Motherhood by Sheila Heti is a deliberative exploration of the social norms that work against us when we make personal decisions such as whether or not to have children. Heti queries motherhood from every crevice of its social and emotional understanding, through sex, religion, biology, spiritual - no stone is left unturned. It is an exercise in both evaluating one’s decision-making process and a reassurance that we can trust that process and our intuition, without pressure to succumb to external expectations.

BooksStephanie McCannJanuary 2, 2021Motherhood, Sheila Heti, Book review, Review, novelComment

REVIEW: Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang

Sour Heart is a poignant painting of struggle told through the stories of inter-connected young Chinese-American girls upon their immigration to New York, USA. These girls chronicle their journey oscillating between their cultural histories and the desires accompanying their new American life. This is often displayed through the recollections of these daughters - through their interactions with their family members, along with their interactions with their peers in America.

BooksStephanie McCannJanuary 28, 2019Sour Heart, Jenny Zhang, Intersectional, Review, Book review, Young adultComment

REVIEW: Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

This is John Green’s best work to date. The story is personal and honest and steers away from the tropes that pollute his prior works (not a single manic-pixie-dream-girl in sight). The maturity of Green’s writing in Turtles All The Way Down rejuvenated my love for young adult fiction and excited me for future works by Green.

BooksStephanie McCannJanuary 28, 2019YA, Review, Book review, John Gren, Turtles All The Way Down, Mental health, Young adultComment

REVIEW: Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Reni Eddo-Lodge’s debut novel, Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race, stemmed from a blog post of the same title, posted in February 2014. The blog post, included in the book, triggered a mass of responses both positive and negative. The book explains racism, its history and the intersections between race and class, race and feminism, and race and immigration.

REVIEW: Call Them By Their True Names by Rebecca Solnit

Rebecca Solnit's collection of essays eloquently verbalise the many ideas shared by the left in the light of US politics in recent years. However, she does not leave criticism of left movements to be addressed by opponents. Solnit discusses the the fractured left movement where the intersections of identities and beliefs is ignored for 'greater' mainstream purpose. This collection is a thoughtful handbook for the academic and the activist

BooksStephanie McCannJanuary 28, 2019Rebecca Solnit, Politics, Review, Feminism, Activism, Call Them By Their True Names, Book reviewComment