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wanderingraccoonbooks's reviews
10 reviews
Hell Put to Shame: The 1921 Murder Farm Massacre and the Horror of America's Second Slavery by Earl Swift
4.0
*Thank you to Libro.fm and Harper Audio for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review*
This book was so well researched and written. Truly an awful story, but a book everyone should read to face the realities of our history that wasn't that long ago, really.
- Allison P.
This book was so well researched and written. Truly an awful story, but a book everyone should read to face the realities of our history that wasn't that long ago, really.
- Allison P.
New Nigeria County by Clare Brown
4.0
*Thank you to Libro.fm and Simon & Schuster Audio for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review*
This is absolute peak satire. Brown does a fabulous job translating her insightful social commentary from social media in this delightful audiobook. The full cast absolutely makes this - and with a total run time of less than 4 hours, you can enjoy the drama start-to-finish in one sitting.
- Jena B.
This is absolute peak satire. Brown does a fabulous job translating her insightful social commentary from social media in this delightful audiobook. The full cast absolutely makes this - and with a total run time of less than 4 hours, you can enjoy the drama start-to-finish in one sitting.
- Jena B.
Heavenbreaker by Sara Wolf
5.0
*Thank you to Edelweiss & Entangled: Redtower Books for the free bookseller ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Heavenbreaker is an action-packed sci-fi that, to me, harnesses the same space rebellion vibes as Red Rising.
Our main character, Synali, comes from the lowest rungs of society and claws her way to the upper echelons on a mission of vengeance. The plot is convoluted & filled with hidden political agendas and characters of questionable morals. This isn't "just another romantasy" - there's no room for love in revenge & you'll find only the smallest echos of romance here.
I wavered a bit between 4 & 5 stars, but I read this almost 500 page beast in only a few sittings because I was so invested.
-Jena B.
Heavenbreaker is an action-packed sci-fi that, to me, harnesses the same space rebellion vibes as Red Rising.
Our main character, Synali, comes from the lowest rungs of society and claws her way to the upper echelons on a mission of vengeance. The plot is convoluted & filled with hidden political agendas and characters of questionable morals. This isn't "just another romantasy" - there's no room for love in revenge & you'll find only the smallest echos of romance here.
I wavered a bit between 4 & 5 stars, but I read this almost 500 page beast in only a few sittings because I was so invested.
-Jena B.
Down with the System: A Memoir (Of Sorts) by Serj Tankian
5.0
*Thank you to Libro.fm & Hachette Audio for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review*
Serj Tankian, lead singer of System of a Down, has absolutely wowed me with this (sort of) memoir.
To preface this, I'm a pretty big SOAD fan, and was looking forward to a rock memoir from this truly unique band & vocalist. What I wasn't expecting was such history and detail relating to the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and how it shaped his family - and the family of all SOAD members - as all the members (Serj, Daron, Shavo, & John) are all part of the Armenian Diaspora.
Almost equally full of rock band antics, modern politics/activism, and history lessons, Down with the System was engaging from start to finish. I love that Serj chose to narrate this himself, and I feel like I am coming away from this actually having learned quite a few things - both in the fun fact trivia category and the history & modern politic categories.
-Jena B.
Serj Tankian, lead singer of System of a Down, has absolutely wowed me with this (sort of) memoir.
To preface this, I'm a pretty big SOAD fan, and was looking forward to a rock memoir from this truly unique band & vocalist. What I wasn't expecting was such history and detail relating to the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and how it shaped his family - and the family of all SOAD members - as all the members (Serj, Daron, Shavo, & John) are all part of the Armenian Diaspora.
Almost equally full of rock band antics, modern politics/activism, and history lessons, Down with the System was engaging from start to finish. I love that Serj chose to narrate this himself, and I feel like I am coming away from this actually having learned quite a few things - both in the fun fact trivia category and the history & modern politic categories.
-Jena B.
