This took me by surprise a little! Extremely readable (one of those, all in one sitting kinda books) - a mix of music, magic and teenage friendships. This took me by surprise a little! Extremely readable (one of those, all in one sitting kinda books) - a mix of music, magic and teenage friendships. Set mostly in Mexico City in the 80s with fantastic (if at times frustratingly real) characters....more
I only just heard of this book shortly before picking it up, and the descriptions had all the right terms to pique my interest - a feminist, pacifist I only just heard of this book shortly before picking it up, and the descriptions had all the right terms to pique my interest - a feminist, pacifist and ecological society, plays with gender norms and expectations, etc. In reality, the world was a little harder to get into than I expected, but the level of scientific detail was incredible. I think if I’d read it a little slower I might have been able to follow more of the world building, so that’s more on me than on the book! But I really liked it on the whole. ...more
This was one of the books that got me out of a reading rut - it’s so easy to read, fast moving and a tad cheesy at times, but it did its job and got mThis was one of the books that got me out of a reading rut - it’s so easy to read, fast moving and a tad cheesy at times, but it did its job and got me back in a groove!...more
My first foray into 'chick lit', I think! I was in a bit of a reading rut when a friend suggested this - it's a Pakistani retelling of Pride and PrejuMy first foray into 'chick lit', I think! I was in a bit of a reading rut when a friend suggested this - it's a Pakistani retelling of Pride and Prejudice, so it's both familiar and also brings new cultural elements to keep things interesting. I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would, and it's just what I needed to get myself out of the rut - lighthearted, entertaining, interesting and introduced me to new aspects of Pakistani culture too. ...more
I can imagine that stylistically, this book reads much more fluidly in Spanish than in English - where you don’t have to use pronouns so often. The boI can imagine that stylistically, this book reads much more fluidly in Spanish than in English - where you don’t have to use pronouns so often. The book is written without names for characters, very rarely in the first person, and almost entirely in the third, with different and interchanging labels used for the different characters depending on their identity/role (“the mother”, “the firstborn daughter” etc) - which makes for an interesting reflection on identities and how they merge and change throughout the novel, but also requires some concentration to ensure that you’re following who “she” is. It’s an ambitious novel and one that explored a side of civil war/its aftermath that I don’t often see - the perspective of the everywoman. If you read Spanish, I’d recommend reading the original - otherwise, this is great but requires a bit of concentration, so probably not one to pick up and put down over longer periods of time! ...more
I’m slightly conflicted with this book - it was a sweeping and compelling set of interlinked tales of different members of a fami[CW: sexual violence]
I’m slightly conflicted with this book - it was a sweeping and compelling set of interlinked tales of different members of a family, deeply researched and with so much historical detail - all of which I loved and learned a lot from. I’ve thought and read a lot about white colonisation of Africa, but far less so about the spread of Islam across the continent - this provided a good counterpoint. My conflict comes in how the book depicted sexual violence in incredibly casual ways, sometimes explicitly describing it as rape but often not, sometimes almost excusing it or justifying it even from the perspective of the survivor of the violence. While a degree of this can be allocated to (I presume!) the author attempting to replicate the attitudes of men in the late 18th century, those parts still felt deeply uncomfortable to read....more
I love that this exists, and wanted to really, really love it as a book - in reality though, I found it a little hard to get into given how much the sI love that this exists, and wanted to really, really love it as a book - in reality though, I found it a little hard to get into given how much the stories/essays/poems in the book jump around between non-fiction, fiction, personal essays, etc. I really appreciated that just 'being Muslim' wasn't a huge part of many of these books (which would've felt a little tokenising/on the nose)- instead, the themes covered were much broader, and created space that I rarely see in other places. Generally, really appreciate that this anthology is out there, even though it wasn't my favourite! ...more
What a treat!!!! I was almost annoyed it was over when I finished, I enjoyed reading this so much. I can only wholeheartedly recommend it - I loved HoWhat a treat!!!! I was almost annoyed it was over when I finished, I enjoyed reading this so much. I can only wholeheartedly recommend it - I loved Homegoing by the same author, and this is entirely different but still truly wonderful. Perhaps my favourite book this year (so far!) ...more
Just as good as I was hoping for! I read the first two of the trilogy a few weeks ago and was already sad I had to wait for the third – totally worth Just as good as I was hoping for! I read the first two of the trilogy a few weeks ago and was already sad I had to wait for the third – totally worth the wait of course. Unlike some trilogies or series, it didn’t feel at all like the author ran out of ideas or was scrambling at all - instead, lots of wrapped up endings, a really full (but not too full) plot and wonderful character development too. Highly recommended if you’re looking for some out-of-this-world fantasy (with, happily, non-western cultural references) - start with the first one in the trilogy though! ...more
Not at all what I was expecting, but such a great book about books and magic and loss. It helped that I’d read a lot of the books that were mentioned Not at all what I was expecting, but such a great book about books and magic and loss. It helped that I’d read a lot of the books that were mentioned here (and I wonder if people who hadn’t would enjoy it so much) – in a way, it felt wonderfully indulgent to read the thoughts of someone who liked so many of the same books as me, and where reading was such a key theme throughout. Lovely read. ...more
Just the kind of out-of-this-world fantasy I was looking for, as well as being a story that I couldn’t put down. The world building is a little compleJust the kind of out-of-this-world fantasy I was looking for, as well as being a story that I couldn’t put down. The world building is a little complex, but once you’re in there it’s so worth it – the story moved fast enough to keep me entirely enthralled, but not too fast. I really appreciate that the cultural references here are rooted in the Middle East/Arabic and Muslim culture - with of course a lot of fantastical elements too. Starting the next one in the trilogy ASAP! ...more
Loved this - fits squarely in my favourite genre of science/tech/non-fiction writing, ie. accessible, well-researched, human stories, while explainingLoved this - fits squarely in my favourite genre of science/tech/non-fiction writing, ie. accessible, well-researched, human stories, while explaining and illustrating the (often complex) tech issues at hand. ...more
I love Hochschild's style of writing, storytelling, and research approach, and this book combines all of those things wonderfully. Even though this waI love Hochschild's style of writing, storytelling, and research approach, and this book combines all of those things wonderfully. Even though this was first written in 1989, and within the context of the US, it was a fascinating read and written in a really compelling way.
The book focuses on labour division within heterosexual relationships in the US, and she dives into the ins and outs of a few specific relationships in detail, providing both of the partners' perspectives, the people they outsource that labour to when relevant, and her own analysis - all making for a truly thought-provoking combination. Things that stood out to me were the myths that 'feminist' women tell themselves to help them avoid confrontation with their male partners who aren't contributing to household labour; the way in which masculinity and manhood hasn't transformed at anything like the rate that women's roles have in terms of cultural/social norms (ie. now women can work + be mothers + 'do it all', which is a big shift from 'just' being housewives; but expectations + representations of men have stayed mostly the same); and the incredibly low standards that (most!) women have for men in their relationships.
All in all, I'm not sure quite how much of it is relevant today (I hope not so much, but I fear probably more than that) - nor how much is relevant outside of the US, given their complete lack of family-oriented policies - but Hochschild's writing and research approach means that this is a really compelling read, regardless of applicability. ...more
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