Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

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

5 reviews

lauraglovestoread's review against another edition

challenging inspiring medium-paced

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

3.5

3.5 stars.

This collection of short stories is best read after (re)watching Dirty Computer, as the text is set in the world of Dirty Computer and includes the characters therein.  I appreciate this collection as a hopeful visioning, in many cases focused on the carving out of utopian, pleasurable spaces amidst struggles for liberation from totalitarianism.  I like the inclusion of a short essay and some discussion questions at the end of the book, well suited to a book club.  With each short story featuring a different co-author, I did find the collection read a bit unevenly, with some stories more compelling than others.  The book is best at its most subtle; in a few instances, the analysis felt a bit heavy.  Monáe is tremendously talented and I'm not at all surprised her first work of written fiction is solid; I'll happily pick up her next one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Transphobia

Moderate: Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality

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

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

maryellen's review

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Confinement, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, and Misogyny

aseel_reads's review

challenging hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed the whole arc of these short stories and the premise? Our advancement in tech and infiltrating memory to control global population? Genius. It was a little hard to get into at the start, the first story was the most challenging to read, since we were being introduced to all the technical terms and the rules of the world so quickly, but you figure it out after 25ish pages. I liked that there was some connection between some of the stories but I wish there were more. Story 2 (the hotel) was my favourite and the story with the new apartment and time was the most confusing for me. I liked the last story and how hopeful it was. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deportation, Gun violence, Misogyny, Death, Hate crime, Violence, Homophobia, Murder, Police brutality, and Suicide