Welcome to Litsy!

This was excellent on audio. What the author does so well is shine the humanity on North Koreans, specifically its defectors. I want to say it‘s hard to imagine such poverty, propaganda and such lack of freedom happening today, but sadly it‘s not. Five stars from me. #nonfiction2024 (1984)

Intense, lyrical, pithy poetry and prose, illuminating the collective impact of white supremacy on the Black experience: micro aggressions, discrimination against the pride of Serena Williams, stop and frisk police brutality, and more that leads to collective and individual trauma. Worthy of the national poetry award.
#Nonfiction2024 #RollofThunder

Here‘s a quarterly update of my progress in the #nonfiction2024 challenge. I used stars to note which prompt books I‘ve read already. The blue ones are those I‘ve read this year. I‘m hoping to have a blackout board twice over by also reading the prompts.

@Riveted_Reader_Melissa

I don't read a lot of poetry, and I won't pretend that I understood everything in this collection. But I really appreciated the way these poems were written and the glimpses you get of the author's struggles with being indigenous & trans, internally & interpersonally, and growing up in foster care. It also made me want to listen to Florence + the Machine, which I'm not mad about
#LGBTQ2024 poetry @Kenyazero #Nonfiction2024 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

After reading this I went straight into reading the second book in her ‘living autobiography‘ series, and went out and bought the third, because it was everything I was hoping it would be and more. Her writing is just amazing 🖤

#nonfiction2024 (Speak)

Now Manitoba Premier, Kinew shares a rich story of his journey, as well as that of his father who survived residential school, through pain, racism, and substance abuse to healing and leadership. He honestly covers key elements in Canada‘s Indigenous history, insights into spiritual and cultural practices, and his own path towards being a writer and commentator with his father becoming a key national leader.
#Nonfiction2024 AbsolutelyTrue

Fascinating insights into the lives of six defector North Koreans (100 were interviewed) with context re the politics, structures, and culture since WW2, with absolute government dominance as the constant theme. A dedicated Communist, street kids, a South Korean POW, a doctor with no resources, and many more watching their loved ones starve and die. Also good insights into the Koreas/Russia/China/US tensions.
#Nonfiction2024 #HandmaidsTale

This was an interesting & informative look into gender and what it means to different individuals. Ewing conducted a series of interviews asking about people's genders in a search for understanding of their own & came to the conclusion that... it's complicated. So many factors play into it & there are so many ways to express yourself outside the binary. I appreciated the comic style and how the interviews were organized to create a cohesive theme.

Good collection of essays with different takes on how the Black experience of racism intersects with shame, trauma, and vulnerability. I had varying responses to the essays, but found most of them moving and informational, with a wide range of themes. I particularly appreciated Burke and Brown's dialogue at the beginning about why they wanted to work together.

#SheSaid

#Nonfiction2024 #IKnowWhytheCagedBirdSings

Another read pulled from the #nonfiction2024 prompt list. I like her humor and honesty during a very turbulent time in Iran. I can‘t imagine how you make the mental shift from freedom of speech to restrictions everywhere. Her parents were great in that they made their home a safe place to speak out.

Anyone have another nonfiction recommendation that covers the rise of the Islamic State? I‘d like to know more.