I've studied a fair bit of Medieval Era history. It's an interesting time in history, and much of what makes up the modern Western world has roots in I've studied a fair bit of Medieval Era history. It's an interesting time in history, and much of what makes up the modern Western world has roots in this time period. This is also an extremely sexist and oppressive period in history, so finding powerful women is always a worthy endeavor.
The women chosen to be highlighted for this text are solid, interesting, and quite unique for the times they lived in. They are successful rebels, and the intricate dance required for women who defied their prescribed roles did not diminish their power.
Marie de France was the daughter of another powerful woman ruler who defied the place set for her with both of her husbands. In fact, I'm primarily familiar with Marie through the biographies I've read on her mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. I was aware she was a poet, as the descendant of Troubadours. How could she be anything less?
Julian of Norwich was probably the least well known to me, though I had heard of her. Christine de Pizan was probably the character with which I was the most familiar with peripherally, simply from my studies on the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War in France. Margery Kempe, I knew about but in a very outlinish way. She was fascinating and possibly the woman whose story I found the most interesting.
This is easily accessible to casual readers of history, especially those interested in the medieval era and women during that era. This was very well researched and meticulously laid out. I plan to purchase this for my collection on audiobook. It reminded me not in detail or style but in the tone of Gemma Hollman's Royal Witches, which I revisit regularly.
Another recommendation I'd give for this is an immersive reading experience. The narrator of this novel is Amy Noble. Amy does a wonderful job conveying emotion and making these women feel accessible and almost modern. Making this an excellent candidate for reading the text while also listening to the audio. I especially like this method with history texts like this because I retain so much of the information I've read. I find this works best with books that are paced a certain way, and this is perfectly paced. If you're into such experiences.
Thank you to Hetta Howes, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This was fascinating. My maternal grandmother was born in Norway, and so the history of the Viking Age has always held interest for me. Of course, theThis was fascinating. My maternal grandmother was born in Norway, and so the history of the Viking Age has always held interest for me. Of course, the viking age doesn't just hail from Norway or even Scandinavia. Viking age culture is part of a much larger and richer history than has been conveyed thus far.
This author divided the history by chapters such as: love, beginnings, unfreedom, travel, etc. This format allowed this historian to really maximize Viking age history and tell a very human, everyday story of this period using relatable items like combs or other grooming tools. This method helped the subject matter feel applicable to today and familiar to the casual reader of history.
I saw in the posted reviews that some reviewers found this style a bit dry but I actually found it to be quite easily accessible. History is full of lists and other less exciting details. Historians are writing for and with accuracy, not pacing. If readers are unaccustomed to this kind of history text, I highly recommend the audiobook. I think it maintains the research integrity but balances that with faster pacing.
I truly loved the style and layout of this book. I think the layout helped to give such a personal view of folks who were alive during this time period. This is not like the TV show Vikings or common Hollywood depictions of the viking age.
This audiobook is narrated by the author, Eleanor Barraclough. This is a nonfiction history book and I enjoyed hearing the authors own excitement conveyed in the narration.
Thank you to Eleanor Barraclough, HighBridgeAudio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This is interesting but very light. A very short introduction to this topic. This isn't at all boring.This is interesting but very light. A very short introduction to this topic. This isn't at all boring....more
This audiobook is narrated by Robin Miles. Ms. Miles is one of my favorite audiobook narrators. Her voice is rich, which works to 4.5 Stars Rounded Up
This audiobook is narrated by Robin Miles. Ms. Miles is one of my favorite audiobook narrators. Her voice is rich, which works to both hold my interest and increase my immersion into the narrative. Her voice also conveys a lot of emotion, which is much needed for this text.
This starts in 1968 in Oakland, California. This focuses on Nettie, a Haitian student, who gets involved with the Black Panther along with her best friend, Clia. Nettie dreams of a new world and takes action to create in actuality what she's only dared to dream in her heart. Nettie becomes involved with Defense Captain Melvin. Soon pregnant and more into Melvin than he is into her, she follows him to Chicago where disaster finds them and shakes their relationship.
This isn't just about Nettie's relationship with Melvin. It's also about love. What we sacrifice for love, how love uses us, and more. This isn't what I thought it would be. It's not just about the Black Panther Party, but I like the focus on the relationships within the party. I think we grow as people not just from the choices we make but also from the people we love, romantically and otherwise.
The parts that do focus on the Black Panther party really focus on the strengths and the flaws. I was born in 1974, so I'm familiar with how women within the party were treated and sidelined. This is an important aspect not exlpored often enough in novel form. This really explores misogynoir and how it comes both from outside the community and within it.
