axmed's reviews
699 reviews

Ramen Assassin by Rhys Ford
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.

cliché, white and copaganda....no thank you

Hunting in Harlem by Mat Johnson

3.0

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Child abuse, Slavery, and Sexism

please add anti-Black racism or antiblackness as an option, cuz racism alone doesn't cut it, cuz it is too broad.

Pleasantville by Attica Locke
Did not finish book.

too much copaganda 

Black Water Rising by Attica Locke

3.5

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris
Did not finish book.

i think it is awful how, so far, most of the Black characters are written and it looks like there will be some copaganda incoming, cuz the main character is saying shit like this:

"My disdain for the police, and by extension her, was stupid and based on some long-ago events that had nothing to do with the detective. I had no logical reason to make assumptions about her based on the actions of some ignorant ​small-town deputy sheriff."

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

I had traveled thousands of miles just to learn there was no difference between the provincial hospitals with their IDs and age requirements and marriage permits and this clinic in New York with its stupid rules on twenty-four versus twenty-eight. Four measly weeks

Call Me Cassandra by Marcial Gala

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, and Racial slurs

there was no option to add anti-Blackness as content warning, so adding it here.

Night Song by Beverly Jenkins
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

in addition to the typical romantic novel tropes being really annoying, the constant praise of military was too much. and the time that it is all set does not help of course. i absolutely don't remember why i ever put this book on my to read list, but i am glad that the friend who suggested it as a buddy read saw it, cuz now i can make it sure it lives on in my DNF.

The Right Mistake: The Further Philosophical Investigations of Socrates Fortlow by Walter Mosley

4.0

it was great in many aspect and actually had some abolitionist politics to some extent, even though that is not how he frames it, which is absolutely understandable. but the thing that i couldn't let go and which is one of the reasons why i am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is the way the way the relationship between Soco and Luna is gradually normalised. she is, as he says at first, a child compared to him and there is a multiple references to Luna's past where she experienced a lot of harm and needs a caring person that will take care of her without it being romantic and sexual. even within the novel it becomes clear why them being together is harmful to her, but it is spun as some sort of couples quarrel and they end up being together with a kid. 

some of my favourite thing were:

- Soco's determination to continue hosting the gatherings
- his relationship with Darryl
- his unapologetic nature towards the cops