shafnut's reviews
98 reviews

A Party for Thaera: Palestinian Women Write Life in Prison by Haifa Zangana

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad

4.75

feels like the afterword should have been in the introduction - would have been better for setting context. otherwise a perfect book!

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective tense

4.0

some portions got too reflective and i felt like i was spending too much time in Sonia’s head but Isabella Hammad’s writing is GORGEOUS.

Nine Yard Sarees by Prasanthi Ram

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

if you can get through the first 40 percent the second half is an interesting insight to the life of a Palestinian pre 2023 genocide. the voice of the protagonist in the second half was very well done - the tension and anxiety she felt is so present in the pages as we read it

On Palestine by Ilan Pappé, Noam Chomsky

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

reading this in 2023, its an eye opener of the cyclical pattern of the genocide of the Palestinian people, the reason why the Israeli government has been able to “get away with this” for the so long - external support. Free Palestine.

The Singapore I Recognise: Essays on home, community and hope by Kirsten Han

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

Boulder by Eva Baltasar

mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

VERY important piece of work. I wonder what Audre Lorde would think of the current state of racism/sexism/homophobia. Interesting to see how the erasure of differences is something that we’re CONSTANTLY fighting. 

Feels like a book that should be read essay by essay instead of in chunks. Will try that for future non-fiction!

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5