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whatjaimereads's reviews
81 reviews
How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a novel that explores the many facets of humanity, through inter-generational trauma, crime, poverty, womanhood, and what it is to live in a tourism-based economy. It was these discussions around Barbadian tourism and the cavernous wealth disparity between locals and tourists that initially drew me to this novel, and Jones delivered in swathes.
Our cast of characters are treated with generosity and kindness despite the difficult choices with which they are faced. Jones’ prose style is fluid and exceptionally accomplished, it’s hard to believe that this is a debut. This is undeniably an important, approachable entry point to Barbadian literature, I look forward to keeping an eye out for her future work.
This was a great entry point for my own #ReadCaribbean journey, with a similar vibe to My Sister, The Serial Killer through the fast-pace and tension building that is reminiscent of a thriller while straddling genre-boundaries in a similar fashion.
*ARC kindly gifted by Headline in exchange for an honest review
Our cast of characters are treated with generosity and kindness despite the difficult choices with which they are faced. Jones’ prose style is fluid and exceptionally accomplished, it’s hard to believe that this is a debut. This is undeniably an important, approachable entry point to Barbadian literature, I look forward to keeping an eye out for her future work.
This was a great entry point for my own #ReadCaribbean journey, with a similar vibe to My Sister, The Serial Killer through the fast-pace and tension building that is reminiscent of a thriller while straddling genre-boundaries in a similar fashion.
*ARC kindly gifted by Headline in exchange for an honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Medical trauma, Medical content, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Fitzgerald’s prose is ripe for analysis, and clearly he was a proficient writer of his time, but I really struggled to see beyond just how “of its time” this book is. Of all of the books to have been written, should we be clinging onto this as one of the greats when there are such flippant mentions of racism, antisemitism, and eugenics?
I could go on for hours (and regularly do) about how we have to reevaluate the current curriculum to be able to move forward as an equal and just society. I am a firmer believer that change is achieved through education, and with the longevity of white supremacy, we have to start by reevaluating the novels that we herald as being “great,” and moving beyond the likes of Gatsby would be a great place to start.
I could go on for hours (and regularly do) about how we have to reevaluate the current curriculum to be able to move forward as an equal and just society. I am a firmer believer that change is achieved through education, and with the longevity of white supremacy, we have to start by reevaluating the novels that we herald as being “great,” and moving beyond the likes of Gatsby would be a great place to start.
The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I picked up The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk, in order to better understand what is currently known about trauma and PTSD, as a way of better understanding my own dealings with it.
Kolk has written a comprehensive text, which explains the current scientific research regarding traumatic memory and PTSD, in a way that is approachable to a layperson. The book offers a hopeful idea of how to treat PTSD with the potential for full recovery, which is something that isn’t often discussed in similar literature - oftentimes it is anticipated that a victim/survivor will live with the shockwaves for the rest of their life. This was a refreshing stance, and it acted as a beacon of hope for my own journey. The author has an underlying tone of true compassionate care for his patients, and it has armed me with a lot of empowering knowledge.
Importantly, this book will offer you a lot of insight into other books, particularly within contemporary literary fiction. Reading this alongside a range of fiction has oftentimes given me the tools to more accurately understand the depictions of traumatised characters, and the accuracy of their portrayal.
However, this is not to say that The Body Keeps The Score is perfect. There is a lot of unnecessarily graphic depictions of traumatic experiences, to the point where it verges on trauma voyeurism. If you choose to pick this up, anticipate that it will be a slow read which you will have to take numerous breaks away from.
The Body Keeps The Score was a welcome break from typical self-help texts, it provided me with the language to be able to articulate my experiences, and an ability to work my PTSD into the fabric of my being.
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Worthy of note is that 4 years after publication, the van der Kolk was fired from his post at The Trauma Centre for accusations of bullying and misconduct, further info is available online with a quick google search.
Kolk has written a comprehensive text, which explains the current scientific research regarding traumatic memory and PTSD, in a way that is approachable to a layperson. The book offers a hopeful idea of how to treat PTSD with the potential for full recovery, which is something that isn’t often discussed in similar literature - oftentimes it is anticipated that a victim/survivor will live with the shockwaves for the rest of their life. This was a refreshing stance, and it acted as a beacon of hope for my own journey. The author has an underlying tone of true compassionate care for his patients, and it has armed me with a lot of empowering knowledge.
Importantly, this book will offer you a lot of insight into other books, particularly within contemporary literary fiction. Reading this alongside a range of fiction has oftentimes given me the tools to more accurately understand the depictions of traumatised characters, and the accuracy of their portrayal.
However, this is not to say that The Body Keeps The Score is perfect. There is a lot of unnecessarily graphic depictions of traumatic experiences, to the point where it verges on trauma voyeurism. If you choose to pick this up, anticipate that it will be a slow read which you will have to take numerous breaks away from.
The Body Keeps The Score was a welcome break from typical self-help texts, it provided me with the language to be able to articulate my experiences, and an ability to work my PTSD into the fabric of my being.
