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Some Reviews For You
A thread
https://thedrivestudentblogblog.wordpress.com/2021/05/07/some-reviews-for-you/
A thread
https://thedrivestudentblogblog.wordpress.com/2021/05/07/some-reviews-for-you/
By: Natalie Couture— Staff Writer (CSU Intern), The Drive Student Blog
2021 has been a wiiiiillldddd ride so far, folks. Time seems to fly and yet crawl by at the same time, there’s no rhyme or reason for anything, and I can’t seem to stop procrastinating, so here’s a couple things I’ve read and seen to pass the time.
First up is When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago. This book is a glimpse into the colonization of Puerto Rico, gender norms and values that shape a story's setting, and one girl’s journey to becoming a señorita.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
“"Clear-eyed, quietly powerful, and often lyrical: a story of true grit."” – Kirkus ( https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/esmeralda-santiago/when-i-was-puerto-rican/)
If you’re a fan of novels and a fan of memoir (or maybe even one or the other), Esmeralda Santiago’s When I was Puerto Rican feels like both of these genres combined.
As a vulnerable, personal story that reads like a well-crafted novel rather than a reflection of one’s own experience, When I Was Puerto Rican takes readers into the world of Negi’s childhood, where she learns to become her own person in a world of imperialism and the…
…expectations of society and others.
Santiago deliberately structures her story in the truest form to her development, seamlessly cataloguing her perspective at various moments in her childhood as she delves into the events of her years “growing up” without giving too much of a glimpse into who she will yet become.
From several moves, to and from different schools, cities, and the like, to a final stop in Nueva York that Negi only heard stories about as a child, Santiago recalls the political climates in Puerto Rico, how they change in the midst of election season to show “care for la…
…gente” only to disappear after the results are in, and how her family works to meet its ever-growing needs as time goes on. Kirkus review the story and calls it "Cleareyed, quietly powerful, and often lyrical: a story of true grit." Kirkus ( https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/esmeralda-santiago/when-i-was-puerto-rican/)
Next is Chernobyl, the 2019 5-part series from HBO that shows a story of mankind's follies, determination, and will to live.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
“...Eye-opening, exposing, and meticulously crafted.” –
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
“...Eye-opening, exposing, and meticulously crafted.” –
Chernobyl catalogues the disaster that occurred in Pripyat, USSR in April, 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
For those who may have grown up after this disaster, only to hear briefly about the event in history books, this series is eye-opening, exposing, and meticulously crafted. World Nuclear Association ( https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident.aspx)
Chernobyl, though a fictional reenactment of the events that occurred both during and after the Chernobyl disaster, which stemmed from a safety test gone wrong that caused an explosion in Reactor 4 at The Chernobyl Power Plant.
The disaster resulted in an official death count of between 30 and 40 individuals, although the exact number of deaths resulting from the event is still unknown.
The series provides a unique perspective on historical events that showcase humanity and its heroes and expose the Soviet socialist systems that worked to cover things up. World Nuclear Association ( https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident.aspx)
By the end of the first episode, you’ll be reciting “How, exactly, does an RBMK reactor explode?” and by the end of the series, you’ll probably want to visit the site. (According to my research, it’s open for travelers, and you can even stay in a nearby hotel.
If you’re looking for an up-close look in the comfort of your home, check out the TikToks made by @victoria_chernobylguide.)
This thread can be read here: https://thedrivestudentblogblog.wordpress.com/2021/05/07/some-reviews-for-you/
