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readwithbre's reviews
44 reviews
Free the Land: The Republic of New Afrika and the Pursuit of a Black Nation-State by Edward Onaci
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.5
Listening For God: A Minister's Journey Through Silence And Doubt by Renita J. Weems
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Wow wow wow. I will be returning to this offering again and again to lift me. Rev. Weems is a gifted writer who speaks vulnerably and frankly about the inner life.
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This is, unfortunately, one of those reads with a really intriguing premise but poor execution. I found out about it after seeing a book list about Black mermaids written by Black authors after it was first announced that Halle Bailey would be playing Ariel in 2019. Finally got to it and was incredibly disappointed.
I appreciate what Solomon might have been trying to do but it often felt like they were just using the conventions of the fantasy genre to make their points rather than crafting a narrative that honors the fantastic. There was no real plot; or if there was, it got lost in the didactic, convoluted prose structure. The dialogue didn’t feel like real dialogue. The points Solomon seemed to be trying to make with the narrative, of the importance of protecting all of one’s ancestral memories - both beautiful and traumatic, joyful and painful - seemed to be prioritized over the narrative itself.
Maybe I’ll read again another time and feel differently. But I wanted a lot better out of this novella.
I appreciate what Solomon might have been trying to do but it often felt like they were just using the conventions of the fantasy genre to make their points rather than crafting a narrative that honors the fantastic. There was no real plot; or if there was, it got lost in the didactic, convoluted prose structure. The dialogue didn’t feel like real dialogue. The points Solomon seemed to be trying to make with the narrative, of the importance of protecting all of one’s ancestral memories - both beautiful and traumatic, joyful and painful - seemed to be prioritized over the narrative itself.
Maybe I’ll read again another time and feel differently. But I wanted a lot better out of this novella.
Queer Theology by Linn Marie Tonstad
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The last chapter got way more academic than I was prepared for. However, this book as a whole liberated me in way I don’t think I can yet articulate coherently.
What Is Integral Mission? by C. René Padilla
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
This is Latin American Liberation Theology for Evangelicals who hate Liberation Theology. Padilla’s seemless integration of social justice and the evangelical idea of “mission” (while denouncing evangelism as a tool for colonialism, imperialism, and genocide) is so brilliant and inspiring that he almost convinced me to consider myself evangelical again (ALMOST).
As Black As Resistance: Finding the Conditions for Liberation by Zoé Samudzi, Mariame Kaba, William C. Anderson
challenging
informative
fast-paced
4.0
A brilliant Black Power manifesto of sorts for the BLM era. A sacred text of anarchism. This text provided an intro into Black Anarchism for me and I’m already halfway convinced to convert to radical anarchist politics.
This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Though this book is short and simple, it is not a quick or easy read if you are going to get out of it all the richness it offers. Cole Arthur Riley’s articulation of faith and liberation is something you just want to bask in, let it simmer and saturate your soul. The best part about it as she frames everything as one great big “maybe” without sacrificing confidence and assertiveness in her voice. Everyone needs this in their life.
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Literally just…wow
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0