This was one of my most anticipated political non-fiction books of the year and I must admit Liz Cheney did not disappoint. If you're looking for someThis was one of my most anticipated political non-fiction books of the year and I must admit Liz Cheney did not disappoint. If you're looking for someone who is willing to critique and hold the Republican party accountable for it's current demise, this is the book to pick up. Not only does Cheney address the issues associated with the 2020 election, but also the truth behind the January 6th insurrection. While Cheney and I would fundamentally disagree on a lot of different things, we agree that this next election will determine a lot. Oath and Honor is a cautionary tale of what is to come if elected officials begin to disregard the pillars of the Constitution. Cheney put her entire career on the line by having morals, ethics, and values and respect for the democratic process that is the foundation of this nation. If you want to know my full thoughts on this, definitely check out my video here: https://youtu.be/UQxWHRnwyO4?si=CMQjT......more
I read this is one sitting and if I could give zero stars I would....
I'm usually not this harsh when it comes to memoirs, but my friends I have a boneI read this is one sitting and if I could give zero stars I would....
I'm usually not this harsh when it comes to memoirs, but my friends I have a bone to pick with Jill Duggar and her homophobic/transphobic husband. Now, I picked this up because I grew up watching the Duggar family and I was curious to see how much Jill has been able to deconstruct her fundamentalist upbringing. Survey says that little to no deconstruction has occurred.
First, I applaud Jill for being able to use her voice. It takes a lot to be able to open up about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Jim Bob and her brother. To recount that and share it with the world must be difficult in a way that a lot of us don't understand. What was interesting about this read to me is that I found Derrick to be controlling as well. Not in the same capacity as Jim Bob, but still dominating in a way that is uncomfortable. It's also fascinating that not once in this book did she hold Michelle responsible for any behaviors she engaged in during their time on television and after. It is hard to deny the fact that Michelle enabled and allowed the behavior of her husband to continue in a way that was harmful to her children, yet Jill made her carry no burden of the responsibility. I'm not sure if that is because of the dynamics of their religious beliefs, but it was interesting.
Jill may be separating herself from the Duggar family, but she and her husband continue to be a reminder of why I take issue with White Evangelicalism. The way she talked about mission work gave this undertone that they "must save the poor brown people who know nothing of our Jesus." It's disgusting. And while I can recognize the traumatic situations that Jill was raised in, I can equally acknowledge the irony of her and her husband seeking empathy while he goes on transphobic tirades via Twitter. This exploration of her time on television via her family is two-fold; it serves as a space for her to voice her feelings, but at the same time it's pretty surface level. No reader should dive into this expecting big revelations. If you've kept up with the family then you'll know most of the content of this book. I find it both disgusting and deplorable the way that Jim Bob treated Jill, but I also find Derrick's behavior disgusting. More therapy and more time are needed. It'll be interesting to see where these two end up in about 10-15 years....more
This was almost a perfect graphic novel! 4.5 stars
I’ve read quite a few works about the experience of those that came to America after being forced tThis was almost a perfect graphic novel! 4.5 stars
I’ve read quite a few works about the experience of those that came to America after being forced to leave Vietnam, but never like this where the author utilizes food to not only build a connection to new experiences, but also people and places. The artwork was beautiful, effective, and enriching. There was a specific scene on the boat while they were traveling were violence broke out due to an encounter with pirates. The artwork was devastatingly beautiful and not only captured the beauty of a mother’s love and willingness to sacrifice everything but also the power of moments and their ability to imprint onto the minds of children. In this case, it was a single rice ball that tasted of salt. The author also did a wonderful job illustrating the complicated nature of the American Dream and what it means to assimilate to a place so much that you lose all cultural ties to your homeland. This was such a powerful work. I only took issue where there were huge time jumps. I wished those areas were fleshed out a little bit more. Other than that, I consider this to be a must read and will be adding it to my list of graphic memoirs to recommend. ...more
This was heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hilarious all at once. Told as short stories, readers get the opportunity to see different parts of her lifeThis was heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hilarious all at once. Told as short stories, readers get the opportunity to see different parts of her life in particularly poignant moments that encompass who she was a teen and young adult. Culturally, it was interesting to read about the flexibility that Parisian teens had in comparison to my own experience. In the most hard and vulnerable parts of this book, readers gain insight to her struggles, but most importantly her growth. I think that some readers will have difficulty with this one if they’re looking for a linear memoir, but I rather enjoyed the lack of cohesiveness. The artwork was beautiful and reminded me of some things that I would see in Sunday comics. A wonderful read. ...more
Whewwwww....this one was tough! But I'm glad that I read it.
