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emmaraeempowered's reviews
373 reviews
Grandmothers, Our Grandmothers: Remembering the Comfort Women of World War II by Han Seong-won
5.0
I must be honest here, before this graphic novel I really didn't know about the "comfort women" of WWII. I could recall reading a post or so but when I saw this in the library I immediately checked it out.
In this graphic novel each grandmothers story is told in an incredible way as well as updating where they are currently. Some have passed away, and some are still fighting to receive an actual apology from Japan. In reading this in 2024 I felt frozen as I thought of all the war and genocide happening in the world right now, all the sexual violence that is being committed against women and children. These grandmothers are determined to use their voices to stop this treatment that is happening all over the world. If you are like me and did not know about who the "comfort women" are/were I urge you to pick this up and of course educate yourself further.
In this graphic novel each grandmothers story is told in an incredible way as well as updating where they are currently. Some have passed away, and some are still fighting to receive an actual apology from Japan. In reading this in 2024 I felt frozen as I thought of all the war and genocide happening in the world right now, all the sexual violence that is being committed against women and children. These grandmothers are determined to use their voices to stop this treatment that is happening all over the world. If you are like me and did not know about who the "comfort women" are/were I urge you to pick this up and of course educate yourself further.
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
4.0
The Arrival was an incredible work of art. This graphic novel has no words but as the old saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words". The Arrival accomplishes this beautifully! The artwork is so stunning! There are so many details within each image. I found myself starring at pages for a long time and then finally turning the page to progress the story.
As an adult reading this I found this an incredible story of immigrating to a new country and how terrifying that is and overwhelming. I also loved the sense of community that they depicted.
I going to have to go purchase my own copy because I want to continue looking at the artwork and this was a library copy.
As an adult reading this I found this an incredible story of immigrating to a new country and how terrifying that is and overwhelming. I also loved the sense of community that they depicted.
I going to have to go purchase my own copy because I want to continue looking at the artwork and this was a library copy.
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
The Bandit Queens closely follows Geeta whose husband strangely disappeared a few years ago. Everyone in her village believes she killed him and she is shunned. Everyone is fearful of her so she keeps to herself and focuses on her jewelry making business. She interacts with a group of women in her loan group and that's about all the socializing she does.
Until-one of the women in her group, Farah, comes to her asking her to "remove her nose ring" just as Geeta has removed hers. (Meaning kill her husband the way Geeta killed hers) Geeta not wanting to let it out that she didn't actually kill him he just up and left one day agrees.
This story opens a door into abusive relationships and the way society can tell women to just be grateful and grin and bear it. The ways some women are overwhelmed with having to be a mother when they didn't want to ever be a mother, each of them whenever they express being tired or over it they have to perk up and express the "joys of mother hood! what a blessing!".
Geeta learns more about the women in her village as well as the men. She uncovers a lot of dark happenings within the town and even learns some secrets that were purposely kept from her.
Very heavy content warning for sexual assault. It is on page as well as talked about consistently.
By the middle of the book I started having a little bit of an issue personally with the pace of the book. I felt rushed and yet like things were dragging on. All of these things were important for the ending of the book, which I had suspected. I still enjoyed this book but figured I would mention it.
This is a hard book to read as it really shows different ways abuse shows up in relationships as well as how others around can also see it. It also talked a lot about the caste systems in India which I didn't really know much about. That plays a heavy part throughout this story and the interactions between characters.
While heavy topics are discussed in this book there was also a good amount of comedic relief. Geeta's sense of humor was enjoyable and the way she and her ex best friend would bicker back and forth was a welcomed release of tension.
Until-one of the women in her group, Farah, comes to her asking her to "remove her nose ring" just as Geeta has removed hers. (Meaning kill her husband the way Geeta killed hers) Geeta not wanting to let it out that she didn't actually kill him he just up and left one day agrees.
This story opens a door into abusive relationships and the way society can tell women to just be grateful and grin and bear it. The ways some women are overwhelmed with having to be a mother when they didn't want to ever be a mother, each of them whenever they express being tired or over it they have to perk up and express the "joys of mother hood! what a blessing!".
Geeta learns more about the women in her village as well as the men. She uncovers a lot of dark happenings within the town and even learns some secrets that were purposely kept from her.
Very heavy content warning for sexual assault. It is on page as well as talked about consistently.
By the middle of the book I started having a little bit of an issue personally with the pace of the book. I felt rushed and yet like things were dragging on. All of these things were important for the ending of the book, which I had suspected. I still enjoyed this book but figured I would mention it.
