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joaofranciscof's reviews
92 reviews
If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga
2.0
I, like the people in the third part of the book, am not convinced by the first two parts, although some of our reasons are different.
PS: i am also not convinced by the third part of the book.
"Those outside of a language, of a culture, see furniture through a window and believe it is a room. But those inside know there are infinite rooms just out of view, and that they can always be more deeply inside."
PS: i am also not convinced by the third part of the book.
"Those outside of a language, of a culture, see furniture through a window and believe it is a room. But those inside know there are infinite rooms just out of view, and that they can always be more deeply inside."
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
beautiful art and colouring!
Problemas de Género by Judith Butler
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Apesar da minha admiração infinita por Judith Butler e pelas ideias que expõe neste livro, não havia necessidade de ser tão convoluto e intricado, especialmente quando impossibilita maior visibilidade e acessibilidade a coisas que contribuiriam para um mundo melhor.
"Podemos referir-nos a um sexo «dado» ou a um género «dado» sem esclarecer primeiro como o sexo e/ou o género são dados e por que meios? E, já agora, o que é o «sexo»? É natural, anatómico, cromossómico ou hormonal, e como pode uma crítica feminista avaliar os discursos científicos que pretendem estabelecer-nos esses «factos»? O sexo terá uma história? Terá cada sexo uma só história, ou várias histórias distintas? Haverá uma história de como se determinou a dualidade do sexo, uma genealogia que exponha as opções binárias como uma construção variável? Serão os factos aparentemente naturais do sexo produzidos discursivamente mediante variados discursos científicos ao serviço de outros interesses políticos e sociais? Se se contestar o carácter imutável do sexo, talvez esta construção chamada «sexo» seja tão culturalmente construída quanto o género; talvez sempre fosse o próprio género, com a consequência de que a distinção entre sexo e género afinal não existe."
"Podemos referir-nos a um sexo «dado» ou a um género «dado» sem esclarecer primeiro como o sexo e/ou o género são dados e por que meios? E, já agora, o que é o «sexo»? É natural, anatómico, cromossómico ou hormonal, e como pode uma crítica feminista avaliar os discursos científicos que pretendem estabelecer-nos esses «factos»? O sexo terá uma história? Terá cada sexo uma só história, ou várias histórias distintas? Haverá uma história de como se determinou a dualidade do sexo, uma genealogia que exponha as opções binárias como uma construção variável? Serão os factos aparentemente naturais do sexo produzidos discursivamente mediante variados discursos científicos ao serviço de outros interesses políticos e sociais? Se se contestar o carácter imutável do sexo, talvez esta construção chamada «sexo» seja tão culturalmente construída quanto o género; talvez sempre fosse o próprio género, com a consequência de que a distinção entre sexo e género afinal não existe."
The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A simple yet beautiful story that ponders on life, in all its human forms.
“What if there’s no such thing as time? If everything we experience is eternal, and it’s not time that passes us by, but we ourselves that pass by the things we experience? I often ask myself this. It would mean that while our perspective would change and we would distance ourselves from treasured memories, they would still be there, and if we could go back we would still find them in the same place. Like leafing through a book backwards, perhaps even back to the beginning. (…) I try to console myself with this thought, but I can’t feel it yet. And I can only believe what I feel.”
“What if there’s no such thing as time? If everything we experience is eternal, and it’s not time that passes us by, but we ourselves that pass by the things we experience? I often ask myself this. It would mean that while our perspective would change and we would distance ourselves from treasured memories, they would still be there, and if we could go back we would still find them in the same place. Like leafing through a book backwards, perhaps even back to the beginning. (…) I try to console myself with this thought, but I can’t feel it yet. And I can only believe what I feel.”
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
emotional
sad
medium-paced
2.5
This is clearly a book written by a poet and maybe it should have been a collection of poems (despite the sections of this that were more similar to a poem were probably my least favourites).
The writing, although occasionally beautiful and impactful, was not my favourite because the author relied on metaphors that were very cringey and even hollow. Telling this story in vignettes, with also the use of stream of consciousness, made it sometimes random and unnecessarily disorganised. I even feel like the themes Voung explored in the narrative lacked depth, despite being obviously hard hitting and mournful.
I am very curious to read another work from Ocean Voung in order to see if we are not made for each other or if it was a one time thing.
“When I first started writing, I hated myself for being so uncertain, about images, clauses, ideas, even the pen or journal I used. Everything I wrote began with maybe and perhaps and ended with I think or I believe. But my doubt is everywhere, Ma. Even when I know something to be true as bone I fear the knowledge will dissolve, will not, despite my writing it, stay real.”
The writing, although occasionally beautiful and impactful, was not my favourite because the author relied on metaphors that were very cringey and even hollow. Telling this story in vignettes, with also the use of stream of consciousness, made it sometimes random and unnecessarily disorganised. I even feel like the themes Voung explored in the narrative lacked depth, despite being obviously hard hitting and mournful.
I am very curious to read another work from Ocean Voung in order to see if we are not made for each other or if it was a one time thing.
“When I first started writing, I hated myself for being so uncertain, about images, clauses, ideas, even the pen or journal I used. Everything I wrote began with maybe and perhaps and ended with I think or I believe. But my doubt is everywhere, Ma. Even when I know something to be true as bone I fear the knowledge will dissolve, will not, despite my writing it, stay real.”
