So I finally got round to reading this much bought and talked about young adult take on the impact of an 'unlawful' police killing of a young Black maSo I finally got round to reading this much bought and talked about young adult take on the impact of an 'unlawful' police killing of a young Black male in an urban American city. And, I'm like... is that it? There just didn't seem to be anything new or momentous here. Maybe it is so lauded because of its target audience and to an extent balanced take on police brutality within Black communities. For me it was just a book chock full of stereotypes and cliché, maybe that's what the world needs? Maybe because I am Black the story doesn't resonate for me and maybe looking to educate non-Black audiences? Maybe it's just that the book doesn't really offer any real solutions and continues the circle of violence? I found this a difficult read, in that I couldn't wait for it to end, knowing, and proving right, that there was nothing new in this story for me. Juts a 5 out of 12 Two Stars from me, although I will consider reading her other books. Tip from me, if you want to see a humanised urban Black America, watch The Wire. [image] 2024 read...more
Although one of the primary characters is a 'chosen one' boy who has a knack for magic, there's a magical school with mysterious and powerful wizard-lAlthough one of the primary characters is a 'chosen one' boy who has a knack for magic, there's a magical school with mysterious and powerful wizard-like headmaster etc. saying this like Harry Potter is like saying rugby is like soccer, same ballpark but completely different game. The book begins in the final year at the school for magic for our primary characters, so throughout the book there's references to references to adventures and people from the past. A cool mix of young adult wizarding adventure, evolving friendships and a queer romance, this was a surprisingly captivating read, and Goddamn it, yet another Rainbow Rowell book that made me want to read more of her work :). Okay maybe this is Harry Potter-ish, but for 21st century readers mid-teen and upwards! Rainbow Rowell's talent is no trick.. it is magic! An easy 8 out of 12 Four Star stunner of a read. :) [image] 2024 read...more
It began like a dream for Jana Novak, but also like a cliché for the watcher, me the reader; gangly, androgynous 16 year-old Jana Novak is spotted by It began like a dream for Jana Novak, but also like a cliché for the watcher, me the reader; gangly, androgynous 16 year-old Jana Novak is spotted by a Prestige (top flight UK model agency) talent scout and finds herself hurting to possible supermodel status at phenomenal speed as much for being a 'new face' than just about her hard work. Will it all be global celebrity and exotic photoshoots? What about her friends and boyfriend, and her family, how will this change their relationships? Is it the well paid luxurious life or is it just a meat market? [image] For readers of 14+ this book was a delight for me. Although note I have zero knowledge or previous interest in the top flight model industry so my enjoyment may partially be to the novelty of it all to me. The killer touch of this 21st Century London set #TimesUp / #MeToo inspired read is that it's completely told from the perspective of 16 year old Jana. Whatever the anti-woke ass-hats say the rise of these movements has told every young woman, and more essentially every sleaze-ball that we all know abuse of power that has reigned for centuries is utterly despicable and there are now more effective tools to combat and call it out. A joy of read for me. A hip swinging 8 out of 12, Four Star read. Don't believe me? Currently on Goodreads with over 5,000 rating this book rocks a 4.17 average. A young adult masterclass! [image] 2023 read...more
Bus-driver, gold jeep driver and serial non-monogamist Cyril Pennington has the inspiration to get all five of his kids from four different woman to mBus-driver, gold jeep driver and serial non-monogamist Cyril Pennington has the inspiration to get all five of his kids from four different woman to meet for the first time, so that they can know each other and avoid the chance of sleeping with one another in the future! Ewwwwww! [image] The siblings don't meet again until years later as adults, when wannabe social media influencer, with a toxic boyfriend, Dimple, calls her half-sibling, when the worse thing in the world happens to her, in her own kitchen! (Hint: violence and blood is involved). Her half-sibling Nikisha, not knowing how dire the circumstances are, calls the other three siblings to join them at the scene, and thus follows not only a wonderful all UK Black cast dark comedy, but a superb set-up of initially racial stereotypes of Black characters being turned on its head, as deeper characterisations are brought forth, as they strive to extricate Dimple from a life changing (in a bad way) predicament! [image] This is a modern family power play, a truly beautifully weighted tale that not only gives us five leading multi-facetted Black characters, but also questions the idea that non-conventional families are any less than conventional nuclear ones, whilst having an absorbing plot that sees a group of Black people manoeuvre around a deadly threat to Dimple, knowing that at heart, they can't trust the authorities to deal with it. A heartbreakingly, funny and eye-opening look at the Black urban experience in the UK in the 21st century. A firm 8 out of 12, Four Star read, and a startling good follow-up after Queenie. To top if off it quantifies what sort of person a 'people person' really is. [image] 2023 read...more
