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shansometimes's reviews
371 reviews
Country Place by Ann Petry
medium-paced
4.0
Ann Petry, the first Black woman to sell over a million copies of a book with her novel, The Street, is a masterful storyteller who reeled me in again with Country Place. The Street was one of my favorite books I read in 2021. Country Place was a much different type of book. It was slower initially but still a page-turner.
In this atmospheric and foreboding story set in a small town in the 1940s, the reader gets to know all the townspeople, including "The Weasel," who takes joy in spreading gossip, and Johnnie, a soldier returning home after WWII. Johnnie hopes to pick up where he left off with his wife, Glory, and that's where this novel starts to unfold.
It took me a while to realize that, unlike in The Street, the characters in this book seem to be mostly, if not all, white. I'm still unsure about that, but it made visualizing the town dynamics interesting, if not a bit confusing.
As the story develops, Petry adeptly illustrates the effects of infidelity, carelessness, rumors, selfishness, and betrayal. I was in awe and really enjoyed this.
In this atmospheric and foreboding story set in a small town in the 1940s, the reader gets to know all the townspeople, including "The Weasel," who takes joy in spreading gossip, and Johnnie, a soldier returning home after WWII. Johnnie hopes to pick up where he left off with his wife, Glory, and that's where this novel starts to unfold.
It took me a while to realize that, unlike in The Street, the characters in this book seem to be mostly, if not all, white. I'm still unsure about that, but it made visualizing the town dynamics interesting, if not a bit confusing.
As the story develops, Petry adeptly illustrates the effects of infidelity, carelessness, rumors, selfishness, and betrayal. I was in awe and really enjoyed this.
All the Black Girls Are Activists: A Fourth Wave Womanist Pursuit of Dreams as Radical Resistance by EbonyJanice Moore
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one or how much memoir it would be versus information. It turned out to be a scholarly but approachable application of womanist theory and theology that incorporated the author's personal experiences (and exceeded my expectations!). I appreciated the organization of the chapters, which presented a unified series of topics, ideas, and insights.
The author is clearly a brilliant, down-to-earth, and passionate person who is deeply concerned about justice and how Black women can imagine and pursue it without burning out or betraying ourselves. This book dived impressively deep in very few pages. It stirred and inspired my thinking on how liberation and rest intersect, Black womanhood in the context of religious thought, and the necessity of critiquing the womanism of the past to shape a compassionate and inclusive future for all.
I wasn't always fully on board with the author's approach to everything, but I nonetheless enjoyed being a student of the historical accounts and inspiring vision she presented. All the Black Girls Are Activists isn't the most radical or groundbreaking book of its kind, but I don't think this particular work was intended to be. It's a good introduction to the future of fourth-wave womanism and an overview of concepts like rest, resistance, and respectability that will be helpful for anyone interested in justice work going forward.
The author is clearly a brilliant, down-to-earth, and passionate person who is deeply concerned about justice and how Black women can imagine and pursue it without burning out or betraying ourselves. This book dived impressively deep in very few pages. It stirred and inspired my thinking on how liberation and rest intersect, Black womanhood in the context of religious thought, and the necessity of critiquing the womanism of the past to shape a compassionate and inclusive future for all.
I wasn't always fully on board with the author's approach to everything, but I nonetheless enjoyed being a student of the historical accounts and inspiring vision she presented. All the Black Girls Are Activists isn't the most radical or groundbreaking book of its kind, but I don't think this particular work was intended to be. It's a good introduction to the future of fourth-wave womanism and an overview of concepts like rest, resistance, and respectability that will be helpful for anyone interested in justice work going forward.
God Help the Child by Toni Morrison
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a beautiful book to conclude my reading of Toni Morrison's fiction. God Help the Child tells the story of a dark-skinned woman called Bride who, after being starved for love by her light-skinned mother as a child, grows up to become a woman whose life and decisions show that "what you do to children matters. And they might never forget."
It's much more contemporary than I'm used to from Morrison, but she executed it with precision and purpose. Her signature deep, below-the-surface insights on things like colorism, familial relationships, and what one will do for the sake of love were present, too. The book's structure and prose are both excellent, and I found it gripping from the first page.
It's much more contemporary than I'm used to from Morrison, but she executed it with precision and purpose. Her signature deep, below-the-surface insights on things like colorism, familial relationships, and what one will do for the sake of love were present, too. The book's structure and prose are both excellent, and I found it gripping from the first page.
Empowered to Repair: Becoming People Who Mend Broken Systems and Heal Our Communities by Brenda Salter McNeil
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
I typically enjoy books that offer solutions to issues like racism, unjust systems, and broken communities, especially faith-based ones like Empowered to Repair. This drew me to the book, but what I found when I started reading it didn't impact or inspire me in the ways I expected when I requested an ARC of it.
