About: My March Wrap Up unpacks my best reading month yet, and extracts a quote from each of the 37 books I read.
(more…)March Wrap Up: 37 Books Read
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Book Review: You’re the Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion by Dr Meera Shah
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The Gist: An impactful and important nonfiction on the reproductive justice fight in the USA, told from the perspective of an abortion provider and patient experiences.
Series: Standalone
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Synopsis
At a time where reproductive rights are at risk, these vital stories of diverse individuals serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy, finding community and motivating advocacy
For a long time, when people asked Dr. Meera Shah, Chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, what she did, she would tell them she was a doctor and leave it at that. But when she started to be direct about her work as an abortion provider an interesting thing started to happen: one by one, people would confide that they’d had an abortion themselves. The refrain was often the same: You’re the only one I’ve told.
This book collects these stories as they’ve been told to Shah to humanize abortion and to combat myths that persist in the discourse that surrounds it. A wide range of ages, races, socioeconomic factors, and experiences shows that abortion always occurs in a unique context.
Today, a healthcare issue that’s so precious and foundational to reproductive, social, and economic freedom for millions of people is exploited by politicians who lack understanding or compassion about the context in which abortion occurs. Stories have the power to break down stigmas and help us to empathize with those whose experiences are unlike our own.
A portion of proceeds will be donated to promote reproductive health access.
Ending
Incredibly informative and inclusive. Ends with a chapter on Calls to Action that identifies how readers can participate in the fight for reproductive justice and reproductive healthcare access.
Representation
• Gender-inclusive language and approach to healthcare
• Written by a Gujarati Indian American author
• Written by a Gujarati Indian American author
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Abortion
• Racism
• Medical content
• Discussion of…
– miscarriage
– late-term pregnancy abortion
– grief
– parents deciding to end their pregnancy due to medical complications
– medical trauma
– r@pe
– child abuse
– gender-based violence abuse
• Racism
• Medical content
• Discussion of…
– miscarriage
– late-term pregnancy abortion
– grief
– parents deciding to end their pregnancy due to medical complications
– medical trauma
– r@pe
– child abuse
– gender-based violence abuse
Mature Themes:
• Sex is discussed
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Hardback
Rating: 5-stars
(more…)18 Books on My May TBR
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About: My May TBR includes 18 books that I want to read in May, including four books by AAPI authors to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month!
(more…)17 Books on My March TBR
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About: My March TBR includes 17 books that I want to read in March. I will finally read Babel by R.F. Kuang and get started on my Diverse Reading Challenge.
(more…)14 New Books: My Hiemal Book Haul
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14 new books make up my Hiemal Book Haul and includes books I’ve purchased from August to November. The most prevalent themes are fantasy and (as always) romance.
(more…)12 New Books: Maytime Book Haul
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12 new books comprise my Maytime book haul! I’m so excited that so many of these books have feminist themes.
(more…)Powerful and Motivational: The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
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The Gist: A powerful book that delves into the oppressive history of modern beauty standards, transforming the meaning of self-love.
Series: Standalone
Release Date: February 9, 2021 (2nd Edition)
Synopsis
A global movement guided by love.
Humans are a varied and divergent bunch with all manner of beliefs, morals, and bodies. Systems of oppression thrive off our inability to make peace with difference and injure the relationship we have with our own bodies.
The Body Is Not an Apology offers radical self-love as the balm to heal the wounds inflicted by these violent systems. World-renowned activist and poet Sonya Renee Taylor invites us to reconnect with the radical origins of our minds and bodies and celebrate our collective, enduring strength. As we awaken to our own indoctrinated body shame, we feel inspired to awaken others and to interrupt the systems that perpetuate body shame and oppression against all bodies. When we act from this truth on a global scale, we usher in the transformative opportunity of radical self-love, which is the opportunity for a more just, equitable, and compassionate world–for us all.
Ending
Powerful & Motivational
Representation
• Fat Black queer author
Possible Triggers: No
• No abuse
• No overly sad parts
**Note: the book does talk about racism, fatphobia, homophobia, ableism and eating disorders. I don’t think any were talked about in a triggering way; if I’m wrong please let me know through the comment section or send me an email via my contact page.
• No overly sad parts
**Note: the book does talk about racism, fatphobia, homophobia, ableism and eating disorders. I don’t think any were talked about in a triggering way; if I’m wrong please let me know through the comment section or send me an email via my contact page.
Mature Themes
• Talks about safe-sex
Format: eARC
Rating: 3.75-stars
Note: I received The Body Is Not an Apology through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to FSB Association for the opportunity.
(more…)24 New Books: My Primaveral Book Haul
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24 new books comprise my primaveral book haul! I’ve divided the haul into ebooks and physical books, with gems from my favourite genres.
(more…)Book Haul: Nine New Books for December
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My December Book Haul includes both my hardcopy and ebook purchases made since the start of December. The haul totals 9 books (including ebooks). This haul has a mix-mash of books ranging from medical memoirs to feminist nonfiction and romantic comedies.
(more…)The Weekly Wrap: November 16th to November 22nd
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A detailed look at last week’s reading habits: four new books read (one from my Up Next shelf), three new books I want to read centring strong women and explore women’s roles in systems of oppression, a change in my Up Next Shelf progress report and my 2020 reading goal and two new books I can’t wait to start reading!
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