The Precipice: Neoliberalism, the Pandemic and the Urgent Need for Radical Change by Noam Chomsky
informative
reflective
3.0
It is a very (VERY) repetitive and poorly organised book. However, it is always interesting to read Chomsky’s perspective on current affairs, specially USA affairs.
“(…) today, after forty years of the ‘savage capitalism’ unleashed by the neoliberal assault. (…) The effects of the assault are sharp concentration of wealth and power, increasingly in largely predatory financial institutions, stagnation or decline for the majority, deterioration of benefits, astonishing collapse of infrastructure, a form of globalisation designed to pit working people against one another for the benefit of international investors, weakening of institutions to protect worker rights, undermining of functioning democracy, and much else that is all too familiar.”
“(…) today, after forty years of the ‘savage capitalism’ unleashed by the neoliberal assault. (…) The effects of the assault are sharp concentration of wealth and power, increasingly in largely predatory financial institutions, stagnation or decline for the majority, deterioration of benefits, astonishing collapse of infrastructure, a form of globalisation designed to pit working people against one another for the benefit of international investors, weakening of institutions to protect worker rights, undermining of functioning democracy, and much else that is all too familiar.”
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A very flat story. The writing was ordinary but the random long descriptions and the abuse scenes did not work for me at all.
“‘Flip a coin, Eleanor. If the answer you get disappoints you, do the opposite.’ We already know the right answer, even when we don’t—or we think we don’t. But what if it’s a trick coin? What if both sides are the same? If both are right, then both are wrong.”
“‘Flip a coin, Eleanor. If the answer you get disappoints you, do the opposite.’ We already know the right answer, even when we don’t—or we think we don’t. But what if it’s a trick coin? What if both sides are the same? If both are right, then both are wrong.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye
informative
reflective
3.5
I believe most of my feelings towards this book derive from the expectations I had prior to reading it. I thought it was going to be a transformative read and answer some of my questions on how to make the world a safe and liberating space for trans people. However, most arguments or topics put forward by Shon Faye lacked clarity and cohesion, and sometimes were very simplistic.
Apart from my disappointment, I am really grateful for this book, specially the last two chapters (the one about the LGBT+ community and the one about feminism), which proposed some excellent considerations and very thought-provoking discussions (although most of the problems I talked about remained). If I had to recommend this book, it would be these two chapters that I would say are mandatory reading.
Cannot wait to see what Shon Faye accomplishes next.
"Trans people have been dehumanized, reduced to a talking point or conceptual problem: an ‘issue’ to be discussed and debated endlessly. It turns out that when the media want to talk about trans issues, it means they want to talk about their issues with us, not the challenges facing us."
Apart from my disappointment, I am really grateful for this book, specially the last two chapters (the one about the LGBT+ community and the one about feminism), which proposed some excellent considerations and very thought-provoking discussions (although most of the problems I talked about remained). If I had to recommend this book, it would be these two chapters that I would say are mandatory reading.
Cannot wait to see what Shon Faye accomplishes next.
"Trans people have been dehumanized, reduced to a talking point or conceptual problem: an ‘issue’ to be discussed and debated endlessly. It turns out that when the media want to talk about trans issues, it means they want to talk about their issues with us, not the challenges facing us."
Cândido, ou o Optimismo by Voltaire
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Acho que todos os filósofos deviam refutar-se e criticar-se uns aos outros escrevendo livros de aventuras cómicos.
“Fazei um exercício: levai qualquer passageiro a contar-vos a sua história, e se encontrardes um só que não tenha maldito a sua vida e não tenha muitas vezes dito a si mesmo que era o mais infeliz dos homens, lançai-me ao mar com a cabeça para baixo.”
“Fazei um exercício: levai qualquer passageiro a contar-vos a sua história, e se encontrardes um só que não tenha maldito a sua vida e não tenha muitas vezes dito a si mesmo que era o mais infeliz dos homens, lançai-me ao mar com a cabeça para baixo.”
Love and Other Thought Experiments by Sophie Ward
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
2.5
The concept of having a thought experiment before each chapter was very interesting, as well as reflecting on how that thought experiment might relate to the chapter it preceded. However, this relation (and several other aspects of the story) was explained to us many times throughout the book, leaving little or no contemplation for the reader to do. Some of the plot points were very weak and/or uninteresting, and they felt a bit pointless in the end. Also, I thought we were past the simplistic “chosen one” trope (I was wrong).
The premise had so much potential but it was just meh.
“Your worldview is selfish beyond your own survival, beyond your code. The universe revolves around you. One day you stand alone on a mountain or in a crater, and in that glimpse at the majesty of the sea or the eternity of the stars, in that moment when the telescope reverses, your sense of your unique self collapses and you carry the knowledge with you and you try never to forget.”
The premise had so much potential but it was just meh.
“Your worldview is selfish beyond your own survival, beyond your code. The universe revolves around you. One day you stand alone on a mountain or in a crater, and in that glimpse at the majesty of the sea or the eternity of the stars, in that moment when the telescope reverses, your sense of your unique self collapses and you carry the knowledge with you and you try never to forget.”