How does this comic keep getting better and better? As always, there are some sad and disturbing scenes, but this one felt more hopeful and less soul-How does this comic keep getting better and better? As always, there are some sad and disturbing scenes, but this one felt more hopeful and less soul-crushing than some of the previous volumes. Can't wait for the next one!
Merged review:
How does this comic keep getting better and better? As always, there are some sad and disturbing scenes, but this one felt more hopeful and less soul-crushing than some of the previous volumes. Can't wait for the next one!...more
This book deserves all the accolades heaped on it and many, many more! Not sure why it took me so long to get around to reading this, but I'm so glad This book deserves all the accolades heaped on it and many, many more! Not sure why it took me so long to get around to reading this, but I'm so glad that I did. Incredible world-building, edge-of-your-seat storytelling, complex, nuanced & fascinating characters -- plus a compelling analysis of power relations and oppression. And let's not forget the really well-done queer & trans representation! It's definitely not light reading, but it is totally absorbing -- I stayed up late several nights devouring this one. Can't wait to get my hands on the sequels! ...more
Powerful novella about the Wajinru, an aquatic people who emerged from the bodies of pregnant enslaved African women whose bodies were thrown overboarPowerful novella about the Wajinru, an aquatic people who emerged from the bodies of pregnant enslaved African women whose bodies were thrown overboard during the Middle Passage. Solomon's novella was inspired by a song of the same name by the alt-hiphop band clipping. who were inspired in turn by an Detroit techno-electro duo named Drexciya, who initially created this mythology but did little to flesh it out in their mostly instrumental music. This moving speculative fiction work raises some very important and difficult questions about intergenerational trauma and the burden of history, while fleshing out a rich and fascinating new world. ...more
Another solid collection of essays from one of my favorite essayists and political writers. It's a little depressing to consider that this collection,Another solid collection of essays from one of my favorite essayists and political writers. It's a little depressing to consider that this collection, which contains several essays about the follies of the Trump administration and was published in 2018, is already eclipsed by even worse actions that have taken place since then. Solnit could easily publish a book of essays of the same length or more on everything that has happened in the last 6 months. And I hope she does. Because her perspective always challenges me to look at the terrible injustices occurring in our world and find hope and inspiration in the varied forms of resistance and community-building that are always, always taking place. Even if they first appear to be "failures," movements for social, environmental and economic justice have long-reaching impacts that cannot be fully understood for decades or even centuries to come. She illustrates this very clearly in her essays on #NODAPL and the section labeled "Possibilities."
One weaker aspect of Solnit's analysis that has become clearer to me in more recent years is her inability to fully articulate a truly intersectional feminism. This is apparent in her "Milestones in Misogyny" essay where she argues that the fact the 53% of white women who voted for Trump got more scrutiny than white men, who voted in greater numbers for Trump, is misogynistic. Solnit writes "It seems it's also worse to vote for a racist if you're a woman, because while white woman were excoriated, white men were let off the hook." (p. 28)
Let's unpack this sentence for a second -- Solnit starts off by talking about "women" as a whole in the first clause, but then shifts to "white women" in the second. Here she does what so many white feminists have done for centuries, which is to conflate the category of "woman," which includes women of all races, with white women. There is absolutely NO mention anywhere in this essay of the fact that 94% of Black women voted for Hillary. Given that so many Black women did and could see the danger of a Trump presidency and voted accordingly, I find it irresponsible of Solnit to describe this particular story about the election as a simple example of misogyny. White women should have known better, and they should be excoriated for voting for Trump, because women of color did NOT vote for him in overwhelming numbers.
This is not the first time that I've read feminist essays by Solnit where she elides issues of race and other differences within the category "woman," and I'm afraid it won't be the last. I hope that she can absorb the lessons from the many, many Black and brown feminists who have brilliantly critiqued the problems in mainstream feminism and have called for a feminist theory and praxis that centers the experiences, voices and perspectives of women of color. Because I'm still waiting to see evidence that she has completely internalized this crucial perspective in her work. ...more
A beautifully crafted novel about an imaginary empire, its conquests, defeats, and rulers of both genders across the ages. Each chapter is a tale toldA beautifully crafted novel about an imaginary empire, its conquests, defeats, and rulers of both genders across the ages. Each chapter is a tale told by a storyteller about a different era in the empire's history, and there are no recurring characters, so it feels more like a collection of short stories than a novel. The last chapter is a metafictional masterpiece that made me gasp in recognition and laugh out loud in delight at Gorodischer's cleverness several times. Ursula Le Guin translated this novel and fans of her work will also enjoy this -- I think some Italo Calvino fans will also like it....more
The moment I heard about this book I knew I would love it, and I was not disappointed! Long Litt Woon is a Malaysian-Norwegian anthropologist who tookThe moment I heard about this book I knew I would love it, and I was not disappointed! Long Litt Woon is a Malaysian-Norwegian anthropologist who took up mushroom hunting after her husband passed away unexpectedly, and found an unexpected path out of despair through this newfound passion. Long (Long is of Chinese ancestry and Chinese names start with the surname). Her reflections on her new hobby are as charming as her descriptions of mourning her husband are disarmingly candid -- readers feel the full force of Long's grief as she describes the void left behind by his abrupt absence. I would recommend this book to anyone who like Helen Macdonald's H is For Hawk, and it's a must-read for all mycophiles! Readers who are less fanatical about mushrooms will probably find the details of mushroom-hunting in Norway less interesting, but as a mushroomer and someone who has visited Norway I thought it was fascinating. ...more
One of the most powerful & beautifully written books I've ever had the pleasure to read. Kimmerer is a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi NOne of the most powerful & beautifully written books I've ever had the pleasure to read. Kimmerer is a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and in this fascinating and moving read, she effortlessly blends scientific knowledge and Indigenous wisdom to produce a new understanding of the natural world. It took me a long time to finish this book because I wanted to sit with each chapter and let its insights linger before moving on to the next. So much of her writing resonated with me as someone who spends a lot of time in wild places and also forages, and it also challenged me to do better and treat the earth and all of its living creatures with more care and respect.
One chapter that really stood out for me was "Mishkos Kenomagwen: The Teachings of Grass" which is organized like a scientific paper while demonstrating the limits of that way of understanding the natural world and highlighting the crucial knowledge of place and ecosystems that Indigenous folks built up and passed down over millennia.
There's more I could say about this book but mainly just READ IT. Highly recommend for everyone....more
A short but powerful collection of personal essays and poems from a Asian Canadian trans author and community activist that confronts issues of trust,A short but powerful collection of personal essays and poems from a Asian Canadian trans author and community activist that confronts issues of trust, violence, family, forgiveness, and much more within social movements and the LGBTQIA+ community in particular. Drawing on her own experiences as a trans WOC, Thom clearly demonstrates how frequently social justice movements fail to live up to their own ideals of inclusion, accountability, transparency and justice, and the pain and alienation that this disconnection can cause. She also offers concrete, nuanced and practical paths forward. Eye-opening, thought-provoking, and a necessary read for anyone who considers themselves an activist. ...more
Jia Tolentino is clearly a talented writer and a sharp observer of contemporary American pop culture, especially it is refracted and amplified throughJia Tolentino is clearly a talented writer and a sharp observer of contemporary American pop culture, especially it is refracted and amplified through social media, reality TV and the Internet. The first essay, "The I in the Internet" is a devastating examination of the corrosive narcissism fueled by the acceleration of social media, and "Always Be Optimizing" is a pretty smart take on the most recent iteration of idealized femininity, as performed by Instagram influencers and in Pure Barre classes (honestly I was not expecting to see a reference to Donna Haraway in an essay on barre class!). But some of these essays feel a little underdeveloped, and as others have noted, retreading ground that's already been covered extensively elsewhere with more nuance and original insight. However, it's definitely worth a read, if only to get a disarmingly candid peek into the mind of a millennial and her generation. ...more
This was an okay read. I follow Kendall on Twitter and I think that it's a better medium for her than a full-length book on social issues. Although I This was an okay read. I follow Kendall on Twitter and I think that it's a better medium for her than a full-length book on social issues. Although I agree with the vast majority of her political stances and her critique of mainstream feminism for ignoring the needs of women of color, I think she's concocted a bit of a straw man (woman?) in her conception of "white feminism" here. This term is thrown around very loosely throughout the book, almost to the point at which there is little to no distinction between white women in general and white feminists in particular. In general, the tone is very casual and draws more on personal anecdote and history than research, studies or concrete examples outside Kendall's own experiences. I completely agree with all of her points about the importance of creating a feminist movement that centers the needs of the most marginalized women, and that feminism needs to look beyond "equality" in the workplace and political spheres to embrace food justice, prison abolitionism, reproductive justice, and much more. I just wish she had backed up these points with more in-depth research and evidence throughout the text. However, it could be an accessible introductory text for folks who aren't familiar with intersectional feminism. ...more
Loved, loved, loved this beautifully written, seasonally-organized guide to discovering the natural world hidden in overlooked urban spaces. Brenner'sLoved, loved, loved this beautifully written, seasonally-organized guide to discovering the natural world hidden in overlooked urban spaces. Brenner's careful observations of the tiny creatures most of us never bother to look at, much the less really see (such as tardigrades, damsel flies, spiders) gave me a newfound appreciation for the tenacity of life in urban environments, how it still manages to survive despite everything humans have done to degrade natural habitats. I loved the chapters on fungi, lichens and hummingbirds in particular. Much of this I already knew but it was still fun to read. She lives in Seattle, so the spots she visits will be familiar to most Seattlites and I do think that this book is most applicable to this particular audience. However, any urbanites curious about the flora and fauna around them will find this a fascinating, informative and evocative read. Highly recommended!...more
Another fantastic metafiction from Charles Yu. This funny, heartbreaking and unique novel creatively investigates how POC -- particularly Asian AmericAnother fantastic metafiction from Charles Yu. This funny, heartbreaking and unique novel creatively investigates how POC -- particularly Asian Americans, and even more particularly Chinese Americans -- can be oppressed and emotionally stifled by racist stereotypes. Our protagonist, Willis Wu (aka "Generic Asian Man") grows up in a Chinatown SRO hotel that is also a movie set. Yu constantly blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality, in a way that can be challenging for a reader not used to this kind of postmodern style. But when you can let go of your preconceived notions and hold both of these worlds, the imagined Chinatown and the real Chinatown in your mind at the same time, it is like seeing both sides of an optical illusion at once.
