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bashsbooks's reviews
207 reviews
The Porch (As Sanctuary) by Jae Nichelle
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Nichelle is an incredible poet.
I read and thoroughly enjoyed God Themselves, so imagine my joy when I received The Porch (As Sanctuary) as a birthday gift. This is Nichelle's first chapbook, and it does show - I can see how they've grown into their voice between this collection and God Themselves. Some of the poems are a bit heavy-handed and could be further refined. But damn, if it isn't a great debut. I doubt I could make a better first chapbook.
Favorite poems: "The First Porch I Pass," "Things I Do Not Say To God," "The Porch (As Hair Salon)," "Is Woken Up At 6AM On Saturday Because I 'Left All Them Damn Dishes In The Sink'," "Why We Only Had A Family Reunion Once," and "A Letter To Mrs. Butterworth".
(Also the cover is even more striking and gorgeous in person!)
I read and thoroughly enjoyed God Themselves, so imagine my joy when I received The Porch (As Sanctuary) as a birthday gift. This is Nichelle's first chapbook, and it does show - I can see how they've grown into their voice between this collection and God Themselves. Some of the poems are a bit heavy-handed and could be further refined. But damn, if it isn't a great debut. I doubt I could make a better first chapbook.
Favorite poems: "The First Porch I Pass," "Things I Do Not Say To God," "The Porch (As Hair Salon)," "Is Woken Up At 6AM On Saturday Because I 'Left All Them Damn Dishes In The Sink'," "Why We Only Had A Family Reunion Once," and "A Letter To Mrs. Butterworth".
(Also the cover is even more striking and gorgeous in person!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Cursing and Infidelity
-Police apathy
You Will Not Have My Hate by Sam Taylor, Antoine Leiris
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
You Will Not Have My Hate is a poetic reflection on a violent, sudden, and tragic loss. Leiris invites the reader in to his world (and his son's) after losing beloved wife and mother Hélène to the November 2013 terrorist attacks. Leiris has such a fine and visceral way of describing grief, of showing how he felt it so acutely. I was most taken by the part where he asks if he will have the right to be a complex and nuanced person after this tragedy and the subsequent popularity of his Facebook post addressed to the culprits.
If I had one criticism, it would be that at times, Leiris seems to refer to his wife as if she were a lost possession of his and Melvil, or to suggest that his grief was somehow greater than that of her other close loved ones, like her mother. I don't know if that's a translation thing or what. But it struck me as awkward, and it happened more than once.
If I had one criticism, it would be that at times, Leiris seems to refer to his wife as if she were a lost possession of his and Melvil, or to suggest that his grief was somehow greater than that of her other close loved ones, like her mother. I don't know if that's a translation thing or what. But it struck me as awkward, and it happened more than once.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Mass/school shootings
-Terrorism
Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots?: Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification, and the Desire to Conform by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
What makes a good essay collection? I think it starts with clarity of theme, and I don't only mean on the curation side of things. Something I really like about Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots? is that Sycamore (editor) opens the collection with an introduction that clearly conveys to readers its purpose and why all these essays are together in one place. Bonus points for the thematic string being broad and complex enough to produce a number of thoughtful and creatively-distinct pieces.
This thematic string is, of course, how inter-queer relationships are often hateful, violent, and/or shame-riddled, despite our supposedly shared community and struggle. I resonated with some pieces more than others, but overall, they gave me quite a bit to think about regarding respectability politics and equality goals (not that important), rooting out ableism, transphobia, and racism within the community (extremely important), and having lots of weird sex (critical).
My favorite essays were: Death by Masculinity (Ali Abbas), Penis Is Important For That (Nick Clarkson), Straightening the Shawl (Ezra RedEagle Whitman), It Gets Better? (Matthew D. Blanchard), Generations (Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore), Cell Block 6 (Mishael Burrows), Something Resembling Power (Kristen Stoeckeler), and Rich Man's War, Poor (Gay) Man's Fight (Larry Goldsmith).
This thematic string is, of course, how inter-queer relationships are often hateful, violent, and/or shame-riddled, despite our supposedly shared community and struggle. I resonated with some pieces more than others, but overall, they gave me quite a bit to think about regarding respectability politics and equality goals (not that important), rooting out ableism, transphobia, and racism within the community (extremely important), and having lots of weird sex (critical).