In Limbo is a graphic novel memoir of Deb's coming of age experiences that detail her compWhewwwww....this one was tough! But I'm glad that I read it.
In Limbo is a graphic novel memoir of Deb's coming of age experiences that detail her complicated and toxic relationship with her mother as well as her struggles with mental health. Struggling to fulfill her mother's unrealistic expectations, Deb spends a lot of time not only attempting to process who she is to her mother, but also her identity as both Korean and American.
What Worked: THE ARTWORK! If there was ever a moment that I've been proud to see a creator follow their dreams, this is it! I understand that Deb was good at violin, but I must commend her on the strength and courage she had to follow her passions even in the face of dealing with an abusive parent. I also appreciated how Deb illustrated the complicated feelings associated with "otherness" and how she consistently felt stuck in between being Korean and American. There were also these complicated feelings of being in "limbo" that were closely associated with Deb's mother. Their relationship is not far removed from the relationship I had with my mother, so there were explicit moments where I deeply connected to Deb's feelings of hurt and inadequacy. I also appreciated the complicated nature of Deb's friendships as they were often impacted by her mental health. There was a moment of clarity for Deb where she had to accept the possible loss of her friendship worked so well for me.
Overall, this was an impactful, beautiful graphic memoir. I'll definitely be adding it to my rotation of graphic memoirs to recommend....more
There aren't enough words to describe the heartache I feel for Britney Spears. I grew up listening to Britney and owned a few of her CD'Oh Britney....
There aren't enough words to describe the heartache I feel for Britney Spears. I grew up listening to Britney and owned a few of her CD's that I would keep on replay. Unfortunately, as I grew older, I didn't keep up with her life. I remember hearing things here and there about some of her lowest points as portrayed by the media, but it wasn't until I began learning more about the conservatorship that I realized the amount of trauma she experienced. The amount of neglect and abuse experienced at the hands of her family, the media, and Justin just blew me away. Her story and legacy is the perfect example of "you never know what someone is going through." While she was getting taunted by the media and portrayed as the "harlot" that broke Justin's heart, Britney, in my opinion, was literally searching for an ideal situation or environment where she would not only be able to make decisions for herself, but thrive as a healthy adult. Coming from a family that showed no remorse in using her for personal gain, it does not surprise me that she sought comfort in situations that weren't always that great. It explains why she took the break up with Justin so hard and continued to protect him after he single-handedly launched his solo career while dragging her through the pits of hell to the media and anyone else that would listen. After reading this book, it amazes me that Britney has such determination to be such a kind and peaceful person. While some may look at this as a betrayal to Justin and her family, I find it empowering to know that she had the courage and willpower to share some of the most intimate moments of life while revealing the true nature of all parties involved. This book isn't about them or some immaculate revenge plot. It's Britney's space to work through and illustrate how the industry, her family, friends, and partners changed her into the person that she is now. It's the opportunity to create questions about what could have been had she just had one ounce of support from those closest to her. It must have been such a painful experience to draft the many ways in which so many people failed you as a person. But it must have given her so much pride to see how she pushed and fought to have her voice heard. I'm not sure if she knew that her book was going to garner such a positive response, but good for her. As I always say, it's not our job to dictate when someone should share their story. I don't care if it's a long after the fact. It's not fair to tell a victim how to process and heal.
Overall, I found this read to be both compelling and heartbreaking. Britney isn't the greatest writer, but it feels like an honor to be able to read what seems like a such a personal, intimate recollection of events. I hope that she continues to find peace and remain in it....more
Expectations prior to diving into this book are going to play a huge role in how people may or may not perceive Jada. This isn’t solely about her relaExpectations prior to diving into this book are going to play a huge role in how people may or may not perceive Jada. This isn’t solely about her relationship with Will. It’s about her personal journey. I’ve seen reviews of this posted before release with no ARC release and reviews written by those who didn’t even read the book. It’s truly fascinating. As always, I’m not here to judge Jada’s story whether people believe it to be factual or not. We can’t construct the way in which someone tells their story nor can we determine how much they should and should not reveal. There are definitely content warnings for this one including emotional abuse, substance abuse, parental abandonment, and more.
