by Mia McKenzie
★★★
Category archives: read
Imago
(Xenogenesis #3)
by Octavia E. Butler
The most frustrating aspect of Adulthood Rites and Imago is the same as in Survivor, the book Octavia disowned, which is the essentialism of race. In Survivor, blue Kohn are leaders; in the Xenogenesis series, humans and Oankali are also set in their respective singular … Read more
Adulthood Rites
(Xenogenesis #2)
by Octavia E. Butler
★★★★
Dawn
(Xenogenesis #1)
by Octavia E. Butler
★★★★½
Bloodchild: And Other Stories
by Octavia E. Butler
“Bloodchild” is my favourite short story of hers. I would avoid “Near of Kin” and “Crossover”.
Night at the Fiestas
by Kirstin Valdez Quade
★★½
The Chinese in America: A Narrative History
by Iris Chang
★★★★★
Parable of the Talents
(Earthseed #2)
by Octavia E. Butler
★★★★
Parable of the Sower
(Earthseed #1)
by Octavia E. Butler
★★★★
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
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
★★