Thank you to Fabienne Josaphat, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This is well researched, and I found it interesting if light reading. This is written more in the textbook or traditional historian style. I did not finThis is well researched, and I found it interesting if light reading. This is written more in the textbook or traditional historian style. I did not find it boring at all....more
This is about a very specific event in Anne's life, her relationship with the French court and royal family.
This isn't really a b3. 5 Stars Rounded up
This is about a very specific event in Anne's life, her relationship with the French court and royal family.
This isn't really a biography about Anne Boylen. It's more an overview of that time period and the author's theory that Anne's downfall was increased a betrayal she suffered from the French royal Court.
I didn't agree before reading this and don't agree after reading. That said, I think the author has done her research and makes an excellent fact based case....more
This was interesting. I'm not well versed enough on the history 9f this period to judge the accuracy of the history offered in this text. This is a quicThis was interesting. I'm not well versed enough on the history 9f this period to judge the accuracy of the history offered in this text. This is a quick, interesting, and light historical book....more
This is narrated by the author, Dionne Brand, with the afterward also read by its author, Saidiya Hartman.
This acts as a beautiful and amazing explorThis is narrated by the author, Dionne Brand, with the afterward also read by its author, Saidiya Hartman.
This acts as a beautiful and amazing exploration of the Black Diaspora. How no matter where in the Diaspora you are or are from, we're all here because our ancestors walked through the Door of No Return. I've read this decades ago and couldn't resist the option of listening to this as a new audiobook. What w delightful way to make this crucial discussion even more accessible for those of us of the Diaspora.
This uses historical records, memoirs, etc. to recreate this experience, the trauma it wrought, and how that informs how we see and think of ourselves. It's so much more than this. It's almost a blending of art and history. In which many of the historical records that document this time period are scanty, but this map helps us find our way to who we are now.
This focused on and is tied in with the authors travels. I am a Black American who lived for a decade in Canada, and her observations about how Blackness is treated here are profound. I have so much more experience to bring with me to this reread. My experience is richer for it.
Thank you to Dionne Brand, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Andrew Lipman, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley.
I'm unfamiliar wi3.5 Stars Rounded Down
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Andrew Lipman, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley.
I'm unfamiliar with this time period in the history of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. As a result, I am unable to judge the accuracy of the historical information shared. I have an audiobook copy and not a digital copy, so I am unsure if this history accurately portrays the sources used. Since this was published before I requested the audiobook I did try Hoopla & Libby for a library copy of the digital book so I could verify the sources used but neither library had a copy of the digital book. Hoopla does have the audiobook for any interested. That said, the sources mentioned in the text check out and seem to be used accurately. The author is a professor, and so his resources in this field are probably accurate or at the least based on the latest research. The text indicates this to be so, and I am unable to verify independently otherwise.
This was a treasure trove of information on the Wampanoag peoples in the early stages of European colonization. I learned so much about living situations, family settings, women's roles in society, children's roles and activities, family life, and just wow. I was so thoroughly engrossed in these details. I had no idea so much information was available to researchers. I truly need a digital copy of this book so I can mine the resources for more information. I need more than what this book offers.
This is structured in such a way that the reader really learns about early colonization of the Americas by multiple European colonizing peoples. This is important because this period in European history, with which I am very familiar, is frought with complicated history and inter-country struggles. That said, some of the information given on European nations at this time is slanted.
The author takes great pains to point out that the Wampanoag engaged in slavery adjacent practices and pointed out Arabic and other European slavery adjacent practices at this time. I don't like this. This author is the descendant of the Europeans who committed this genocide in the Americas; less than 3% of the current US population is Native American, and about 5% of Canada is First Nations. Indigenous peoples in these nations live on Reservations & Reserves, they aren't allowed political power, and their population is not represented in the federal government of either colonizing nation at population percentage rates. In many respects, they live in 'ghettos' in which they don’t have access to clean water and food is not affordable. They live under apartheid. We simply don't use those words to describe their treatment because it would reflect badly on our respective countries. They aren't the only marginalized group in North America treated this way, but considering this is their land, it's especially heinous.