A moving and thought-provoking exploration of race, assimilation, identity, and filial responsibility. Highly recommended. ...more
A incredibly brave, thoughtful and unusual memoir, in which Vanasco contacts the former friend who raped her 15 years ago when she was a teenager and A incredibly brave, thoughtful and unusual memoir, in which Vanasco contacts the former friend who raped her 15 years ago when she was a teenager and initiates a series of difficult, honest and revealing conversations about what happened and why. Vanasco is a fearlessly candid writer and she provides a much-needed and fresh perspective on sexual assault, the performance of gender roles, and other related topics. This is not an easy read, but it feels like a necessary one in the #MeToo era. Highly recommended. ...more
Mixed feelings about this one. I loved that the main character is a black trans girl with selective mutism who is convincingly and lovingly rendered. Mixed feelings about this one. I loved that the main character is a black trans girl with selective mutism who is convincingly and lovingly rendered. Jam's character, and the portrayal of her relationships with her friends and family, are some of the strongest aspects of this novel. And her world is such an appealing one, for the most part. There are many readers who will be so thrilled to see themselves and their dreams reflected in this world.
However, I found myself on the page as other reviewers who have remarked that they're not sure who the audience for this book is. Jam seems like a very young 15 year-old, and the writing style also feels geared to a younger audience. But there are some pretty mature themes that arise later in the book, including a somewhat grisly scene near the end. So I remain a little confused about which teens (maturity-level-wise) this will resonate with.
Finally, I found some of the ethics guiding Jam's world a little disturbing. There is a very Manichaean worldview at work here, even if it's not necessarily the author's intention. People who commit evil acts are "monsters" who must be "hunted" and brought to justice. Although the author describes a world in which a more compassionate order has replaced a flawed, oppressive system, we don't see a truly restorative justice process unfold in the novel itself. It is alluded to vaguely and takes place entirely off-page. What we do see reeks of Old Testament style vengeance and violent, righteous fury. Jam is the only character who pushes back against these violent impulses, and she does so admirably. I'm not sure her voice alone disrupts the overarching sentiment of the novel, however.
I'm sure other readers will see this differently, and I recognize that I am not the primary audience for this book. I'm looking forward to reading Emezi's work for adults. ...more
I was having difficulty with this comic already due to the highly contrived plot, wooden dialogue, unbelievable characterizations, and way too conveniI was having difficulty with this comic already due to the highly contrived plot, wooden dialogue, unbelievable characterizations, and way too convenient coincidences, but then I got to the part where we find out that the main character, Beck, an Indigenous girl, was kidnapped from her family by a white man -- and she's always known that she was kidnapped and is fine with it?!?! So much so that she sees her biological mom at a police station and completely ignores her, and then agrees to participate in a sting against her biological father, who is made out to be a crazy and crooked cop. And then she continues to visit her kidnapper in jail after he's arrested and treats him like her actual father.
There are so many levels of WTF here I don't even really know where to begin. But let's just start with the fact that in real life white people have been abducting Indigenous children for centuries and using all kinds of racist rhetoric to justify this obscene behavior. Although this comic doesn't explicitly use those tropes, it's unconscionable that a white author could write a story like this in 2019 and not consider the implications. Do not read this book and do not recommend it to other readers. ...more
Powerful and painful graphic novel about a Korean "comfort woman." It's hard to comprehend how much suffering Granny Lee Ok-Sun and other women like hPowerful and painful graphic novel about a Korean "comfort woman." It's hard to comprehend how much suffering Granny Lee Ok-Sun and other women like her experienced at the hands of the Japanese during the war, but it is necessary to bear witness and not forget the atrocities that are perpetrated against the most vulnerable in wartime. The stark brushwork suits the subject matter perfectly. If you don't know much about "comfort women", this graphic novel is a good place to begin. ...more
Fantastic graphic biography of Italian Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentileschi and her world. Just saw "Judith Slaying Holofernes" at SAM and was deFantastic graphic biography of Italian Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentileschi and her world. Just saw "Judith Slaying Holofernes" at SAM and was delighted to find this in my library holds the next day (I forgot I put a hold on it many months ago). Gentileschi was a remarkable painter and woman who endured many trials and tribulations in her lifetime, not the least of which was a horrific sexual assault when she was a young woman, and the rampant misogyny of Renaissance-era Italy. This is a dense and text-heavy graphic novel and the illustration style may seem a little wooden to some readers, but I found Gentileschi's story so fascinating that I couldn't stop reading. Now I want to read more about this extraordinary artist's life! ...more
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