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pangnaolin's reviews
73 reviews
Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire by Alice Wong
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This was such a beautiful collection of work. I genuinely appreciated every essay so much, and some of them taught or reminded me of things I really needed to hear, too. I thought the way Wong organized the essays (& poems!) was really interesting, because I honestly felt like there was a lot of overlap between the ideas of sex & intimacy and connection and creativity, and it felt like they blended so much that I wondered if the 'parts' were even necessary.
Listening to the audiobook, it was hard to really enjoy the poems-- I wish I could've seen them on the page and sat with them longer-- but they were still a cool & interesting inclusion. Hearing all of the different perspectives on intimacy while Disabled was just so incredible, and I felt like every single one was right in its own way.
I don't have too much else to say, especially because it was a collection of essays and harder to comment on as a whole, but I really did love getting to listen to and absorb what all of these incredible, thoughtful people had to say about their experiences. I really would recommend reading Disability Intimacy-- especially if you're Disabled, but even if you're not.
Listening to the audiobook, it was hard to really enjoy the poems-- I wish I could've seen them on the page and sat with them longer-- but they were still a cool & interesting inclusion. Hearing all of the different perspectives on intimacy while Disabled was just so incredible, and I felt like every single one was right in its own way.
I don't have too much else to say, especially because it was a collection of essays and harder to comment on as a whole, but I really did love getting to listen to and absorb what all of these incredible, thoughtful people had to say about their experiences. I really would recommend reading Disability Intimacy-- especially if you're Disabled, but even if you're not.
How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
This was such a sweet + simple book, and I loved it a lot! It was so nice to hear about the animals and what complex + lovely creatures they are, and it was cool to see love through this new lens. I feel like I still don't know who Sy is, though, and I'm honestly not left that interested in her?
Another review on here talked about how she was sort of just a girl with a lot of money that got to go on a lot of 'expeditions', and I sort of feel the same. She brought up a lot of really heavy things and then just kind of moved on, and I felt like it was a bit jarring. I think in general, her view of the world + natural world, specifically, felt really privileged and sort of lacking.
I liked it because I loved hearing about the animals + her unique connection with them, but I was a bit thrown off by some of the things she had to say. I'd still recommend it, but don't go in looking for a seriously thought-through memoir or something very science-y. Like I said, it's sweet and simple, and that's what it does best.
Another review on here talked about how she was sort of just a girl with a lot of money that got to go on a lot of 'expeditions', and I sort of feel the same. She brought up a lot of really heavy things and then just kind of moved on, and I felt like it was a bit jarring. I think in general, her view of the world + natural world, specifically, felt really privileged and sort of lacking.
I liked it because I loved hearing about the animals + her unique connection with them, but I was a bit thrown off by some of the things she had to say. I'd still recommend it, but don't go in looking for a seriously thought-through memoir or something very science-y. Like I said, it's sweet and simple, and that's what it does best.
There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
This was such a wonderful book, I don't even know where to begin. I've never read a book that so beautifully weaved different stories and concepts-- place, community, growing up, and surviving.
It feels like a diminishing of sports writing to say it isn't sports writing, but I guess what I'd say is that it definitely isn't traditional. Basketball was an incredible and personal lens that allowed him to examine how people think & move through the world, alone and together.
I genuinely just adored this book so much. It feels like such a blur to try and think back through, but I'd really recommend it. Hanif loves his long-ass, vulnerable sentences and I love them, too.
It feels like a diminishing of sports writing to say it isn't sports writing, but I guess what I'd say is that it definitely isn't traditional. Basketball was an incredible and personal lens that allowed him to examine how people think & move through the world, alone and together.
I genuinely just adored this book so much. It feels like such a blur to try and think back through, but I'd really recommend it. Hanif loves his long-ass, vulnerable sentences and I love them, too.
The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling: A Hardcore, High-Flying, No-Holds-Barred History of the One True Sport by Aubrey Sitterson, Chris Moreno
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
3.75
This was a fun & lovely introduction to the world of wrestling! I felt like I learned an incredible amount in so few pages, and I'm honestly quite grateful for what I took away from it.
It's not rated higher not because of any fault of the book, but because I rate things more on a personal enjoyment level (yes, my reviews are for others, but they're also like my own personal book log). It did amazingly for what it was-- a quick overview of the history of wrestling in a fun little graphic novel. I just already am not biased toward graphic novels, the art style wasn't my personal favorite, and though it did amazing at the informative part, it just didn't catch my attention emotionally (which it wasn't meant to, I imagine).
I think my only actual complaint is that I feel like it skipped over anything that it deemed to dark? Like... it talked all about Vince McMahon as a professional and even did comment on how people ragged on him for his tactics as one, but it didn't ever decide it was worth it to mention his awful track record at all, and ended up glorifying him a bit in the process.
