Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe

12 reviews

avisreadsandreads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Police brutality, Transphobia, and Confinement

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Racism

Minor: Chronic illness, Violence, and Ableism

myclutteredbookshelf's review

3.5

American singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe released her third studio album Dirty Computer in 2018, accompanied by a short film of the same name. The film follows a trio of lovers—Jane (Monáe), Zen (Tessa Thompson), and Ché (Jayson Aaron)—living in a future where the government deems anyone that isn't white, monogamous, or heterosexual as "dirty computers." These individuals are constantly at risk of being abducted by law enforcement and taken to the House of New Dawn to have their memories deleted. In The Memory Librarian, Monáe collaborates with a team of established authors—Yohanca Delgado, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Sheree Thomas, Danny Lore, and Eve Ewing—to further explore the world of Dirty Computer outside the context of the film.

Now, as a fan of Monáe's music, I must admit that I was both excited and apprehensive about reading this collection. Monáe has already proved herself to be a skilled lyricist and storyteller with her first two albums, which detail the exploits of android fugitive Cindi Mayweather. However, there is a huge difference between writing songs and writing prose, and while I don't want to imply that collaborative writing projects are inferior to solo ones, I couldn't help but worry that this was a sign that Monáe was out of her depth.

Read the full review at My Cluttered Bookshelf.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Classism, Racism, Police brutality, Chronic illness, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Transphobia, Police brutality, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Homophobia, Violence, Gun violence, Drug use, and Racism

Minor: Sexual content and Chronic illness

agw622's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As a collection of short stories there will of course be some better than others. Most of them are written to really challenge you to think in a world set to allow you to contemplate modern days issues. The charecters are amazing and vibrant. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Outing, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Chronic illness and Drug use

meg_thebrave's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This was a really cool collection of stories. I could tell it was Janelle’s first book, but it was still really cool to spend more time in the world they’ve spent so much time developing. I could see the way previous Black sci-fi writers influenced Janelle’s work, and I really enjoyed the creativity of each story. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Classism, and Police brutality

bashsbooks's review

adventurous challenging inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Dirty Computer fans, the story continues in this collection. I enjoy the translation of a tale told through audio and visuals into a written text, and I think this is a cool futuristic text with interesting and compelling things to say about gender, race, memory, sexuality, relationships, and revolution. I will say, it was a little slow to start; I had trouble fully immersing myself in the world and what was happening until the third narrator, Neer, and their perspective picks up at page 120. After that, the book was much more engaging. Timebox and Save Changes were my favorite stories in the collection.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Chronic illness, and Gun violence

Minor: Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Cursing

leannanecdote's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Grief, Confinement, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Violence, Transphobia, Racism, Police brutality, Mental illness, Death, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexism, War, and Drug use

mandkips's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia

Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Chronic illness, Drug use, and Violence

theuncannydani's review

challenging dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

When is Janelle going to write for Black Mirror? Timebox messed me up!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, Transphobia, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Confinement, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Chronic illness

Minor: Dementia, Sexism, Alcohol, Police brutality, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Gun violence

cranedphoenix's review

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Honestly this is thee best book I've read this year so far! I didn't know it was coming out until I saw it randomly on the internet and had to go out and get it and I do not regret the cost at all
I'm also surprised (in a good way) in the little ways some of the stories were connected 
Honestly the book is also inspiring for me to complete my own writing so thanks for that

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Racism, and Drug use

Minor: Chronic illness and Violence