Nafiza
Absolutely loved this pick and had demands to read it over and over. It's a very adult issue that approached in a kid friendly way without being condescending. The vocabulary was nicely done and introduced more advanced terms for the age group which is always nice to see, the art style was bright and inviting. And with the focus on working together was exceptionally well broached in a not nagging way.
In sum: a girl grows up with neglectful parents who take no time teaching her about biology,anatomy,basic life skills or the difference between sex and gender leaving her thrown to the wolves of “figure it out yourself from media and whomever comes along”. Apparently going against gender roles means living by the opposite sexes gender role and somehow THAT validates....gender roles.....
I don't hold anything against Maia, after all she navigated and is navigating life was best as she can given the circumstances stacked against her. She deserved more than being raised by fantasy and without adults to offer her the emotional and mental support she needed,especially at such a crucial time of development.
The recipes were decent and a good selection for more veggie and whole food based focus. That being said a lot of claims and false information were made and given in the first part of the book which was just a big rant against established food science and gov't agencies. The irony of trying to warn people away from a nutritional think tank/body run by a group yet belonging to a nutritional think tank group has passed by the author. But like any common sense approach to one's health and diet, don't just go to a book for your nutritional needs. Learn, compare, talk to your doctor and nutritionist, keep learning and be willing to be wrong, adjust as needed.
The recipes were decent and a good selection for more veggie and whole food based focus. That being said a lot of claims and false information were made and given in the first part of the book which was just a big rant against established food science and gov't agencies. The irony of trying to warn people away from a nutritional think tank/body run by a group yet belonging to a nutritional think tank group has passed by the author. But like any common sense approach to one's health and diet, don't just go to a book for your nutritional needs. Learn, compare, talk to your doctor and nutritionist, keep learning and be willing to be wrong, adjust as needed.
It honestly reads like an angry man who hates women grabbed on to a workable concept and filled in the blanks with slavering psychotic breaks and said “Here!”.
Hated it. Absolute trash. That's saying a lot considering I love horror and gore.vThis was a book club read and I'm sincerely considering leaving that club given that half of the members raved about how good this book is. The concept of sex based plague that focuses on the extinction/lessening of males instead of female like the usual trope drew me in from the summary. From a trans woman point of view also was another. I love splatterhorror a lot, mind twisting is delicious.
Within the first two chapters it was obvious this wasn't written by someone who was making a satire or statement on society: This author is obviously mentally unwell and was taking out their frustrations and deep seated personal issues on characters. Basic biology and medical science was bent so askew it wasn't even laughably cheesy, just eye rolling stupid. There were such ridgid stereotyping for every character and group rounded out with sociopolitical dogwhistles throught everything. And the rapes! Not to move the plot, set up any exposition or any reason to exist except simply to exist!
There's SO many better options for splattergore out there that are far better written, doesn't have the angry Tumbler teen angst turd fest, with good characters and beautifully gross.
*Edit.... I'll admit the cover was a wonderful choice. Tongue in cheek and beautiful. That's where the good ends.
Given copy for review
Raines has a very good work in this book. Logistical systems in general are bone dry which is a huge issue when it comes to healthcare. That's doubly hard when balancing the usually hanging by a thread work culture found in healthcare as well as handling patients.
In this book Raines outlines the framework for a better less toxic staff-patient-administration relationship that focuses on learning from mistakes as much as seeing where mistakes could be made and prevented. The stress on an open administration with staff that encourages learning from issues versus fear of failure is really wonderful to see. I especially liked the stress on accountability and her approach to more effective reporting. Patient safety helped to reinforce what seems to be common sense but isn't talked about nearly as much as it needs to be.
Overall a great way to reframe and teach safety that's approachable and well laid out.
Free ARC given for honest review:
Girl Samurai isn't a very in depth book but works as a wonderful glimpse in to Kimiko Chou's life. The author claims it's a true story found in a second hand manuscript. Part of me hopes that's not true because while the book was worth the time and is interesting it also leaves me wanting more. Very exciting and a wonderful look at ancient Japan, it still feels like a bit of an outline versus a fully fleshed out story.
I do hope that it turns out to be “real” as Memoirs of a Geisha was so we can see a second volume.
Books that talk about the truths behind historical events away from the sanitization of the status quo are wonderful. Using that concept to push outright lies and twisted facts so you can sell a book is NOT.
I don't care what narrative an author is trying to push: writing falsehood as actual history just to sell books with the wave of interest over an interesting topic isn't ethical. It erodes the entire fact that we love to study and discuss history not just for entertainment but preservation. Zinn is not preservation but a rewriter of truth for money.
I wouldn't accept this kind of shady misdirection and lack of proper citation from anyone, whether Zinn, Cambridge or Sesame Street and neither should anyone else.
