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pat's reviews
36 reviews
Growing Up African in Australia by Maxine Beneba Clarke
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
These kinds of books are in some ways a little hard to critique - there's so many contributors, so many different styles and stories. Not all of them are going to hit as hard and as meaningfully as each other. It's hard even to pick favourites, because there are so many to choose from - and because I read them in order, the later pieces are the ones I remember best - closing with Rafeif Ismail is a masterstroke.
But also, this book very much lives up to its title - it is indeed all about the experiences of African diaspora people, particularly their experiences growing up in Australia. And that very topic means these stories are acts of emotional labour - deliberate, thoughtful, and sometimes confronting.
All in all, this book provides a great variety of important perspectives, and I'm glad it exists.
But also, this book very much lives up to its title - it is indeed all about the experiences of African diaspora people, particularly their experiences growing up in Australia. And that very topic means these stories are acts of emotional labour - deliberate, thoughtful, and sometimes confronting.
All in all, this book provides a great variety of important perspectives, and I'm glad it exists.
Tiny Moons: A Year of Eating in Shanghai by Nina Mingya Powles
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I recommend reading chapters of this book before meals, not after - because you'll very likely be craving the delicious dishes that Nina describes.
It's not a long read, but it works so well as small chapters focused on certain dishes and the memories and thoughts that go along with them. Nina's writing is delightful, thoughtful, and simple - and beautiful and resonating because of that simplicity. I've gotten to the end of it too quickly, and while I feel very happy for having read this book, I would also love more!
It's not a long read, but it works so well as small chapters focused on certain dishes and the memories and thoughts that go along with them. Nina's writing is delightful, thoughtful, and simple - and beautiful and resonating because of that simplicity. I've gotten to the end of it too quickly, and while I feel very happy for having read this book, I would also love more!
A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons by Ben Folds
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I've been a fan of Ben Folds and Ben Folds Five for quite some time, and the fact that this book covers a lot of his history - both personal and with the band - was very much welcome. It's a very easy read, written quite personally in a very Ben-Folds-voice, and Ben is very open about his life - and is particularly honest about owning his mistakes. All in all, I really enjoyed this.
He also discusses creativity both in relation to how he makes music and more generally - which was interesting and thoughtful, and so I feel those who don't know his works well may also enjoy what he has to stay. Still, probably not to the same level as his fans.
He also discusses creativity both in relation to how he makes music and more generally - which was interesting and thoughtful, and so I feel those who don't know his works well may also enjoy what he has to stay. Still, probably not to the same level as his fans.
From the Outer: Footy Like You've Never Heard It by Nicole Hayes, Alicia Sometimes
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
All Who Live On Islands by Rose Lu
informative
reflective
5.0
Look, Rose is a friend, and it's hard to shake this bias - and if I didn't like the book, would I even leave a rating here? - but I just devoured the entire book while flying back to Melbourne this evening. Rose writes so deftly - clear, thoughtful, honest, and with heart the entire way through - and so it was hard to stop reading it. Perhaps the one advantage of having a longer-than-sensible flight path home meant that I had just the right amount of time with no distractions so I didn't actually need to stop.
At a Verb Wellington event over the past few days, the host of a panel that featured Rose said that after reading this book, you feel like you're now Rose's friend, and that rings true (even though, well, I already was). There's such a vulnerable and beautiful depth captured here, and I'm trying to decide who I'll lend my copy to, because I can already think of a handful of friends and family who will appreciate this.
At a Verb Wellington event over the past few days, the host of a panel that featured Rose said that after reading this book, you feel like you're now Rose's friend, and that rings true (even though, well, I already was). There's such a vulnerable and beautiful depth captured here, and I'm trying to decide who I'll lend my copy to, because I can already think of a handful of friends and family who will appreciate this.
White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
This book is an excellent breakdown of how women of colour are treated so poorly (historically, and now), particularly in relation to (and by) white women, but also society generally. It's certainly given me a far better understanding of it all. This book is an excellent breakdown of how women of colour are treated so poorly (historically, and now), particularly in relation to (and _by_) white women, but also society generally. It's certainly given me a far better understanding of it all.
And yes, it does cover a lot of heavy material - I can only imagine the impact for any women of colour reading it! - but even with the content, I found it quite easy to get through. The depth provided is maybe slightly deeper than required, but then, I was on the author's side from the beginning anyway so perhaps I'm not quite who the book was written for.
And yes, it does cover a lot of heavy material - I can only imagine the impact for any women of colour reading it! - but even with the content, I found it quite easy to get through. The depth provided is maybe slightly deeper than required, but then, I was on the author's side from the beginning anyway so perhaps I'm not quite who the book was written for.
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Once it got going, I quite enjoyed this - but it's quite the tome, and took me a while to find my own groove in reading it. I'm glad I did, though.