My favorite essays were: Death by Masculinity (Ali Abbas), Penis Is Important For That (Nick Clarkson), Straightening the Shawl (Ezra RedEagle Whitman), It Gets Better? (Matthew D. Blanchard), Generations (Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore), Cell Block 6 (Mishael Burrows), Something Resembling Power (Kristen Stoeckeler), and Rich Man's War, Poor (Gay) Man's Fight (Larry Goldsmith).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Medical content and War
Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Liliana's Invincible Summer is as captivating as it is heartbreaking. When the Mexican justice system fails to produce the file pertaining to Liliana's murder - let alone bring her killer to justice - Rivera Garza uncovers her long-dead sister's voice through letters, notes, journals, and testimonies of friends and family. The two sisters' voices become braided together in the process, speaking in a complicated tangle of love and grief. I constantly thought of my own sister, who is barely older than Liliana was, while I read this, and several times, I had to stop to cry. It's a haunting account of how intimate partner violence escalates, and how the signs are often missed by a society misogynistic and desperate to blame the victim. It surpasses Rivera Garza's goal, which was to recreate the missing file, by far - the detail and care put into this book is beyond what a coldly professional report could muster, of that I'm certain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Abortion
Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Excrement, and Toxic friendship
-Death of sibling
-Implications of necrophilia
Transgenesis by Ava Nathaniel Winter
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Transgenesis is a gripping and captivating poetry book. It's difficult to write about the kind of subject matter that Winter does - antisemitism, the Holocaust, transmisogyny - without getting overly morose. But Winter has the skill and the precision to hit right at the heart of this issues, strike the emotional chord, and let it sing without wallowing. And her notes provide important context, but they're not explaining the poems themselves. Can't wait to read more from her in the future.
As usual, a list of my favorite poems from the collection: Puławy, Lucky Jew, WWII German SS Division Soup Spoon "800 Silver" $250, Hitler Youth Dagger RZM M7/13 $550 FIRM, A Brass Band Heralds the Institute's Destruction, and To a Jazz Singer.
As usual, a list of my favorite poems from the collection: Puławy, Lucky Jew, WWII German SS Division Soup Spoon "800 Silver" $250, Hitler Youth Dagger RZM M7/13 $550 FIRM, A Brass Band Heralds the Institute's Destruction, and To a Jazz Singer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Transphobia, and War
Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Agnes Grey is a fine book. It's not exceptional, it's not the worst, it's just fine. There are lots of things I enjoyed about it - a real strength of Brontë's, for example, is her descriptive prowess. I especially loved the description of the walk on the beach at the end, right before she reunites with her beau and dog. But Agnes is a fairly boring narrator. There's not much of interest a good clergyman's daughter can bring to a story, and her supreme judginess toward everyone else gets tiresome quickly. Like yeah, yeah, we get it, rich people are assholes. What else is new? It's a little funny how manners keep her from being anywhere near direct about this to the Murrays, but not funny enough hinge an entire novel on.
When I was about halfway through Agnes Grey, I commented to my partner that I felt bad for Anne Brontë that Agnes Grey was originally published as the third of a three-volume set, with the first two volumes being her sister's Wuthering Heights. I read the two back-to-back in that same order, and I think I would've thought Agnes Grey better without the comparison.
When I was about halfway through Agnes Grey, I commented to my partner that I felt bad for Anne Brontë that Agnes Grey was originally published as the third of a three-volume set, with the first two volumes being her sister's Wuthering Heights. I read the two back-to-back in that same order, and I think I would've thought Agnes Grey better without the comparison.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Chronic illness, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work by Melissa Gira Grant
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Okay, first of all, I adore this style of book. I think everyone should be able to publish a short quick-and-dirty on whatever niche topic they know a lot about. I'm pleased to see the Inklings are not the only version of this (nor are they apparently anywhere near the originators!).
