This month's Diversity Challenge is all about Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month. I've got a good list of books, I just need to stop being sick so I can post them up. 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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Medical Apartheid is the first and only comprehensive history of medical experimentation on African Americans. Starting with the earliest encounters between black Americans and Western medical researchers and the racist pseudoscience that resulted, it details the ways both slaves and freedmen were used in hospitals for experiments conducted without their knowledge—a tradition that continues today within some black populations. It reveals how blacks have historically been prey to grave-robbing as well as unauthorized autopsies and dissections. Moving into the twentieth century, it shows how the pseudoscience of eugenics and social Darwinism was used to justify experimental exploitation and shoddy medical treatment of blacks, and the view that they were biologically inferior, oversexed, and unfit for adult responsibilities. Shocking new details about the government’s notorious Tuskegee experiment are revealed, as are similar, less-well-known medical atrocities conducted by the government, the armed forces, prisons, and private institutions.
The product of years of prodigious research into medical journals and experimental reports long undisturbed, Medical Apartheid reveals the hidden underbelly of scientific research and makes possible, for the first time, an understanding of the roots of the African American health deficit. At last, it provides the fullest possible context for comprehending the behavioral fallout that has caused black Americans to view researchers—and indeed the whole medical establishment—with such deep distrust. No one concerned with issues of public health and racial justice can afford not to read Medical Apartheid, a masterful book that will stir up both controversy and long-needed debate. “Enslavement could not have existed and certainly could not have persisted without medical science. However, physicians were also dependent upon slavery, both for economic security and for the enslaved “clinical material” that fed the American medical research and medical training that bolstered physicians’ professional advancement.” My Review
This was a recommendation by Harper Miller, and that’s sort of a thing I’m doing now. Reading a book each month she suggests. Thus far I’ve enjoyed the books that she’s pointed me to, and this wasn’t an exception. Although this one was really heavy. And I knew it would be. She even warned me about it. But it requires listening in spurts. Also, I did a lot of research after certain topics were mentioned so I would know more about them. So this isn’t something that can be quickly finished if you really want to absorb what’s being said.
There are also many interviews you can find on youtube with the author. There’s one in specific I recommend:
Anyway, as to the content itself. There’s a lot of things mentioned here. And it makes the book seem a lot shorter than it actually is. Even though it took me longer to get through it than most books.
One thing I suggest is that you be careful if you’re going to read it in public. There were multiple occasions in which I just started crying because of the content. About the BookMy mother described her reactions better than I ever could mine: she said she was "surprised with thunder" that her boy had come back, and that the happiness in her heart was "as deep as the sea". Review
Sofia made me read this one. By which I mean she told me she was reading it, I looked it up and it looked pretty awesome, so I checked it out from the library. Also, I was informed this is a movie. Just know, I am really bad at movies and knowing when they exist. So I should get a star or cookie or something for even knowing that much. Ignore that I was also told this by Sofia.
This whole story is crazy and insane and all those other synonyms to describe the same thing I just said. It’s incredibly inspiring. And I’m so glad everything ended the way it did. There are lots of sad bits. I did shed a number of tears. I also laughed at some bits… because little kids are adorable. Especially about the bit having to deal with his name. That’s great! Anyway, I’ve now added another movie to the list of things I need to watch. I’m worse at watching those than I am at getting through my insanely long TBR. But I’ll get to it at some point of my life. About the Book
Now, in his riveting memoir, Cranston maps his zigzag journey from abandoned son to beloved star by recalling the many odd parts he’s played in real life—paperboy, farmhand, security guard, dating consultant, murder suspect, dock loader, lover, husband, father. Cranston also chronicles his evolution on camera, from soap opera player trying to master the rules of show business to legendary character actor turning in classic performances as Seinfeld dentist Tim Whatley, “a sadist with newer magazines,” and Malcolm in the Middle dad Hal Wilkerson, a lovable bumbler in tighty-whities. He also gives an inspiring account of how he prepared, physically and mentally, for the challenging role of President Lyndon Johnson, a tour de force that won him a Tony to go along with his four Emmys.
Of course, Cranston dives deep into the grittiest details of his greatest role, explaining how he searched inward for the personal darkness that would help him create one of the most memorable performances ever captured on screen: Walter White, chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin. Discussing his life as few men do, describing his art as few actors can, Cranston has much to say about creativity, devotion, and craft, as well as innate talent and its challenges and benefits and proper maintenance. But ultimately A Life in Parts is a story about the joy, the necessity, and the transformative power of simple hard work. At that precise moment I conjured a credo that would guide me for the rest of my life: I will pursue something that I love - and hopefully become good at it, instead of pursuing something that I'm good at - but don't love. Review
I'm going to start off by admitting that I never finished Breaking Bad. I didn't dislike it, but there's a scene in which a thing happens and my husband couldn't continue on with it. And I rarely watch shows without him, because I'm bad at watching television, so it got put on indefinite hiatus for me.
But I did watch a whole bunch of Malcolm in the Middle, so I'm familiar with his acting. And I think he's fantastic. So I was quite excited when I saw this was offered at my library. I laughed at the beginning, because he seriously started with the exact scene that caused me to stop watching the show. It was like some weird sign, of which I don't know the meaning. But it amused me, and that's what matters. Anyway, I already liked him. And now that I've read his book, I like him more. He's very motivated and that is something I quite admire. Plus he stands up for what he thinks is important. Again, very admirable. He's pretty much an altogether good guy. This is definitely going in the list of memoirs that I'd recommend. It's got the jokes, the feels, some inside information, and lots of insight into Bryan Cranston. I especially recommend you listen to the audio though. About the Book
In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.