Reni Eddo-Lodge's telling of the mostly untold or purposefully downplayed history of the Black and Brown people in the UK over 100s of years, from theReni Eddo-Lodge's telling of the mostly untold or purposefully downplayed history of the Black and Brown people in the UK over 100s of years, from the massively outrageous compensating the slave owners, and not the slaves, when slavery was abolished to the murder of Stephen Lawrence and beyond was just the opening salvo in this utter work of genius that lies behind the rationale for why Eddo-Lodge first wrote her blog 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race'. [image] This book really talks about race. And I mean REALLY; breaking down the systemic racism in society; beautifully explaining exactly what White privilege is; exposing the 'fear of Black planet' (ir)rationale and how it actually exposes White privilege; shows how 'feminism' only represents few women and actively works against non-White, non-hetero etc. voices; even takes a detailed look into the race vs class debate; even explodes the 'angry Black woman' tool used to silence voices. The genius of this book is that it's not even angry, it's just honest and direct and utterly based on facts - all indexed in the Notes at the end of the book. But here's my question, who's the book for? Who's the target audience? [image] You know what, I think, the people that most need to read this, really need to read it, are all those people 'that don't see colour', all those people that have any people of colour in their family, all those people that 'campaign' for race equality and/or say they are allies; and of course all people of colour as on top of everything else, this book has answers to all the racist rubbish being spewed out at the moment from the bizarre anger at any fictional character being cast as non-White through to the systemic racism that prevents economic growth in non-White communities. As the back of the book blurb says. this really is 'the essential handbook for anyone who wants to understand racism in Britain today'. A sure-fire 11 out of 12 Five Star read. [image] [image] 2023 read...more
Sarah Ladipo Manyika was so very kind to send me an advance copy of this book, and I was remiss not to read it sooner, more fool me. I Five Starred mySarah Ladipo Manyika was so very kind to send me an advance copy of this book, and I was remiss not to read it sooner, more fool me. I Five Starred my first two Ladipo Manyika reads Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun and In Dependence, both fiction, so I was not actually expecting those heights with a work of non-fiction. [image] Manyika begins with sharing her thoughts and experiences of how she felt and was treated initially and sometimes continuously based on her external appearance in different parts of the world, and that's just the beginning of this fascinating read, and puts a marker in the sand for what will follow. "Intimate encounters and/or interviews" of the most prominent Black thinkers/influencers alive when this was written. The Toni Morrison interview is just... just. It makes me want to read everything she has ever written. [image] If you're like me and prefer to go into a book totally blind I will try not to mention most of the other people who opened up their homes, experiences and/or thoughts to Ladipo Manyika; but I can't but help give a shout out to centenarian Mrs Willard Harris who has an absorbing chapter. [image] So I finally began reading this book on a Sunday afternoon and was completely consumed by it until I finished it on Monday evening. Maybe it's the commonality of the British-Nigerian background that makes Ladipo Manyika's voice tune into my head so seamlessly. On my way to work I got stuck on a bus for two hours, caught up in a traffic jam, I could have walked to work, but I was reading this and happily sat there reading whilst more than half the passengers alighted to walk to work. That's what this book did me, it made me not care about the passage of time, it made me think, it made me think of what kind of legacy I want to leave, myself. This book also gave me my my first knowledge of Jamaican poet Claudine Rankine another stellar, thought stirring, entertaining and awe inspiring encounter with Ladipo Manyika put on paper. [image] When I started writing this I didn't know what I was going to write, I was confused about what I really wanted to say other than it is a Five Star read; and I might come back and put this down in a more cohesive way; this book touches my African Diaspora soul. Easily, this superbly written and so so so entertaining and inspiring read hits a 10 out of 10, Five Stars for me, technical making Ladipo Manyika my all-time favourite writer. Also if you read this book you get to read about Ladipo Manyika's (and hubby's) South Pole adventure :) [image] 2023 and 2023 read, yep, so good that I had to read twice in the same month!...more
