lucyreading's Reviews (264)

Really great novel which addresses the rise of rural fascism in 1930s Britain. Excellent.

A very quiet collection.

One of my favourite books. 

Great intro to all different kinds of jams and pickle making. 

Loved this book. Really important read about colonialism in West Africa. 

Fun! Learnt a lot. The fermented pears in buttermilk were delicious, but i messed up the sauerkraut recipe. 

All credit to Berkson for enabling this poetry from Western Sahara to be reanslated so it can reach wider audiences, but i find it extremeky problematic that over half the book (which is described as centring Saharwi voices) is actually his poetry.  I didnt buy the book to read another white dude's crisis writing. The other huge problem is the lack of women's voices in the anthology. Berkson does acknowledge this is an issue, but blames a lack of time for why they aren't as represented. This lack of representation gives a false perspective since women are just as important in Sahrawi poetry and culture as men. Perhaps if he didnt take up so much space with his own writing, more women could be included? 

I got this as a present at the start of the year and read it on and off all year. Mostly because it is so sad in places that i had to have a rest.

I thought the writer had a very colonial perspective on all the gardebers she met. It was, at times, very much about her as a white person going out on her "quest" and the people she met were important but i found her to be centred not them.