Once you go beyond the false pearl clutching and cancel culture hysterics this book actually has a lot to offer. Shrier isn't an expert on psychology nor pretends to be, but allows those who shared their stories to be heard. This work was far less a look at transgender culture and dysphoria itself and focuses on those that instead manipulate both, turning them in to a social subculture with harsh and rigid stereotypical ideals. “Transtrenders” as I've heard people call it. The argument being made is simply: Because you, as a female, don't fit in to prescribed gender roles or what people perceive as feminine it just means you're you. You don't have to rush out to give yourself a title and subculture just because you prefer sports over tea parties and dolls. Be yourself. Shrier also gives space to pointing out the pressure to conform and how cancel culture plays such a deep role in pushing this boxed in sex role stereotype at growing girls and young women trying to navigate the world. How it often tries to negate both lesbians and a more natural emotional/mental progression of identity and maturity through false psychology and peer pressure. There's also the broaching of the problem with girls and women's spaces and outlets being taken away more and more often by overreaching identity politics and the need for safe spaces that aren't subject to pop culture whim.
Overall it wasn't a deep investigation of transperson issues but an honest look at things in a twisting of trans identity issues, largely from those whom have gone through it themselves, family members dealing with the phenomena, the bullying and cancel culture mindset that goes on inside, the ostracizing done on those who don't conform and even those persons ostracizing their own friends and family for not conforming. There is a lot of flap over this one by cancel culture fainting couch pseudo intellectuals but at the end of the day these are issues that need talking about and censorship doesn't accomplish anything versus people willing to speak up.
The character personalities were a bit bland but I pushed through. The hype and anger over people screeching about the killer being trans: He's just a psycho that likes to cross dress. A dude with mental issues that moonlights as a murderer. Think buffalo bob. The focus wasn't on him wearing a dress but his crimes. It's just hype.
The plot itself while dragging at many points still was interesting enough to keep me reading. The devices and twists were worth the time, tho at almost 1000 pages it really felt like a LOT of filler. Easily could have out about 1/3 of the book and still not miss it. Read worthy for the plot devices.
Book given in exchange for an honest review
So, I don't want to sound horribly negative since this book was decently done overall. Brides is a small collection of individual stories based on women's life experiences in Syria, the exact timeframe I didn't recall seeing but which turns out to not be important. The stories themselves are interesting tho they don't go in to the deeper personality of the characters, the brief style of the stories don't really demand a harder fleshing out of anyone but it would be nice to see. Plus I know there's differences in culture and religion but some statements about islamic men and family life seemed very out of place but I of course can put that up to me being a muslim woman from one country reading a book by a muslim woman in another country. After all, said differences.
All in all it was entertaining to read even with a more simple tone and writing style (could have been lost in translation if it wasn't printed in english first, of course). Some of the stories were witty, none boring. Enjoyable overall and worth the time for a smile or something to chew over.
Horrible. The instructions were written in a way that was confusing and felt like a cut and past job through Google translate. Even for a basic beginner using the appliance there was no creativity in recipes and the steps ela prayed on commonsense and not on the things a person would need. For example a burger recipe gave 5 lines explaining how to form a burger patty and for actually cooking it somplybsaid to put it in the grill and press start- no temperature setting or timing which you need for the foodi grill. On top of that some recipes were just disgusting. Chicken alfredo apples?
An absolutely beautiful book for all children of all kinds! The author stresses just being oneself and finding self love for whom you are and how you are. No pressure to conform, no silly approach to things: Just kids being kids and loving expressing themselves and loving themselves.
A message we really need right now when the stress even young children face is based on looks, money, toys, fashion...
This easily is one of my favorite graphic novels I've read so far.
A narrative that's strong, direct yet somehow softly human and I didn't expect it. Too often celebrity memoirs focus on ego or exaggeration, neither of which I anticipated in TCUE, tho thought I'd find some amount of political grandstanding as is the theme of many autobiographies recently. But instead Takei kept the political touching points free from ego and self reflection opting instead to focus on historicity, making sure to show political opinions simply as opinion. A historical memoir that focuses on actual history and living through it which is VERY good to see. Perhaps I'm too used to years and years of “I'm famous so you HAVE to applaud my sociopolitical stances” that seeing humbleness is refreshing?
Takei really gave a full fleshed portrait of his family and community that stayed strong throughout the book with the focus on their humanity, without glossing over bad aspects. The reality of what they faced both in the camps as well as larger community hits home so well. The choice of illustrator was a wonderful pairing for such a heartfelt narrative as well. Simple and lush at the same time the art brought together everything so perfectly.
Even for an embroidery pattern book it was a very quick read. Unfortunately the vast majority of patterns given are very out of date design/ style wise even considering the publish date of the book. They're very close to the transfers sold in the little paper pouches that aim at older crafters. There are a few workable designs with some adjustments but aren't worth the price. These projects themselves are also pretty lackluster. Typical dishtowels and panels behind glass. Not something I'd take time crafting and only a couple flower motifs are worth there effort.
The style and honesty are worth two stars. It's that the author takes horrible instances of abuse and claims it's all of Islamic thought behind it rather than the parent's abuse and sect behind it. It paints a biased look that, instead of focusing on the horrors of abuse and abuse of religion, pushes a stereotype weaponized by all sides.
To say “my Muslim parents abused me greatly and this is what I want people to understand” is entirely on the level. Claiming all families are like the authors and saying “because Islam”fuels lies and hate.