While I understand it's not the main purpose, I do think it's important to talk about the more serious & even shitty sides of pro wrestling, and I wish it had. That said, I really did enjoy this book and would absolutely recommend it as a starting point!
It's not rated higher not because of any fault of the book, but because I rate things more on a personal enjoyment level (yes, my reviews are for others, but they're also like my own personal book log). It did amazingly for what it was-- a quick overview of the history of wrestling in a fun little graphic novel. I just already am not biased toward graphic novels, the art style wasn't my personal favorite, and though it did amazing at the informative part, it just didn't catch my attention emotionally (which it wasn't meant to, I imagine).
I think my only actual complaint is that I feel like it skipped over anything that it deemed to dark? Like... it talked all about Vince McMahon as a professional and even did comment on how people ragged on him for his tactics as one, but it didn't ever decide it was worth it to mention his awful track record at all, and ended up glorifying him a bit in the process.
While I understand it's not the main purpose, I do think it's important to talk about the more serious & even shitty sides of pro wrestling, and I wish it had. That said, I really did enjoy this book and would absolutely recommend it as a starting point!
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan
This was such an incredibly beautiful read. I loved the way Alyan's style shifted with each character and gave them such unique voices, and the characters themselves were so important to hear the stories of, each one exploring what it means to find a place in the world when your roots have been torn up by war.
I was especially taken by Atef and his gentleness despite it all, especially as a father, but also with his intimate connection with Mustafa and how PTSD and depression ravaged him after the war. I think it's common to treat PTSD as something that will always make you violent, and he was such an important and sad but wonderful depiction of a different story-- especially as a victim of awful things and not the soldiers doing them.
I adored watching young Riham and her young exploration of religion (especially with Salma, and as an escape in some ways from her mother), and was struck by the choice to make her somewhat disappear into the background as an adult. I sort of wish I could've heard/seen more about her relationship with Atef did or didn't continue and how they both felt about it, since the bond was so deep when she was a child.
Each character echoed so many real stories, and I felt with them through every single trauma, family fracture, displacement-- from Palestine to Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United States-- through every generation.
I just really would recommend you read this one. It was so moving, gut-wrenching, & incredibly worth it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Palestine was something raw in the family, a wound never completely scabbed over."
This was such an incredibly beautiful read. I loved the way Alyan's style shifted with each character and gave them such unique voices, and the characters themselves were so important to hear the stories of, each one exploring what it means to find a place in the world when your roots have been torn up by war.
I was especially taken by Atef and his gentleness despite it all, especially as a father, but also with his intimate connection with Mustafa and how PTSD and depression ravaged him after the war. I think it's common to treat PTSD as something that will always make you violent, and he was such an important and sad but wonderful depiction of a different story-- especially as a victim of awful things and not the soldiers doing them.
I adored watching young Riham and her young exploration of religion (especially with Salma, and as an escape in some ways from her mother), and was struck by the choice to make her somewhat disappear into the background as an adult. I sort of wish I could've heard/seen more about her relationship with Atef did or didn't continue and how they both felt about it, since the bond was so deep when she was a child.
Each character echoed so many real stories, and I felt with them through every single trauma, family fracture, displacement-- from Palestine to Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United States-- through every generation.
I just really would recommend you read this one. It was so moving, gut-wrenching, & incredibly worth it.
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
This was an extraordinary memoir. I definitely don't think I was prepared for what I was about to read, but I'm so glad I read it regardless. I've never heard the story of a rape from the victim's perspective before, which is a realization that struck me while I read, and it was such a new & informative experience, intellectually and emotionally. Gay is such an incredible writer, and hearing her story was so intense and important. I'm so glad she let us into her world for just a little while.
I feel that oftentimes, people who've realized the way our world treats Black, fat, queer, trans, Indigenous, Disabled, etc people is unfair are also terrified to admit that they've been imbued with those same biases as part of this world, and it was so refreshing to listen as Gay grappled with her conscious beliefs vs. her body's emotional & physical responses. Her brutally honest admissions of how she's hated herself for being fat, hated the way it disables her, and so much more really brought me into her story and made me emphasize thoroughly. No progress is linear, and she wasn't afraid to admit that.
I read this one in a day, and I'll absolutely have to read it again. You should, too. I don't really know what to say or how to talk about it, honestly, but some of those chapters I know I won't forget for a long, long time.
I feel that oftentimes, people who've realized the way our world treats Black, fat, queer, trans, Indigenous, Disabled, etc people is unfair are also terrified to admit that they've been imbued with those same biases as part of this world, and it was so refreshing to listen as Gay grappled with her conscious beliefs vs. her body's emotional & physical responses. Her brutally honest admissions of how she's hated herself for being fat, hated the way it disables her, and so much more really brought me into her story and made me emphasize thoroughly. No progress is linear, and she wasn't afraid to admit that.
