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tracithomas's reviews
1042 reviews
reflective
medium-paced
An attempt to highlight the extraordinary genius of Black folks in ordinary settings from education to celebration and beyond. This is a formidable debut, and I think Johnson has a real gift for the conversational in his writing tone. I love the concept behind Black Genius, calling to the front the myriad unsung moments of Black genius, and thought some of the essays and examples really lean into that central thesis. There were other parts of the book where he covered well trod cultural territory or din’t fully lock into his main points, and those essays felt flat. More than anything though, this book made me excited for whatever Johnson does next.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I liked this book a lot it is a great addition to the series, but it wasn't as great as the the early books. It dragged a bit in the middle and felt like it wasn't as sturdy in plotting or pacing. I appreciated the winks and nods to previous characters and moments, but found the storytelling to be a little clunkier than the others. What I did appreciate was the clear evolution of thinking from Collins on violence, revolution, and the abuse of children. There were so many moments where the language of abolition rang out clearly on the pages, an advancement of the political mission of the books. Sunrise on the Reaping also read as the bleakest in the quintet, a statement in and of itself. This is a very solid entry into the series, even if it wasn’t my favorite.
informative
slow-paced
I am from Oakland so I loved reading about my city. Anyone who gives time and consideration to The Town is thrilling to me. This book is interesting on a lot of levels, if not a touch confusing in spots. Its is ambitious but doesn't always land the plane, and I found myself confused at times. But overall I did appreciate the effort to craft a story about a place that incorporated race, industry, climate, tech, and so much more.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
I knew basically nothing about Patti Smith going into this book. I was moved by the friendship between Patti and Robbert and found their drive to make art inspiring. It was very nostalgic for me and my 20s in NYC with my artist friends and falling in love with them and their talents and work (though much of the story is not like mine at all). It is a beautiful book and tribute to a bond, even if parts of it were a little slow for me.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another cute romance from Romanoff. I liked this one and found the conversations around success and shame to be interesting. Good sex scenes and a fun twist on enemies to lovers. I also loved the high school nostalgia. There were parts in the third quarter where I thought the book dragged a bit, but over all really fun.
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
This book is a feat of journalism and research. You can just tell the amount of care and respect that went into the process and every detail. I appreciated the depth of the book and the amount of history that is packed in. It did read as long and in spots I wished Gilliland would tighten things up, but overall that desire felt small compared to all that is in this book. She does a great job giving us the many perspectives and balancing the ethical quandaries in play. Plus I knew very very little going in and she is patient with her reader to make sure we get all the pieces -- while still giving us a strong narrative to latch on to.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was surprised by how readable and engaging this book was from the start. So many people have bad things to say about this book, and I didn't feel that way at all. It isn't Morrison's best, but it is a cut above so many other authors (and some of her other books). It is dark and deals with dark stuff but the ease with which the story unfolds is impressive. The sense of place felt very off to me. The argument she is having around child abuse and love and grief is worthy certainly.
informative
fast-paced
This book is rage inducing and so good. Really well researched and presented clearly. Private Equity is confusing and I basically knew nothing going in, and Greenwell breaks it down really well. This book is really about the four people's stories more than anything and won't give your the nitty gritty of PE, but if you're newer to the topic and want to understand the impact, this is your book. The stories are compelling (thought I wished for slightly more variety in outcome of her subjects). Short. Clear. Effective.
informative
medium-paced
Holy research and detail, Batman! This one is so impressive. I know a good amount about Nazis and WWII but this was mostly all new for me. I was aghast throughout at what went down and how it’s all played out into the present. This book is a service to the people.
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked this little novella. It is twisted and ambiguous and thought provoking. I loved the sex, power, and privilege play around disability. It starts with a bang and keeps you locked in throughout with an ending that sticks with you and is haunting as hell.