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claudyne's reviews
1229 reviews
No Place to Bury the Dead by Karina Sainz Borgo
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Rape
Moderate: Pregnancy
Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors' Stories of Conversion Thearpy by Lucas F. W. Wilson
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Special thanks to Net Galley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for permitting me to read this work prior to its release as an .epub.
The accounts of conversion therapy, rejection from loved ones and self-loathing are deeply difficult to read. Though skewed towards white queer people (a fact the author acknowledges), I'm sure many queer people of different races and faiths would be able to identify with the struggle to be accepted by your family and community, and the desperate efforts/sacrifices someone would make to be considered "normal". This non-fiction work evokes a lot of introspection and sympathy- two things that will serve us well in the years ahead.
The accounts of conversion therapy, rejection from loved ones and self-loathing are deeply difficult to read. Though skewed towards white queer people (a fact the author acknowledges), I'm sure many queer people of different races and faiths would be able to identify with the struggle to be accepted by your family and community, and the desperate efforts/sacrifices someone would make to be considered "normal". This non-fiction work evokes a lot of introspection and sympathy- two things that will serve us well in the years ahead.
Her Lotus Year: China, the Roaring Twenties, and the Making of Wallis Simpson by Paul French
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Connie: A Memoir by Connie Chung
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
Connie Chung narrates her memoir and the work has a wonderful news bulletin feel at times. She shares her fears, ups, downs and setbacks on her way to becoming a respected news anchor and journalist. She also inspired a generation of Connies- Asian women named after her, as their parents found her to be an inspiration. I really enjoyed listening to this memoir.
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Every essay was brilliant, because Coates is a brilliant essayist. But, “The Gigantic Dream”, was somehow the shortest essay and went by so quickly. It was simultaneously emotional, and healing, bringing me to anger and hope. From discussing his own childhood struggles to his brief trip to Palestine, this collection of essays is a fascinating and necessary depiction of life as a Black man.
A People's Guide to Capitalism by Hadas Thier
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
“A People’s Guide to Capitalism” should be required reading. It breaks down how capitalism affects many sectors- including healthcare. It also addresses personal and national debt to explain why this system is also so dependent on the credit system. It took me a while to get through, because I chose to pub over audiobook. That said, I appreciated this read.
How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This read reminds me a lot of “Clara of the Sea Light”, in the book at that the plot is portrayed through the pasts of the characters as well as their present situation. We meet young, impressionable Lala and learn about the women in her lineage, their torturous pasts with men, her own history of abuse. I recommend listening to the audiobook; Danielle Vitalis delivered a fantastic Bajan accent throughout her narration of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug use and Rape
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara
funny
hopeful
fast-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
4.5
Secure Collection, Yielding and Transportation of Human Essences (SCYTHE) is an organization founded to collect souls before they become ghosts. Kathy Valence likes her job as a “collector”, transporting souls to their next destination. She’s also in the middle of a divorce, pregnant with her soon to ex-husband’s baby, avoiding the trauma of her upbringing and trying to keep a job. When a “transportation” doesn’t go as planned, Kathy goes from a safe quiet life to trying to solve the murder of a teenaged boy. This unique assignment is about the soul, but forces her to face her demons. This book is a wonderful mix of magical realism, humor, love and friendship. I look forward to reading more of the SCYTHE mysteries as they’re released- Maxie Dara is a gifted writer!