I read this one in a day, and I'll absolutely have to read it again. You should, too. I don't really know what to say or how to talk about it, honestly, but some of those chapters I know I won't forget for a long, long time.
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.25
This was such an incredible introduction to the history of Palestinian subjugation and oppression at the hands of Israel. Khalidi clearly has an incredible amount of emotional ties to the issue at hand, but manages to remain incredibly level-headed and thoughtful in all regards-- unbiased but plainly revealing the evils of Israel's aim and tactics alongside the mistakes in Palestinian leadership.
Despite the very journalistic and academic style, I felt the grief seep through each page (I specifically think of how Khalidi described people he knew well and adored from school or family, and then how they were murdered by the state of Israel). It wasn't ever stale-- feeling very human and honest. The language was academic, but I also got the sense I was talking to a knowledgable friend.
It was definitely a bit dense at times, but worked out really well because I listened to the audiobook-- I don't know I would've gotten through it otherwise-- and enjoyed both the narrator and flow.
I learned so much I wouldn't have guessed (I always knew America was incredibly supportive of Israel, but I didn't realize it was so overtly Israel's little bitch... I've never thought of the US as a doormat) and I'm really grateful I took the time to read this! I don't think it sunk in all the way, and I doubt I remember most of the events directly, but I do feel like I got a really good sense of the general history of Israel's occupation of Palestine, and I'm glad to know a lot more overall. I'll likely be rereading this at some point, or at least parts of it.
Despite the very journalistic and academic style, I felt the grief seep through each page (I specifically think of how Khalidi described people he knew well and adored from school or family, and then how they were murdered by the state of Israel). It wasn't ever stale-- feeling very human and honest. The language was academic, but I also got the sense I was talking to a knowledgable friend.
It was definitely a bit dense at times, but worked out really well because I listened to the audiobook-- I don't know I would've gotten through it otherwise-- and enjoyed both the narrator and flow.
I learned so much I wouldn't have guessed (I always knew America was incredibly supportive of Israel, but I didn't realize it was so overtly Israel's little bitch... I've never thought of the US as a doormat) and I'm really grateful I took the time to read this! I don't think it sunk in all the way, and I doubt I remember most of the events directly, but I do feel like I got a really good sense of the general history of Israel's occupation of Palestine, and I'm glad to know a lot more overall. I'll likely be rereading this at some point, or at least parts of it.
Dominic by William Steig
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It feels so funny to give Dominic a 5 star rating, but it truly is a 5 star read in my heart! He's such a sweet and eloquent main character, and I love how skillfully Steig puts us in the shows of a dog-- loyal to the bone, excitable, adventurous, and in a world full of smells & senses!
I don't think I've ever met such a lovable character. He's got a heart of gold & as he sets out on his whimsical adventures into the unknown, he doesn't abandon it at all. I loved every moment & interaction in this sweet little book, despite the fact that I'm far past the intended age range for Dominic, and it's really made itself a place in my heart.
I was also a bit surprised at just how beautiful the prose was. I usually think of children's literature as being quite simple & even a bit boring, and watching Dominic explore endless little details with incredible precision was such a breath of fresh air.
I've never been one for fairytales, so such an unconventional but classic one like this was a joy to my heart. It might not be the most evolved & intense work of literature you've ever interacted with, but it'll likely leave you feeling warm & fuzzy, and honestly has quite a few things to teach you, too.
I don't think I've ever met such a lovable character. He's got a heart of gold & as he sets out on his whimsical adventures into the unknown, he doesn't abandon it at all. I loved every moment & interaction in this sweet little book, despite the fact that I'm far past the intended age range for Dominic, and it's really made itself a place in my heart.
I was also a bit surprised at just how beautiful the prose was. I usually think of children's literature as being quite simple & even a bit boring, and watching Dominic explore endless little details with incredible precision was such a breath of fresh air.
I've never been one for fairytales, so such an unconventional but classic one like this was a joy to my heart. It might not be the most evolved & intense work of literature you've ever interacted with, but it'll likely leave you feeling warm & fuzzy, and honestly has quite a few things to teach you, too.
The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain by Alan Gordon
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
The Way Out was such an insightful look into neurplastic pain & how we can understand what our minds & bodies are reacting to. Gordon was light-hearted & funny throughout, and the book was very accessibly written, which I find is not very common in books on chronic pain or issues of any kind.
I also found Gordon oddly charming? Especially when listening to the audiobook, something about the way he presented himself was very sweet & made me feel a lot like I was talking to a friend.
