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onemorebookpodcast's reviews
82 reviews
Drinking from Graveyard Wells by Yvette Lisa Ndlovu
4.0
Short stories are meant to introduce you to an author & to evoke a particular emotion or mood in you & this book did just that. It introduced me to an amazing Zimbabwean author, the stories of her people (past & present) but also to the concept of 'Afrofuturism', a vast ocean that I have just 'tapped my toe into'. As a 'Sarungana', she tells us stories of the women in her country whose contribution to the fight against colonialism were never mentioned, what one has to give up in exchange of citizenship in a foreign country, the expectations of parents that their children shall always be 'the head & not the tail' (to mean only first place is accepted), how women have no ownership of their bodies even after death, the concept of time (now & before)…
We are also reminded in this book of themes that we are grappling with currently like patriarchy, violence against women, racism, exploitation of humans & of the environment, corruption, white supremacy, financial exploitation & many more. 'Lest we forget' that the generation before us forged through the same & maybe even the one after us will have to too (hopefully not)!
This book is both a reminder & a lesson for the future (Zamani & Sasa) that I enjoyed reading.
We are also reminded in this book of themes that we are grappling with currently like patriarchy, violence against women, racism, exploitation of humans & of the environment, corruption, white supremacy, financial exploitation & many more. 'Lest we forget' that the generation before us forged through the same & maybe even the one after us will have to too (hopefully not)!
This book is both a reminder & a lesson for the future (Zamani & Sasa) that I enjoyed reading.
Passing by Nella Larsen
3.0
'Passing' is a term that has been used primarily in the United States to describe a black or brown person or of multiracial ancestry who assimilated into the white majority to escape the legal and social conventions of racial segregation and discrimination. (Source…Wikipedia). And this is the main theme of this book where we are introduced to 2 black women, Clare & Irene who grew up together but lost touch & met later in life at 'Drayton' an exclusive hotel in Chicago that had a strict 'Only White people allowed' policy. Obviously, the 2 women were 'passing' but by reading the book, we learn of the psychological burdens that come with choosing this lifestyle & the constant fear that one of the women has to live under that her secret might one day become known.
Going into the book, I had a preconceived negative judgement on their life choices but the further I read, the more sympathetic I became. To have to deny the skin you exist in in order to live life in your own terms is utterly heartbreaking. When I read on the author of this book who is of mixed race descent & who also struggled a lot trying to exist in both worlds where her parents were from, I kind of understood the melancholic mood in this book & the sad ending too
Going into the book, I had a preconceived negative judgement on their life choices but the further I read, the more sympathetic I became. To have to deny the skin you exist in in order to live life in your own terms is utterly heartbreaking. When I read on the author of this book who is of mixed race descent & who also struggled a lot trying to exist in both worlds where her parents were from, I kind of understood the melancholic mood in this book & the sad ending too
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
How does one review such a masterpiece without realizing one’s own inadequate vocabulary or sense of unrefined literary wording!
Hence, this is not a review because I (IMO) lack the expertise for that so let’s just call this a 'Book recommendation'. Get this book…mic drop
5.0
How does one review such a masterpiece without realizing one’s own inadequate vocabulary or sense of unrefined literary wording!
Hence, this is not a review because I (IMO) lack the expertise for that so let’s just call this a 'Book recommendation'. Get this book…mic drop
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
I have this habit of researching an author before or during the time when am reading their work. So, you'll find me scouring the depths of the Internet hours on end getting lost in articles, podcast interviews & YouTube videos of authors talking about what they have written.
''I would hope that readers approach the book, read it, and not necessarily take anything away, not possess anything, but perhaps just more of themselves. If they could see more of themselves in the book and they can carry that and participate in more parts of their lives than before…''Ocean Vuong in a interview that I found on YouTube talking about this book.
This book is a letter written by a son to his mother who cannot read & through this letter 'Little Dog', the writer is on a self-discovery journey about himself but also about his family whose life journey starts in Vietnam to America as they build a new life in their new country. Ocean Vuong is a poet who writes beautifully & after watching his interview, I felt like he had given me permission to simply enjoy reading his book without seeking to understand every single word that he wrote. Believe me, the struggle was real
4.0
I have this habit of researching an author before or during the time when am reading their work. So, you'll find me scouring the depths of the Internet hours on end getting lost in articles, podcast interviews & YouTube videos of authors talking about what they have written.