Worthy, in my opinion, isn’t what the masses are expecting. Because of their openness about their life, I think that quite a few readers are going to anticipate a book filled with juicy details related to the relationship between Will and Jada that haven’t been revealed to the public. There are some things that aren’t common knowledge; however, what most will find is that this book is about Jada and her journey. Yes, Will is a part of that journey, but this is Jada taking the opportunity to center her narrative. To be quite honest, I enjoyed Jada’s authorial tone and it gave me a better perspective of who she is and why she handles things the way that she does. Unlike Will, Jada isn’t as charismatic, she’s quick to react and, to be quite frank, overreact (I’m thinking about the theme park situation), but a lot of that stems from her past trauma. She isn’t always perceived as likeable, but I think that comes from a lifestyle in which she had to maintain a guard for protection. Being in an industry where you are expected to charm the masses wasn’t, in my opinion, ever going to work out for Jada. This book isn’t her aim to make herself seem more likeable, but to give a better understanding of who she is as a human. She acknowledges her faults and the wrongs in her personal life, but she also holds people accountable. I think the danger in living such an open life is that people feel as though you owe them every single detail. While it can make people feel seen, it leads to a level of scrutiny I don’t think I would ever be able to handle. At some point; however, people must understand that the dynamics of Jada and Will’s relationship is a choice of their own. Even if it seems out of traditional roles for the majority of people, it is their life and it is their right to decide how they want to conduct their family. Jada admits that it is flawed, imperfect is so many ways, but it’s what they wanted. In fact, they’re still learning and the two of them have a connection that we, as public viewers, will never be able to understand regardless of how we feel. And there is more to Jada beyond Will. She is constantly viewed only in relationship to him and this was her opportunity to create that separation. There are parts of her thinking that I still don’t quite understand and dynamics of her relationship to Will that I would never choose for myself; however, I appreciate her sharing her story. The same grace that Will was provided in his memoir should, in my opinion, be applied to Jada instead of this rampant attempt to silence her.
I’m going to refrain from rating this because, to be honest, I’m not sure I could rate this even if I tried. My feelings about it are complicated especially about those sections that were “self-help” like in nature. Yet, I still think that Jada deserved a place to share her story and feelings. I don’t follow the couple at all so some of the things covered may have been discussed during Red Table Talks. I only knew minimal things about her relationship with Tupac and nothing about her upbringing. For me, as a reader, it was learning a different side and perspective to her and her life beyond Will. It is my hope that they both find some clarity. They have a love that is unbreakable, yet gut wrenching. It is clear that peace is needed for both. I highly recommend diving into this one without the preconceived notions and judgements of the rest of the world....more
Listen I, as an adult reader, enjoyed this one and learned some new information about AMAZING Black women who changed the world through music; howeverListen I, as an adult reader, enjoyed this one and learned some new information about AMAZING Black women who changed the world through music; however, I have some qualms about this for younger readers.
This board book is dense with a lot of text, but beautiful illustrations. This isn't something that I would necessarily pick up and give to or read to a toddler. This works better as an informational picture book than a board book. Part of this is an industry issue where picture books are being formatted into board books which I, in my personal opinion, think messes with the intention of board books. They are designed for babies and can be also be used with toddlers while they're still learning how to handle a picture book.
Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable read for older readers who wouldn't mind having a board book as the format. There's great information in this that I didn't know....more
To be honest, I don't think that there are enough words to describe the brilliance that is James Baldwin. This was my first jump into James Baldwin anTo be honest, I don't think that there are enough words to describe the brilliance that is James Baldwin. This was my first jump into James Baldwin and I must admit, nothing ceased to amaze me. I'm currently working with Erica and Josh to read through his entire bibliography. To get a deeper dive into my thoughts and feelings of this particular work be sure to check out our live show discussion which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/live/AVv_BN7Y......more
I could not be more grateful to Erica (thebrokenspine) for including me on this journey where we are reading Baldwins entire bibliography. This was myI could not be more grateful to Erica (thebrokenspine) for including me on this journey where we are reading Baldwins entire bibliography. This was my first time reading Baldwin and it didn't disappoint. It was pure brilliance.
