veliciajerus's reviews
251 reviews

Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates

dark informative sad slow-paced

4.0

This is a good book for people who unaware of the different manosphere segments, and definitely important if you are a parent/teacher of young boys. However, as someone with some knowledge of this cult already and no children, this was 200 pages too long and repetitive. It filled me with more dread than actionable insights. 

Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper

funny hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

4.5

Note for other readers: the audio version has accompanying bird sounds that pull you into the world of birds. 

I am thankful for Christian Copper, who grew up to have a complicated, messy life. He is an activist who leads with his consciousness - not revenge - and is thrilled to not know everything. He shows us all the tools of white supremacy, from respectability politics and whitewashing to white woman tears and fears.. and reminds us that

“If you’re looking for Amy Cooper to yell at, look in the mirror.”

Favorite technique: giving his family members names. His doesn’t pigeonholed them into the relational nouns of mother or father. He gives them proper names, humanizes them, and see them as complicated and messy, too. 
History and Names are important in this book: Amadou Diablo, Trayvon Martin, Philandro Castile, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, Emmett Till, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, and so many others so that we should never forget. See the true history of Seneca Village. .  

Favorite quote: “… bias knows no latitudes.”

My plea to all: Let there always be more to learn, more to see, more the hear, more to write. 

James by Percival Everett

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

3.0

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Victor Vale is the antihero we all cheer for… or at least, I hope I’m not alone… 
Fuck EON. And Rios. 

Make Me Rain: Poems & Prose by Nikki Giovanni

inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

Her words are rain, allowing all of us to grow. 

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

emotional funny inspiring tense medium-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

5.0

Another gripping story by Sue Lynn Tan - who is quickly becoming my favorite fantasy-romance writer. I was happy to return to this world with new characters. 

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I blew through this book. The writing style - multiple points of view, multiple time lines that come together - pulled me through the book.