This is a hard book to read as it really shows different ways abuse shows up in relationships as well as how others around can also see it. It also talked a lot about the caste systems in India which I didn't really know much about. That plays a heavy part throughout this story and the interactions between characters.
While heavy topics are discussed in this book there was also a good amount of comedic relief. Geeta's sense of humor was enjoyable and the way she and her ex best friend would bicker back and forth was a welcomed release of tension.
New Suns 2: More Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color by Nisi Shawl
4.75
Volume 2 of New Suns was an incredible collection of speculative fiction stories! I truly loved the range of stories with in this grouping and loved the order. I don't know how these editors of short story collections do it, but Nisi Shawl did it!
I'll just speak on some of my favorite stories in this collection (although that's difficult because I enjoyed all of these stories!).
Before The Glory of their Majesties is a story that appears to be a rough draft as the author interrupts the story themselves explaining the ways they are changing things. Why are they doing this? Well, because when getting the idea for the story and writing it they began to realize how disabled peoples are always depicted as evil villains' within stories. The author goes on to explain how once they realized this they immediately began changing the story. The story focusing on conjoined twins who find themselves as the rulers of the throne. He changes the story of them being feared to being loved and honored rulers battling against other rulers.
Lastly, Home is Where the Heart is! This story immediately strikes out as a favorite for me. Main character Yoko wakes up one morning to discover her heart had turned into a rotten quince hanging from a branch in her mother's garden. She asks for it back only for her mother to tell her to go talk to her grandmother who is in the house. I won't go into too much detail because what unfolds in this story was striking and so imaginative I loved it!
This collection made me want to explore all these authors further and read more of their works.
I'll just speak on some of my favorite stories in this collection (although that's difficult because I enjoyed all of these stories!).
Before The Glory of their Majesties is a story that appears to be a rough draft as the author interrupts the story themselves explaining the ways they are changing things. Why are they doing this? Well, because when getting the idea for the story and writing it they began to realize how disabled peoples are always depicted as evil villains' within stories. The author goes on to explain how once they realized this they immediately began changing the story. The story focusing on conjoined twins who find themselves as the rulers of the throne. He changes the story of them being feared to being loved and honored rulers battling against other rulers.
Lastly, Home is Where the Heart is! This story immediately strikes out as a favorite for me. Main character Yoko wakes up one morning to discover her heart had turned into a rotten quince hanging from a branch in her mother's garden. She asks for it back only for her mother to tell her to go talk to her grandmother who is in the house. I won't go into too much detail because what unfolds in this story was striking and so imaginative I loved it!
This collection made me want to explore all these authors further and read more of their works.
In Pursuit of Flavor: The Beloved Classic Cookbook from the Acclaimed Author of the Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis
4.0
I love a good cookbook! And this right here, is a good cookbook!
I don't know a lot of traditional southern dishes, I know a few but not a lot and unfortunately not passed down family recipes. So when I saw this at the library my curiosity was peaked!
Now, I'm vegan so there are a lot of recipes in here that I will never cook, but there are still some I am excited to try out! While reading some grits recipes I realized it has been over 10 years since I've had grits lol. So I picked some up and happily made some to enjoy.
I really liked how she talked about going to local farmers markets for veggies and how they taste better and you can learn about other varieties as well. There was also a small part, about a page, where she discussed using the refrigerator too much. This made me intrigued because this is something my grandmother has told me before. It's an interesting discussion to have.
I don't know a lot of traditional southern dishes, I know a few but not a lot and unfortunately not passed down family recipes. So when I saw this at the library my curiosity was peaked!
Now, I'm vegan so there are a lot of recipes in here that I will never cook, but there are still some I am excited to try out! While reading some grits recipes I realized it has been over 10 years since I've had grits lol. So I picked some up and happily made some to enjoy.
I really liked how she talked about going to local farmers markets for veggies and how they taste better and you can learn about other varieties as well. There was also a small part, about a page, where she discussed using the refrigerator too much. This made me intrigued because this is something my grandmother has told me before. It's an interesting discussion to have.
Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
This book consists of the interconnected stories of Palestinian American families living in Baltimore. As time progresses so do the characters as we are given a peak into their day to day lives.
We get stories from the perspectives of daughters who have so much expectations pushed up against them and what happens when in the eyes of the family they don't meat those expectations.
We get stories from the perspective of sons who feel distant from their families and are trying to have a good life in Baltimore.
We see angry fathers, tired mothers, and family secrets.
This book was beautifully written and organized. While following these characters much time passes. One of the first ones a teenage girl gets pregnant and then later on in the book we are following her little sister but we get to see how her and her son and boyfriend are doing. The son now 17 and applying to colleges.