I would be a liar if I said I didn't struggle with reading this. There were sections that I had to read time and time again because I didn't feel as though I was grasping what Baldwin was intending. It's clear that Baldwin was still attempting to find his voice as a writer with these essays. That doesn't make their impact any less meaningful; however, this wouldn't be the first place that I would recommend readers starting with Baldwin. Some parts of the essays were overly verbose, yet Baldwin is still able to capture the experience of so many individuals in such a short collection. I loved his commentary on Black representation in media as well as commentary on his experience of being a Black man living in Paris. If you're interested in hearing my full thoughts on this, be sure to check out the live show that I did with Erica and Josh here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVv_B......more
Whew. This was a wild read. I thought I knew a lot about the incident at Waco, but this provided an interesting perspective of not only what happened Whew. This was a wild read. I thought I knew a lot about the incident at Waco, but this provided an interesting perspective of not only what happened that day, but also the dangerous assumptions that led to unnecessary deaths.
Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage was more than I could have ever expected. While this is my first Guinn book, I can definitely say that it won't be the last. Not only are readers privy to the exact details of what happened on that day, but they are also provided with an extensive history of the Davidians. I knew a little bit about David Koresh; however, there were lots of details that I missed prior to reading this book.
There is this theme of dangerous assumptions that really drives the narrative of this book and highlights the decisions that made everything go wrong. The ATF made so many incorrect moves pertaining to how they should and should not have approached David Koresh and the rest of the Brach Davidians. The job was botched from the beginning and as noted by Guinn those responsible for the decisions never fully faced punishment. It was these decisions that resulted in the 51 day standoff. While in the wrong, Guinn doesn't necessarily absolve David Koresh of the wrongs that he committed towards the members of his congregation. There are enough specific details in the text to make any readers stomachs turn including Koresh's treatment of women.
This book is filled with so much detail. The way that Guinn is able to capture the readers attention and walk them step by step through the siege and it's aftermath is unparalleled. I definitely plan to dive into more of his works this year especially because he seems to focus on cults and their leaders. If you're interested in learning more about David Koresh and the siege at Waco, I highly recommend checking this one out. ...more
I honestly don't think I have the amount of characters needed to write all of my thoughts about this memoir. I've been sitting on it for a few hours aI honestly don't think I have the amount of characters needed to write all of my thoughts about this memoir. I've been sitting on it for a few hours and I still feel so torn about all of it. As with a lot of memoirs I've been reading, I'm going to leave this unrated. Regardless of my thoughts and perceptions, I don't feel comfortable attaching a star rating to someone's experience.
I should probably start this review by sharing why I even decided to pick up Spare. FOMO. Let's be honest, a lot of people are curious about the "tea" Harry was going to spill in this memoir. Quite frankly, I would be a liar if I said I wasn't ready for the messiness as well. What I didn't expect was the emotional pull that I experienced listening to Harry describe the ups and downs associated with being a member of the royal family as well as losing his mother at an early age. I also didn't expect to feel this conflicting feeling of rage and confusion at Harry's lack of introspection. Spare is divided into three parts mimicked after the poem Invictus that highlight what appears to be 3 pivotal/emotional aspects of Harry's life: the loss of his mother, his military experience, and his journey in meeting and marrying Meghan. Please note that I'm going to use my standard reviewing process for this book though the idea of "what worked" and "what didn't work" are more along the lines of what I enjoyed and what I found to be troubling/problematic.
What Worked: As a parent I believe that I've become more hyperaware of child development. This definitely doesn't make me an expert, but I feel more in tune with what is or what is not emotionally/developmentally appropriate. Within the first section of Spare it is evident that Harry experienced things in a way that were not beneficial to his mental and emotional health as a child. Note that I understand that culturally the English are not as affectionate as others. I've experienced this myself with my own English family members; however, requiring a child to maintain decorum during the death of his mother is absolutely outlandish. It's archaic and damaging. Harry was consoling grown ass adults over the death of HIS mother. People were sobbing and mourning the death of a woman THEY DID NOT KNOW; yet, Harry was forced to show little to no emotion for a woman that was his world. He was already conditioned to believe that he wasn't as valuable as the second son, as the spare. Though he never explicitly states it in the text, I think that Diana was probably one of the few people who made him feel like he was more than the "other" child and to lose that could have been nothing less than devastating. Things are clearly made worse by the onslaught of the paparazzi. Harry (and later Meghan) can't catch a break from the horrible accusations made by the press whether true or false. They are unable to live, let alone breathe, in a world that is awaiting to criticize every single move that they make. I couldn't possibly imagine that amount of pressure nor do I think that it's fair that they had to experience that. The number of breakdowns, the drug abuse, the family conflicts caused by the press was and still is unsurmountable. This is the part of the memoir that captured me because it made Harry feel human. So much damage was done to him as child and it's clear how it has and continues to impact him today.