I greatly respect the writer and the justice work she has done in the Church, but I don't think her wisdom translated into book form as well as it could have this time. I found the writing style detached and robotic and became frustrated at consistently defining obvious things and quoting someone else in what felt like every other paragraph. Many sections had original thoughts, but they weren't profound or insightful enough to hold my interest. The writing format was also difficult to follow, and what I'd read by the time I reached 32% didn't compel me to continue.
I greatly respect the writer and the justice work she has done in the Church, but I don't think her wisdom translated into book form as well as it could have this time. I found the writing style detached and robotic and became frustrated at consistently defining obvious things and quoting someone else in what felt like every other paragraph. Many sections had original thoughts, but they weren't profound or insightful enough to hold my interest. The writing format was also difficult to follow, and what I'd read by the time I reached 32% didn't compel me to continue.
God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've never read a stream-of-consciousness novel that was so stream-of-consciousness before. While reading God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer, I mostly just lived in this man, Joseph's, head. And although I hardly understood where the book was headed, I enjoyed this intimate, gritty, unconstrained, and unconventional story.
Joseph is a young Black man who has left the Army, enrolled in grad school, and started working in a hospital's emergency department. He's trying to navigate fatherhood, old and new relationships, rebuilding his life in Philadelphia, and a number of other personal struggles and aspects of life and society. The Philly vernacular and routine daily life scenarios created a compelling slice-of-life reading experience and a strong voice in Joseph's character.
Readers of literary fiction, Black American fiction, and the like are most likely to enjoy this one. As long as you can get past or, rather, get into the unique writing style, you'll slide into a story that isn't necessarily tidy or cohesive but is ultra-realistic, emotional, tragic, and powerful.
*This review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.
Joseph is a young Black man who has left the Army, enrolled in grad school, and started working in a hospital's emergency department. He's trying to navigate fatherhood, old and new relationships, rebuilding his life in Philadelphia, and a number of other personal struggles and aspects of life and society. The Philly vernacular and routine daily life scenarios created a compelling slice-of-life reading experience and a strong voice in Joseph's character.
Readers of literary fiction, Black American fiction, and the like are most likely to enjoy this one. As long as you can get past or, rather, get into the unique writing style, you'll slide into a story that isn't necessarily tidy or cohesive but is ultra-realistic, emotional, tragic, and powerful.
*This review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.
I'll Just Be Five More Minutes: And Other Tales from My ADHD Brain by Emily Farris
funny
lighthearted
reflective
4.0
I'll Just Be Five More Minutes is a memoir in essays about the author's journey to learning she has ADHD at age 35. As someone who got this diagnosis at the similarly big age of 33, I had a good time with this book primarily because it made me feel so seen.
As with most essay collections, some were better (more substantial, profound, and meaningful) than others. Something about the author's tone could be annoying to me at times—I think because she seemed too flippant about the impact of her actions. And while mostly relatable, Farris' frank admissions about how she's coped with the way her brain works, managed (and mismanaged) relationships and finances, and navigated her writing career sometimes read as simply immature, inconsiderate, and lacking accountability. I don't like even the subtle suggestion that ADHD is to blame for that.
Nonetheless, I get it. I see how that can be part of the journey. With ADHD, we feel misunderstood by others until we get the diagnosis that helps us understand ourselves. We drop many balls in life until we find the systems that teach us how to juggle. Farris communicates the frustration, shame, and consequences of living like this very well. She's also funny and brings her points home in a way that I, as a fellow woman, writer, and person with an ADHD brain, find admirable.
This collection is solid. I'd recommend it to those—especially 30+ women who enjoy essays—who have felt misunderstood and have gone through the wringer to figure out why.
As with most essay collections, some were better (more substantial, profound, and meaningful) than others. Something about the author's tone could be annoying to me at times—I think because she seemed too flippant about the impact of her actions. And while mostly relatable, Farris' frank admissions about how she's coped with the way her brain works, managed (and mismanaged) relationships and finances, and navigated her writing career sometimes read as simply immature, inconsiderate, and lacking accountability. I don't like even the subtle suggestion that ADHD is to blame for that.
Nonetheless, I get it. I see how that can be part of the journey. With ADHD, we feel misunderstood by others until we get the diagnosis that helps us understand ourselves. We drop many balls in life until we find the systems that teach us how to juggle. Farris communicates the frustration, shame, and consequences of living like this very well. She's also funny and brings her points home in a way that I, as a fellow woman, writer, and person with an ADHD brain, find admirable.
This collection is solid. I'd recommend it to those—especially 30+ women who enjoy essays—who have felt misunderstood and have gone through the wringer to figure out why.
