Reviews and Comments

Archivist Liz

archivist_Liz@bookwyrm.social

Joined 1 year, 10 months ago

I'm an #archivist and #recordsmanager. I'm hoping to get some more good recommendations with way. I read a decent amount of non-fiction about political topics I care about: #climate, #antifa, #feminism, #intersectionality, #antiracism. I probably enjoy fiction even more these days, and I really appreciate recommendations for contemporary fiction. Pronouns: she/her/hers Mastodon: archivist_Liz@digipres.club

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Celeste Ng: Our Missing Hearts (2022, Penguin Publishing Group) 4 stars

Review of 'Our Missing Hearts'

4 stars

I got really excited when I read the premise: a network of radical librarians helping to resist a regime that is based on anti-Asian hate, but that's really only a small part of the story. It's really primarily about the relationships between a son and his mother (and also somewhat about authorship and the life of a work of art). The fact that it's a realistic dystopia says a lot of the current state of the US. In general I liked it a lot, but it had a slow build to a relatively short and abrupt ending. I feel like the last third of the book could have been extended. Still, it's beautifully written, and I highly recommend it.

Shannon Clay, Lady, Kristin Schwartz, Michael Staudenmaier, Gord Hill: We Go Where They Go (2022, PM Press) 5 stars

This book was so enjoyable. A really interesting look at Anti-Racist Action, an antifascist and anti-racist network in the US and Canada. Most of the events in the book took place when I was young and not yet politically active, so it was interesting to learn this earlier history and to get inspired by it. Definitely worth a read! Also, so many great flyers served as illustrations. Great visuals, great work from community archives.

Dave Eggers, Dave Eggers: What is the What (Paperback, 2007, Vintage) 4 stars

What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng is a 2006 novel written …

This was a beautifully written book telling the story of a refugee from southern Sudan, one of the so-called Lost Boys. There is a lot of tragedy in this book, but it is beautifully written. I'd recommend it, but I'd recommend waiting to read it until one is a good emotional headspace.

It was interesting to learn at least a little bit about Brazilian history during the military dictatorship. Unfortunately the writing style made this book exhausting to read. I'm not sure how much was the author and how much was the translation, but it took all joy out of reading the otherwise interesting subject matter. The book was published in early 1972, so it only covers the first few years. I would be interested in a book that covers the entire period of the military dictatorship as well as how Brazilian society has reflected on that period (or not) since the end of the dictatorship. Any recommendations for more comprehensive books on this period or on Brazilian history in general/.

Albert Camus: The Stranger (Paperback, 1989, Vintage) 4 stars

L'Étranger (French: [l‿e.tʁɑ̃.ʒe]) is a 1942 novella by French author Albert Camus. Its theme and …

Started reading The Stranger yesterday. I'm already more than half way done, and I'll probably finish it tomorrow. Instead of bringing too many books, this time I didn't bring enough books with me on vacation. :(

Zadie Smith: Swing Time (2017) 4 stars

Swing Time is a novel by British writer Zadie Smith, released in November 2016. The …

I read White Teeth last year, and I really enjoyed it, so when I saw this at a flea market, I picked it up. Zadie Smith's writing is excellent, and I really got into the story. That said, the narrator isn't so sympathetic, so it can be a little difficult to always be seeing things from her perspective. The book has several strains, some of which are more effective than others. The initial story of the friendship between two mixed-race girls, and how it devolves over the years is probably the most interesting, although the reason for the break between them is less shocking than it initially seemed. Another strand is the narrator working for a Madonna-like celebrity. As part of the celebrity's "charity" work, the narrator travels several times to an African village where a school for girls is built. There are reflections on the diaspora experience visiting Africa. …

Toni Morrison: Beloved (Paperback, 1988, Pan Books 1988. (Picador)) 4 stars

Beloved is a 1987 novel by the American writer Toni Morrison. Set after the American …

I have nothing intelligent to say about this book that hasn't been said by others, but it was so, so good. It's the second novel I've read by Toni Morrison (after The Bluest Eye), and I'd love suggestions about which of her novels to read next.