(Earthseed #1)
by Octavia E. Butler
★★★★
Monthly archives: October 2016
Kindred
by Octavia E. Butler
★★★
Half of a Yellow Sun
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
★★★
Ha’penny
(Small Change #2)
by Jo Walton
★★★
Patternmaster
(Patternmaster #4)
by Octavia E. Butler
★★★½
Survivor
(Patternmaster #3.5)
by Octavia E. Butler
Octavia ejected Survivor from the canon of her work because of its racial essentialism, with the Kohn having strict social classes according to colour. Aside from this element, Octavia’s exploration of space is utterly absorbing, whether humans believe they are graduating from the earth or … Read more
Clay’s Ark
(Patternmaster #3)
by Octavia E. Butler
★★★
Teach Yourself Cantonese: A Complete Course for Beginners
by Hanson Ho, Hugh D.R. Baker
A rare English-to-Cantonese textbook that includes dialogue and vocabulary with Chinese characters. There are unfortunately racist illustrations throughout the book in addition to some backwards conversations. As a language learning resource the vocabulary in use and grammar points are excellent. However, the exercises only in … Read more
The Corpse Walker: Real Life Stories, China from the Bottom Up
by Liao Yiwu
★★½
Mom & Me & Mom
(Maya Angelou’s Autobiography #7)
by Maya Angelou
This is not written in Maya’s voice. Her previous six autobiographies are among my favourite books. Mom & Me & Mom is largely a diminished retelling—of an incredible and heartening life.
Citizen: An American Lyric
by Claudia Rankine
★★★
Farthing
(Small Change #1)
by Jo Walton
★★★★½
The Beggar Maid
by Alice Munro
★★
A Bestiary
by Lily Hoang
★★½