As is the norm in this reality - Rufus (teenager, Cuban, bisexual, outgoing and comfortable in the urban arena) and Mateo (Puerto Rican, gay, introverAs is the norm in this reality - Rufus (teenager, Cuban, bisexual, outgoing and comfortable in the urban arena) and Mateo (Puerto Rican, gay, introvert and struggles socialising) both get calls from Death-Cast telling them that they are now 'Deckers' with 24 hours or less to live. This speculative fiction reality set read with both protagonists' first person POV with multiple second person POVs for the supporting cast, maps their last (?) day, which is also the first day the meet! Lots of blurbs on this book talk about this book being about dying vs living; for me it is a book that asks what would you do if you only had 24 hours to live in a world geared to supporting that reality. Almost like having 24 hours to find out who you (really) are? [image] The beauty of this book is the age-appropriate characterisations (teens act like teens etc.); the multiple non-straight characters whose sexuality or choices are not made as part the plot; the thin reality building that allows the book to be entirely character driven; and most of all getting young people to really think and talk about mortality. This is a pretty special read, and it comes as no surprise that it was #BookTok on TikTok that hurtled this book and writer on to the global best seller lists, as Generation Z plays a significant role in promoting and supporting a book that sees a reality through their lens. Check out this 8 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] 2023 read...more
This volume covers Kamala's trials and tribulations after a Champions' antagonist causes injury to her civilian self that catalyses into the state looThis volume covers Kamala's trials and tribulations after a Champions' antagonist causes injury to her civilian self that catalyses into the state looking to make young adult super-costumed-vigilantism illegal. This leads to her masked identity, alongside her fellow Champions, now being on the wrong side of the law. [image] I feel that after this character lost her original creative team, she and this series lost their heart. I feel like nobody at Marvel sat-down and looked at what worked well in the original series to ensure that Ahmed would retain them in his run. Mediocre offering. An all-time low for this series for me, a 4 out of 12, Two Star read. [image] 2022 read...more
Twelve beautifully interwoven short stories (one per chapter) about the lives and in many cases life-stories of an eclectic group (although the majoriTwelve beautifully interwoven short stories (one per chapter) about the lives and in many cases life-stories of an eclectic group (although the majority are Black or mixed-raced women) across nationalities, gender, sexuality and most of all generations with oldest point-of-view story being that of a 98-year old woman , and former farmer! Amma, pro-Feminist, pro-Black pro-Lesbian, class and one-time anti-conformist race and gender warrior now in her 50s has a dazzling African female orientated play debuting at the National Theatre, and this is where the 12 characters stories meet at the start and end of the book. [image] I found all 12 stories utterly absorbing as the dig deep into the experiences and/or feelings of the character-lead. Big warning - this is no boo-hoo story dictated by intolerance and inequality, it's 12 personal stories spanning over a century(!) about pain, love, family, loss, hard work, belonging, escape etc most of all it's a story that shows just 12 of the many faces of people in the modern UK, that one thing diversity certainly does bring is diverse stories. Oh, and did I mention that Evaristo's writing style: sentence and paragraph constructions without a starting capital letter; superbly individually sharing of the sentiment and 'voice' of each character making them that more distinct and believable; delicately interweaving of the stories that build a bigger picture on completion; the writing was also extremely accessible whether detailing opera preferences or working on a farm - this was a lot to read. Boy, Man, Reader gave this a 9.5 out of 12 very firm Four Stars. [image] 2023 read...more
