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dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is heavy for a short story. It has a lot to say, explicitly and implicitly, about rape culture and trauma and maladaptive coping mechanisms for both.
“I’m sorry,” I say. The phrase becomes a compulsion, a prayer, a warding talisman. I repeat it over and over, I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry. I apologize for the shame we’ve been forced to bear, the shame of other people’s cruelty. Our creatures curl up together as my heart gets heavier and heavier.
This book was one I would peruse at the library when I was there for hours on end studying, using it as a break between subjects. As the library is currently closed for browsing until further notice, I'm gonna shelve it for now.
challenging
sad
medium-paced
A star for the organization and the way the content was laid out for the reader. Negative a million stars for the ways corrections has negatively affected vulnerable populations in this country, founded to its very roots with racism, ableism and sexism.
The only thing this book (and subsequently, the class it was associated with) made clear for me is that the Angela Davis was and continues to be correct: prisons are obsolete. Social transformation is the way forward.
The only thing this book (and subsequently, the class it was associated with) made clear for me is that the Angela Davis was and continues to be correct: prisons are obsolete. Social transformation is the way forward.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This is a short book based on the content of Adichie's TedxEuston speech in 2012, which I suggest everyone go watch! She discusses the baggage that comes with the term feminist in general ("you hate men, you hate bras ... you don't shave, you're always angry..."), in addition to what it means to her as an African woman. We do a injustice to the generations after us by holding fast to out-dated gender norms and it hurts both boys and girls (and all those along the gender identity spectrum as well, though Adichie does not address this topic at all in the book - which brings it down a star notch for me).
But by far the worst thing we do to males—by making them feel they have to be hard—is that we leave them with very fragile egos. The harder a man feels compelled to be, the weaker his ego is.
And then we do a much greater disservice to girls, because we raise them to cater to the fragile egos of males. We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller.
A little slow at times, but I imagine a lifelong affair isn't something that is constantly rushed.
