Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta

Rating:

3 Stars

Thoughts:

Psychological Fiction, Black Stories by Black Voices, Coming of Age, Thought Provoking, Immigrant Experiences, First Generation Canadian-Jamacian, Mother Daughter Relationships

Thoughts:

An important coming of age story for many to read.

This book shows Kara's struggles as a first generation Canadian-Jamacian in a way many of us cannot comprehend, such as being considered basically Canadian and therefore too white/not Jamaican enough by the other kids on her Jamaican block.

It also demonstrates the struggle to earn an income and become better educated through the housing Kara moves through and also the time her and her mother spent living with nana.

There is also a strong theme of mother daughter relationships with Kara feeling a strained one with her mother through the pressure to succeed and focus on school to earn a better life. But also through Kara's mother and nana's strained interactions such as spending the bare minimum time there on Christmas day, staying in her room while living under her mothers roof and the constant battles that seem to occur anytime the two are together.

Favourite Quote:

"To be able to stay in the group, thick skin was a must - being able to take an insult was respected just as much as being able to throw shade."

Comments

Vincent: A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Comic, Non-Fiction, Biography Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great little book on Vincent van Gogh. It is very detailed containing pieces of his life such as changing careers and failed love interests that are often not considered when we think of van Gogh, instead favouring his art and mental health. The illustrations were really well done and at times helped to bring levity to the story which isn’t often the happiest of lives.

The War of Sober by Edward Rand

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Addiction, Psychology Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book not just for addicts trying to establish and maintain their sobriety but also psychologists, counsellors and the people working with them. It approaches the experience of addiction from the perspective of going to war and may help those who can’t get along with the 12 steps, contingency management or other forms of therapy traditionally used. It’s also helpful to have Edward detail his own experiences and approaches throughout so it feels less clinical and shows he does know what he’s talking about when he mentions the difficulties so it comes across less patronising than some self-help addiction books. Favourite Quote: "It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Win or lose, if we are still alive, we must decide to be different today and then make the correct choices today, because friends, ...

Broken Glass by Sarah Kay

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This collection is mixed for me, some of the poems were really good and all were definitely emotive but I think so many poems on the Hamas attack and subsequent war which is highly politically charged a little difficult to tackle. Favourite Quote: "What good is it to open my heart when in the end, you will stab it in the back?"

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