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sicksadlit's Reviews (527)
Imagine being this good at writing. Solnit is the writer I dream of being but lack the eloquence and clarity of thought to be. I’ve read many collections of work by Rebecca Solnit and this latest series of essays is hands-down my favourite.
If you weren’t mad about the state of the world before, you sure will be after reading this. Solnit is at her best when discussing gender and feminist themes like the #MeToo movement, giving voice to our shared global outrage. I always come away from her work seething, looking for ways I can further dismantle the patriarchy.
My one criticism is that I’d like to see more intersectionality with Solnit’s work. While she touches on issues of race and sexuality, she rarely delves deeper. She focuses on her perspective as a feminist, cis-het white woman which doesn’t serve or represent the oppression of Black women in particular and women of colour.
If you weren’t mad about the state of the world before, you sure will be after reading this. Solnit is at her best when discussing gender and feminist themes like the #MeToo movement, giving voice to our shared global outrage. I always come away from her work seething, looking for ways I can further dismantle the patriarchy.
My one criticism is that I’d like to see more intersectionality with Solnit’s work. While she touches on issues of race and sexuality, she rarely delves deeper. She focuses on her perspective as a feminist, cis-het white woman which doesn’t serve or represent the oppression of Black women in particular and women of colour.
I remember when the story of the Stanford Rapist made international news. My heart hurt so deeply for Emily Doe, and for every woman who was Emily Doe. I have also been Emily Doe, so when her powerful victim impact statement went viral I felt like I was reading my own experience. I felt like I knew her.
Throughout the trial, I was right there along with Emily. The disgustingly light sentence Brock Turner received was like a punch in the face for every woman who’s ever been the victim of unwanted, non-consensual sexual advances. It also served as a disgusting reminder that the patriarchal, racist “justice” system does not care about women and will do anything to protect their own (cis-het white men).
When Know My Name came out, I was almost nervous to read it. Finally having a face to put to the name who I’d resonated with so strongly was scary. It made what happened to Chanel, REAL, which also made the horror of her experience all the more confronting.
This memoir was stunning.
I knew this story would be important and powerful, but what I didn’t realise was what an incredible writer Chanel Miller is. This is one of the greatest books I’ve ever read, and one of the most challenging.
She takes us back to that night and through all of the horror and humiliation of the aftermath and trial. But mostly, she takes us inside her state of mind and what it was like to wake up and discover someone, a stranger, had taken advantage of her unconscious body. Millar holds nothing back. Her story shows the widespread impact an event like this has, not only on the victim but all those close to them.
Through this moving memoir, Miller reclaims her identity and takes control of her own narrative.
This was one of the most difficult books I’ve ever read. Not just for the pain Chanel went through but for the sheer injustice of it all.
This memoir is an ode to all those who’ve been assaulted and feel invisible. Miller reminds you that you are important. Your pain is real and we believe you.
Throughout the trial, I was right there along with Emily. The disgustingly light sentence Brock Turner received was like a punch in the face for every woman who’s ever been the victim of unwanted, non-consensual sexual advances. It also served as a disgusting reminder that the patriarchal, racist “justice” system does not care about women and will do anything to protect their own (cis-het white men).
When Know My Name came out, I was almost nervous to read it. Finally having a face to put to the name who I’d resonated with so strongly was scary. It made what happened to Chanel, REAL, which also made the horror of her experience all the more confronting.
This memoir was stunning.
I knew this story would be important and powerful, but what I didn’t realise was what an incredible writer Chanel Miller is. This is one of the greatest books I’ve ever read, and one of the most challenging.
She takes us back to that night and through all of the horror and humiliation of the aftermath and trial. But mostly, she takes us inside her state of mind and what it was like to wake up and discover someone, a stranger, had taken advantage of her unconscious body. Millar holds nothing back. Her story shows the widespread impact an event like this has, not only on the victim but all those close to them.
Through this moving memoir, Miller reclaims her identity and takes control of her own narrative.
This was one of the most difficult books I’ve ever read. Not just for the pain Chanel went through but for the sheer injustice of it all.
This memoir is an ode to all those who’ve been assaulted and feel invisible. Miller reminds you that you are important. Your pain is real and we believe you.
Consider this essential reading if you are a white or white-passing person.
Layla F. Saad’s work forces you to confront your complicity in upholding white supremacy. You may not even be aware of your role because we have been conditioned from birth to participate in maintaining racist systems.
Me and White Supremacy starts the important journey of unpacking our deep-rooted, unconscious bias against BIPOC. Don’t say you aren’t racist, because whether we like it or not all white people are because our entire society is built on it.
I knew this work would be challenging going into it. What I wasn’t expecting was for my white fragility to be triggered with almost every page. THAT is why this work is so important. The very white fragility I was experiencing was the exact reason why we must undergo the task of unpacking our racism.
This work strongly demonstrated to me that one of the ways my white privilege shows up is that I am given the CHOICE to learn about racism and white supremacy. The fact that I can choose to educate myself rather than being forced to confront it as a reality of my existence is peak white privilege.
The very least that I and other white people can and should do is commit to learning 100%. Lean into the discomfort of confronting our complicity in upholding white supremacy.
Interestingly, the negative reviews of this book that you’ll find on sites like Goodreads are always from white people who feel personally attacked by this work. They can’t even see that they are proving the point of this book in real time.
Get comfortable with your white fragility folx and go do this work.
Layla F. Saad’s work forces you to confront your complicity in upholding white supremacy. You may not even be aware of your role because we have been conditioned from birth to participate in maintaining racist systems.
Me and White Supremacy starts the important journey of unpacking our deep-rooted, unconscious bias against BIPOC. Don’t say you aren’t racist, because whether we like it or not all white people are because our entire society is built on it.
I knew this work would be challenging going into it. What I wasn’t expecting was for my white fragility to be triggered with almost every page. THAT is why this work is so important. The very white fragility I was experiencing was the exact reason why we must undergo the task of unpacking our racism.
This work strongly demonstrated to me that one of the ways my white privilege shows up is that I am given the CHOICE to learn about racism and white supremacy. The fact that I can choose to educate myself rather than being forced to confront it as a reality of my existence is peak white privilege.
The very least that I and other white people can and should do is commit to learning 100%. Lean into the discomfort of confronting our complicity in upholding white supremacy.
Interestingly, the negative reviews of this book that you’ll find on sites like Goodreads are always from white people who feel personally attacked by this work. They can’t even see that they are proving the point of this book in real time.
Get comfortable with your white fragility folx and go do this work.
