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3littlewordz's reviews
175 reviews
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Slow burn at the beginning, but my goodness, once I got to Ness's story, I couldn't put it down! Such an engrossing story that explored the generational trauma that slavery inflicted. It was easy to identify the common familial thread through several generations. It was heartbreaking at times but always hopeful. I would have loved to see each generation more fleshed out for a truly epic novel - I love big books, I can't lie! I'm very ready to Yaa Gyasi's second offering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and War
Ride or Die: A Feminist Manifesto for the Well-Being of Black Women by Shanita Hubbard
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Mix classic hip hop lines with a comprehensive, in-depth critique of the 'ride or die' concept so deeply entrenched in some parts of our culture and you have Shanita Hubbard's debut nonfiction work, Ride or Die. Hubbard mixes in personal experiences with hard data on the impact to our women from these well-celebrated archetypes.
Being a huge lover of hip-hop myself, I've long battled with my love of the culture, artists, and songs and the troubling, problematic themes that are at times reinforced through the music and lifestyle (I know, I know, #notallsongs 😂). It's of course easier to just bop your head and ignore the lyrics, but every once in a while, we must acknowledge how the music and culture influence how we interact with community.
While I may not agree with every assertion, I simply loved Hubbard's writing style and how she developed her treatise on black women and harmful themes. I look forward to any future work from Shanita!
Being a huge lover of hip-hop myself, I've long battled with my love of the culture, artists, and songs and the troubling, problematic themes that are at times reinforced through the music and lifestyle (I know, I know, #notallsongs 😂). It's of course easier to just bop your head and ignore the lyrics, but every once in a while, we must acknowledge how the music and culture influence how we interact with community.
While I may not agree with every assertion, I simply loved Hubbard's writing style and how she developed her treatise on black women and harmful themes. I look forward to any future work from Shanita!
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
FIVE STARS!!! This retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim's perspective was a masterpiece! Instant classic. Everett gave agency to the enslaved James (his chosen name) where the world pushed to strip it from him wherever possible. The story demonstrated the still very much current requirement to code-switch that so many Black people in America feel compelled to do. I never felt a need to re-read Huckleberry Finn but I know I'll revisit James again and again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Slavery, Violence, and Trafficking
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Parable of the Talents, the second in the Earthseed series by the incomparable Octavia Butler, broke me down and built me back up in so many different ways. In my buddy-read discussions and research, I learned that Ronald Reagan was Butler's inspiration for Jarret, but it could easily be DJT if Earthseed had been written in 2016. Near prophetic is the best phrase for how Butler captured Jarret and his fanatics, "Jarret's Crusaders", and their comparison to DJT's followers. But I think Butler was also showing society's natural degeneration with Reagan (and DJT), his acolytes, and the apathy of the rest of the US population if left unchecked. 'Talents' in particular is a forewarning of what happens when too many people look the other way and expect someone else to do it.
My only detraction is the end of the novel, which felt pretty rushed to me. I'm not fond of using an epilogue to explain large sections of the story.
I wish Octavia would have been able to write her third planned book in the series. I know it would have been mind-blowing.
I wish Octavia would have been able to write her third planned book in the series. I know it would have been mind-blowing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Trafficking, and War
Hood Wellness by Tamela J. Gordon
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
How do we approach wellness with limited funds? How do we build a sustainable community when we've been displaced? During isolation in a pandemic? Hood Wellness by Tamela Gordon explores this through Gordon’s personal stories and those of some amazing humans. I was particularly struck by Holly's story from both Tami's and Holly's perspectives - I work in clinical research and want to do my tiny piece to move the needle on one of the very issues Holly raised.
This book won't give you simple tips on Self-care Sunday (although she does encourage whatever ritual you'd like to pursue) nor does the author plug surface-level quick fixes to make you feel good for a little while. It goes beyond the superficiality that can come with the billion-dollar wellness industry and emphasizes the hard work of healing in all of its forms and with all of its potential ugliness.
This book made me think about how, at times, I view self-care and wellness through a shallow lens and ways to dive deeper into true wellness and community. This is a wonderful addition to your arsenal of books on true wholeness, communal wellness, and self-care.
This book won't give you simple tips on Self-care Sunday (although she does encourage whatever ritual you'd like to pursue) nor does the author plug surface-level quick fixes to make you feel good for a little while. It goes beyond the superficiality that can come with the billion-dollar wellness industry and emphasizes the hard work of healing in all of its forms and with all of its potential ugliness.
This book made me think about how, at times, I view self-care and wellness through a shallow lens and ways to dive deeper into true wellness and community. This is a wonderful addition to your arsenal of books on true wholeness, communal wellness, and self-care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I can't believe how hyped this is.
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I was utterly spellbound reading Parable of the Sower. There was an uncomfortable level of parallels between the book Octavia Butler wrote in 1993 to society today, particularly after starting this book for the first time on July 20, 2024. Even at her young age, Lauren Olamina knew that society would continue to devolve, even when the adults in her neighborhood kept their heads in the sand. The book was unsettling for me for so many reasons, most importantly because I am not ready for this type of collapse of society, and we're incredibly close to this occurring if things don't change SOON. Octavia's vision was so easy to visualize because we're so close to it!
