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thebacklistreader's reviews
15 reviews
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Digby’s storyline is predictable and trite. It feels far too much a self-insert character, and the surgery descriptions are too much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Suicide
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Alcoholism
When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'Neill
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Clearly meant to be dramatic and dark, it felt over-done in a way that was comical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Rape and Transphobia
Bad Lawyer: A Memoir of Law and Disorder by Anna Dorn
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Crusaders: The Epic History of the Wars for the Holy Lands by Dan Jones
slow-paced
3.0
This covers a huge scope — both in geography and time, and at times it suffers for it. It does give an ambitiously balanced view (as much as top-down history can be) and often counters the narrative European figureheads and leaders used in their accounts. However this book dragged. It was stronger when detailing Europe based battles, but it feels like an 800 page book. Three stars out of professional respect as a historian for not writing pro monarchy and using a variety of primary sources
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Gentle, compassionate and patient reminders of what it is to care for yourself and your space without judgement. Audio is phenomenal and built with intention of being mindful of those who are neurodivergent and may not have the capacity to listen attentively throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Body shaming and Emotional abuse
Minor: Drug abuse
Inheritance by Katharine McGee
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
A quick read, especially in audiobook format (under 3 hours). I went into this book expecting a lighthearted fluffy book, but INHERITANCE gives more of Gossip Girl vibes. Like Gossip Girl, not all of the characters in INHERITANCE are likeable, and the characters often play each other for their own material / social advantage. There are some instances of infidelity, and an accident that is the result of toxic friendship. For a prequel, there isn't a lot of setting development, so at times it feels surface level, but I'm hoping things are more fleshed out in the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Infidelity
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol
Crip Kinship: The Disability Justice & Art Activism of Sins Invalid by Shayda Kafai
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
While at times a heavy read, CRIP KINSHIP by Shayda Kafai never felt inaccessible or overy dense -- particularly for those (like me) not terribly familiar with Disability Justice, or the intersection of activim and arts. As an educator, I am more familiary with the Disability Rights movement. I appreciate how CRIP KINSHIP is grounded in examples from the Sins Invalid project in San Diego, as well as the extensive bibliography which is a good starting point for those interested in learning more about Disability Justice, feminism, abelism and the intersections with racism, classism and more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Ableism
Moderate: Terminal illness, Racism, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual assault