You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
sahanac's reviews
257 reviews
Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care by Kelly Hayes, Mariame Kaba
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
does what it says on the box! clear and succinct suggestions for people looking to more fully engage in organizing spaces. important suggestions on how to show up and what true organizing looks like. not a how-to, but there's no real way to do that when different themes and missions are so different!
The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.0
fascinating, a great contextualization of the history of france directly in a pre-napoleonic era through the life and efforts of the original alexandre dumas. having read much of the novelist dumas' work and only recently discovering his racial history, i was really interested in the story of the general who rose up at a time wherein france was set on enacting abolition, and his rise through the ranks. it was a great triumph, and then subsequently a great tragedy, and it makes so much sense that dumas the novelist would want to memorialize dumas the general in his works.
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
i enjoyed the setting, the magic, the mythology, and the stakes, and for what it is, it does a good job. i really enjoyed the character dynamics between hanalei and sam, but also all the minor characters that went on the expedition. my favorite was the exploration of tattoos and the magic there — this is an easy, fun, warm read to get me through the winter
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
there's debate on the best order to read the chronicles and i think publication order Makes Sense the first time through, but there's something a little delightful abkut reading the books chronologically
The Hobbit: or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this is the og fantasy and it does exactly what it needs to. it's perfect for winter days and for reading while holding a mug of something warm in your hands. now that i've finished my lotr read thru i've got the urge to revist narnia
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
while i found the author too preachy and holier-than-thou, i also thought that the lessons, concepts, and practices suggested in the book were really worthwhile. i think, especially considering public libraries, moving away from a culture where the top prize is new tech, new innovation, the latest and greatest idea, and more towards refining, repairing, and remembering what grounds us, connects us to the land, and keeps us afloat is important. as odell says (and maybe im paraphrasing) productivity culture is a poison both to us and the land.
Side Quest: A Visual History of Roleplaying Games by Samuel Sattin
informative
slow-paced
3.75
this was a fun history and timeline - jam packed with info, but really interesting historical research on the roots of roleplaying games. a well-researched read with fun graphics to supplement.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5
this book got me in fits and starts. i really hated being in the main character's whiny whiny head for so much of the book, but then the last 15 chapters made up for it so profoundly. the middle felt formulaic, but the payoff at the end was worth it for sure. this book is a three stars because of that back and forth - i didn't like the main character's perspective, which meant that i couldn't truly love the other characters unless i divorced them from her point of view. i think frankie and caro deserve better from jess, and from all of the other characters, but wow, even despite guessing at some of the major twists, i did enjoy the execution of the final scenes!
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.75
excellent book with a lot of incredible wisdom to be gleaned and applied. it went on a little too long — could have been edited down a little and made a little tighter and eliminated some of the repetition at the end but overall the stories shared were poignant.
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was beautifully written. it definitely challenged me in terms of one particular relationship but that challenge wasn't really the point of the book at all, so i'm trying to work my way past that to get into the meat of the rest of the story. i particularly appreciated the descriptions of the diversity in nigeria and the inclusion of the nigerwives — those relationships and family dynamics felt recognizable in terms of american immigrant communities too, and it was great to see the manifestations of such in other places too. i'd recommend this one for people looking for a well written story, and who were interested in the exploration and conceptions of gender beyond american borders, expanding western-centric mindsets of queerness