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History by Karen Valby
4.0
*Thank you to Libro.fm, Pantheon, & Penguin Randomhouse for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review*
This was so, so informative, but so emotional. Most people today with even a cursory knowledge of dance have heard of Misty Copeland and think of her as the "first Black principal dancer" or "first Black prima ballerina". This book - The Swans of Harlem - highlights just how much cultural erasure has happened within the world of ballet and within the greater culture (at least here within the United States) that has hidden all the Black dancers that came before.
Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) began in 1969 during the Civil Rights Movement (and still exists today). The women discussed within this text - Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton, & Marcia Sells - performed ballets across the world, graced the covers of magazines, and even starred in The Wiz. Yet they have been largely forgotten to history.
During the struggle to bring DTH and Black dancers into the ballet world, there was a heavy amount of body shaming to keep the women "bone thin" to fit the typical thin, white, ballet "ideal" and honestly it was really uncomfortable to hear the Director, Arthur Mitchell, forcing this "standard" on these young women. These women (and their male counterparts) battled through racism, colorism, extreme pressure on their weight, and so much more just to pursue their passion for their art. They pioneered the expansion of flesh tones by literally painting their shoes with makeup to match their skin! They had to fight for so much, only to need to fight to be remembered now.
The audio version includes segments by the women themselves (or family members if the women highlighted here were not able to read for the book).
-Jena B.
This was so, so informative, but so emotional. Most people today with even a cursory knowledge of dance have heard of Misty Copeland and think of her as the "first Black principal dancer" or "first Black prima ballerina". This book - The Swans of Harlem - highlights just how much cultural erasure has happened within the world of ballet and within the greater culture (at least here within the United States) that has hidden all the Black dancers that came before.
Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) began in 1969 during the Civil Rights Movement (and still exists today). The women discussed within this text - Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton, & Marcia Sells - performed ballets across the world, graced the covers of magazines, and even starred in The Wiz. Yet they have been largely forgotten to history.
During the struggle to bring DTH and Black dancers into the ballet world, there was a heavy amount of body shaming to keep the women "bone thin" to fit the typical thin, white, ballet "ideal" and honestly it was really uncomfortable to hear the Director, Arthur Mitchell, forcing this "standard" on these young women. These women (and their male counterparts) battled through racism, colorism, extreme pressure on their weight, and so much more just to pursue their passion for their art. They pioneered the expansion of flesh tones by literally painting their shoes with makeup to match their skin! They had to fight for so much, only to need to fight to be remembered now.
The audio version includes segments by the women themselves (or family members if the women highlighted here were not able to read for the book).
-Jena B.
House of Frank by Kay Synclaire
4.0
*Thank you to Edelweiss & Bindery Books for the free bookseller ARC in exchange for an honest review*
House of Frank is a cozy fantasy.... but not too cozy. In a similar vein to TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door, House of Frank deals very heavily with the difficult topics of grief, mourning, and loss. The characters are brought together by a deep sense of loss and learn to heal from each other. I don't want to give too much of the story away, since this is a very early review, but I firmly believe that Synclaire is one to watch. This is magical, emotional, yet still manages to capture the fun, happy moments that occur alongside grief and during healing.
- Jena B.
House of Frank is a cozy fantasy.... but not too cozy. In a similar vein to TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door, House of Frank deals very heavily with the difficult topics of grief, mourning, and loss. The characters are brought together by a deep sense of loss and learn to heal from each other. I don't want to give too much of the story away, since this is a very early review, but I firmly believe that Synclaire is one to watch. This is magical, emotional, yet still manages to capture the fun, happy moments that occur alongside grief and during healing.
- Jena B.
Really Very Crunchy: A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality by Emily Morrow
fast-paced
3.0
*Thank you to Libro.fm, Zondervan, & Harper Collins for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review*
I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into this one. I follow @reallyverycrunchy on Instagram and enjoy the satirical (ok, and sometimes not so satirical) videos, but I wasn't sure how that would translate into a book.
My absolute favorite portions were the "Jason Says" portions at the end of each chapter (sorry Emily). I also really appreciate the emphasis that Emily puts into balance. As a "scrunchy"' person, I care deeply about the environment, try to spend lots of time outside, and try to avoid as many single-use things as I can. I also think its important to read books and talk to people who's views are different than your own to help keep an open mind and broaden your perspective.
