Monday, May 23, 2022

The 1619 Project: A New Origin StoryThe 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this sweeping and unforgettable "project" by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The 1619 Project asks important questions about this nation's founding fathers and their actions, or in-actions, when establishing the rule of law. Did they truly believe the words they were writing in our founding documents? In this project, as it's truly a project with contributions from numerous writers, Hannah-Jones sets out to demonstrate "the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative." Hannah-Jones argues our entire economic, social, and judicial systems were built on the backs of enslaved people who neither had access to these systems nor were they equipped with "inalienable rights." As a country, we've never truly faced the everlasting effects of chattel slavery on this nation and how it's been Black Americans who have continued to carry the burden of "making democracy real." It's an important read and should be studied for years to come.

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Ain't Burned All the BrightAin't Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beautiful work of art/lyrical poetry from Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin. It illustrates the story of a black family surviving the initial COVID-19 lockdowns during the spring and summer of 2020. It's a story we can all relate to: a family member sick, the constant barrage of the news, the BLM protests, and the extreme boredom coupled with a growing anxiety. It aptly identifies and acknowledges those feelings we had during those troubling months while personifying those feeling through beautifully constructed artwork. An important piece of art to commemorate a difficult time in our history.

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Thursday, May 19, 2022

Never Let Me GoNever Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the author of Klara and the Sun, Never Let Me Go tells the story of Kathy and her close friends, Ruth and Tommy. These friends are attending what seems to be an elite boarding school, Hailsham, set in the beautiful English countryside where they appear to have an ideal setting for childhood. Although, Kathy and the others begin to notice strange occurrences around the grounds of Hailsham and question why they're forbidden to leave. They begin to reveal truths, not only about Hailsham, but about their very existence. Kazuo Ishiguro spins another excellent science fiction/mystery which relies more on character development than sci-fi to explore themes such as friendship and love, the perils of technology, and the reasons for our existence. It's truly another remarkable work from Ishiguro.

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