I'm usually a bit averse to the sort of 'self help' aspect of this book, but it was really well done, and being a patient at his Pain Psychology Center, it was really cool to learn more in depth about the information that informs the work I do in-session. He really did outline some of the most important work in pain reprocessing therapy.
I'd be curious to hear about how people who attempted to 'treat themselves', for lack of better words, using the techniques he presented compare in their growth to people who go to pain reprocessing therapy and work with a professional.
I think the only real thing I wanted more from is the science behind it all. I would've been really curious to hear more about the nitty-gritty of what we do know about how neuroplastic pain works chemically & electrically, though I understand that wasn't exactly the point of this book.
Anyway, I liked it a lot, it was a quick read, and it gave me a lot of insight into & context for how my journey in pain reprocessing could look and why it works. It wasn't the most emotionally impactful or profound book I've ever read [though the postscript about 'The State of Healthcare and the Opioid Crisis' definitely struck a chord with me], but it didn't need to be that. It provided an incredible new point of view and a whole lot of things to explore in a succinct & easy to process way, and I'm grateful for it for that.
I also found Gordon oddly charming? Especially when listening to the audiobook, something about the way he presented himself was very sweet & made me feel a lot like I was talking to a friend.
I'm usually a bit averse to the sort of 'self help' aspect of this book, but it was really well done, and being a patient at his Pain Psychology Center, it was really cool to learn more in depth about the information that informs the work I do in-session. He really did outline some of the most important work in pain reprocessing therapy.
I'd be curious to hear about how people who attempted to 'treat themselves', for lack of better words, using the techniques he presented compare in their growth to people who go to pain reprocessing therapy and work with a professional.
I think the only real thing I wanted more from is the science behind it all. I would've been really curious to hear more about the nitty-gritty of what we do know about how neuroplastic pain works chemically & electrically, though I understand that wasn't exactly the point of this book.
Anyway, I liked it a lot, it was a quick read, and it gave me a lot of insight into & context for how my journey in pain reprocessing could look and why it works. It wasn't the most emotionally impactful or profound book I've ever read [though the postscript about 'The State of Healthcare and the Opioid Crisis' definitely struck a chord with me], but it didn't need to be that. It provided an incredible new point of view and a whole lot of things to explore in a succinct & easy to process way, and I'm grateful for it for that.
La Casa en Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
En realidad, el aspecto poético de su escritura es una de las razones por las que me encantó tanto. Su uso repetido de la repetición, los símbolos y la transición de una perspectiva infantil e inmadura a una de mujer que necesita estar madura para sobrevivir une todas las viñetas.
Los temas de la opresión de las mujeres (y especialmente de las mujeres que también están marginadas de otras maneras, ya sean negras, latinas, trans, inmigrantes, en dinámicas abusivas, especialmente pobres o algo completamente diferente) son muy interesantes de explorar también por la forma poética del libro. La manera en que Cisneros teje estos temas a través de metáforas y descripciones vívidas añade una capa de profundidad a la narración.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
La Casa en Mango Street es una novela que dice mucho en muy poco espacio. Esperanza es un personaje increíblemente hermoso que me atrajo inmediatamente. Fue muy difícil de entender en muchas partes porque aún estoy aprendiendo español y es una novela muy abstracta y poética, pero sé que eso es un problema de mi experiencia y no de su escritura.
En realidad, el aspecto poético de su escritura es una de las razones por las que me encantó tanto. Su uso repetido de la repetición, los símbolos y la transición de una perspectiva infantil e inmadura a una de mujer que necesita estar madura para sobrevivir une todas las viñetas.
Los temas de la opresión de las mujeres (y especialmente de las mujeres que también están marginadas de otras maneras, ya sean negras, latinas, trans, inmigrantes, en dinámicas abusivas, especialmente pobres o algo completamente diferente) son muy interesantes de explorar también por la forma poética del libro. La manera en que Cisneros teje estos temas a través de metáforas y descripciones vívidas añade una capa de profundidad a la narración.
La línea de tiempo me confundió un poco, pero no me importa mucho porque los temas de madurez, experiencias difíciles a edades muy tempranas y la comprensión de todo lo que nos rodea son muy claros, y esos son los que importan. Sí creo que a veces avanzó un poco rápido y podría haberse ralentizado un poco más para permitir aún más conexiones, pero aún así lo disfruté tal como estaba. Esa estructura fragmentada de la novela, con sus viñetas independientes pero interconectadas, para mí refleja la naturaleza fragmentada de la memoria y la identidad, especialmente para los niños, y realmente lo aprecio.
Creo que necesitaré leer "La Casa en Mango Street" otra vez (quizás cuando entienda el español un poco más, o si no, simplemente en inglés), pero esta lectura ya me impactó mucho. Espero que en una segunda lectura pueda apreciar aún más las sutilezas de su estilo y los matices de sus temas.