You can click any of the titles under "Reviewed" to read my review.
February is Black History Month and that is what this month's Diversity Challenge is about. You can click any of the titles under "Reviewed" to read my review. Book Club / Personal / First to Read / Kindle Unlimited / Library / Netgalley / Review Request
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About the BookReview
I was given a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know if it's because I already knew most of the characters, but I found myself more drawn into this book than the last one. There are so many questions answered from the first book, which I appreciated. But there's also more brought up that I assume will be addressed in the next book. The was a part where I was listening while in bed, with my cats and dog. A thing happens. This particular thing involves an incredible amount of feels. So I'm laying down, trying to hold it together. ...I don't need my animals judging me. Anyway, I failed. I'm laying there, trying to explain to them why it's okay that I'm sad, and then I start crying. And I'm just holding my cat, Joker, tightly and begging him to fix it. The worst part about this book is when I finished it and then realized there isn't a third one out yet. And I've been refreshing amazon multiple times hoping to summon it. About the BookPeople love to say, “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” What they don’t say is, “And it would be nice if you gave him a fishing rod.” That’s the part of the analogy that’s missing. Review
I got this book through a promotion on Goodreads.
I've been a fan of his takeover of the Daily Show since I discovered you can watch clips of Comedy Central on Spotify (I don't have cable), but I've honestly never put forth any effort to learn about the man. This is much more than the life of Trevor Noah. It is the environment that shaped him as a person. I have seen a few movies and read a couple books that dealt with the apartheid in South Africa, but they really barely skimmed the surface of what was going on over there. This gives a side of the story I hadn't heard before. I already thought it was awful, but this made me realize it a whole other level of horrible. If you take anything from this book, you need to note that Trevor Noah's mom is a bad-ass. Holy crap. I am just saying. She is an amazing person and even though I don't agree with a lot of her methods, I think it is fantastic that her son told this story. Highly recommend this book. It was told in a hilarious way, fitting for the comedian, but it was also incredible insightful and educational. About the BookReview
I got this from my library when I saw it was available. I wasn't aware this was a new release at the time.
Too often a graphic novel version of a book skips parts, breaking the flow of the story and cutting out necessary scenes. This wasn't an exception. I had actually been warned prior to reading this that I would be disappointed, but I didn't take that person seriously. I came into it with an open mind. As with the book, I had a lot of questions I after finishing this. Thankfully I did read the book though, because I would have been much more frustrated than I already was. I found John Jennings artwork to be okay. Mostly it was fine, but there were parts every now and again where the frame bothered me. It's a cool way to get back into the book if you haven't read it in a while, but I don't recommend doing what I did and reading it right after the novel. About the BookThere are things you can't back down on, things you gotta take a stand on. But it's up to you to decide what them things are. You have to demand respect in this world, ain't nobody just gonna hand it to you. How you carry yourself, what you stand for--that's how you gain respect. But, little one, ain't nobody's respect worth more than your own. Review
If you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend you read this one before The Land, even though goodreads has this one listed at the 4th book. It was the first one in the series written. I read it after the Land, and the author's writing had changed and improved so much between the two books that I actually found myself a little disappointed with this one. That's not saying this book wasn't good. It really was. But it lacked in comparison to The Land.
I can't believe I wasn't required to read this when I was a kid and neither was my husband. I'm actually disappointed with myself for not having read it. This story is beautifully told in a way that young children can have more of an understanding as to how this country got away with so much blatant racism. Unlike The Land, this book was much slower and it felt like less happened. But there is still so many important points brought up by this book, and so I wouldn't say it dragged out. This is a book that I look forward to having my son read when he's older so we can discuss it. About the BookFor five years I didn't think it was possible to be this happy. Review
I found this at my library when they first got it, and I put a hold on it. This is actually my first Terry McMillan book, but it won't be my last.
These characters felt so real, and this book kinda felt like it was an older woman giving a warning to younger woman. But it was done so in an entertaining way, so I didn't feel like I was being preached at. But it did make me take a long look at myself and contemplate some things. There are some bits where the book seems to drone on a bit, but they thankfully don't last long. There are a lot of amusing and funny bits to mix in with the drama. This is mostly a light read though. I absolutely loved the ending. It was perfect. About the BookSuffice it to say, during the whole long day I came not to the conclusion, even once, that the southern slave, fed, clothed, whipped and protected by his master, is happier than the free colored citizen of the North. To that conclusion I have never since arrived. Review
First of all, this story read more like a fiction story. It was almost hard to view this as something that happened in real life. I had to keep reminding myself that it is real. This actually happened.
Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I needed him to either escape or be given his freedom again. It was pretty intense of a read. There were many times where I just couldn't fathom how people could be so cruel. I mean, slavery was bad enough - but to grab a free person and trick him into be sold into slavery... it was awful. But it helped give me a better perspective of how the modern day slave trade works. Because of course mankind still has awful people who trick fellow humans into slavery. I cried at the end. A lot. I am going to have to watch the movie and see how it is. About the BookReview
I found this at the library. It looked interesting, so I put a hold on it.
My feelings for this book are hard to put into words. There's so much about it that I enjoyed. First of all, I am a fan of the star-crossed lover type of romance. I don't even care. It is fabulous. If you know nothing of the Jewish laws then you'll be in for a shock, because one of the main characters lives in a strict Jewish community. It is because of this that a lot of the issues between the couple arise. They're teenagers, which means hormones are doing stupid things without thinking through the consequences of their actions. It's bad enough that Devorah is dating someone, but the person is not a part of her community - which is a super big no-no. There's a lot of tension in the book as Devorah struggles with her views of life, religion, and her family. And Jax, being an outsider, does not understand what she's going through. I think this book helps give a great perspective of what it's like to be in a relationship with someone of a different faith. Although the differing races was a factor in some of the issues, it wasn't nearly the same level as the religious differences. I also found the conflicts that Devorah faced were both all the drama and well done. The end of this book was perfect. I absolutely loved it and totally applauded. I have no shame. About the BookReview
This was one of those books I picked up from the library without much thought. I recognized the author, knew I enjoyed the other few books of hers that I'd read, so I figured I might as well read this one. And then, once it had gotten in a little ways, I remembered the type of book Jodi Picoult writes. To sum it up in three words: ALL THE DRAMA.
There are some pretty heavy topics in this book. Racism, in specific. One important thing it brings up is how it shows how there is little difference between a white supremacist who vocally calls for the segregation of non-whites and a "normal person" who doesn't believe they're racist and yet they still do things like scoot down a few inches if a black person sits next to them on the bus. Now, this author is great at writing cliches and what have you. It's something I expect from her. If that's something that bothers you, I don't recommend you read any of her books. Her books are gripping, contain topics that people don't much want to think about but are done in a fairly light way - think Hallmark movie. Also, I'm currently trying to convince my bookclub to read this. If you're listening to the audiobook, I highly recommend you listen to the author's afterward. (it's probably in the print/ebook version as well). It explains why she picked this topic to write about and the research that went into it. This is absolutely the best book of hers I've read, by far. About the Book
American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation. Originally relegated to teaching math in the South's segregated public schools, they were called into service during the labor shortages of World War II, when America's aeronautics industry was in dire need of anyone who had the right stuff. Suddenly these overlooked math whizzes had shots at jobs worthy of their skills, and they answered Uncle Sam's call, moving to Hampton, Virginia, and the fascinating, high-energy world of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory.
Even as Virginia's Jim Crow laws required them to be segregated from their white counterparts, the women of Langley's all-black West Computing group helped America achieve one of the things it desired most: a decisive victory over the Soviet Union in the Cold War and complete domination of the heavens. Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War, the civil rights movement, and the space race, Hidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four African American women who participated in some of NASA's greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades as they faced challenges, forged alliances, and used their intellects to change their own lives - and their country's future. Review
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It wasn't at all how I expected it to be. Although it does focus on the lives of each of the women involved, it is more of an account of their accomplishments even with the struggles against them as both women and people of color. It doesn't focus much on the emotional aspects of this, although it does touch on it.
What specifically stood out to me is how this story shows that math and science are not just a field for men. Women can also be brilliant. Class, race, and gender should not be dividing us and limiting our potential. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I'd have read it. The issue I face with many audiobooks that focus on different people is that I can't always keep up with which person I'm supposed to be focused on. Ultimately I do not recommend the audio version of this story. If it was longer and there was more focus on each of the women I think it wouldn't have felt as dry as it did. I can see people with little or no knowledge on the subject would have found this book as difficult to read. Still, I found the story to be fascinating. I will eventually watch the movie and see how the book compares. |
Current Soundtrack:Rating Guide:No longer used5 Platypires - Oh my holy fluff, this book was amazing and everyone needs to read it immediately!
4 Platypires - Great book. Enjoyed it a lot. Minor issues. Highly recommend. 3 Platypires - Good book, but I would have enjoyed it more if there weren't so many issues. 2 Platypires - The book was okay, but it needs a lot of work. 1 Platypire - I didn't like the book. Major changes needed. DNF - I couldn't finish. Too many issues. Categories
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