Mr Leo Stanhope, assistant to a London coroner, visits the delightful Maria once a week, where they can escape the real together. Thing is, Leo has a Mr Leo Stanhope, assistant to a London coroner, visits the delightful Maria once a week, where they can escape the real together. Thing is, Leo has a huge secret, one that if revealed would see him expelled from polite Victorian society and possibly committed to an asylum or even imprisoned! When Leo is arrested for the murder of someone close to him, his heart already broken by their death, he swears, if he can somehow get free he will investigate the murder... and thus a legend is born, a Victorian (view spoiler)[transgender (hide spoiler)] amateur detective series! [image] Reeve doesn't shy away from Stanhope's reality writing the book in his first person, so we truly are in his head and how he truly irrevocably sees himself. Likewise get a warts and warts of his existence in Victorian London and its loneliness but also the strength and determination of character to live his best live. As ever in quality reads like this strong supporting cast and a top drawer murder(s) mystery. Can't get enough of Leo. Very strong Four Star, 9 out of 12. [image] 2022 read...more
First published in 1969(!), this was Atwood's first published book. Entering the lives of single woman Marian and her 1960's world of work, relationshFirst published in 1969(!), this was Atwood's first published book. Entering the lives of single woman Marian and her 1960's world of work, relationships and friendships. This is a pretty interesting debut for the now world famous writer as it assuredly sets a marker in the sand for what came next over the next 5 decades. A clever, witty, and at times almost angry work centred around Marian her path towards non-partner seeking related self-determination, which is very much against the norm of the time, and quite cleverly directed by her own inner self! Although a very interesting and thought provoking first half, the latter parts of the book looses its way a bit as it attempts to shoe horn Marian's experience towards the intended resolution. A must-read though if you like Atwood, the 60s stirring of feminism and/or just for historical bookish-ness :) 4 out of 12. [image] 2022 read...more
Empty nested, girth spreading, lonely and directionless middle-aged housewife Evelyn visits Ninny Threadgoode an elderly care home resident; Ninny shaEmpty nested, girth spreading, lonely and directionless middle-aged housewife Evelyn visits Ninny Threadgoode an elderly care home resident; Ninny shares stories of her life growing up in Whistle Stop, Alabama, stories centred around the hub of the very small community, The Whistle Stop Café, run by (although no one ever mentions it outright) lesbian couple - lifelong Tomboy Idgie and the beautiful in mind and body Ruth. A second narrator within the book is Weem's Weekly a weekly digest that is share in stand alone chapter throughout the book. Ninny's stories impact on Evelyn's life, and for us readers, give a vibrant and honest slice of life in Alabama across the early and middle Twentieth Century. [image] A book I recommend every reader comes into blind without foreknowledge, a book that looks at life in the South (a tad bit through rose tinted lenses), at family, at the Great Depression, at how race inequality impacts White people as well as Black people, about domestic abuse, about aging in women, and about small town communities. This was one of those books that I enjoyed whilst reading and half way through realised that I was reading something special. There's little chance of ever forgetting the Whistle Stop Café once you've visited it in print. Above everything else what this is, is a beautiful read. 8.5 out of 12. [image] 2022 read...more
Simon is 16 and gay, and falling in love via an anonymous email conversation with Blue; but when one of his classmates gets copies of his emails SimonSimon is 16 and gay, and falling in love via an anonymous email conversation with Blue; but when one of his classmates gets copies of his emails Simon finds himself being blackmailed against being outed! Despite this heavy premise this is very much a feelgood book that the face of it is about coming-of-gay-age, friendship and young love; however I found this heart warming read was to me, much more about friendships, and that's platonic, romantic, collegiate, family, all the friendships. A fun-read with a good heart BUT, a fun-read that sugar coast everything from homophobia and racism through to gender inequality and just being a hormones fuelled teenager... which in the writer and publisher's defence is probably why it sold so well and has been adapted for other media. Still, this is a solid feel good read that had me smiling a lot. 8 out of 12. [image] 2022 read...more
