libroXshu finished reading On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle
Tara Selter, the heroine of On the Calculation of Volume, has involuntarily stepped off the …
There should be November 18th themed parties related to this book.
Reviews and Comments
impatiently waiting for the next Marlon James book...
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libroXshu wants to read Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave by Mariana Enriquez
Cemeteries have great stories and sometimes I steal some for my books.
Mariana Enriquez—called by …
Really excited for this release (Sept 30)...if you are looking for a book that has a fitting October vibe and/or also have a cemetery obsession you may be interested.
libroXshu commented on Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green - undifferentiated
Tuberculosis has been entwined with humanity for millennia. Once romanticized as a malady of poets, …
Less of a review, more of just some general thoughts. Sometimes pop sci annoys me, but I didn't mind this one. Some parts related to the author adding in some of his life experiences (not really TB-related) weren't my favorite, but now I'm guilty based on explaining my interest in this book. My original interest stemmed from my grandpa being a survivor of TB and learning about how it shaped so many things in his life, including how he spent 3 years at a TB sanatorium in the Chilean Andes Mountains in the late 50s/early 60s. The book covered this time period and sanatorium experiences but also prior and leading up to current day. I appreciate the heavy emphasis on the systemic issues related to TB care and cures. There is such a stigma around TB and so much racism impacting access to care. The book also dives into the …
Less of a review, more of just some general thoughts. Sometimes pop sci annoys me, but I didn't mind this one. Some parts related to the author adding in some of his life experiences (not really TB-related) weren't my favorite, but now I'm guilty based on explaining my interest in this book. My original interest stemmed from my grandpa being a survivor of TB and learning about how it shaped so many things in his life, including how he spent 3 years at a TB sanatorium in the Chilean Andes Mountains in the late 50s/early 60s. The book covered this time period and sanatorium experiences but also prior and leading up to current day. I appreciate the heavy emphasis on the systemic issues related to TB care and cures. There is such a stigma around TB and so much racism impacting access to care. The book also dives into the fucked up profit-based pharmaceutical companies. I love that the book includes a section on other books and resources to read related to various TB topics and data sources.
libroXshu finished reading Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez
A young father and son set out on a road trip, devastated by the death …
Wow, I loved this book so much. So many things about it. Her descriptions, imagination, the emotions of her characters. The way and order of how this story builds was really exciting, too. I loved the gore, violence, and all the things that will probably make a lot of people uncomfortable, and possibly dislike or not want to read this book. Might not be your thing. (I’m not going to post any CW stuff but there is probably a long list or feel free to ask.)
libroXshu reviewed You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me! by Jen Sweeney
You've Got to Be Kidding Me!: Perimenopause Symptoms, Stages & Strategies" is the go-to, take-anywhere …
Not for me
The nerd in me was really excited to read a perimenopause book, thankfully I have two others to follow up on that will hopefully be more informative and less redundant. Some positives - she stresses advocating for yourself and highlights key topics related to perimenopause. I am sure it will be useful to many people and it is a pretty quick read.
Things I didn’t enjoy: -Unfortunately this felt like reading a blog post or click-bait news article. It was like a bad combo of self help and popsci. -I don’t need someone to remind me constantly about something they wrote about in a previous chapter. I get that people may jump around on topics of interest, but maybe just briefly reference the chapter number if you are that concerned that the reader may have forgotten. Or omg is that a play on perimenopause brain fog?! Anyways, overall super repetitive. …
The nerd in me was really excited to read a perimenopause book, thankfully I have two others to follow up on that will hopefully be more informative and less redundant. Some positives - she stresses advocating for yourself and highlights key topics related to perimenopause. I am sure it will be useful to many people and it is a pretty quick read.
Things I didn’t enjoy: -Unfortunately this felt like reading a blog post or click-bait news article. It was like a bad combo of self help and popsci. -I don’t need someone to remind me constantly about something they wrote about in a previous chapter. I get that people may jump around on topics of interest, but maybe just briefly reference the chapter number if you are that concerned that the reader may have forgotten. Or omg is that a play on perimenopause brain fog?! Anyways, overall super repetitive. - It truly bums me out that a book on this topic uses incorrect anatomical terms. Especially since she stresses the importance of understanding these terms and talking about your health. See page 164: “…and labia minora (your inner vagina) to become less responsive.” Noooo :( that is not your vagina and especially not your inner vagina.