What Didn't Work: So this is where my feelings get extremely complicated. I'm an empathetic person so when Harry discussed anything about the emotional and mental struggles that came as a result of losing his mother my heart broke for him. However, as I delved deeper into section 2 and 3, my feelings shifted to confusion and outrage. Listen, I understand that Harry has a close connection to the continent of Africa because of the work that his mother did. Conservation work, fighting against poverty and HIV/AIDs are all passion points for Harry. HOWEVER, the tone and the way that this was written threw me for a loop. There was a specific section where Harry and William were arguing over who "had Africa as their thing" and I swear my jaw dropped. It was damn near unhinged when Harry mentioned that his friends state that there was "space for both of them because Africa needed them both." I understand that it was part of their royal work; however, there was an air of savior complex that just didn't necessarily sit well with me. And Harry never really discusses how much damage the royal family did to the continent of Africa through imperialism and colonialism. It just felt like he wanted a pat on the back for fixing something his family fucked up in the first place. Then there was the Nazi incident and the use of a racial slur. As many reviewers have stated before me, it's good that Harry acknowledges that what he did was wrong, BUT WHY THE FUCK does he never address why everyone in the family thought that shit was OKAY!? Clearly, there are deeper issues than just you making a mistake. William and Kate thought the Nazi shit was hilarious so why in the hell would he be so damn confused that they gave a bi-racial woman such a difficult time?!? It just didn't make sense. Later in the book, Harry gives readers the whiplash of their life as he goes back and forth between letting us know that the royal family adored Meghan and then they gave her the cold shoulder. I couldn't make heads or tails of it and Harry states in the book that he was confused about why everyone was becoming so difficult. Listen, he knows why and we know why, but that's the one area where Harry does not want to hold himself or his family accountable. Towards the end of the book, he even goes as far in saying that his problem has never been with the monarchy but it's always been with the press. SIR! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN?!? The monarchy has always been a part of the problem. They've been a problem for so many fucking people on this planet changing, shaping, and remolding the world into something that best serves their beliefs and practices. And to be quite honest, that's where he lost me. Harry held his family accountable for his demise and struggles, but failed to hold them accountable for the damaging legacy they continue to leave behind. In my eyes, you can't pick and choose. That legacy is exactly what has led to the issues that he and Meghan are facing. It is that legacy that willing chose to treat Meghan as an outcast and it is a legacy that many of my family members still feel to this day. Yes, I blame the press for a lot of what happened and they are truly awful; however, Harry truly does lack a lot of introspection. Families are extremely complicated. We can dislike them, be hurt by them, be enraged by them and still want to protect them at the same time. Clearly Harry experiences this, but it's awkward for a reader to see him pick and choose what they should and shouldn't be held accountable for. And another thing! Harry hates the press, yet here we are putting ourselves more into the press with Netflix deals and book deals back to fucking back. I'm not telling anyone how or when to tell their story, but somewhere in his mind he had to know the press would have a field day with this. I'm not a therapist or psychologist, but part of me can't help but wonder if this obsession with the paparazzi/press stems from how he lost his mother and seeing how the press treated her.
Honestly, I'm not even going to dive into the second section of the book because I barely made it through it. Hearing about his military experience was tough for me because we don't share the same thoughts and ideas about the War on Iraq. Understandably, he's passionate about his time in the military because he was able to be himself and not just a member of the royal family; nevertheless, it was slog to get through it.
