toreadistovoyage's Reviews (1.58k)

I think that "Mom, can we read all of these books?" along with countless giggles says it all. My 7yo is obsessed. 

Definitely demonstrates the horrific living conditions of the Uyghur people - surveillance, reeducation camps, imprisonment, and more.

The plotting was at times confusing.

This series of poetic letters, each to a different and specific audience, was beautiful, vulnerable, and candid. Discusses many deeply personal topics.

This was slow and haunting and moody - but in all the best ways. I was uneasy listening to this. I’ve haven’t thought too much about what it would be like to experience an apocalyptic unraveling of society while isolated and living in extreme weather conditions. I feel like I will be thinking about that more often having read this. 

It will also never cease to amaze me what humans are capable of when desperate and afraid. 

An intense and vulnerable novella about a young woman trying to discover herself while navigating addiction, trauma, friendship, and more.

I had high expectations for this based on the first book in the series. This wasn’t a bad sequel by any means, but it felt very different from the first. I think it comes down to the alternating narrators. I found Rita’s chapters much more interesting than the other storyline. There was much less investigation in this book due to this as well. 

Solid debut novel. The story was gripping, but the ending didn't have the impact I expected. 

While this book is labeled a memoir, I really think it is a tribute to Noah's mother - a beautiful and emotional one. His love and respect for her, as well as her influence on his life and attitude towards the world, is so apparent. She was strict, but she was loyal and loving. She made mistakes, but she was forthright and honest. 

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. I laughed, I cried, I was angry, I was charmed. Noah brilliantly blended apartheid history with personal history. Just a fantastic memoir.

This memoir, written by a Uyghur journalist, is an emotional and horrific telling of the experiences of the author, the impact of her career on her family, and the plight of her people as they face persecution. This should be required reading. Hoja is courageous and speaks for those who have been silenced.

Another silly and creative adventure for Dash Candoo. My 7yo continues to be obsessed with this series, so I have ordered the next two. I love that this series has made my son so excited for bedtime (we read together at night).