There was a story of a teenage girl trying to confront her drama class on why they shouldn't do a production of Aladdin. She feels very uncomfortable and doesn't want stereotypes to progress and everyone quickly silences her voice. "But he's going on about being inclusive and how we have to listen to everyone's voice, except he just ignored mine." In a conversation she has with her mother she is expressing how difficult it is to try to convince everyone of her perspective. Her mother then says " "Look," she says, "sometimes people just have to take your word for it. It's like someone is stepping on your toes and not moving off. Do you really have to explain how the pressure is causing you pain?" [...] "you don't have to prove it. Or agonize over how to explain" "
This hit home for sure.
Behind You is the Sea dove into so much I cried often while reading this. Many of the characters talk about going home to Palestine, or older characters talked about being buried back home. Currently Palestine is being tortured by Isr**l. The genocide is still happening and we're all watching it happen. I keep thinking about the Palestinian American people and how they must be feeling right now, I can't even imagine. I feel horrified as I remember seeing posts about passport information being changed so that people cannot put Palestine as their place of birth. I feel angry at the governments and governments across the world who are letting this horror continue, and letting all the horrors continue around the world in the name of greed.
Free Palestine Until It's Backwards Motherfuckers.
We get stories from the perspectives of daughters who have so much expectations pushed up against them and what happens when in the eyes of the family they don't meat those expectations.
We get stories from the perspective of sons who feel distant from their families and are trying to have a good life in Baltimore.
We see angry fathers, tired mothers, and family secrets.
This book was beautifully written and organized. While following these characters much time passes. One of the first ones a teenage girl gets pregnant and then later on in the book we are following her little sister but we get to see how her and her son and boyfriend are doing. The son now 17 and applying to colleges.
There was a story of a teenage girl trying to confront her drama class on why they shouldn't do a production of Aladdin. She feels very uncomfortable and doesn't want stereotypes to progress and everyone quickly silences her voice. "But he's going on about being inclusive and how we have to listen to everyone's voice, except he just ignored mine." In a conversation she has with her mother she is expressing how difficult it is to try to convince everyone of her perspective. Her mother then says " "Look," she says, "sometimes people just have to take your word for it. It's like someone is stepping on your toes and not moving off. Do you really have to explain how the pressure is causing you pain?" [...] "you don't have to prove it. Or agonize over how to explain" "
This hit home for sure.
Behind You is the Sea dove into so much I cried often while reading this. Many of the characters talk about going home to Palestine, or older characters talked about being buried back home. Currently Palestine is being tortured by Isr**l. The genocide is still happening and we're all watching it happen. I keep thinking about the Palestinian American people and how they must be feeling right now, I can't even imagine. I feel horrified as I remember seeing posts about passport information being changed so that people cannot put Palestine as their place of birth. I feel angry at the governments and governments across the world who are letting this horror continue, and letting all the horrors continue around the world in the name of greed.
Free Palestine Until It's Backwards Motherfuckers.
Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisah Teish
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
The way I love this book and will return to it frequently though out my life. As I have been exploring my spirituality and learning more about my family I have been seeking further knowledge and looking into as many books as I can. This one is one that constantly was recommended to me or I would see it in the background of other peoples posts lol you know when you zoom in and try reading the spines on the shelf.
What resonated to me the most in this book is the deep sense to listen to my intuition and learn from my elders. There's been so much in my life that I have doubted or ignored and this book brought these moments up.
One of the parts that I loved and related so strongly to my life was when she was discussing working with her Sisters to preform a meditation, healing ritual, etc...and how these moments have women from many different walks of life and belief joined together in such a beautiful way. She discusses how they honor each others cultures and beliefs. I felt so happy reading this because I have women in my life who we come together to heal or work on something and there are aspects that I bring to the table and aspects they bring to the table. And we do so with honor and grace with each other.
I know this will be one that I reread frequently whether it's a cover to cover reread or just picking up a certain chapter that speaks to me more.
What resonated to me the most in this book is the deep sense to listen to my intuition and learn from my elders. There's been so much in my life that I have doubted or ignored and this book brought these moments up.
One of the parts that I loved and related so strongly to my life was when she was discussing working with her Sisters to preform a meditation, healing ritual, etc...and how these moments have women from many different walks of life and belief joined together in such a beautiful way. She discusses how they honor each others cultures and beliefs. I felt so happy reading this because I have women in my life who we come together to heal or work on something and there are aspects that I bring to the table and aspects they bring to the table. And we do so with honor and grace with each other.
I know this will be one that I reread frequently whether it's a cover to cover reread or just picking up a certain chapter that speaks to me more.