Lauren's narration was clear and poignant - she knew what was coming, and knew what to do when the time came. She also had a quiet, determined resolve that made her a survivor and contributed to her philosophy. She also welcomed community/chosen family, even in circumstances where trusting new people could prove deadly.
I did wonder why Earthseed was approached as a religion instead of a philosophy. It would seem "God is change" and her assertion that her 'religion' was change wouldn't rise to the definition of a religion, but I'm looking at it from my understanding of religion. She spoke a bit about Destiny being among the stars and at times it did seem she meant this literally, so maybe that's where religion comes in. Bankole actually mentioned this during her first explanation of Earthseed.
My only ick is the age gap between Lauren and Bankole. This is the second book of Octavia's that I've read where she introduces either an actual large age gap or the appearance of one. This is one of the few tropes I hate to see in books. I understand that Lauren probably gravitated to Bankole because he reminded her of her father, but no. Nah. I don't want to see it. I want to read more of Octavia's work, but not if that will continue to be included.
I wonder what a newer version of this story (complete with the influence of social media) would look like.... how much mis- and disinformation would be included to make everything 1000x worse. Either way, this work can be utilized as a look into the future, both as a warning and a deterrent. I hope as many people as possible take it as such.
Lauren's narration was clear and poignant - she knew what was coming, and knew what to do when the time came. She also had a quiet, determined resolve that made her a survivor and contributed to her philosophy. She also welcomed community/chosen family, even in circumstances where trusting new people could prove deadly.
My only ick is the age gap between Lauren and Bankole. This is the second book of Octavia's that I've read where she introduces either an actual large age gap or the appearance of one. This is one of the few tropes I hate to see in books. I understand that Lauren probably gravitated to Bankole because he reminded her of her father, but no. Nah. I don't want to see it. I want to read more of Octavia's work, but not if that will continue to be included.
I wonder what a newer version of this story (complete with the influence of social media) would look like.... how much mis- and disinformation would be included to make everything 1000x worse. Either way, this work can be utilized as a look into the future, both as a warning and a deterrent. I hope as many people as possible take it as such.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The subtitle for this book could be "Oh look! It's the consequences of your actions."
I immediately dubbed this a well-written trainwreck - so much happened very quickly and kept happening at breakneck speed. I haven't read a fast-paced story like this in a long time, and I appreciated needing to cover up the next sentence or paragraph on a page to prevent an accidental spoiler.
The sex was gratuitous but didn't seem needlessly gratuitous until the scene between Souraya and Ahmed in Souraya's bedroom. There are also loose ends I need answers to:
1. The sexual plot between Ijendi and Aima seemed... forced to me. Was there some type of interaction between them, some type of tension that would lead the reader to believe that this would happen? At my drunkest and highest this would have never happened between me and any of my friends.
2. What was the relationship between Thursday and the bartender? Why did he need to follow Ahmed to deliver this news? Was this planned by Thursday?
3. Did Ahmed find Ruqiyyah to demand an explanation (or worse) as to why Seun was even able to record the sex tape and attempt to blackmail Ahmed? Was Ruqiyyah in on it??
This would probably be great as a limited series on Starz...sex, violence, betrayal - it has all of it! There were several plotholes for me, hence my rating BUT I thought it was very well-written so I will check out more of the author's work.
I immediately dubbed this a well-written trainwreck - so much happened very quickly and kept happening at breakneck speed. I haven't read a fast-paced story like this in a long time, and I appreciated needing to cover up the next sentence or paragraph on a page to prevent an accidental spoiler.
1. The sexual plot between Ijendi and Aima seemed... forced to me. Was there some type of interaction between them, some type of tension that would lead the reader to believe that this would happen? At my drunkest and highest this would have never happened between me and any of my friends.
2. What was the relationship between Thursday and the bartender? Why did he need to follow Ahmed to deliver this news? Was this planned by Thursday?
3. Did Ahmed find Ruqiyyah to demand an explanation (or worse) as to why Seun was even able to record the sex tape and attempt to blackmail Ahmed? Was Ruqiyyah in on it??
This would probably be great as a limited series on Starz...sex, violence, betrayal - it has all of it! There were several plotholes for me, hence my rating BUT I thought it was very well-written so I will check out more of the author's work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Vomit
If you are uncomfortable with discussions around sex work/trafficking, sex parties, or religious leaders grossly misusing their powers for evil, please skip this book.
How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I've expressed before that great poets seem to make the best writers of, well, everything! This book was no exception. Clint Smith did not waste one word in this text. The descriptions of the physical locations visited, his emotions while visiting, and the conversations that took place on (or near) these properties were both lyrical and incredibly informative. I'm thankful that he included discussions with his grandparents to add the personal component. Excellently crafted - I could have highlighted the whole book!
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Probably need to start the 2nd book immediately after finishing the first, but I'm somewhat lost on the characters and plot since it's been months between the two. May pick it back up after I read a detailed summary of the first. Also audio version for some reason is distracting. It held my attention better when I read it.