Overall, I think this does a good job of showing different sides of living (silky, scrunchy, crunchy) without getting into a blame game or guilt trips.
-Jena B.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into this one. I follow @reallyverycrunchy on Instagram and enjoy the satirical (ok, and sometimes not so satirical) videos, but I wasn't sure how that would translate into a book.
My absolute favorite portions were the "Jason Says" portions at the end of each chapter (sorry Emily). I also really appreciate the emphasis that Emily puts into balance. As a "scrunchy"' person, I care deeply about the environment, try to spend lots of time outside, and try to avoid as many single-use things as I can. I also think its important to read books and talk to people who's views are different than your own to help keep an open mind and broaden your perspective.
Overall, I think this does a good job of showing different sides of living (silky, scrunchy, crunchy) without getting into a blame game or guilt trips.
-Jena B.
Selling the Dream: The Billion-Dollar Industry Bankrupting Americans by Jane Marie
4.0
*Thank you to Libro.fm & Simon & Schuster for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review*
As someone who has watched quite a few documentaries about MLMs, I can't say a lot of this info was new to me. But it was still interesting, well researched, and an enjoyable listen.
- Allison P.
As someone who has watched quite a few documentaries about MLMs, I can't say a lot of this info was new to me. But it was still interesting, well researched, and an enjoyable listen.
- Allison P.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
4.0
*Thank you to Libro.fm , Simon & Schuster, & Gallery Books for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review*
Its hard to truly rate a memoir, but Britney's The Woman in Me will definitely be at the top of many people's lists. Listening to her experiences, narrated by Michelle Williams, was absolutely eye opening. First, the way she was treated by her family was abysmal. There are at least two sides to every story, but its really hard to see what's happened here from the supposed "flip side". Second, this is not a happy book, but I think its important for people to see just how devastating fame can be. A little empathy can go a long way, and the abuse child stars suffer is becoming more apparent with stories like Britney's and Jeanette McCurdy's finding an audience.
I know a lot of people are really hating on Justin Timberlake after reading this, but remember... he and Britney were in their late teens/early twenties! How many people (no offense, but especially men) are mature enough to make well thought out decisions at that age? I think a lot of people forget how young they were, and how much a positive support team for either of them would have changed things.
All told, I would recommend for fans of celebrity memoirs, those with an interest in mental health, and people with children (there is a lot of discussion centered around Britney's two children throughout the second half-ish).
- Jena B.
Its hard to truly rate a memoir, but Britney's The Woman in Me will definitely be at the top of many people's lists. Listening to her experiences, narrated by Michelle Williams, was absolutely eye opening. First, the way she was treated by her family was abysmal. There are at least two sides to every story, but its really hard to see what's happened here from the supposed "flip side". Second, this is not a happy book, but I think its important for people to see just how devastating fame can be. A little empathy can go a long way, and the abuse child stars suffer is becoming more apparent with stories like Britney's and Jeanette McCurdy's finding an audience.
I know a lot of people are really hating on Justin Timberlake after reading this, but remember... he and Britney were in their late teens/early twenties! How many people (no offense, but especially men) are mature enough to make well thought out decisions at that age? I think a lot of people forget how young they were, and how much a positive support team for either of them would have changed things.
All told, I would recommend for fans of celebrity memoirs, those with an interest in mental health, and people with children (there is a lot of discussion centered around Britney's two children throughout the second half-ish).
- Jena B.
The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell
5.0
*Thank you to Libro.fm , Simon & Schuster, & Atria/One Signal for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review*
Amanda Montell has done it again! She does such a great job incorporating her own life in her books while also discussing extensive research. Thoroughly enjoyable and still makes you think. Can't wait to hear whatever she comes up with next!
- Allison P.
Amanda Montell has done it again! She does such a great job incorporating her own life in her books while also discussing extensive research. Thoroughly enjoyable and still makes you think. Can't wait to hear whatever she comes up with next!
- Allison P.
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