''I would hope that readers approach the book, read it, and not necessarily take anything away, not possess anything, but perhaps just more of themselves. If they could see more of themselves in the book and they can carry that and participate in more parts of their lives than before…''Ocean Vuong in a interview that I found on YouTube talking about this book.
This book is a letter written by a son to his mother who cannot read & through this letter 'Little Dog', the writer is on a self-discovery journey about himself but also about his family whose life journey starts in Vietnam to America as they build a new life in their new country. Ocean Vuong is a poet who writes beautifully & after watching his interview, I felt like he had given me permission to simply enjoy reading his book without seeking to understand every single word that he wrote. Believe me, the struggle was real
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
I feel like I am one of the last people to read this book after making its rounds all over Social Media. Non-fiction books & especially Memoirs are not exactly my cup of tea, maybe because I want books to transport me to an imaginary world & reading about someone’s real life experiences are just the opposite of that.
Whenever I pick up a memoir, I don’t really expect to be wowed by the author‘s literary process, it’s more about hearing them owning their own story & that is exactly what Britney did in this book. As someone who grew up in the 90's with Britney Spears' songs as part of the soundtrack of my life, I remember gobbling up every single story that was written about her in the gossip columns. When she spoke about the 'All denim looks' that she & Justin wore to that Award show, I knew exactly what she was talking, the image was imprinted in my mind.
IMO, apart from the horrendous details about the conservatorship that her family put her under & her life during that time, there wasn’t much new that she added to what I knew of her story. But am glad that she got to tell it on her own terms & also in her own time. Also, Justin Timberlake is
3.0
I feel like I am one of the last people to read this book after making its rounds all over Social Media. Non-fiction books & especially Memoirs are not exactly my cup of tea, maybe because I want books to transport me to an imaginary world & reading about someone’s real life experiences are just the opposite of that.
Whenever I pick up a memoir, I don’t really expect to be wowed by the author‘s literary process, it’s more about hearing them owning their own story & that is exactly what Britney did in this book. As someone who grew up in the 90's with Britney Spears' songs as part of the soundtrack of my life, I remember gobbling up every single story that was written about her in the gossip columns. When she spoke about the 'All denim looks' that she & Justin wore to that Award show, I knew exactly what she was talking, the image was imprinted in my mind.
IMO, apart from the horrendous details about the conservatorship that her family put her under & her life during that time, there wasn’t much new that she added to what I knew of her story. But am glad that she got to tell it on her own terms & also in her own time. Also, Justin Timberlake is
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
What happens when a free spirited daughter of a well-off Funeral home owner decides to follow her dream of starting her own flower shop & moves to New York to make this dream a reality? Of course she runs into this *TDH & mysterious musician & what follows is not your typical whirlwind of Romance but a connection that is not only magical but also heartwarming. We are taken on a historical journey that spans the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's accompanied by mentions of music, fashion, art & the activism in those times. With themes of Magical realism, Voodoo, leap year magic, friendship across generations…this book has something for everyone.
And for someone who grew up reading & getting lost in the depths of 'Mills & Boon' books, such a Romance novel is a needed & so much appreciated breath of fresh of air #blacklove
4.0
What happens when a free spirited daughter of a well-off Funeral home owner decides to follow her dream of starting her own flower shop & moves to New York to make this dream a reality? Of course she runs into this *TDH & mysterious musician & what follows is not your typical whirlwind of Romance but a connection that is not only magical but also heartwarming. We are taken on a historical journey that spans the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's accompanied by mentions of music, fashion, art & the activism in those times. With themes of Magical realism, Voodoo, leap year magic, friendship across generations…this book has something for everyone.
