ambershelf's reviews
1295 reviews

MEMPHIS chronicles the three generations of women in the North family who are all grappling with their personal challenges and tragedies. Narrated from the granddaughter Joan's perspective, Stringfellow examines how grief propagates through generations, portrays the tenacity of the North women, and celebrates the importance of Black sisterhood.

While the premise of MEMPHIS is captivating, the book is too ambitious in its scope for 250 pages. As a result, some plot points and character arcs feel rushed or underdeveloped. My biggest gripe is with Joan's revelation towards the end of the book, where she processes her childhood trauma in a span of pages. Similarly, a couple of chapter ends with a tragedy befalling the North family while not fully exploring how these events affect the characters. As such, the "tragedies" in MEMPHIS feel like plot devices.

I also have a *lot* of thoughts on how the perpetrators in MEMPHIS are written and the consequences (or lack thereof) they face. But maybe that's the point. Maybe Stringfellow is trying to show the readers how history has never been on Black women's side, and all they can do is pull themselves up. I just wish the book was a 500+ page multigenerational family saga that could give the characters more depth and explore these historical complexities.

In IMMENSE WORLD, Yong introduces the concept of animals' "umwelt," the environment or surroundings perceived from the animals' standpoint. Through comprehensive research and interview, Yong breaks down these senses into 11 chapters and bring the readers on a journey to experience the world through their perspective.

I love that Yong explains complex scientific concepts in simple terms; his compassion and empathy for understanding the world through the lens of animals is another theme beautifully explored in the book. IMMENSE WORLD is a perfect read for animal lovers.

Some fun facts from the book:
1. Male mice produce a pheromone in their urine to attract females to other components in their odor. This substance is called darcin, after Darcy in Pride and Prejudice

In SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER, Ashley C. Ford tells the intimate story of her relationships with her incarcerated father and abusive mother, and the complicated dynamics of her family growing up. Through raw and poignant storytelling, Ford delves into the emotional turmoil of having a loved one behind bars and its impact on her own sense of self and identity.

Ford describes her traumatic experiences of abuse, neglect, and body dysmorphia with honesty and vulnerability that touched me in ways I couldn't imagine. SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER also encourages the readers to redefine family, as Ford explores the idea of finding love and support outside of her traditional family unit.

I particularly appreciated Ford's interview with Clint Smith, the author of HOW THE WORD IS PASSED, and their discussions on preserving family stories that allow people to process the brutal history without passing on generational trauma. Similarly, Ford's reflections on sharing her story with kindness while maintaining the truth without compromising herself is another topic I immensely enjoyed.

Overall, SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER is a profoundly moving and thought-provoking read that touches on themes of family, identity, and self-acceptance. It's a powerful reminder to be kind to ourselves and those we love and to find the strength and courage to share our stories with the world.

Florence Day might lose her job. As the ghostwriter for the most popular romance author, Florence hasn't been able to write anything since her breakup a year ago. Romance is dead, so why even pretend? But when she receives an urgent phone call to return home, a town she's shunned for ten years, she runs into Benji Andor, her attractive editor who refused to give her an extension, who should still be in New York, and who now appears in front of her as a ghost. Florence must help her grieving family through the most challenging time and figure out why her dead editor's spirit is stuck with her.

More than romance, DEAD ROMANTICS is a heartfelt examination of loss, grief, and love. I adore Poston's writing on death; while it is painful to lose someone close to us, there is also this celebration of their life, achievements, and legacy. Of course, as a romance book, it's always happily ever after, but I enjoy watching Florence transform from declaring romance dead to confronting her ghosts to trusting love again. There is also a lot of tension because Florence and Ben literally can't touch each other

In this powerful follow-up to her memoir, BECOMING, Michelle Obama shares her strategies for remaining hopeful and staying active in uncertain times. Through her personal stories, Michelle Obama offers readers a toolbox divided into ten chapters to build enduring relationships and stay connected with our causes by finding the light within us, cultivating that light, and spreading it to discover truths and make progress.

I thoroughly enjoy hearing more stories about Michelle Obama and learning how these strategies have helped her and those around her weather difficult situations. Michelle is a fantastic storyteller; I don't think I'll ever tire of her stories. Plus, the author herself narrates the audiobook, and it feels like Michelle is giving me personal life advice. Overall a wonderful experience.