2021 read: Lou, 27, unemployed, with a fitness-fanatic, decent but going-through-the-motions boyfriend lives in a crowded home with her family, when s2021 read: Lou, 27, unemployed, with a fitness-fanatic, decent but going-through-the-motions boyfriend lives in a crowded home with her family, when she gets an unlikely six-month contract as a carer for the quadriplegic Will, good-looking, one-time city big-shot, alpha male who has purposefully and ruthlessly scared his previous carers away. This book tells the story of those six months, a story centred around their friendship, their relationship even, and also the reason why the contract is for six months. [image] Let's not beat around the bush, this is an utterly mainstream commercially viable book, but it also helped expose millions of readers and viewers to the high-concept (view spoiler)[ look at assisted suicide, the lives of those that become disabled and how they consider their own dignity etc. (hide spoiler)] themes and ideas. A commercially successful, but also highly readable and accessible book that needed to be written. As for me, I've been aware of it for years, but felt it wasn't for me, and was duly surprised and indeed entertained and educated by this very well conceived and presented read that also took the time to illustrate what families can go through with a member being disabled; how lives are eked out in small communities and above all, provided a well rounded, believable quadriplegic protagonist, despite him being an idealised character. I enjoyed it enough to want to read the sequel. 8 out of 12. [image]...more
It's 1922 and numbers of Great War veterans roam the streets of South London; other shell shocked men live among their families and friends trying to It's 1922 and numbers of Great War veterans roam the streets of South London; other shell shocked men live among their families and friends trying to carve out some sort of life, even though nightmares rule their subconscious. In this post war world, the widow Mrs Wray and her disconnected daughter Frances have come to the point where they have to take on paying guests, lodgers, if they want to keep their good-sized home in Camberwell. The falling from grace upper middle class lessees and aspiring working class lodgers find themselves sharing living spaces in the grand house, and for Frances what starts of as inquisitiveness, escalates to a lot more, giving us a story of vey forbidden lesbian love affair in the 1920s... [image] .. and murder!!! [image] I was probably too highly invested in the initial scene setting of 1920s South London (where I live) and the subtle reveal of one of the main protagonist's sexuality and then the ensuing affair, that when I came to the murder and the resulting events, I just wanted to go back to the tranquil and finely written pre-murder days. On a larger scale, I could suppose that the power of the book is that the same-sex relationship is not the entirety of their lives; but with the writer Sarah Waters, using murder as a counter balance, I found a tad disconcerting. Overall though, I presume this book was lauded for how it maps the relationship from first stirrings, through to capital crime and how the criminalisation and demonisation of same-sex relationships plays a significant role in how the lovers relate and react throughout their story, and just writing that made me give this read one more point than I intended! 7 out of 12. [image]...more
No movement can be assured of success that has not a woman in it" ---Denise Deegan, Through the Barricades. Oestensibly this is a love story across the No movement can be assured of success that has not a woman in it" ---Denise Deegan, Through the Barricades. Oestensibly this is a love story across the divided Dublin before, and during the Easter Rising (Google it) in 1916. Starting from before the Great War and focusing on the couple in their late childhoods, Deegan expertly draws a picture of the enforced poverty and destitution of the Irish masses under the pretty awful rule of the British Empire, an Empire working hand-in-hand with many of the Irish middle, upper and business classes. This story is that much more impactful because the inequalities are seen through the eyes of the cast and not through an omniscient narrator . The romantic storyline in itself is quite interesting and far from a distraction. The coming of the Great War also gave Deegan another opportunity to show us the savage tragedy that war is, this time through the eyes of 17 year old Irish boys! Overall it's paradoxically detailed, yet seemingly light-touch look at pre-Easter Rising Dublin and the portrayal of the varying perspectives and views that make this book a pretty interesting read. [image] When I read any book about British 'colonies' it opens my eyes just how much history has been white washed in favour of mostly White, mostly Protestant, mostly male Europeans, and the reason why we haven't learnt from history... is because we haven't been teaching and learning history, it's just propaganda to make the current powers not feel too guilty about how, and where their wealth is derived from. All-in-all a really interesting read, one that has stirred up a keen interest in the Ireland of the past for me. 7.5 out of 12 [image]...more