Onto the review of this specific book: Playing the Whore is only ten chapters long, and each chapter focuses on a different angle through which sex work is perceived, policed, and (mis)understood. That is a lot of information to cover in such a short book, and so I would say my biggest "critique" (if it could be even called that) is that I wanted to know more. I will be looking Grant up and reading more of her writing later to rectify this. Otherwise, I think this is a really good introduction to sex work as a political movement and also as a job, with the same complexities, boring realities, annoying customers, etc. as any other job. It also does a really good job in laying out the intersections between sex work movements and labor, health, gender, and queer movements.
I felt like it was really accessible for someone who is pretty ignorant of the specifics on sex work but is familiar with other sociopolitical movements (read: me) - I remember telling someone while reading it that it really held my hand without coddling me, which is something I always appreciate from this kind of introduction.
Onto the review of this specific book: Playing the Whore is only ten chapters long, and each chapter focuses on a different angle through which sex work is perceived, policed, and (mis)understood. That is a lot of information to cover in such a short book, and so I would say my biggest "critique" (if it could be even called that) is that I wanted to know more. I will be looking Grant up and reading more of her writing later to rectify this. Otherwise, I think this is a really good introduction to sex work as a political movement and also as a job, with the same complexities, boring realities, annoying customers, etc. as any other job. It also does a really good job in laying out the intersections between sex work movements and labor, health, gender, and queer movements.
I felt like it was really accessible for someone who is pretty ignorant of the specifics on sex work but is familiar with other sociopolitical movements (read: me) - I remember telling someone while reading it that it really held my hand without coddling me, which is something I always appreciate from this kind of introduction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Police brutality
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, and Trafficking
-Whorephobia
-Saviorism
Many of the tagged content warnings (except the graphic ones) are talked about in the context of misconceptions, exaggerations, or unnuanced engagement with sex work done by anti-sex work individuals or parties.
A note about the murder warning specifically: there is a part where the author quotes a serial killer talking about why he targeted sex workers.
Healthy Chest Binding for Trans and Non-Binary People - A Practical Guide Book by Frances Reed LMT
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Healthy Chest-Binding for Trans and Non-Binary People is a lifesaver. Literally. As someone who has tried to bind in the past and found it uncomfortable and unsustainable, this book is the first thing I've read that offers both answers as to why that happened (a too-small binder, an anxiety disorder, and acid reflux) AND ways to reduce or mitigate my issues for future binding endeavors.
It's also incredibly inclusive and understanding of how vital binding is - all the recommended medical advice comes with the important caveat that it's okay if you can't stop binding. It's a truly thoughtful application of harm-reduction principles - and it has a whole section to help the read convey this vitality to healthcare providers. The inclusivity extends to the list of conditions that may alter the binding experience, and it's present in the variety of people who demonstrate the exercises in the last portion of the book. And speaking of the exercises, WOW! Reed is a massage therapist with years of experience helping people who bind, and this treasure-trove of suggested exercises shows it.
It's also laid out in an extremely clear and logical manner, complete with two indexes (one for the exercises, listed by symptom, and one general) so that it doesn't need to be read cover-to-cover.
Rarely do I finish a book and think that I need my own copy, but this is one I want on-hand for my reference, first to guide me through picking out a new binder, and then to maintain my physical health while wearing it.
It's also incredibly inclusive and understanding of how vital binding is - all the recommended medical advice comes with the important caveat that it's okay if you can't stop binding. It's a truly thoughtful application of harm-reduction principles - and it has a whole section to help the read convey this vitality to healthcare providers. The inclusivity extends to the list of conditions that may alter the binding experience, and it's present in the variety of people who demonstrate the exercises in the last portion of the book. And speaking of the exercises, WOW! Reed is a massage therapist with years of experience helping people who bind, and this treasure-trove of suggested exercises shows it.
It's also laid out in an extremely clear and logical manner, complete with two indexes (one for the exercises, listed by symptom, and one general) so that it doesn't need to be read cover-to-cover.
Rarely do I finish a book and think that I need my own copy, but this is one I want on-hand for my reference, first to guide me through picking out a new binder, and then to maintain my physical health while wearing it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Transphobia and Dysphoria
All of these triggers are discussed purely in a medical context with the goal of minimizing their happening.
Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
Didn't jive with the writting style overmuch. Probably would've finished it if I didn't have so many other books on my plate, but as it is, I doubt I'll circle back to it.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Writing reviews for classics that I like is never easy - I always feel immense pressure to say something profound and original about a work that 1) I enjoyed and 2) so did everyone else. Of course, the trouble with such a well-liked book is that everything profound and original about it has already been said, more or less.
So let me say some basic and trite (but none the less true to how I feel) things about Wuthering Heights.
First and foremost, Brontë's toxic, passionate speeches from Heathcliff and Catherine (Sr.) about each other fuck severely. Catherine's "Nelly, I am Heathcliff" confession? Healthcliff's proclamation about the depth of Catherine's affection for him compared to Linton? The "You say I killed you - haunt me, then!" argument? All bangers. Go off, you absolute maniacs.
Secondly, and speaking of the haunting by Catherine of Heathcliff, the thread of her ghost trying to get into Wuthering Heights throughout the tale is sewn into the story with just enough detail to be compelling without being overwrought - from the early scene Lockhood witnesses all the way to Heathcliff's death under the open window. I especially like the lack of concrete proof of the ghost and the skepticism of the storytellers themselves.
And now, thirdly, the storytellers and the frame story in general have been fun to turn over in my head. From the beginning, I wondered, why are Lockwood and Nelly our narrators? I think there are dozens of valid answers to this question. Two of my favorites includeto create distance from the narrative to drop details & increase unreliability and to provide perspectives closer to the intended readers. I'm especially obsessed with Nelly Dean and the constant interjections of her opinions into her retelling.
Something specific to the audiobook version that I listened to - the Spotify version read by Billie Fulford-Brown - is that it was read fantastically. Fulford-Brown clearly had a great handle on the text, reading all the dialogue with accurate emotion. She also gave the characters distinct voices without being over-the-top. Her performance made Brontë's mid-19th century prose much more accessible.
Anyway. There's a lot more I could say about Wuthering Heights - for example, Brontë's descriptions of the moors are a masterclass in thematic use of setting - but I'll cut myself off here, lest I write a whole paper. Let me end by saying it's fucked up that Kate Bush managed to successfully summarize and convey the main storyline of such a complex book in a 4.5-minute song after only watching the last ten minutes of a movie adaptation.
So let me say some basic and trite (but none the less true to how I feel) things about Wuthering Heights.
First and foremost, Brontë's toxic, passionate speeches from Heathcliff and Catherine (Sr.) about each other fuck severely. Catherine's "Nelly, I am Heathcliff" confession? Healthcliff's proclamation about the depth of Catherine's affection for him compared to Linton? The "You say I killed you - haunt me, then!" argument? All bangers. Go off, you absolute maniacs.
Secondly, and speaking of the haunting by Catherine of Heathcliff, the thread of her ghost trying to get into Wuthering Heights throughout the tale is sewn into the story with just enough detail to be compelling without being overwrought - from the early scene Lockhood witnesses all the way to Heathcliff's death under the open window. I especially like the lack of concrete proof of the ghost and the skepticism of the storytellers themselves.
And now, thirdly, the storytellers and the frame story in general have been fun to turn over in my head. From the beginning, I wondered, why are Lockwood and Nelly our narrators? I think there are dozens of valid answers to this question. Two of my favorites includeto create distance from the narrative to drop details & increase unreliability and to provide perspectives closer to the intended readers. I'm especially obsessed with Nelly Dean and the constant interjections of her opinions into her retelling.
Something specific to the audiobook version that I listened to - the Spotify version read by Billie Fulford-Brown - is that it was read fantastically. Fulford-Brown clearly had a great handle on the text, reading all the dialogue with accurate emotion. She also gave the characters distinct voices without being over-the-top. Her performance made Brontë's mid-19th century prose much more accessible.
Anyway. There's a lot more I could say about Wuthering Heights - for example, Brontë's descriptions of the moors are a masterclass in thematic use of setting - but I'll cut myself off here, lest I write a whole paper. Let me end by saying it's fucked up that Kate Bush managed to successfully summarize and convey the main storyline of such a complex book in a 4.5-minute song after only watching the last ten minutes of a movie adaptation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Cursing, Racism, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Racial slurs, and Kidnapping
-Various illnesses are described in detail (some fatal and some not).