lauraroseapostrophe's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective tense slow-paced

4.0

Underrated for sure, should be considered compulsory reading for anyone interested in internationalism, labour/Marxism, and “Third World” studies. But because it is more an oral history / conversation, it doesn’t flow like a regular book or novel, which makes it a bit difficult to get into at parts.

000steele000's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

5.0

mandyspointe's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

therealmette's review against another edition

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4.0

Hard to put this one into words. Sometimes I couldn't believe I was reading a true story. Oral histories of activist housewives from mining regions don't come along often, so this book is truly extraordinary.

pinkcait's review against another edition

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challenging fast-paced

4.0

msanchez's review against another edition

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5.0

so amazing and easy to read. really good for understanding how foreign intervention exacerbates exploitation abroad. lots to think about with this book....

uniskorn's review

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5.0

Wow. Let Me Speak! is probably my favorite book I've read so far for my war-lit comps. It's about a woman, Domitila, who lives in Bolivia. The book traces her childhood and her adult involvement in revolutionary movements that seek to help the living standards of miners and the people in that community. She testifies the horrors she's witnessed and endured, the torture, the disappearances, the murders and massacres. Her language is vivid and engaging. Readers will be horrified at what they read. I'll admit that I had nightmares after reading this book.

Let Me Speak! is such a powerful testimony that it's worth reading through even if the content is disturbing. As a woman living in the United States, I have a lot more privilege than Domitila ever had and through her testimony, I've really rechecked my westernized feminism. Whose voices are we missing? I think through this testimony, readers will clearly see whose voices are being oppressed and have a better idea on how to welcome different voices into the fold. Instead of seeking pure gender equality, Domitila focuses on basic human rights for everyone. The clearest picture of this is painted near the end when she is invited to speak in Mexico at a feminist event.

Very powerful, a must read. Until this book, I had no idea what Bolivia ever went through or is going through. South American and Central American countries have not been on my radar as much as countries from the rest of the world and it's got me wondering as to why that's been the case.
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