rootedreader's reviews
175 reviews

Those Who Saw the Sun: African American Oral Histories from the Jim Crow South by Jaha Nailah Avery

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review. Those Who Saw the Sun is a collection of interviews from African Americans who grew up in the time of Jim Crow/Civil Rights. Each story was a unique look into their lives-schooling, family life, events related to racism, etc- the lessons they learned and their thoughts for the future. The common thought I had while reading this was to have hope. Even as they described living through or adjacent to events that would (and did) destroy lives, you have to have hope. This comes through community and using your gifts to serve that community. Highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Anti-Inflammatory Eating for a Happy, Healthy Brain: 75 Recipes for Alleviating Depression, Anxiety, and Memory Loss by Michelle Babb

informative medium-paced

4.0

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Police brutality, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cannibalism

Within My Branches by Nicholas Michel

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

A bitter sweet read that any child or adult could enjoy. Great illustrations. 

All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd Edition by Mel Bartholomew, Square Foot Gardening Foundation

informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Modern Sourdough:Sweet and Savoury Recipes from Margot Bakery by Patricia Niven, Michelle Eshkeri

informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to reveiw. I love this book-thorough without being complicated. There are simpler recipes and more that are more complex-perfect for the beginner or advanced baker. This would make a perfect gift!

Healing Through the Vagus Nerve: Improve Your Body's Response to Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Trauma Through Nervous System Regulation by Amanda Armstrong

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review. I found this book to be helpful in explaining the nervous system, the importance of the vagus nerve, and ways to go about implementing caring for ourselves. This could be an excellent starting point for someone who knows little or nothing about this topic. I also appreciate the resources at the end of the book.

Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen
Did not finish book.

Couldn't get into the story line. 

Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s by Sarah Ditum

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review. Going through the late 1990s to mid 2000s, Ditum uses high profile celebrity women to share the ways publicity, misogyny, and racism shaped how culture treated these women. A mix of darned if you do darned if you don't, she highlights the tightrope women have had to walk in the public sphere and the beginnings of this being to be examined. I was disappointed she only had one black woman (she briefly mentions the trouble of labeling someone as white in another chapter) and she also at times went of topic in later chapters. All in all a good read. 

A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay by Octavia E. Butler

hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review. Short and to the point, Butler gives the reader seemingly simple rules about predicting the future. Though short her words will stay with you- timeless, poignant, and thought provoking.