Organised crime wife Sharon Conway spent most of her life with two men, both of whom had huge secret; this book told from multiple points of view is tOrganised crime wife Sharon Conway spent most of her life with two men, both of whom had huge secret; this book told from multiple points of view is the story of her life and her two relationships with figures from the UK crime world. [image] This 21st published work by Cole, continues her 'if it ain't broke' attitude to story telling, with its varied cast of English, Irish and Jamaican descendent Londoners that make up her organised crime world underbelly; but what makes this book stand out from her other works is having gay protagonists in this super-macho (=frail ego) underworld. As ever she executes this concept from the viewpoint of the characters and does it quite well, albeit with her multiple use of clichés and tropes, which one could argue might be more representative of te subject matter? 6 out of 12. I just can't get enough of Cole's in depth internally focussed stories of the London and Essex 'underclass' and organised crime 'faces'. [image]...more
'Tiny' is literally the Big Man On Campus at his high school, more so because of his sports jock role, his very big boned body structure and his uncom'Tiny' is literally the Big Man On Campus at his high school, more so because of his sports jock role, his very big boned body structure and his uncompromisingly loud gay lifestyle; his best friend, usually in crumpled attire is Will Grayson who's just going through life trying to tick all the right boxes, but also at times beseeching 'Tiny' to turn it down a bit. A stretch of coincidences leads Will Grayson to meet another Will Grayson(!), an in the closet high schooler who has only come out to himself so far, but is looking to date. [image] These two mammoth selling Young Adult writers collaboration on the front of it is risqué, comedic, dramatic (literally!) and heartwarming... can feel my 'but' coming? But... sometimes collaborations work really well, so that you can't tell who wrote what and it's all just beautifully continuous. On this occasion despite the book being a marvellous read on friendship (which in itself is daring with such strong LGBT characters and themes, to not really be about LGBT issues... and something that I really applaud), none of the voices held true for me. Now, being in my fifth decade I know this book wasn't written for me, so I would suggest you take my views in that context. On the other hand, I see no reason why this wouldn't be a very much enjoyed by its primary target audience :) 7 out of 12 [image]...more
Sex in the City, upper class Saudi society style! An unnamed blogger sends out an email newsletter with episodic stories of four young women's quest fSex in the City, upper class Saudi society style! An unnamed blogger sends out an email newsletter with episodic stories of four young women's quest for love in Saudi Arabia in the 21st century. Love and dating is foremost, with Islam, gender equality and Saudi society taking a strong second place. Some might not like the almost irreverent approach to language and style used by Alsanea, but I found it made the book that more readable [image] Don't expect any deep dive delves into the Saudi world, this is essentially a gossip mag written from the pint of view of the people involved. A neat 21st century epistolary novel done well, with each email prefaced by the narrator's thoughts, feelings, quotes, poems and response to support and/or criticism. We do lose something in translation, as I believe each of the four women spoke different languages or dialects that were included in the original. The 24 year old debut novelist caused a storm, not so much for the criticism she got from some in Saudi Arabia, but moreso for the huge wave of support she got from the public, other writes and even members of the ruling government! A book that is unashamedly about four individuals their stories; and not to be seen as a societal critique? The big mystery in the book, is which one of the women is the narrator? 7 out of 12 [image] Rajaa Alsanea
It took 17 years... 17 years for The Runaways to finally become a super-hero team! But how, when, why, you ask? Rowell pushes a lot of boundaries as sIt took 17 years... 17 years for The Runaways to finally become a super-hero team! But how, when, why, you ask? Rowell pushes a lot of boundaries as she composes a tale that sees The Runaways go against the core of what they are, and become crime fighters. It's a pretty good story, but it all escalates too quickly and everyone pretty much keeps to a linear characterisation of themselves in this unforeseen eventuality. 7 out of 12... and the big news is that post first Pandemic lockdowns this is one of the lesser selling Marvel books that has returned :) [image]...more
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