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moonyreadsbystarlight's reviews
533 reviews
Queer Voices From The Fight For Palestinian Liberation by June Jordan, Yazan Zahzah, Kyle Carrero Lopez, zaheer Suboh
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Genocide, and Homophobia
Love Is an Ex-Country by Randa Jarrar
emotional
reflective
4.25
This memoir covers many parts of the author's life, going from moments during her travel, to her childhood, to her relationships as an adult. She weaves them together, discussing pain and violence from these different parts of her life, but also pleasure and healing.
She speaks candidly about racism and fatphobia that she experiences from stragers, but also violence from her parents as a child and partners as an adult. The violence of a homeland she can no longer visit and of a home that was too hostile to return to. She also speaks of the relationships and small interactions that have facilitated he healing, from the kindness of strangers to reconciliation, to entering the world of kink.
This was well-written and engaging. I listened to the audiobook over the course of just a couple of days.
She speaks candidly about racism and fatphobia that she experiences from stragers, but also violence from her parents as a child and partners as an adult. The violence of a homeland she can no longer visit and of a home that was too hostile to return to. She also speaks of the relationships and small interactions that have facilitated he healing, from the kindness of strangers to reconciliation, to entering the world of kink.
This was well-written and engaging. I listened to the audiobook over the course of just a couple of days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abortion
Explicit discussion of kink and BDSM
This Is What Lesbian Looks Like: Dyke Activists Take on the 21st Century by
informative
inspiring
5.0
I picked this up because of the small handfull of names I recognized, but the vast majority of this ended up being amazing. This was such an incredible collection of essays from a diverse array if lesbians. Of course this talks about what it means to be a lesbian and be an activist as a lesbian, it goes far beyond that, talking about race, disability, immigration, age, capitalism, colonialism, and more. While this was published in 1999, it remains relevant. So many issues discussed today were being discussed here -- and with so much more nuance than it often is. It is definitely one that needs to continue to be read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Ableism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Cancer and War
Most of the sexism, misogyny, racism, etc are because those are the topics covered in this volume. There is some language or phrasing that is outdated or would be awkward by today's standards, but that is to be expected reading something published over 20 years ago.
The Gifts of the Body by Rebecca Brown
emotional
reflective
4.5
This is told in 11 short chapters, snapshots in the narrator's experience as a nurse's aid for people with AIDS in the early 90's, each focused on a particular motif. We revisit each character from the first half of the book in the second half in different ways, giving the book a bit of continuity and a symetry.
The writing style has simple descriptions, yet the emotion still comes right through. It very much mirrored the feeling in that sort of situation; when you're trying to distance your emotions to get what needs to be done, to not feel the overwhelm.
This sort of literature is incredibly important. I think today, despite so much information being at our fingertips, there is a separation from history. The AIDS epidemic isn't really taught about, but it is so important to understand a lot of what is happening now.
I will say, obviously this has medical content and death, but there is also some ableism. Some of it is passive word choice, but also mostly from the narrator's reflection (and most of these thoughts are also critiqued by the narrator in-text).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Grief, Medical content, Ableism, Death, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Vomit, Homophobia, and Dementia
Discussion of assisted suicide
Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I liked the concept behind the magic and the art was cute. There was also a diverse cast of characters. But the story felt rushed and the dialog was awkward at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Classism
Minor: Cancer
Until I Love Myself, Vol. 1: The Journey of a Nonbinary Manga Artist by Poppy Pesuyama
reflective
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Misogyny, and Transphobia
A Touch of Ruckus by Ash Van Otterloo
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was really fun and adventurous with an interesting mystery, but also hits on some important issues, including mental health and the environment. The condundrum of being the eldest daughter and chronic people pleaser hit a little too close to home, but (being vauge to avoid spoilers) how things ended up and the moral around that was really good and kind of cathartic.
Overall, thus was fun, had a lot of heart, and some important messages.
Overall, thus was fun, had a lot of heart, and some important messages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Mental illness
Minor: Animal cruelty
Accidental misgendering
Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls by Kai Cheng Thom
emotional
reflective
3.75
Some poems were quite strong, others I had a hard time with. The style was a bit repetitive for the bulk of the poems, but I did like the prompts after each poem - that was interesting and had some that I think I'll revisit and do. I think I'm just a little too jaded to really appreciate this. Maybe I will try it again when I am feeling more optimistic but I had a hard time getting into parts of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Murder, and Physical abuse
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
This was so creepy, especially in the last half, I was so jumpy reading it. It was atmospheric, suspenseful, and grotesque. I also really enjoyed the MC and thought some of the secondary characters were quite quirky and charming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Suicide, War, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Misogyny
The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
The main character, Leslie, is an invert traveling through Kentucky in the 1920s on duty as a nurse, to give vaccines and provide care around childbirth. This begins as more of a historical novel. Leslie is assigned to provide care and vaccines in a small town Appalachian. He receives unprecedented religious pushback in the town, which complicates his job and potentially his livelihood. But there are people he is determined to help before he leaves.
The horror element slowly builds as the woods are clearly more than they seem. So much of the story culminates towards the end, making this a bit of a slower burn, but trust that it ends with a bang.
The blurb promises "historical horror, trans romance, and bloodsoaked revenge" and most certainly delivers on all in more ways than I was anticipating (it gets gruesome and spicy, but also I can see where Madelo's writing style was impacted by the time in which he is writing.).
The horror element slowly builds as the woods are clearly more than they seem. So much of the story culminates towards the end, making this a bit of a slower burn, but trust that it ends with a bang.
The blurb promises "historical horror, trans romance, and bloodsoaked revenge" and most certainly delivers on all in more ways than I was anticipating (it gets gruesome and spicy, but also I can see where Madelo's writing style was impacted by the time in which he is writing.).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Transphobia, Violence, War, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Moderate: Cannibalism, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape