Forbidden Notebook
Forbidden Notebook is a testament to repeating patterns that keep women down and prevent them from being who they truly want to be or even seeing themselves as people at all.
All Book Reviews
Hargrave reads voraciously and diversely — mostly antiquarian and classic books in translation. These are her book reviews.
While she reads more books than she could possibly write about, she does consistently post weekly reviews. New reviews are posted on Mondays.
Looking for one of the books that have been reviewed? Want to find some vintage treasures of your own? Second-hand and used books are unique and eco-friendly, and can be found at your local independent bookseller. If you’re looking for an American bookseller, you can check here. UK booksellers can be found here.
If you’d prefer to buy books online, many vintage and rare editions can be found at ThriftBooks.
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All Book Reviews
The Fate of Mary Rose
I first encountered her writing in McNally’s re-issue of The Stepdaughter, and I loved how Blackwood could pack so many layers into such a short novel. So I was excited to try another of her books..
Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black
One of the best parts of the collected editions like this (especially when they’re arranged chronologically) is that you can follow Mueller through her life and watch her evolve as a writer.
Seduction and Betrayal
Literary criticism is a bit off of the beaten path of what I normally review, but when I find a volume that really complements my reading, then I make an exception.
At the Bottom of the River
It’s important that one does not expect completely linear stories when one picks up a Kincaid work.
The Weary Blues & The Ways of White Folks
It’s hard to express just how incredible his verse is. Often, it is the perfect union of opposites. Harsh and beautiful. Joyful and full of grief.
Neighbors and Other Stories
Though the book is new, the stories are classics. Oliver’s prose is crisp and stark as she takes the reader into the realities of Black life under Jim Crow.
The Harlem Book of the Dead
It’s a beautiful testament to the love and care that went into caring for the dead, as well as the images that survivors carried with them after the funeral was done.
Vegas
I think it’s a pretty common experience to have a dark season. I can remember how lost I felt in my mid-twenties, when school was over and everyone started to ask me what was next.
The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise
It takes a lot to take tragedy and not only write about it but also to transcend it and attack life with gusto and literature with joie de vivre.