White Writers – Page 2 – Equal Opportunity Reader

[BOOK REVIEW] The Call-Out, by Cat Fitzpatrick

The Kindle cover of The Call-Out, depicting two illustrated women having a fancy uptown lunch, is propped up on a table. Dining room shelves and the edge of a bowlof soup are in the blurry fore- and back- ground

(Buy this book here) This is a polite comedy of manners set in modern-day queer New York, about 6 women(5 of whom are trans), written entirely in rhyming verse, formatted like an old school LiveJournal blog. That’s a lot of concept for a 168-page book, and to its credit, it mostly works. Once you getContinue reading “[BOOK REVIEW] The Call-Out, by Cat Fitzpatrick”

[REVIEW] Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe

The paperback book Gender Queer is held up in between two evergreen trees. A cluster of daffodil blossoms peek up over the top of the cover in the space between the trees. Big symbolism here. Photography 101 game proper

(Buy this book here.) I’m back after a bit of unexpected hiatus. It’s Pride Month, and while I read queer stories whenever I want and not just in certain months, I think now is a good time to talk about this book. (I do have a sensitivity issue/unpopular opinion about some things in these pages,Continue reading “[REVIEW] Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe”

[REVIEW] Garlic and the Vampire, by Bree Paulsen

The paperback cover of Garlic and the Vampire, depicting a sweet nervous young bulb of garlic in a walking skirt and books, a stake in one hand and a mallet in the other. A summery glass of beer is in the background.

(Buy this book here.) Sometimes, we need books that are sweeping, epic, and deep. Other times, we need books that are so cute that we want to pinch the pages and give them candy. Garlic and The Vampire is definitely the latter. This middle-grade graphic novel focuses on anxious little Garlic, one of the manyContinue reading “[REVIEW] Garlic and the Vampire, by Bree Paulsen”

[Review]A Quick And Easy Guide To They/Them Pronouns, by Tristan Jimerson and Archie Bongiovanni

A Quick and Easy Guide To They/Them Pronouns lies on a wooden kitchen table in front of a white bowl heaped with delicious egg noodles and veg.

(Buy this book here) This book is exactly what the title says it is. Archie and their cis friend Tristan put together a quick and simple graphic novel explaining what they/them pronouns are, how they’re used, and why we should use them. They take a really empathetic, gracious approach to this, with sections aimed atContinue reading “[Review]A Quick And Easy Guide To They/Them Pronouns, by Tristan Jimerson and Archie Bongiovanni”

[REVIEW] Manhunt, by Gretchen Felker-Martin

the cover of Manhunt, depicting two plums caught in a net, one bitten, is displayed on a tablet lying on a hardwood floor. A can of pepper spray, a pocketknife, and a defense strap can also be seen.

(Buy this book here.) (EDIT: I tend not to read other reviews before I write my own, and it’s come to my attention that there are a lot of trans readers and writers that have very pointed #ownnormal critiques of this book. In the interest of practicing what I preach, before you read this review,Continue reading “[REVIEW] Manhunt, by Gretchen Felker-Martin”

[REVIEW] Spare, by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex

The Kindle cover of Prince Harry's Spare, depicting his face in closeup, lies on a wooden table in between a glass of white wine and a burger.

(Buy this book from my shop.) I’m not much of a royal watcher, despite having lived in Britain for some years in my late twenties and early thirties. The only members of the family I’ve ever paid any attention to are the late Princess Diana and her youngest son, and I really only started payingContinue reading “[REVIEW] Spare, by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex”

[REVIEW] I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy

A Kindle displaying the weirdly cheerful cover of I'm Glad My Mom Died stands on front of a black, dead TV screen.

Buy this book here. (Content warning: child abuse) I feel like the best thing I can say about this book is that the title is a lie. While child star Jennette McCurdy describes the emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse her overbearing stage mother perpetrated in painstakingly gory detail here, you never really get aContinue reading “[REVIEW] I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy”

[REVIEW] First Blood, by David Morrell

A tablet displaying the cover of First Blood is held up in front of a leafless fall tree at twilight. The cover depicts a lone man standing in shadow, looking towards a light.

(Buy it here.) I remember thinking, the first time I watched the Sylvester Stallone film Rambo: First Blood, that it wasn’t what I expected at all. I expected a dumb, violent, muscley action flick. It is all of that, but wrapped around a surprisingly empathetic portrayal of a scared young Vietnam vet with PTSD usingContinue reading “[REVIEW] First Blood, by David Morrell”

[REVIEW]The Dark Side of Seoul: Weird Tales From Korean Lore, by Shawn Morrissey, illustrated by Tim Bauer

(To buy this book, go to the publisher’s website here) I never had the chance to go on a Dark Side of Seoul tour when I lived in Korea, but they had a wide reputation as a scary fun time for English-speaking horror lovers. (In fact, I’m pretty sure one of the readers of thisContinue reading “[REVIEW]The Dark Side of Seoul: Weird Tales From Korean Lore, by Shawn Morrissey, illustrated by Tim Bauer”

[REVIEW] Girl’s Weekend, by C.M. Nascosta

(Buy this book.) Yo…what did I just read? What the hell did I just read? …and why did I enjoy it so much? Lurielle, Silva and Ris are elves. Not the type who wield magic and go on quests, though–no, these elvin lasses have good degrees, engineering jobs and nice condos in a comfortable, progressive,Continue reading “[REVIEW] Girl’s Weekend, by C.M. Nascosta”