The style and honesty are worth two stars. It's that the author takes horrible instances of abuse and claims it's all of Islamic thought behind it rather than the parent's abuse and sect behind it. It paints a biased look that, instead of focusing on the horrors of abuse and abuse of religion, pushes a stereotype weaponized by all sides.
To say “my Muslim parents abused me greatly and this is what I want people to understand” is entirely on the level. Claiming all families are like the authors and saying “because Islam”fuels lies and hate.
First things first: I think the ebook edition might be abridged? Either my fast reading was faster than usual or there was some editing because it didn't seem like 200 pages even with portions that I skipped.
So, I gave two stars instead of one because there WAS an attempt by the author to honestly put his life experiences forward and he didn't gloss over his honestly horrid personality. That being said the whole book felt like a whiny teenager that never stopped being a teenager. Instead of taking the time to consider himself, gay or straight, and maturely think over his options in life Amrou goes through this huge hissy fit spiral. Everyone else's fault, everyone ELSE is to blame for his unhappiness. No rose gardens were promised nor expected but the selfishness and mental issues that he acknowledges never gets addressed. Instead he defaults to living out a female caricature driven by his mommy issues.
But my low rating isn't because of that. To a point a person can't help their personality and surely not their mental health issues. The low rating is for the the back and forth of relatively decent writing that crashes down in to utter disgusting trash. There were several places that went in to sexual descriptions that were far more pornographic than simply explaining experiences. There is very little respect for the issue of mental health which gets shoved under the rug in exchange for “now I wear a wig and prance around so I'm not depressed!” which is NOT the message for those going through depression. Just as you think you're going to see Amrou for himself he shuts the door to push this ID politics driven image. Hiding behind a false face isn't healthy when you're dealing with mental issues, especially depression. Honestly, the bad writing and the feeling that I was watching a person try to justify their reality dodging in favor of this created image only helped push stereotypes about gay men.
And for my brothers and sisters out there: MASSIVE haram content. Total disrespect of Allah, twisting around Quran to justify his behavior and homosexuality. Mental abuse of parents. Just...a train wreck. I only made it through the book skipping sections that were so hugely disgusting that even I couldn't handle it and I've read some cringy things in my life. So heads up on that.
A small quick guide, not aimed at the absolute beginner. However the explanations of verbs and basic grammar are well done and very helpful pronoun charts are included. I'm terrible at language learning but even I was conjugation basic verbs after about 2 hours. Well worth the effort of reading and practicing.
I tried reading three other english translations of Quran and, while they meant well, the cultural notes or explanations actually crowded the text and/or forced the translators to alter meanings just to fit things on to pages. But this translation doesn't muddle around with extra features: Just a clear and classical toned translation of Allah's words. Simply presented, easy to read. First time reading Quran cover to cover and being able to finish without translation frustration.
One of my favorite reads of the year so far! I loved this book so very much. I'm a VERY new hobbyist that couldn't even draw a week or so ago so I'm reading as many books as possible on how-to. Nice sets out explanations, lessons and examples that are full of information but at the same time not condescending nor overwhelming. It really helps that she puts side by side comparisons in her explanations as well which allowed me to see where I am then where I could possibly go with enough practice. It not only reinforces the lesson, it also encourages. I was just very glad to find a drawing instruction that wasn't vague or snobbish.
it's VERY approachable for a beginner with highlights of the author's own works in very good clarity. I'm going to return this ebook to my library and buy my own copy from Amazon to keep for reference.
Concept wise it was good. It's VERY nice to see some representation but it...felt wooden. I've read it three or four times now, each time trying to find a reason to like it more and it's just not happening. Kamala feels like she has the potential to be a rich character but the writing gets to a point of developing her deeper and then just stops and falls flat. I was hoping her muslim Pakistani background would be a highlight to that personality but, while an attempt was very much made, that also feels mostly hollow. “Infidel meat” and the struggles of dealing with immigrant parents had me hoping there would be some depth but again it fell flat. Total honesty it felt whitewashy: It felt like a well meaning white woman trying to tip toe around the edge of something without actually jumping in and bringing it to life. This volume wasn't BAD, just not very good. At times it felt like representation was being pushed for its own sake rather than a fleshed out narrative WITH representation. I'm hungry to see protagonists that represent me as much as anyone else, ESPECIALLY in comics and graphic novels which traditionally focus on white male archetypes, but adding in POC and diverse elements doesn't mean the main story needs to feel like it's neglected.
An earth changing event known as the cataclysm, a daughter searching for the truth behind her father's disappearance, a world where superheros and villains are commonplace. It's a classic comic setup but told with a heart that I've rarely seen. A stubbornly strong black female lead jumping down the rabbit hole as she tracks down the last baddie that saw her father alive. What's not to love? The plot is simple but not boring or condescending. Art style in Sherlock Frankenstein is quality without the over polished look of the DC/Marvel tradition and features crisp coloring, wonderful shade complements. I'‘m not a big superhero person with my comics. I prefer darker themes, slice of life, drama....but Lemire really pulled me in with this one.