And for someone who grew up reading & getting lost in the depths of 'Mills & Boon' books, such a Romance novel is a needed & so much appreciated breath of fresh of air #blacklove
things we don't tell the people we love by huma qureshi
This was a Bookclub pick for April & an introduction to an author who is completely new to me. It is a collection of 10 short stories where the main characters in each story is a South East Asian woman, though that is not explicitly mentioned in the book. As the women go through life dealing with loss of loved ones (both born & unborn), struggles with new motherhood, romantic relationships, interracial relationships, strained mother-daughter relationships, friendships…the one thing that they all have in common is their 'unwillingness' to say out loud what they are thinking. Raise your hand if you struggle with this too
3.0
This was a Bookclub pick for April & an introduction to an author who is completely new to me. It is a collection of 10 short stories where the main characters in each story is a South East Asian woman, though that is not explicitly mentioned in the book. As the women go through life dealing with loss of loved ones (both born & unborn), struggles with new motherhood, romantic relationships, interracial relationships, strained mother-daughter relationships, friendships…the one thing that they all have in common is their 'unwillingness' to say out loud what they are thinking. Raise your hand if you struggle with this too
So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
Books IMO are like people, they show up in your life unexpectedly & leave a mark on you without even noticing it. How does a book detailing a letter written by one friend to another chronicling her life journey, heartbreaks, joys, successes, failures manage to bring up my utmost deepest emotions. This book had me crying, cursing out loud & snapping my fingers at some of Ramatoulaye's words. A book that celebrates the strength of an African woman, how she carries herself with dignity & grace during the most difficult periods of her life, motherhood, mental health, the power of friendship, feminism, Africa's political present & future….I could go on on!
5.0
Books IMO are like people, they show up in your life unexpectedly & leave a mark on you without even noticing it. How does a book detailing a letter written by one friend to another chronicling her life journey, heartbreaks, joys, successes, failures manage to bring up my utmost deepest emotions. This book had me crying, cursing out loud & snapping my fingers at some of Ramatoulaye's words. A book that celebrates the strength of an African woman, how she carries herself with dignity & grace during the most difficult periods of her life, motherhood, mental health, the power of friendship, feminism, Africa's political present & future….I could go on on!
How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
The book tells the story of a fictitious town (Kosawa) somewhere in Africa whose land, rivers & air has been taken over by an oil company (Pexton). The story as narrated by characters of different generations is nothing new, we all know & have experienced what happens to indigenous people’s lives & their existence when foreign companies working hand in hand with corrupt leaders decide to literally destroy them.
This is my first time reading anything by this Author & to be completely honest, it took me time to get into the book. It was a May Bookclub pick & since May was a crazy month for me, I somehow never made time to read the book. But am glad that I took time after the Bookclub meeting to finish it at my own pace & give it all my attention. It was a good read even though I was disappointed not to see any big 'David triumphs' in a story that is hailed by Oprah Magazine as a 'A David & Goliath story of our times'. At this moment in time when there are so many atrocities being perpetrated all over the world, I really needed a 'successful David' narrative, we all need it. This book unfortunately couldn’t provide that.
4.0
The book tells the story of a fictitious town (Kosawa) somewhere in Africa whose land, rivers & air has been taken over by an oil company (Pexton). The story as narrated by characters of different generations is nothing new, we all know & have experienced what happens to indigenous people’s lives & their existence when foreign companies working hand in hand with corrupt leaders decide to literally destroy them.
This is my first time reading anything by this Author & to be completely honest, it took me time to get into the book. It was a May Bookclub pick & since May was a crazy month for me, I somehow never made time to read the book. But am glad that I took time after the Bookclub meeting to finish it at my own pace & give it all my attention. It was a good read even though I was disappointed not to see any big 'David triumphs' in a story that is hailed by Oprah Magazine as a 'A David & Goliath story of our times'. At this moment in time when there are so many atrocities being perpetrated all over the world, I really needed a 'successful David' narrative, we all need it. This book unfortunately couldn’t provide that.
American Royalty by Tracey Livesay
If you need a fluffy book when you just want to escape this 'Ghetto' that we are living in called earth, then I would recommend you listen
3.0
If you need a fluffy book when you just want to escape this 'Ghetto' that we are living in called earth, then I would recommend you listen