I take issue with the author pretending that Captain John Smith who was briefly captured while he was a mercenary soldier and comparing that to Squanto's capture and expulsion to Europe. Squanto did not hire himself out as a soldier, nor was he fighting a war when he was captured. His captors stole him when he was engaged in regular trade. If John Smith had been stolen from the London wharf while unloading his ship, maybe that would compare. What was done to Squanto and other Indigenous Peoples of the Americas was something that Europeans would never consider doing to other European nations. Such behavior would be considered cowardly, anti-christian, and deeply shocking. Other European nations would've declared war on a European nation that was moving in this manner in Europe. This behavior was only considered okay because it was done to non-Europeans. Early racism is why these horrible practices were carried out, and greed is why they became normalized. Historians need to say this explicitly and not waste time trying to negate the genocidal behaviors of their klancestors. This pretense that everyone was behaving badly is a very colonialist viewpoint. Squanto and the Wampanoag deserve better.
This audiobook is narrated by David Colacci. David did a decent job with this. His tone was educational but not droning or boring. It's fairly good for an information dense text like this.
Thank you to Andrew Lipman, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Odie Henderson, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley.
This audiobook is narrated by the authThis audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Odie Henderson, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley.
This audiobook is narrated by the author, Odie Henderson. Having the author narrate their own work can sometimes go wrong. Not in this case, though. I loved hearing Odie's own excitement and emotion as he narrated this fun book.
This is for folks who know and love these movies as well as for folks who've not watched a single movie and aren't entirely sure what blaxploitation movies are. This is a fun and fundamental education about this era in film, told in a nostalgic tone.
I grew up in the 80s, so I missed the opportunity to see these movies in the theatre. Like the author, I grew up patronizing first family or individually owned video rental stores and then Blockbuster once they put the smaller places out of business. Unlike the author, my parents and family did not rent or talk much about blaxploitation films. My first exposure to the blaxploitation genre was in high school. I had a teacher who was a fan, and I think I rented and watched Shaft. I grew up in Detroit, so I'm somewhat surprised that I didn't have more exposure.
This book takes you behind the scenes of this era; the movies, the actors, and the filming itself. I truly loved this. This made me miss my late father tremendously as he was a huge movie buff, and I bet he saw these films in the theatre. After Eddie Murphy did that Netflix Dolomite movie, my husband and I laughed all through the original movie. These movies represent an era, and I enjoyed this history tremendously.
I grew up watching Spike Lee Joints, and I want to point out that these blaxploitation films proved that a Black audience existed and paved the way for filmmakers like Lee. I also want to say that this covered early Black filmmakers like Oscar Micheaux, this is a thorough history of Black Cinema.
Thank you to Odie Henderson, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This was easily accessible to lay readers of history. This was reasonably paced and quite interesting. The reader is expected to know the basic BritishThis was easily accessible to lay readers of history. This was reasonably paced and quite interesting. The reader is expected to know the basic British monarchy or they might be a bit lost in this text....more
I quite liked this. It was thoroughly researched, very readable/accessible for lay readers of history. I felt that Baker took a somewhat royalist view I quite liked this. It was thoroughly researched, very readable/accessible for lay readers of history. I felt that Baker took a somewhat royalist view of Eleanor & Simon de Montfort. I think that bias, not really bias, more attitude impacted how he views her. There's a time after which, after more than a decade of thoughtless treatment by Henry III, Eleanor de Montfort can hold up a Treaty with King Louis in exchange for her tardy dowry payments. The author implies this was wrong of Eleanor de Montfort, but I don't agree. It's not Eleanor de Montfort's fault that Henry was perpetually broke. Henry found lands & money for their de Lusignan siblings, Eleanor de Montfort was within her rights to demand the same. She'd already tried asking nicely repeatedly. Her efforts were valid. It's weird because Baker seems to recognize that historical sexism has colored the public memory of Eleanor of Provence. So it was somewhat frustrating that he was unable to see Eleanor de Montfort's viewpoint given her biography made up half of this book. Perhaps this is just a view of biographers choosing a side, like modern biographers of Catherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn who weirdly feel like they need, in modern times, to take a side in the women's dispute. It's weird because the dispute was between Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon and later between Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn. There was no formal conflict between Catherine of Aragon & Anne Boleyn, I digress.
I removed a star because of awkward phrasing surrounding antisemitism in Henry III & Eleanor of Provence's Court.
