intheafrofuture's reviews
54 reviews

OH MY GOD?! 

I have to say, Celie is one of my favorite fictional characters written. I loved the writing style of the novel so much, it creates something so raw and immersive.  

This book is just so gay but so heartbreaking that I went through so many emotions throughout.  Each character is simply a product of society and the commentary on Black american's relationship to Africa was such an important aspect of this book.  

Oh Alice

love her down. will always love her down. forever and always ;)

"We remain because this is our home .  We both have lost land here.  Should we leave it all to them?  I will not."

Seeing how living as a Black person has changed yet stayed the same in this way was fascinating .  It was also really interesting to see a Black vampire navigating how life can fulfill her. 

Trying and experiencing so many things to end up back in a world in which your freedom is limited was such a twist too.

Similar to Octavia Butler the future is not romanticized in anyway, and for that I am grateful. 

BIRD AND GILDA FOR THE WIN.  LOVE THEM DOWN. 

Frickin heartbreaking.  

WILD. Fever dream-esque even.  

Gotta love colorism and racism in a play. But honestly it's a fascinating way to portray versions of self, and even more so because it's her mind before death.  It's A LOT though.

I really love how the world was created using past real events and current myths.  Like how Ina progressed was hard! Learning the history of the characters was the most fascinating part of it all

A large part of this story is that her Blackness was an experiment and incorrect...sounds wild but makes sense. The way a Black vampire was written in this story was one that I may never forget the fact that it seemed the most realistic sadly but also that her being a Black vampire is what saves her.

However...I did find myself uncomfortable and bored QUITE often :/ the weird underlying age gap thing is something i can't forget and to be honest it really didn't get good until like mid way through. the plot just wasn't plotting for me 

I did want to say that this book is an interesting way of writing bisexuality without writing it LOL and the power given to female ina eats

Is it prophecy or a prediction? 

So much more intense than Parable of the Sower in the sense that it feels too real.  From Jarret to Dream Masks its a version of the world can has happened, is happening and can happen.

The potrayal of Earthseed as a concept changed drastically in book two.  Going from a small idea to a literal cult.  It's fascinating to see how easily something with good purpose can be turned because of pride, greed, power and money.  But don't all religions start with "good reason"? 

The characters are again so well written and I'm glad that Olamina in particular is written in a way not to worship but to see as human.

It's a hard read but is it much different than what our future could be? 

Poetic and beautiful way of putting my chaotic thoughts on paper.  So much of this still reads today which is sad and embarrassing but so helpful.  But community is important like SO very important, however, it can only be a community when everyone is willing to learn, not to be the same but to observe and absorb each others differences. (Within the community of Black non-men) 

What I learned most is to use the feelings that we (Black women) have been taught to hide or suppress (eroticism, anger, etc.) to reach not only individual power but to create community (not homogeneity).  That will lead to Black liberation. 

I find it fascinating that I relate so much to this woman on so many levels.  Also, after reading this, I've been reevaluating and questioning my feelings and approach towards the Black women in my life (including myself) and why I treat them and me in certain ways.

Last thing, a lot of these essays encouraged introspection, but starting and ending the book on the essays that evaluate external problems was a wonderful choice and I think it helps remind you that yes self-reflection is needed but we can not forget nor neglect the people and events occurring around us.