Rebecca Crunden's Blog, page 64
June 7, 2020
Mini Review Roundup [07/06]
I am playing let’s-read-all-the-books-at-once, apparently, and keep picking up and putting down really great books that I’m just not in the right mood for, but one that I devoured this week is The Poet X. I wholeheartedly recommend it! The story follows Xiomara Batista, a budding poet stifled by her super religious family and is told in verse.
‘This is where the poems are,’ I say, thumping a fist against my chest. ‘Will you burn me? Will you burn me, too? You would burn me, wouldn’t you, ...
June 4, 2020
(Audio)Book Review: Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
Days Without End by Sebastian Barry, narrated by Aidan Kelly [lgbt+, historical fiction]
that strange love between us. Like when you fumblin’ about in the darkness and you light a lamp, and the light comes up and rescues things. Objects in a room and the face of the man who seem a dug-up treasure to you. John Cole seems a food; bread of Earth. The lamplight touching his eyes and another light answering.
5 HEARTS-IN-MY-EYES STARS for Thomas McNulty, Handsome John Cole, little Winona, an...
June 3, 2020
ARC review to come: Hush by Dylan Farrow
I got an ARC copy of Hush today (I AM STILL SHOOK) and I’m so. freaking. stoked. I have been looking forward to this book for months. MONTHS. I’m so grateful to the publishers for sending me a copy!
CAN’T. WAIT.
(Audio)Book Review: The Last Romeo [2018]
The Last Romeo by Justin Myers, narrated by Joe Jameson [lgbt+, contemporary, comedy]
‘If only men knew how charming, how attractive it is to admit fault. To say they fudged it, to confess they don’t know something, to be willing to learn. It’s hot. Refreshing. […] It is all powerful. But men must come to this conclusion themselves. They can’t be told. They don’t like to be told.’
The Last Romeo is an utterly charming novel! It follows James on his quest to find love and the problems ...
June 2, 2020
{signal boost} The Torture Letters: Reckoning with Police Violence (2020) | free download!
!!! FREE FOR A WEEK !!!
The author posted on Twitter that his book is free for the next week, and what a fine time to add this one to your library. Go to Chicago University Press to get it. | Goodreads to add.
‘Between 1972 and 1991, approximately 125 African American suspects were tortured by police officers in Chicago. […] Beyond these verified instances, in 2003 journalists documented other episodes of torture before and after these dates, and elsewhere in the city, placing the tota...
Films, Poems and Currently Reading Roundup and Review Post [02/06]
JONAS (2018) | lgbt+, french, drama
Jonas [aka I Am Jonas] is a gut-punching, haunting addition to lgbt+ films. The film follows the eponymous main character Jonas after he’s arrested on night out at a club, Boys. One of the police officers knows him from school and they reminisce for a little while in the back of the car. The film then begins flashing from the past to the present and we learn how Jonas ended up so angry and adrift. We see Jonas as a teenager meeting Nathan, a new boy in ...
June 1, 2020
Poetry Roundup & Mini Reviews [01/06]
I’m definitely on a poetry kick. There are some seriously wonderful poems published by Uncanny! I do find there’s not enough poetry these days. Which is such a shame. Poetry’s so fantastic. #poetrystan
In this issue, I’ve so far read ‘Steeped in Stars’ by Hal Y. Zhang, which was beautiful. Some great turns of phrase!
but the ghost
of the old stone wall still
streams your meteor shower
Read it for yourself here.
Jennifer Crow’s ‘Red Berries’ was also won...
May 30, 2020
Mini Review Roundup [30/05]
I’ve been having trouble with longer fiction novels of late. Being elbow deep in study definitely affects that, as I went through quite a bit non-fiction this week. I do really love reading old newspapers and archives, but I am missing fiction! I combed through two memoirs, this week, though. Both are from the Korean War.
I am really enjoying Days Without End on Audiobook. And Humankind, which is so darn optimistic and upbeat. I totally recommend it given what I’ve listened to so far. Br...
May 27, 2020
Currently Reading [27/05]
Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman [nonfiction, philosophy, history] I’m a huge fan of Bregman’s talks and I’ve been meaning to get into his books for a while now. His recent story on the real Lord of the Flies was just wonderful, too. Really looking forward to this one.
Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky [dystopian, science fiction] This is one BIG book! I’m really enjoying the audiobook, but it is 23 hours (!), so it’s gonna take me a while. The descriptions are great so fa...
Review Roundup [27/05]
A Small Revolution in Germany by Philip Hensher, narrated by Neville Watchurst [review cross-posted to Goodreads]
Sometimes, as humans, we decide without consultation what would be best for people.
It made for a nice listen and the narrator was quite good. Spike was interesting character and his relationship with Joaquin is explored well. The political conversations and musings are thought-provoking, and Hensher certainly knows how to write witty dialogue. I’m just not sure what my...