I have more to say but I’ll leave it at that and will hopefully find a more useful book on the topic.
libroXshu started reading You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me! by Jen Sweeney
You've Got to Be Kidding Me!: Perimenopause Symptoms, Stages & Strategies" is the go-to, take-anywhere …
I am about a third of the way through this. It’s pretty basic and repetitive so far. Also I don’t need to know what brand of vitamins she’s taking. I feel like I am reading blog posts and not a book.
libroXshu commented on Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez
A young father and son set out on a road trip, devastated by the death …
another book I had paused on so I could give it more of my attention during summer. I’m getting totally sucked into this story now. I keep saying 'ok last page and then I'm going to sleep' but then I’m 10 more pages in.
libroXshu finished reading The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
We begin with a nameless young couple: a boy and a girl, teenagers in love. …
I had to pause reading for a couple of months ago so I could give it more attention and focus later. It was nice to come back to and finish. My brain was so confused when I started reading it because it was so familiar but I knew the book just came out (I had to search and realized it is based on novella he wrote in the 80s but never felt like he had finished it). I enjoyed this story and always appreciate Murakami's writing style and imagination. The only thing that wasn't my favorite was his overuse of his technique where characters are in conversation about something confusing, and they repeat/summarize the other person as they try to understand what is happening. "So, what you are saying is..." He does this in his other work but seemed extra. It did not over shadow the things I liked about …
I had to pause reading for a couple of months ago so I could give it more attention and focus later. It was nice to come back to and finish. My brain was so confused when I started reading it because it was so familiar but I knew the book just came out (I had to search and realized it is based on novella he wrote in the 80s but never felt like he had finished it). I enjoyed this story and always appreciate Murakami's writing style and imagination. The only thing that wasn't my favorite was his overuse of his technique where characters are in conversation about something confusing, and they repeat/summarize the other person as they try to understand what is happening. "So, what you are saying is..." He does this in his other work but seemed extra. It did not over shadow the things I liked about this story though.
libroXshu finished reading Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin
Nineteen eighties Detroit was a volatile place to live, but above the fray stood a …
A nice light and interesting read. Loved the perspective. Relatable in fun way since I also grew up in my immigrant family’s (food court) restaurant in a city’s downtown (Flint is like small version of Detroit) in Michigan.
libroXshu finished reading Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice
In this gripping stand-alone literary thriller set in the world of the award-winning post-apocalyptic novel …
I was excited to see there was a sequel to this story, and it did not disappoint!
libroXshu finished reading Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Inspired by true events that rocked the nation, a searing and compassionate new novel about …
Historical fiction on reproductive justice loosely based on federal court case in 1973. About the injustices of forced and coerced sterilization especially on poor Black women and teenage girls. Such a heavy topic. I like that it was from the perspective of a Black nurse during that time that worked at the clinic.
libroXshu finished reading Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
"A daring post-apocalyptic novel from a powerful rising literary voice. With winter looming, a small …
Excellent story, really enjoyed reading this. Look forward to checking out other work by this author as well.
From the New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu, a gripping memoir on friendship, grief, the …
It was cool to hear about all of the zines he made and other cool projects and mixtapes, as well. A few years older than me, but some of that overlap of existing prior to the internet and email being a thing. Some lines that stood out:
“Assimilation was not a problem to be solved, but the problem itself.”
“Mostly I became obsessed with the possibility of a sentence that could wind its way backward. I picked up a pen and tried to write myself back into the past.”
libroXshu finished reading Thunder Song by Sasha LaPointe
The author of the award-winning memoir Red Paint returns with a razor-sharp, clear-eyed collection of …
I enjoyed these essays and look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
libroXshu finished reading Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
The day Fatima forgot her name, Death paid a visit. From hereon in she would …
Loved this!