Overall, I still don't know what to make of this memoir. I just wrote a damn dissertation about it and I'm still all over the place about it. Honestly, I believe that I feel that way because Harry is still trying to figure out who he is. He's still grieving and attempting to figure out how to process the death of his mom. He has centuries of familial issues to unlearn and part of me wishes that he would have held off from writing this until he was a little older. Unlearning those damaging practices and beliefs of the royal family is going to take more than just a few years and while he may be the most forward thinking royal living there is still a lot of work to be done....more
Please keep in mind that I've never been a huge fan of Time Scott, but for some reason this one caught me by surprise. I'm still going to leave it unrPlease keep in mind that I've never been a huge fan of Time Scott, but for some reason this one caught me by surprise. I'm still going to leave it unrated, but it was interesting getting some of his viewpoints.
America, a Redemption Story: Choosing Hope Creating Unity showcases, at best, Scott's desire and wish for an America that isn't so polarized. It's true, America is the most divided that I've ever seen it in my lifetime; however, wishing for the best and having hope isn't always the best solution to systemic issues that have continuously impacted marginalized communities. Quite honestly, Scott, in my opinion, is more moderate than he gives himself credit for. There were discussions about certain aspects of government as well as American society where Scott was able to see the perspectives of opposing arguments. He created a narrative that showcased him as more open-minded than I think he's given credit for as a Republican. While I still believe that we fundamentally disagree on most things, it was intriguing to hear a Black conservative discuss the many issues that continue to impact the Black community. If you're interested in hearing my full thoughts, check out my video discussion here: https://youtu.be/U-8fPpGM9wY...more
Hands down this is one of the most poorly written books that I've read in a long time. I'm going to refrain from rating this book because once again iHands down this is one of the most poorly written books that I've read in a long time. I'm going to refrain from rating this book because once again it would not be in favor of the book and I don't necessarily feel comfortable placing a star rating on Audrina's experience.
Honestly, I was interested in picking up Choices: To the Hills and Back Again because I grew up watching The Hills. I remember having weekly watch parties in a friends dorm room my freshman year of college so I could keep up on the latest drama. Of course, as I got older I realized that the show wasn't as "real" as we thought and a lot of the drama was manufactured to keep viewers like me coming back for more. Nevertheless, when I found out that Audrina was publishing a book that would detail her experience on the show, I came running.
First, let me say that I admire Audrina for having the courage to share the details about the abuse she endured while being married to Cory. As someone who has experienced this first hand, I can honestly say that it's never easy to tell that story. Additionally, I can only imagine the assumptions that social media and the tabloids made once her attempt to get a restraining order and her divorce were made public. Any time that someone is forced to relive those traumatic experiences, my heart aches for them. While many will see her decision to continue to stay in the relationship stupid, I understand the psychological break down that happens during abuse. From the outside, it appears so easy to be able to walk away; however, it's never that simple and becoming accustomed to the abuse only makes it worse.
With that being said, Simon and Schuster should be damn ashamed of themselves for letting this get published without further editing. Audrina's gift is not storytelling and some heavy editing could have eased some of the horrible writing. Instead of this reading like a cohesive narrative, readers are often thrown through various periods of her life detailing people and life in such a repetitive manner that I came close to DNF'ing this book 2-3 times. Some of the parts were extremely confusing because I think that Audrina is still confused about how she feels in regard to certain people and events. On one page she said that the production team behind The Hills was manipulative and couldn't be trusted and then a few pages later, the production team was like family. Then it was the repetitive text. Audrina would tell readers something only to repeat the same thing a few pages later. For example, after her divorce from Corey, Audrina lets readers know that she moved into her parents house for 6 months and then rented an apartment. LITERALLY 5-6 PAGES LATER SHE SAYS THE SAME THING. I thought that I was losing my mind. It is clear that an editor did not spend time on this book and it was pushed because of who was writing the book and not the content. It was embarrassing for me as reader that this book was actually cleared for publication. It read like juvenile diary entries in some places which I feel wasn't what she was going for. It amazed me that Audrina spoke so much about getting used and for some reason I feel like she was taken advantage of with this book deal and it's publication.
Honestly, I wouldn't go into this book expecting to learn much about The Hills. There is about 50 pages of that content and then the rest of the book focuses on Audrina's relationships with exes. I'm guessing that writing this book was cathartic for her, but I can tell that she truly didn't have enough to say to write a full length novel. I applaud her for taking on the task of being a single mom with so much positivity and courage. I'm there right now; however, this book was a complete disaster. Writing isn't meant for everyone....more
Every year I come across a stand out non-fiction title that I think everyone should read. This year Half American: The Epic Story of African AmericansEvery year I come across a stand out non-fiction title that I think everyone should read. This year Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad takes that place this year.
Over the years I've become such a fan of non-fiction. It was intimidating at first, but I realized when I stuck to topics that interested me it began to feel more accessible. Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Aboard details the struggle that Black Americans faced during World War II. "Double Victory" was the desire to not only defend America abroad but to also obtain rights for the Black community on American soil. With so many people desiring to remove certain parts of history from secondary education, it's so important that these parts of history and still shared.
What was so amazing about this book was not only the information shared, but also the level of accessibility. The book is told in short biographical chapters that don't feel dense or like information overload. Delmont focuses on presenting the facts and how military decisions impacted the Black community. It never ceases to amaze me that to this day, America will attempt to hide the racist actions it partook in while attempting to "free the world" of oppressive ideals which they considered to be communism. It infuriates me to recognize and acknowledge the hypocrisy this country used to justify fighting a war, but treating it's Black citizens like trash. Even though there was some knowledge that I was aware of like the term "double victory" there were other aspects of this history that I was unaware of like the actual protocol that the US military used to keep Black soldiers out of their ranks.
This isn't an easy read. I would not go into it expecting not to feel some level of anger and frustration, but it is worth every feeling, every emotion. I learned so much and couldn't wait to share everything with my own family and friends. Definitely pick this one up if you have the chance....more
This is going to be an interesting review for me because I know how much people have adored this book. It's taken some time for me to get my thoughts This is going to be an interesting review for me because I know how much people have adored this book. It's taken some time for me to get my thoughts together and really figure out what I wanted to say. I will not be rating this book because I don't necessarily feel like it's my place to give this a star rating especially since it is McCurdy's experience and it isn't a five-star review from me. Please note that this book has a lot of content warnings including sexual abuse, emotional abuse, gas lighting, r-slur, ableism, and eating disorders.
I'm Glad My Mom Died has been getting all of the media attention prior to and during its release. With such a catchy title and such a prominent figure from the Nickelodeon show ICarly, it's no surprise that people were going to gravitate towards this book. McCurdy explores her experience dealing with a toxic, abusive, narcissist mother who thrust her into a career in which she had no interest. The book is often hard to read as McCurdy goes into dark details that she experienced at the hands of her mother and the industry. This abuse had long lasting effects that continued to impact the star long after her mother's passing. What I enjoyed, and I use that word lightly, the most about this memoir was McCurdy's reiteration that motherhood in itself is not deserving of a pedestal or award. The act of birthing a child is not the equivalent of being a good mother or even an adequate mother. There is so much work that goes into it and doing the basics of taking care of and nurturing a child does not warrant the receiving of a gold star. McCurdy admired her mother and unfortunately suffered at the hands of someone who was supposed to care for, love her, and build her up. Instead she was broken down and given an altered, toxic perspective of herself that ultimately continues to impact her to this day. I admire and respect McCurdy for letting readers into such a personal, heart wrenching lived experience.
With that being said, I don't feel as though I'm Glad My Mom Died is the best written celebrity memoir out there. Please keep in mind that I'm not criticizing her experience, but the actual structure and cohesiveness of the story. I've read quite a few celebrity memoirs this year alone and have come across several that were better written than this. It has made me question the hype surrounding this title as opposed to other memoirs and I can't help but to think that the title, the popularity surrounding ICarly, and the actual person telling the story play a role into it. McCurdy is not the first celebrity that has shared the extreme abuse suffered at the hands of parental figures and Hollywood, and unfortunately she won't be the last as many become more comfortable sharing their stories. This doesn't mean that McCurdy should not get all the praise in the world for having the courage to share such a traumatic personal experience. I can't begin to imagine how much it took to have to relieve those traumatic experiences over and over again to get her thoughts down on paper. Nevertheless, I won't treat it as if it's the best memoir that I've encountered. As a reader and reviewer, I tend to look at a book from a variety of angles and the structure of this narrative didn't always work for me. It was clinical in some ways which definitely could have been a result of McCurdy attempting to distance herself from her trauma, but I felt it took away from the emotional impact some readers may have been anticipating.
Overall, I think that this book will continue to gain traction amongst readers and may even have a certain appeal to those that don't typically read non-fiction. I hope that this writing experience was cathartic for McCurdy and that eventually she finds the peace that she so desperately needed all this time....more
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