There's an incident at the very end of chapter 6 in which a child's body is found dead in a well. The child's mother claims that Jewish folks ritually sacrificed her Christian child. This is a very common antisemitic claim during this time period. There's been no evidence in historical studies that there ever existed a group of Jewish folks that ritually sacrificed christian's nor their kids. This is just how antisemitism operated in society at that time. No doubt the boy was murdered and given what we know in modern times and understand about crime, it was possibly someone in his own family, almost certainly someone in his own community. Violence like this tends to fall along intra-community lines. Often ostracized and deeply oppressed communities are blamed due to bias in the dominant community in situations like this. It still happens today, which is why immigration is such a hot-button political issue. Statistically, very little crime is committed by immigrants, but that's not how society chooses to look at these relationships. Instead, the author chooses to act like, from this great distance, we can't possibly know what occurred. This is true but leaves the impression that Jewish folks might have ritually murdered christian children. I'm sure the author isn't himself antisemitic and I'm sure he meant no offense. Still, words matter, and it's incumbent on current historians to speak respectfully and carefully in regards to historically oppressed communities. Most of those communities are today still battling the long term impact of these oppressive policies. For me, that includes giving historical context to biased claims. With just a few simple sentences he could clear up that this practice wasn't a real concern which acts to bolster the modern communities claims of the same. Small changes can have large and far reaching impact....more
I did not realize when I requested this from NetGalley that it had ties to my hometown. In my teens, I adored The Shrine of the Black Madonna bookstorI did not realize when I requested this from NetGalley that it had ties to my hometown. In my teens, I adored The Shrine of the Black Madonna bookstore. I regularly visited as a high school student in the early 90s. It's a beloved aspect of Black Detroit. I'm embarrassed to admit I had no idea this was attached to a church, much less the history of the church founder.
While the focus on Albert Cleage Jr. and the Black Nationalist church he founded in Detroit was my favorite aspect of this, I learned about Black towns as well. This focused on the time period post-Civil War and included the author's own family town of Promise Land, Tennessee. This history is enhanced by the author's father's perspective on Black Utopias as a former convict with memories of Promise Land.
This creates a rich tapestry of a narrative, including history & politics deftly mixed with the concept of a Black Utopia. The author himself points out that when the concept of an American Utopia is brought up, Black towns don't immediately come to mind. Yet the author makes the case that Black Towns, Cities, Villages, etc, by their very existence, were founded on utopic ideals, and the author makes a compelling case.
The history of Black towns isn't always pretty, and few of these places still exist. Those that do still exist, often they are barely functioning and mostly empty. None the less these places speak to a uniquely Black American version of the American Dream. After all, as the author themselves points out, a Utopia isn't concerned with being profitable being too busy focusing on what is possible. In that regard, all of these places succeeded.
The narrator of this audiobook is Dion Graham. Dion did great with their narration of this text. The dialogue flowed well, and the narrator managed to convey warmth and interest in this rich history.
I need to plan a visit to the church and bookstore, now that I know it's still open
Thank you to Aaron Robertson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This ebook was made available for me to read and review by Carole Boston Weatherford, Lerner Publishing Group, and NetGalley.
The illustrator of this pThis ebook was made available for me to read and review by Carole Boston Weatherford, Lerner Publishing Group, and NetGalley.
The illustrator of this picture book is David Elmo Cooper. The illustrations are very powerful and beautifully artistic. The illustrator notes indicate that he purchased dolls like those used in the experiment, took pictures of them, and the artwork is created from composite images. The effect is both beautiful and somewhat haunting.
This is well researched and delicately phrased. This is a very difficult experience to explain to young children. Last year, I was trying to explain the civil rights movement in terms a 2nd grader can understand to my own grandkids, so I appreciate the struggle of the author. The information is factual and uncomfortable. The book adds nice images and softens the story by telling it from the dolls point of view. This manages a challenging topic very elegantly.
The text is a poem that was modified for a picture book, which worked well. I would consider this a low trauma introduction to this subject with grade school-age kids. While this is geared towards younger kids, it's also a good resource for an older demographic because it contains quite a few facts, including an expanded further reading list on this topic. As well as pictures and facts from the actual studies. This functions as a resource beyond the picture book aspect.
Thank you to Carole Boston Weatherford, Lerner Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ebook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by George M. Johnson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.
I highly encourage the reader toThis audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by George M. Johnson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.
I highly encourage the reader to consume this as an audiobook. This is narrated by the author George M. Johnson with a lively jazz based musical soundtrack. Each chapter we are introduced to another queer Harlem Renaissance artist, and as they are introduced, music plays. If they were a singer its a song of theirs. Mr. Johnson's narration is powerful. The listener can hear the emotion in his voice. This is beautifully done, as much of an experience as it is a book.
I love the Harlem Renaissance. I've studied it since I was school-age. Like the author, Black History Month was my favorite time in school. I love history, and reading about historical Black folks always makes me happy. I'm also queer. I'm older than this author and grew up in a time none of this was discussed or accepted. So I love that resources like this exist for today's young readers. I remember when I found out Josephine Baker was bisexual. I held that detail close to my heart throughout my childhood.