“Love … It’s a nice little trick if you can find it. Review
After the way the last one ended, I was quite eager to start this book. But also more than a little nervous as to where things were going to end up - because they didn't seem to be going quite like I'd have hoped.
I am slightly distraught the series is over. I mean, it's a good ending. Everything has been tied up and whatnot... but I just wasn't ready. I also felt like the end was a bit rushed. So she clearly just redo it and add a whole other book. Or Novella. I'm not picky. There were too many characters that I feel got brushed to the side. Or things weren't explained as much as I'd have liked. And although I kinda want to go down another star on my rating - there's just some stuff in here that makes up for the issues. It's not as good at the other books in the series, but I still really liked it. You know why?! Because there is some CRAZY stuff that happens in here. And mostly because she actually wraps everything up. And that's great. Either way, I really hope there's another book in this series. Please?! About the Book
For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—"Cupid Day"—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night.
However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined. “Maybe you can afford to wait. Maybe for you there's a tomorrow. Maybe for you there's one thousand tomorrows, or three thousand, or ten, so much time you can bathe in it, roll around it, let it slide like coins through you fingers. So much time you can waste it. Review
The movie for this book came out a few months ago, I think. Anyway, I haven’t seen it yet because I had to read the book first because of standards and whatnot. I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted to watch it, so I figured it would be cheaper to borrow it from my library and see if I even liked the story.
It just really annoyed me how the romantic relationships played out in this book. The thing that annoys me the most is it’s feeding into the friend zone type of story. This is saying a lot because I absolutely love the best friends to lovers story. But that’s not what this was. The guy had a crush on the main character and she had to basically die, live the same day a few times, and then realize that she actually liked him. I’m not saying he’s not a good guy, but I just found their relationship to be creepy. Okay, so it’s not bad. But it’s cliche AF. Mean girl has a thing happen to her (death) and she starts to realize she’s a bitch (her words). So she does things to fix it. But it requires her to relive the day multiple times until she can figure out what she’s supposed to do. And I just got to the point that I was frustrated with everything. Although I did like how her character developed. So that’s also a thing. About the BookYears from now this will be what I remember when I remember my spring break senior year. It will be this moment right here. The smell of chlorine on his skin. The way the sun dips slow into the water before it disappears. The first time I ever told a boy I loved him. Review
After the end of the last book I wasn’t entirely 100% sure it was going to stick. Like, I was assuming there would be a “Oh, that was just a dream. Don’t worry your pretty little head” type of thing. Except that didn’t happen.
By this point we’re aware of Mary’s little “secret”. And there is mayhem to partake in. Remember how I said something like the difference between the first and second book was pretty intense when it came to the drama in the book? Well, this one makes the first book look like an adorable after school drama for little children. I’m going to say it, because I can. This freaking series is paranormal. It should have been labeled this way, but for some reason publishers like to mislabel things to sell more books. I also like to call this, “lying”, but whatever. There are quite a deal of feels to deal with in this book. What with trying to wrapped up many of the things (notice how I didn’t say everything, because there are still issues unresolved - and that’s just freaking frustrating), everything kinda gets thrown in and given a somewhat acceptable resolution. Okay, so this series had so much potential. Be it via romance or horror or thriller or whatever type of ending they wanted to go with. But I feel the ending they picked was a cop out. It left me disappointed more than anything. About the Book
Not even close.
For now, it looks like they got away with it. All they have to do is move on and pick up the pieces, forget there ever was a pact. But it’s not easy, not when Reeve is still a total jerk and Rennie’s meaner than she ever was before. And then there’s sweet little Mary…she knows there’s something seriously wrong with her. If she can’t control her anger, she’s sure that someone will get hurt even worse than Reeve was. Mary understands now that it’s not just that Reeve bullied her—it’s that he made her love him. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, burn for a burn. A broken heart for a broken heart. The girls are up to the task. They’ll make Reeve fall in love with Lillia and then they will crush him. It’s the only way he’ll learn. It seems once a fire is lit, the only thing you can do is let it burn... “I’ve fallen for the one person I shouldn’t have. For the boy who broke Mary’s heart. For Rennie’s one true love. For Alex’s best friend. Review
The cheesiness from Burn for Burn is really nullified in this, and it goes up to a whole other level. Okay, so this starts right where the first book ended. All of the actions of the first book caused issues, and they’re dealing with the repercussions in this book. Also, you get more of a look into the characters that you’re supposed to hate - so there’s a whole lot of plot stirring going on.
The big twist of this book wasn’t shocking to me. I expected it during the first book. If anything, it means they have falsely labeled the genre on amazon. And honestly, that pisses me off a lot. There’s more of a romance aspect in this book. Which brings up the drama level to about infinity million. And there’s also… not exactly a love triangle, but it’s some craziness. There’s something that happened before the first book, and it goes into more details in this one. It’s basically a lot of victim blaming. And it frustrates me because of how realistic it is. But I expect more from young adult books. I get that it’s trying to be realistic, but it puts ideas into the audience’s head. I mean, eventually contradictory things are said, but not until the last quarter of the book. And because of that I had to knock down a star. Final thought is… Holy crap, that ending though! I’m going to need to read the third book as soon as possible. |
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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J. Hooligan
Platypire addict, mother, wife, book lover, review writer, beta reader, aspiring author, nanny, and professional hooligan.
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