I resented having to read through the chapters that presumably were to humanise the superintendent. We learn that he’s never had the capacity to socialise with other men, has lived in cellars too long, but at the same time he has absorbed the misogyny of our culture just … Read more
While I’m into Manglish, it’s a dragging chore to wade through stilted, pompous fantasy-speak. On top of that, referring to the female of the species so insistently is eminently irritating. It’s hard to stomach fantasy when one creates a world of dragons and fairies and … Read more
Directors as gatekeepers including Celine Sciamma think claiming colourblindness is progressive. France is a country where the national sense of humour is one of punching down, and the official line is that naming race is racist, which conveniently denies the reality of inequitable experience and keeps the … Read more
★★★½
★★★½
The parts that are memoir are effortlessly readable. Franchesca is open and self-deprecating about the lifelong process of learning. The activist content is as titled, mostly introductory. There are some odd moments, regarding possible obsessions. Overall, it’s relatable, light-hearted, and revealingly bold.
Above moments of distractingly patchy writing, this is an important work on Black British history and discourse on racism and oppressive structures in Britain and beyond.
I liked the big picture of the story and the identities of the characters—women of colour, neuroatypical, queer, non-maternal. The pacing was lurching, however, with some episodes feeling out of place, others unfinished, while others still went on too long, like with the multiple flashbacks of misogynist role … Read more
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** spoiler alert **
★★★½
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
