Read if you like slightly too realistic dystopia and sharp social commentaries.
Da'Naisha lives in Charlotteville, Virginia, in a predominantly black nRead if you like slightly too realistic dystopia and sharp social commentaries.
Da'Naisha lives in Charlotteville, Virginia, in a predominantly black neighbourhood. The world's at breaking point and society's running amock. One night, Da'Naisha, her grandmother and their neighbours are driven out of their homes by some alt-right type forces trying to "take Virginia back". They narrowly escape and end up in Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation home, hoping to hide it out.
Set over the course of 19 days, the novella hits quite close to home, and often feels like a glimpse of a not so far off future. Climate change is doing irreversible damage, access to technology is no more, electricity's out and rampant racism has reached a point of no return.
I didn't know much about Jefferson's history, his views, his actions or family, so this was a very interesting read. The themes of identity, racism and the complexity of interracial relationships are the main feature here. A lot of the commentaries about the long lasting impact of slavery on the country's social structure, really resonated with me (some pictured).
Maybe a little too short for us to truly connect with the characters and fully explore some of these ideas, My Monticello is still a well written, smart and emotional novella....more
Read if you want a mix of witchy vibes, slight horror-ish, with a good feminist theme.
I was tricked into starting a series... Again. But I don't mind bRead if you want a mix of witchy vibes, slight horror-ish, with a good feminist theme.
I was tricked into starting a series... Again. But I don't mind because this was really good.
It is the story of orphan Immanuelle, who lives in the God fearing and Witchcraft loathing town of Bethel. Her mother joined the witch rank while pregnant and her dad was a black man from the Outskirt, where all the black folks live, so she's quite the outcast. She lives a quiet pious life with her mother's family, until the Darkwood, where witches and evil beasts live, starts calling her name.
I found this one very entertaining, the plot was interesting, and there's a lot of interesting themes in there, mainly female oppression and censorship, racism and religious dictatorship. All mixed with a bit of magic, horror and dystopia. I honestly couldn't put it down. Some thought it was quite YA but it didn't feel too young to me, though there were some YA elements..
I'll be interesting to read the follow up once Henderson finds inspiration for it. There's definitely room for more development. In the meantime I believe she has a new novel out called House of Hunger, which I'll be checking out....more
Getting this book was quite the drama, and required help from a lovely NZ booksta friend, but it was sure worth the wait!
Greta and Valdin are siblingsGetting this book was quite the drama, and required help from a lovely NZ booksta friend, but it was sure worth the wait!
Greta and Valdin are siblings, from a Māori-Russian family living in Auckland. Both are dealing with heartbreak of varying levels and trying to figure their life out, with the help of their very colourful family members.
It had everything I love to find in a book, endearingly flawed and relatable characters, interesting family dynamics, diversity, acerbic humour, and socio-political commentaries cleverly thrown in.
The way the author incorporated subjects like mental health, identity, sexuality and racism, while keeping the story light was very well done. More little nuggets than actual deep questioning, they still raised interesting questions. Queer representation here is excellent too, and while there is trauma, it isn't gender/sexual orientation related, which I thought was a nice change of pace from what I read so far.
It had me laughing out loud (in public), and I loved being able to picture some of the locations around Auckland.
A refreshing, smart and hilarious novel. Perfect for the summer, and if you need a break from books that just break your heart and have you hide in the dark crying for days. ...more
Guapa is a novel set over the course of twenty-four hours and follows Rasa, a gay man living in an unnamed Arab country, after his grandmother finds hGuapa is a novel set over the course of twenty-four hours and follows Rasa, a gay man living in an unnamed Arab country, after his grandmother finds him in bed with his lover.
We watch Rasa struggle with the potential consequences of this event, while he goes about his day at work, helps a friend who's in trouble with the police because of his sexuality and prepares himself for a night he's not ready for. The narration is layered with memories of his youth, events that shaped him and his relationships, getting him where he is today.
Growing up with a grandmother who's main concerns are social status and keeping up with appearances, in a society which keeps on telling him how he should be rather than accept him, Rasa always feels ashamed and out of place.
There is a long lasting search for identity and a frustrating desire to belong; whether trying to find answers about his sexual identity in his teen years, or his cultural and political identity when studying in the US and then back in his country, on the brink of a revolution.
There is also longing. Longing for acceptance, longing for a purpose and mostly, longing for love. Not only romantic love, but love from a family who exploded a long time ago, leaving him with a grandmother who's denied him the kind of soothing affection he always needed, too wrapped in her own grief.
This is not an easy read, it is emotional, full of grief and anger. But there is also love and hope and it is very interesting as it gives us a different perspective on arab spring and the struggles of a muslim gay men.
Would especially recommend if you want an lgbtqia+ novel that isn't American or Euro-centric....more
This book. What a treat. Part memoir, part travel and nature writing, this is a collection of personal essays that touches on many subjects, focu 4.5⭐
This book. What a treat. Part memoir, part travel and nature writing, this is a collection of personal essays that touches on many subjects, focusing mainly on identity and belonging, race and language, while being linked to the author's relationship with nature and more specifically water.
Set between Aotearoa (NZ), China and the UK, we follow Powles as she tries to figure out who she is and what the notion of home really means for her. A mixed raced woman, she grapples with her sense of identity, holding on to her Chinese heritage while facing racism and daily micro aggressions, sometimes from unsuspecting people. As someone who's cultural identity and sense of home is split many ways, I really identified with some of her thoughts.
Her writing is gorgeous and often poetic; her thoughts sprinkled with little food nuggets, music, talks of nature, plants and animals, including those of Aotearoa which brought back some very fond memories.
It made me want to find the nearest body of water and submerge myself in it. Lie in the grass and listen to the sound of birds and wind. Pack a bag and go explore.