Real US History that hits close to home

 

I had went to go see the film adaptation of this with my boyfriend and we both found it amazing. Hard hitting, intense, but also funny, it was a great movie and one which taught me more about the struggles African Americans have gone through (which as a white Brit, I don’t have much knowledge about from education, and I’m slowly teaching myself). When we saw this book in a discount bookshop in the UK (The Works), my bf decided to grab it for me as a little gift and I read it not too long afterwards.

This is a memoir about the first black police officer in the CSPD and his infiltration of a local chapter of the KKK, his eventual “friendship” with David Duke, and the impact of his investigation throughout the state and also across the US.

Sadly, I preferred the film. I know, I know. I ended up giving the book 3 stars, and I did speed through it and find it really interesting, but there were too many flaws which could have been fixed with a proof-reader. There was one instance of precise repetition, almost word for word, and there were many other instances where Stallworth repeats information unnecessarily as he only mentioned it ~20 pages prior.

Personally, I was fine with the writing style, but I know that it won’t suit everyone’s taste. I thought it was personal, and given the style of the book, the best choice of portrayal. However, I did feel the detachment of years as Stallworth wrote this many years after the incidents took place.

Despite all this, however, I still urge you to pick up the book and see the film. The memoir gives so much depth and information about this major event in US history. Not just a black man infiltrating the KKK, but also the first black man in the CSPD. It is incredibly interesting. The film adds another layer to the knowledge, with Spielberg taking initiative in some aspects and adding in additional sectors which weren’t in the book but could easily have happened and were happening around the country in this time period. As well as some harrowing scenes at the end of the film.

Overall, this is an important book in my opinion. It keeps fresh in the public’s eye the atrocities which were committed in the name of the US, the racism prevalent throughout societies highest powers, and what can be done to show clowns the true extent of their ridiculous makeup.

Birthday Books!!

It was my 23rd birthday on the 13th of October, and of course some of my loved ones gave me books as presents! I didn’t get too many as a lot of my family think I have too many books (they are obviously wrong) but a few great friends and my bf got me a book or two!

Starting off with my lovely boyfriend, although he didn’t get me a book as a pre-planned present he did buy my BlackKKlansman when we were out in town together on the day itself. We saw the film together and he knew I was interested in reading the memoir and so he grabbed it for me!

Then my bestest friends, who are essentially my family. The two of them together got me The Testaments by Margret Atwood and The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. I hadn’t actually seen Moyes’ book before and I’m really intrigued to read it, and of course I want to read Testaments at some point!

Last but by no means least is Kari! (Find her @Kari_ng4books on Twitter) who sent me three books which was absolutely lovely of her! The first was the tiny book of the complete Jane Austen, as I’m collecting all these tiny books, Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (which I’ve been trying to find secondhand for forever) and War Storm by Victoria Aveyard so now I have that complete series! I am so so grateful for those!

Thank you to everyone who wished me well on my birthday and especially to Kari and my loved ones for my gifts, I appreciate it all so much.