Book Review of Black Spartacus by Sudhir Hazareesingh: Epic & Dramatic Biography

Toussaint Louverture is a name that should echo through the annals of history. Born into slavery, he led a revolutionary army to liberate enslaved men, women, and children across Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti). ot only that, but he became governor of Saint-Domingue, negotiating fiercely with France, Britain, and the USA. Toussaint sought peace and prosperity for his nation, determined to secure long-term freedom for Black and mixed-race citizens. In Black Spartacus, Sudhir Hazareesingh vividly brings to life this powerful, dedicated, yet controversial leader.

Empowering Non-Fiction Reads for International Women’s Day

Tuesday 8th March is International Women's Day! It's a perfect time to celebrate the incredible strength and achievements of women around the world, as well as acknowledging the obstacles we face. With that in mind, I've put together a list of my favourite feminist non-fiction reads.

Book Review of The Comfort Book by Matt Haig: A Hug in Word Form!

When author Matt Haig was in the darkest days of his depression, he noted down any and all of the quotes, advice, observations, inspiration, or anecdotes that brought him comfort and hope. The Comfort Book grew from this principle of hope and Haig's desire to share it with readers. Designed to be a cover-to-cover companion on the worst days, or simply to dip into when you're feeling a little lost, this unique read offers a gentle dose of affirmation and self-care within every page.

Belabored by Lyz Lenz: Sarcastic, Unapologetic Feminist Statement

Rating: 3.5 stars Genre: Non-fiction Summary: The USA is perceived as one of the most powerful countries in the world, yet it also has one of the highest maternal death rates. And those rates, already high, skyrocket if you happen to be a woman of colour, a gay or trans parent, or a working-class mother. In Belabored: A Vindication of the Rights of Pregnant Women, Lyz Lenz pulls apart these grim statistics to reveal just how harmful our cultural myths of motherhood have become. From diminishing access to safe abortion, to the policing of pregnant bodies and the stigma of postnatal depression, the intimate and private act of creating a child has been dragged into the public arena for politicians to debate and everyone else to gossip over, or have an opinion about. Belabored is a furiously feminist manifesto that, finally, puts pregnant people, their bodies, and their choices at the centre.

Most Important Lessons from Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch

I recently finished listening to the audiobook of Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch, an exploration of what it means to be mixed-race in Britain that is both broad and deeply personal. A traditional, analytical review felt as though it would somehow detract from the invaluable messages that are at the core of this book. With that in mind, I am instead going to list the 5 most important lessons that I took away from reading Brit(ish).

The Book of Pride ed. by Mason Funk: Get Inspired by LGBT+ History!

Rating: 4 stars Genre: Non-fiction Summary: Feeling a debt of gratitude to his queer community's elders, and determined not to let their stories be lost to history, Mason Funk established Outwords, a charity dedicated to travelling the length and breadth of America to interview LGBT+ elders. From swanky offices to rural snowstorms, the Outwords team seek queer stories wherever they can find them, determined to record as many of the movement's perspectives as possible. The result is The Book of Pride, a collection of interviews with LGBT+ pioneers, including John S. James (HIV treatment campaigner), Diana Rivers (author and women's rights activist) and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (trans community leader).

The Trauma Cleaner by Sarah Krasnostein: Brave and Compassionate Biography

Rating: 4 stars Category: Biography Summary: Sarah Krasnostein first meets Sandra Pankhurst at a forensic services conference, where Sandra is promoting her trauma cleaning company. The lives (and deaths) touched by Sandra through her work, from murder victims to obsessive hoarders, immediately make an impression and inspire Krasnostein to learn more. There is one story, however, that will become the greatest fascination - one that holds all of these other disconnected and diverse lives together. It is the story of the trauma cleaner herself.

An Improbable Life by Trevor McDonald: Astonishing Journalist’s Memoir

Rating: 3.5 stars

Category: Non-fiction, Autobiography, Memoir

Synopsis: Sir Trevor McDonald's career as a journalist began at Radio Trinidad in his home country, where he tried his hand at everything from reading the news to commentating on water polo! When he moved to London to take a job at the BBC World Service, he had no idea that he was soon to become one of the top journalists of his day.

Working for ITN and Channel 4, his reporting work has taken him from a South Africa stricken by Apartheid to Barack Obama's inauguration in Washington, and he has interviewed people as diverse as death row inmates and the dictator Saddam Hussein.

Most Important Lessons from It’s Not About the Burqa

I recently finished listening to the audiobook of It's Not About the Burqa, a collection of essays by British Muslim women that is edited by Mariam Khan. A traditional, analytical review felt as though it would somehow detract from the invaluable messages that are at the core of this book. With that in mind, I am instead going to list the 5 most important lessons that I took away from reading It's Not About the Burqa.

Most Important Lessons from White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

I recently finished listening to the audiobook of White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. A traditional, analytical review felt as though it would somehow detract from the invaluable messages that are at the core of DiAngelo's work. With that in mind, I am instead going to list the 5 most important lessons that I took away from reading White Fragility.