-
Worthy of note is that 4 years after publication, the van der Kolk was fired from his post at The Trauma Centre for accusations of bullying and misconduct, further info is available online with a quick google search.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Incest, Self harm, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Grief, Eating disorder, Suicide, Medical trauma, Violence, and Gun violence
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Detransition, Baby follows the story of two and a half women, their joint foray into the world of queer parenting, and what it means to be yourself when that self is an interloper to society.
The discussions within this book around gender, fetishisation, and parenthood are handled fluidly, and sensitively, and are unique to any other queer fiction that I’ve read. Peters has written deeply realistic, multi-faceted characters that each offer their own insight into the struggles faced by marginalised communities. This novel is driven by its characters and discussions of their flaws, and it visibly benefits from the author’s Own Voice perspective as a queer woman.
However, this insight comes with the weight of knowledge that the reflections in Detransition, Baby are true-to-life. There is a huge amount of graphic, sensitive content, and some of the storytelling can become over-indulgent within these areas. Our cast of characters are all suffering from deep trauma in their past/present, which makes for some really heavy reading. By about chapter 9 I was completely emotionally exhausted, so I urge you to proceed with caution.
This is not the book that I was expecting from its synopsis, but it probes some really important topics, and for that reason it is undeniably an important read.
*ARC gifted by Serpents Tail in exchange for an honest review*
The discussions within this book around gender, fetishisation, and parenthood are handled fluidly, and sensitively, and are unique to any other queer fiction that I’ve read. Peters has written deeply realistic, multi-faceted characters that each offer their own insight into the struggles faced by marginalised communities. This novel is driven by its characters and discussions of their flaws, and it visibly benefits from the author’s Own Voice perspective as a queer woman.
However, this insight comes with the weight of knowledge that the reflections in Detransition, Baby are true-to-life. There is a huge amount of graphic, sensitive content, and some of the storytelling can become over-indulgent within these areas. Our cast of characters are all suffering from deep trauma in their past/present, which makes for some really heavy reading. By about chapter 9 I was completely emotionally exhausted, so I urge you to proceed with caution.
This is not the book that I was expecting from its synopsis, but it probes some really important topics, and for that reason it is undeniably an important read.
*ARC gifted by Serpents Tail in exchange for an honest review*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work by Melissa Gira Grant
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Playing the Whore by Melissa Gira Grant is a brief examination of the politics, economics, and culture surrounding sex work. I was drawn to this for its discussions of what it is to do/advertise sex work online, and how the industry is changing through the evolution of technology.
Grant’s perspectives are invaluable, and she introduces a lot of the central themes and ideas that are being brought to the fore in the fight for sex workers’ rights. Sitting at fewer than 150 pages, her arguments and insights leave space for further reading without the reader being overwhelmed. This is a great starting point for a truly sex-worker inclusive approach to feminism, and Grant provides intersectional discussion of race and gender within that. The explorations of being a sex worker in online spaces, and what it means to have a platform turn its back on the industry is something that is all the more applicable 7 years on, and made for a compelling read.
My main issue when reading this is that there was no central argument as a driving force. The author does a great job of introducing her ideas, but about half way through I struggled to see what the point of it was. Playing the Whore leaves lots of room for discussion and deeper exploration of its themes, and gives us an insight into the discrimination faced by sex workers, but it is by no means a comprehensive text on the subject.
Grant’s perspectives are invaluable, and she introduces a lot of the central themes and ideas that are being brought to the fore in the fight for sex workers’ rights. Sitting at fewer than 150 pages, her arguments and insights leave space for further reading without the reader being overwhelmed. This is a great starting point for a truly sex-worker inclusive approach to feminism, and Grant provides intersectional discussion of race and gender within that. The explorations of being a sex worker in online spaces, and what it means to have a platform turn its back on the industry is something that is all the more applicable 7 years on, and made for a compelling read.
My main issue when reading this is that there was no central argument as a driving force. The author does a great job of introducing her ideas, but about half way through I struggled to see what the point of it was. Playing the Whore leaves lots of room for discussion and deeper exploration of its themes, and gives us an insight into the discrimination faced by sex workers, but it is by no means a comprehensive text on the subject.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Violence
Moderate: Trafficking and Sexual violence
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Police brutality
Orange Is the New Black: My Year In a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
Piper gets a pretty easy ride through prison and it felt tedious listening to how lonely she was in comparison to the snippets of narrative you get of the friends she made at the camp. As someone with a hearty background knowledge of the injustices of the prison system, nothing in this was groundbreaking and I didn’t connect with the emotions that Kerman tried to portray.
Possibly a good starting point if you don’t know anything about the US prison system, but you get the same information with more feeling behind it from The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner so I would recommend starting there instead.
Possibly a good starting point if you don’t know anything about the US prison system, but you get the same information with more feeling behind it from The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner so I would recommend starting there instead.