarceration. Her work on prison abolition is not just about tearing down walls; it's about building a society where prisons are no longer necessary.
Davis also offers a measured but firm stance on the Palestinian conflict, drawing parallels between the struggles for Black liberation in the US and the Palestinian fight for self-determination. She acknowledges the complexities of the situation while unequivocally condemning the occupation and advocating for Palestinian human rights. Her approach is not about demonizing one side or the other, but about recognizing the fundamental right to freedom and dignity for all.
These themes are more relevant than ever in the face of rising fascist and right-wing movements globally. Davis’s work serves as a crucial reminder that conservative movements thrive on division and exploit existing inequalities in progressive communities. Her emphasis on intersectionality is a powerful antidote to the divisive rhetoric that fuels these ideologies. She reminds us that our struggles are interconnected and that true liberation requires a collective effort, a united front against all forms of oppression.
Davis masterfully weaves together historical context with contemporary struggles throughout a series of lectures and essays, demonstrating how seemingly disparate movements – from Black liberation to prison abolition, from gender equality to Palestinian rights – are all threads in the same fabric of resistance against systemic oppression. She reminds us: "freedom is a constant struggle." Progress is not linear and requires constant vigilance. I appreciated that her essays often repeat the same essential facts, examples and even aphorisms. By the end of the book, I felt that I had really understood her philosophy and picked up some important notes because there was simplicity and elegance to the main themes throughout every essay.
At a time when I am struggling with progressive division, I found her approach to solidarity to be particularly enlightening. As she states, "We have to learn how to be in solidarity with each other even when it is uncomfortable." This call for uncomfortable solidarity was a recurring theme, pushing readers to examine their own complicity and consider the struggles beyond their immediate experience.
One of the book's greatest strengths lies in Davis's ability to connect seemingly abstract concepts like capitalism and imperialism to the lived experiences of marginalized communities and real people. She dissects the prison industrial complex, arguing that it is not a system of punishment for individuals but a tool of hegemonic social control, perpetuating racial and economic inequality. "Prisons do not disappear problems, they disappear human beings," she powerfully asserts, highlighting the dehumanizing nature of incarceration. Her work on prison abolition is not just about tearing down walls; it's about building a society where prisons are no longer necessary.
Davis also offers a measured but firm stance on the Palestinian conflict, drawing parallels between the struggles for Black liberation in the US and the Palestinian fight for self-determination. She acknowledges the complexities of the situation while unequivocally condemning the occupation and advocating for Palestinian human rights. Her approach is not about demonizing one side or the other, but about recognizing the fundamental right to freedom and dignity for all.
These themes are more relevant than ever in the face of rising fascist and right-wing movements globally. Davis’s work serves as a crucial reminder that conservative movements thrive on division and exploit existing inequalities in progressive communities. Her emphasis on intersectionality is a powerful antidote to the divisive rhetoric that fuels these ideologies. She reminds us that our struggles are interconnected and that true liberation requires a collective effort, a united front against all forms of oppression.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
4.0
Solid and digestible.
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
funny
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
Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Sadly such beautiful ideas in a horribly unprofessional body of work. Completely intolerable dialogue, 0 on emotional nuance and -1,000 on overuse of cliches.
Only reason it wasn't a DNF was the cool ecofeminist robot goddess subtext. Also, Botswana. 🇧🇼
Final note: I've never added so many trigger warnings to a book review. Maybe 25 categories?
Only reason it wasn't a DNF was the cool ecofeminist robot goddess subtext. Also, Botswana. 🇧🇼
Final note: I've never added so many trigger warnings to a book review. Maybe 25 categories?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Classism
All Fours by Miranda July
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I haven't read a book in this genre ("wild" but ultimately predicably safe midlife romance novel) in YEARS and genuinely enjoyed this one, to the extent I can find value and interest in the genre as a whole. Explorations of polyamorous parenting arrangements, aggressively queer identities, upper class money and time waste, and a lot of masturbating.
Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
challenging
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
2.75
An overblown and nonsensical end to the first Arc.
The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25