menahilnauman's reviews
14 reviews

Death By a Thousand Cuts: Stories by Shashi Bhat

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

adventurous emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.5

so interesting! loved the storytelling, albeit depressing at times

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Trafficking

Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono

informative reflective slow-paced

2.0

interesting concept that did not need to be 177 pages long? could have been a fully summary in like 30 pages. the idea of different hats to handle complicated problems one at a time is very helpful! i wish there was references to the stats and claims he was making, particularly around “chinese & japanese philosophy”?

Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

really picks up in the second half - first half felt like we were going over and over the same details

a challenging story about the lives destroyed at the hands of law enforcement in the US - a painful reminder that black and brown bodies are held less in the eyes of the state 

while the themes of this book are ever present and relevant to todays world, the ending was a bit unexpected (in a good way) - kept me very engaged in a way that challenged my viewpoints 

many thanks to Ausma Khan herself for sending me this copy🩵

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Grief

A BRIEF LOOK UPON ISLAM by Mahmoud Ridha Murad

informative fast-paced

pretty good basic coverage

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

very beautifully written, easy to follow 

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

read this in passing as a person who looooved the PJO books as a kid!! super lighthearted, but very self-referential lol 

Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong

reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

Wear It Well by Allison Bornstein

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

super helpful when considering a wardrobe change! love the 3 word method ◡̈ 

The City & the City by China Miéville

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death