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Behind Closed Doors is a suspenseful, action-packed book that's super binge-able. It allows the reader to see a fear that I and many women have had play out: This man seems perfect—what if I marry him and he turns out to be a monster?
It was a darker and more disturbing book than I expected, as I felt trapped and helpless right along with the main character, Grace. Although some elements of the story felt implausible, the structure really worked for me, and I was hooked from beginning to end.
It was a darker and more disturbing book than I expected, as I felt trapped and helpless right along with the main character, Grace. Although some elements of the story felt implausible, the structure really worked for me, and I was hooked from beginning to end.
Congratulations, the Best Is Over!: Essays by R. Eric Thomas
4.0
I'm pretty sure R. Eric Thomas is the only author who has made me laugh out loud. This essay collection is just as funny as his first one (I can't help but compare!), and he is a master at writing humorous essays that also hold emotional weight and deep lessons between the lines.
Many essays center themes about coming home and defining home, but Thomas also discusses marriage, grief, and self-discovery. While this collection didn't hold my attention as intensely as HERE FOR IT did, I had a great time with it, and it inspired me in many ways.
Many essays center themes about coming home and defining home, but Thomas also discusses marriage, grief, and self-discovery. While this collection didn't hold my attention as intensely as HERE FOR IT did, I had a great time with it, and it inspired me in many ways.
Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans
I've read a few great poetry collections this year, and BLACK GIRL, CALL HOME is among the best. These poems are nostalgic and beautifully written, capturing a Black American girlhood experience with vivid imagery and a soul-soothing style.
The book hits on many topics (and just hits, period!), including race, religion, sexuality, and family dynamics. Some of it is heavy, while other parts are heartwarming. These poems are Black girl magic on a page—approachable, relatable, and well done. 👏🏽
The book hits on many topics (and just hits, period!), including race, religion, sexuality, and family dynamics. Some of it is heavy, while other parts are heartwarming. These poems are Black girl magic on a page—approachable, relatable, and well done. 👏🏽
Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed parts of this book because I'm a writer and liked reading about the main character, Mickey's, writing career and thoughts about the craft. However, I wanted to shake her. She's a realistic character; I'll give the author that. And I would've had the same reaction to her shenanigans that her two equally realistic best friend characters had (and they were the only two characters I liked, by the way).
This is a story about a young Black woman experiencing racism in the media industry, but it's also a story of self-sabotage at every angle. It'd be easy to write this story off as Black lesbians being messy because of all the excessive plot points about old lovers and family and old friends and friends' family in Mickey's hometown and Mickey's generally bad decision-making and attitude. I found all the descriptive language excessive, too, and eventually started skimming over unnecessary details. The pacing is off, and it didn't pick up until around the middle, which is when I became a little more invested.
Speaking of the pacing, there was a lot of lead-up to...what? I thought a better plot would've been after what happened at the end. Racism isn't explored to the level I thought it'd be, either, given the book's description, and it felt like the issue was just vaguely floating around the story. Since I'm also a Black woman, I could pick up what the author was putting down about the subtle but harmful racism Mickey experienced, but so much more could've been explored in this area—which I thought was supposed to be central to the story—and so many other things could've been left out. Mickey's viral manifesto—finally revealed close to the end—was excellently written, though.
I read a lot of lit fic so I'm not usually annoyed about not getting a real resolution, but with this one, I was a little peeved. The end should've been the middle. I appreciate this book for what it ended up being, and some of it was well done, but I don't believe it quite reached its full potential.
This is a story about a young Black woman experiencing racism in the media industry, but it's also a story of self-sabotage at every angle. It'd be easy to write this story off as Black lesbians being messy because of all the excessive plot points about old lovers and family and old friends and friends' family in Mickey's hometown and Mickey's generally bad decision-making and attitude. I found all the descriptive language excessive, too, and eventually started skimming over unnecessary details. The pacing is off, and it didn't pick up until around the middle, which is when I became a little more invested.
Speaking of the pacing, there was a lot of lead-up to...what? I thought a better plot would've been after what happened at the end. Racism isn't explored to the level I thought it'd be, either, given the book's description, and it felt like the issue was just vaguely floating around the story. Since I'm also a Black woman, I could pick up what the author was putting down about the subtle but harmful racism Mickey experienced, but so much more could've been explored in this area—which I thought was supposed to be central to the story—and so many other things could've been left out. Mickey's viral manifesto—finally revealed close to the end—was excellently written, though.
I read a lot of lit fic so I'm not usually annoyed about not getting a real resolution, but with this one, I was a little peeved. The end should've been the middle. I appreciate this book for what it ended up being, and some of it was well done, but I don't believe it quite reached its full potential.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Racism and Abandonment