This book also serves as a wonderful introduction to the artists of the Harlem Renaissance. I love that the author pulls no punches and calls in bad behaviors like internalized homophobia, colorism, classism, and misogynoir.
Even if you don't have a young person to suggest this to or purchase this for, consider giving it a listen as an adult. It's short, entertaining, and packed with important facts.
Thank you to George M. Johnson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
4.5 Stars Rounded Up This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Jacqueline Jones, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley.
This was exc4.5 Stars Rounded Up This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Jacqueline Jones, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley.
This was excellent, respectful, knowledgeable, well-sourced, and interesting. It mostly avoids focusing on the more harrowing aspects of slavery in the Antebellum period. I'd rate this as low as far as slavery trauma focus. Though this does focus on segregation and racism in Boston and the wider Northern states. Perhaps in terms of trauma, this is closer to reading about the Civil Rights Movement than many texts that deal with chattel slavery. I add this to say: don't shy away from this for fear of trauma. That's not the tone or focus.
The main subject matter and focus of this is Black folks' opportunities and everyday lives in Boston in this era. This takes specific individuals and follows their lives and includes some generational information when available. This explores the opportunities available in employment, housing, and personal lives. So this includes marriages, births, relocating even outside of Boston, and what the records reveal about how this person ended their days. This focuses on the basic struggle for even free Black folks during the antebellum era. It's very in-depth and fascinating. Often, the history of this period tends to focus on the few famous Black individuals, but while this did include them, the focus was primarily on regular folks' struggles. This highlighted the differences that Black women faced in finding and maintaining freedom and affording to live. This was a hard and harrowing life for the vast majority of folks. Even more well-known figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman really struggled to survive in the available economy. I was really enlightened at the struggle between the established Black Boston community and the immigrant Irish community. Irish folks attacked established Black communities and accused them of taking their jobs and housing. It was wild. I forever think Irish Americans badly bungled this. Imagine the world we would all live in if Irish Americans had made common cause with Black Americans rather than focus on whiteness.
I really liked that this focused on and gave examples of the hypocrisy in white liberals/abolitionists of this era. I mean, it's historically focused but also relevant today. Many wealthy white liberal will march for Black Lives Matter but only so long as those lives stay in their respective red-line restricted communities. This focuses on the fact that white abolitionists were overwhelmingly anti-Black and held very troubling views of Black folks. This isn't a view of white abolitionists that we often see presented this clearly.
White abolitionists were largely in control of the funds raised to help formerly enslaved Black folks, whether escapees or post civil war. They seemed to operate from a fear that Black folks were inherently lazy and needed to be 'encouraged' to work hard. So, almost the same view that enslavers held of Black folks. Their policy was to give funds to aid escape but nothing to help formerly enslaved folks settle in a new place without family. In effect, their attitude reminded me of today's pro-lifers. Pro-life/anti-abortionists are obsessed with halting abortion but don't want to feed, clothe, or house these unplanned babies they insisted be born. If you consider the base wealth of the major white abolitionists, their hypocrisy is glaring. It's the historical version of Kim Kardashian's empty-headed 'Nobody wants to work anymore' nonsense.
I was appalled at the bootstrap rhetoric employed by white abolitionists post Civil War. At the same time, these same white abolitionists largely refused to employ Black folks in their businesses. They'd hire a few favored folks in their home, but they refused to integrate their businesses. Instead, white abolitionists overly focused on Black folks' willingness to work. As if enslaved people were taken care of and not exploited. It's frustrating because historically, white women really struggled post Civil War, and that was behind many of the Jim & Jane Crow era laws requiring Black women to work outside of the home. There were laws forcing Black women into domestic labor because white women were unprepared to care for their own homes, families, and children. As enslaved peoples, Black folks had been providing enough labor to provide for themselves and to enrich an entire white demographic/community/country and enrich Europe in the process. So clearly, they could provide just fine for themselves as they had been since they 'arrived' in the colonies.
This also does an excellent job pointing out what would today be termed 'respectability politics', which was how some Black folks responded, and continue to respond, to racist and eugenicist views common in US society. This behavior isn't directly called out nor a focus of the book, but it is included. This is important because just like the Jim & Jane Crow era racist beliefs that still plague our nation, this also works to increase racism and oppression. Black folks don't need to prove anything to be worthy of basic humanity. This is just a function of internalized racism.
This audiobook is narrated by Leon Nixon. Leon does an excellent job keeping the narrative interesting and from feeling like a very long history lecture. I pretty much binged this, and my attention never waivered.
Thank you to Jacqueline Jones, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more