Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe

9 reviews

agw622's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As a collection of short stories there will of course be some better than others. Most of them are written to really challenge you to think in a world set to allow you to contemplate modern days issues. The charecters are amazing and vibrant. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Outing, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Chronic illness and Drug use

meg_thebrave's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This was a really cool collection of stories. I could tell it was Janelle’s first book, but it was still really cool to spend more time in the world they’ve spent so much time developing. I could see the way previous Black sci-fi writers influenced Janelle’s work, and I really enjoyed the creativity of each story. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Classism, and Police brutality

bashsbooks's review

adventurous challenging inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Dirty Computer fans, the story continues in this collection. I enjoy the translation of a tale told through audio and visuals into a written text, and I think this is a cool futuristic text with interesting and compelling things to say about gender, race, memory, sexuality, relationships, and revolution. I will say, it was a little slow to start; I had trouble fully immersing myself in the world and what was happening until the third narrator, Neer, and their perspective picks up at page 120. After that, the book was much more engaging. Timebox and Save Changes were my favorite stories in the collection.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Chronic illness, and Gun violence

Minor: Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Cursing

leannanecdote's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Grief, Confinement, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Violence, Transphobia, Racism, Police brutality, Mental illness, Death, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexism, War, and Drug use

mandkips's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia

Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Chronic illness, Drug use, and Violence

theuncannydani's review

challenging dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

When is Janelle going to write for Black Mirror? Timebox messed me up!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, Transphobia, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Confinement, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Chronic illness

Minor: Dementia, Sexism, Alcohol, Police brutality, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Gun violence

cranedphoenix's review

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Honestly this is thee best book I've read this year so far! I didn't know it was coming out until I saw it randomly on the internet and had to go out and get it and I do not regret the cost at all
I'm also surprised (in a good way) in the little ways some of the stories were connected 
Honestly the book is also inspiring for me to complete my own writing so thanks for that

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Racism, and Drug use

Minor: Chronic illness and Violence

mar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Transphobia, Racism, and Homophobia

Minor: Chronic illness

queer_bookwyrm's review

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

5 ⭐ CW: racism, homophobia, enbyphobia, border wall/deportation mention, death of a parent, anxiety/panic attacks, police raid 

"Can't build nothing if you can't feel nothing. Community comes from feeling and feeling goes hand in hand with creation." 

"Who we are and what we feel can't be too much. Might feel like it sometimes, but it isn't true." 

The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer is Janelle Monáe's debut novel in collaboration with Alaya Dawn Johnson, Danny Lore, Eve L. Ewing, Yohanca Delgado, and Sheree Renée Thomas. A singer/songwriter, fashion icon, producer, actress, and now an author, Janelle Monáe is a powerhouse and my hero. 

Each of these stories expands the universe of Monáe's 2018 Concept album and Emotion Picture, Dirty Computer. First of all, go listen to that album or watch the Emotion Picture on YouTube, it sets the stage for what New Dawn is and what it has done to the citizens under their care. Monáe uses New Dawn as an allegory for government control, Christian "family values"/purity, homophobia, and anti-blackness. 

In this world those who do not conform to what New Dawn considers "clean," people are taken and considered dirty computers, and have their memories erased. Monáe explores the idea of who are we without the memories that made us who we are? We get concepts about autonomy and choice, and the importance of fighting back even in small ways. Monáe also explores concepts around time and how it is tied to capitalism and posits, what if time could be shared as an equitable resource? They also explore community in different forms and the importance of those spaces for women and nonbinary folk. She reminds us that in order to make a better future, we must first be able to dream it. 

With Monáe herself being queer and nonbinary, this book is full of queer characters of color. It's so nice to see queer people envisioned in the future and making it something better, something peaceful, something beautiful. Each author expertly captured Monáe's voice, as it almost felt as if I could her their voice as I was reading. The writing itself was nothing short of lyrical, and some parts even felt musical like her songs. I'm going to be raving about this book for the rest of my life. Thank you Janelle Monáe for making queer enbies of color feel seen and included. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Racism