1. Don't let great become the enemy of good. Find something active that uses my mind and body and claim the small victories.
2. Be comfortably afraid. Don't allow my world to narrow because of fear. Ask myself: Am I scared because I'm in actual danger, or is it because it's something different?
3. Redirect self-criticisms. Real growth begins with how glad I’m able to see myself. Show myself kindness first and dial back my judgment.
4. Don't waste my energy trying to please everyone. No one can make me feel bad about myself if I’m comfortable with who I am. Recognize that I’m not always going to belong and learn to let go sometimes.
5. Build my social envoy. Don't be scared to reach out and find friends. Be open to making room for new friends and letting go of old ones.
6. Build a strong partnership. A long-term relationship is an act of stubborn fate. When faced with disagreements, contextualize our differences with different family upbringing or personal history rather than present blame.
7. Home is where I will always find gladness. Cultivate my family, biological or chosen, and build a place to lift others and spread the light.
8. Create space for who we are. Be comfortable with sharing my vulnerabilities in safe spaces. Use my "despites" as a training ground and embrace my differences.
9. Wear my armor. Recognize that as a BIPOC person, I might have to do extra work to get half as far.
10. When they go low, we go high. Always operate with integrity. This is not a call to be complacent or accept oppression, but how I fight rather than burn out. My power doesn't lie with my hurt and rage; it's where I take that and what I do with those feelings that make a difference. Ask myself: Am I reacting or responding? Am I making noise or making change?

Reed has had enough. Outraged by the recent killing of a Black man by an Asian American officer, Reed is ready to drop out of college and devote himself to the Black Lives Matter movement. Because when the establishment is the problem, how can you support a system built by the oppressed and fight for change? Through a series of conversations with his mom, Reed is challenged to reconsider the meaning of allyship, the power of building a coalition, and the importance of balancing activism and enjoyment.

WHICH SIDE is a humorous yet profound debut about the significance of building a community and fighting for change. With less than 200 pages, Wong explores multiple concepts about modern activism that resonate powerfully with me. For starters, I appreciate that Reed signifies a faction of perfectionist activists that expect everyone to live in shame because of their privilege. "Unfortunately, it turns out it's hard to build a movement when you keep ejecting people for not being perfect." This quote so accurately reflects the importance of maintaining a coalition that allows people to make mistakes and grow.

I also love how Wong emphasizes that activism is a marathon rather than a sprint. While social injustices shouldn't have existed in the first place, acknowledging the difference between ideology and reality will enable us to stay engaged with our cause without burnout. Along the same lines, there are always multiple ways to fight for justice, and only those extremely privileged can afford to devote 100% of their resources to social movements. We can still live with intention and be an ally without suffering.

Wong brilliantly scatters these nuggets of wisdom throughout the book with Reed's and his mom's conversations. THE LIGHT WE CARRY (Michelle Obama) makes a great companion read. I immensely enjoyed WHICH SIDE and can't wait to read Wong's future work!

In this lyrical debut, three orphaned siblings grapple with their deceased parents, newfound family, and Muslim identity. Narrated from the perspective of the youngest daughter, SISTERS is an intricately written and genre-blending novel that examines the loneliness of growing up as a Muslim American girl, the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, and the strength we find in ourselves and through each other to redefine family.

SISTERS is written in an experimental form that I suspect won't be for everyone. As a poet, Asghar leverages short sentences and white spaces to convey the emotions that will require readers to go back and forth, contemplate her writing, and interpret the meanings through their own lenses.

I listened to the audiobook first but got confused because of the style; reading it provided a much more satisfactory experience, and I recommend those interested to read this one as well. For instance, the name of the uncle who adopted the three girls is never mentioned and is just shown as a redacted box throughout the book. There is also a page or two where the word "Sisters" is repeated on the page with faded ink. For more examples, feel free to swipe through the slides above.

SISTERS is highly character-driven, and the style reminds me a lot of ON EARTH WE'RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS (Ocean Vuong), another deeply moving novel written by a fellow poet. SISTERS is by far the most poetry-like novel I've read, and I think of this book as perhaps more like visual art than a novel. The format won't be to everyone's liking, but if you're looking for a rhythmic and highbrow read, search no further.

Even if you decide to pass on SISTERS, I highly encourage everyone to read Asghar's acknowledgment, which I've also included some screenshots in the carousel. Her notes on the interconnectedness that enables her to appreciate life allow me to relish this gorgeously written book even more.