Book Review: Puerto Rico: a National History

Jorell A. Meléndez Badillo, Puerto Rico: A National History. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2024.  ISBN: 9780691231273. 

Genre: History

Subgenre: Puerto Rico, colonialism, imperialism 

Format: hardcover

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College  

 

"Colonialism has shaped the ways Puerto Ricans conceptualize themselves, their politics, and their idea of nation. This book argues that we cannot understand Puerto Rico's current fiscal, political, and social crises without recognizing its colonial reality" (xiii).  

 

At a bit over 210 pages, this book tells you the basics of Puerto Rican history. Historians can write multiple volumes on the topic, and I am sure armchair historians will still complain this book is too short, not comprehensive enough, leaves some details out, etc. This book may not be for them. This book is a more general history for folks who want to get an overview and get the basics. 

If you are an American, this is a good book to learn the history and conditions of the U.S. colony. 

If you are like me, born on the island but now living in the diaspora, the book may provide a good refresher on the history taking us to the current time. 

If you were born and raised in the diaspora, this may be a good book to read as well. 

The book is arranged into 15 chapters, and it includes a prologue, acknowledgements, notes, a selected thematic bibliography, and an index. The prologue sets the context and gives a bit of the author's and his family's experience. After that the history starts with Puerto Rico's first native/indigenous populations then goes through the Spanish colonial era to the American invasion to the future after Hurricane Maria.  

A strength of the book is in the narrative. Unlike so many academic textbooks, the author weaves the history as a narrative that is accessible and easy to read. I found myself reading the book at a speedy pace. It was not easy to put it down as I was engaged. Once I got to the late 20th century, I found myself remembering the events he writes about. The text often triggered my memories. Yes, this is an academic book, but it is accessible for the non-academic reader. 

Another strength of the book is that it is well documented; you can check the notes as needed to verify facts. Some of the notes can be interesting too. 

If you want to learn more, the selected thematic bibliography can provide some suggestions for further reading. 

I'm glad I read the book. It gave me a refresher on the history. I also learned some new things, and it was an easy and interesting book. 

I recommend the book for public and academic libraries. It works well for readers of popular works as well as academic readers. In academia, programs in history, political science, peace and social justice, and Latino studies may find it of interest. I'd consider adding a copy to my personal collection. If you prefer, a Spanish edition is also available at this time. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

 

Book Review: Black-Owned

Char Adams, Black-owned: the revolutionary life of the Black bookstore. New York: Tiny Reparations Books, 2025.  ISBN: 9780593474235.

Genre: business, history, nonfiction

Subgenre: African American and Black Studies

Format: Hardback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College

 

The author has written a well-researched and readable history of Black bookstores in the United States. The story begins with the first Black-owned bookstore, which opened in New York in 1834. From there the story moves to the 20th century and on to the 21st century into today. Some of these stores were owned by activists and fostered revolutionaries and political activities. Others wanted to run a book business. Often these owners faced obstacles, racism, discrimination, violence, and harassment from the government, especially the FBI. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction.
• Ten chapters.
• Conclusion.
• Books Black Booksellers Want Everyone to Read. A list of 10 books they want you to read. From their list I've read two: Beloved and Their Eyes Were Watching God. 
• Black-Owned Bookstores in the US by State. As of this book, Kentucky does not have one (or at least one that made the list). 

This is a history of Black people, the communities the stores served, sellers, traders, publishers, literacy, and more. The narrative draws you right in. I just kept on reading. The are moving moments. Lessons to be learned. We learn about the essential role that Black bookstores play in their communities promoting reading, culture, and literacy. In addition, it is a well researched book featuring quotes and conversations with many of the book traders who made the history. 

This is a history that has been overdue, and the author finally wrote it and shared it with the world. It's an interesting book, easy to read, and everyone should be reading it. It's not just a history of bookstores. It's a part of U.S. history that was known in bits and pieces here or there by a few, mostly those who lived it. The author does an excellent job of bringing it all together. 

This is a book I recommend for all libraries, public and academic. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

Additional reading notes:  

In the introduction the author describes how she went about interviewing people, researching, and then writing the book. What she found when she started out: 

"Most of what been written about Black bookstores is strewn across old, defunct newspapers, obscure books, journals, and government documents. All of them were difficult to find. There was no singular place to learn all I wanted to know about them. I was shocked to find that no complete book existed about Black bookstores' history, struggle, and cultural impact" (2) 

 

Significance of Black bookstores: 

"To understand the Black social and political movements that have shaped our history, we must understand the role Black bookstores have played in them-- as well as the role they continue to play as we press forward into a new and uncertain future" (4). 

 

Mulzac's Liberation Bookstore had a section that more bookstores and libraries need to have: a "Know Your Enemy" section: 

". . .which Mulzac always kept up to date, had information on current events like the Watergate scandal" (61). 

The store's motto: 

"If you don't know, learn. If you know, teach" (61).  

 

It was about more than just selling books, for example: 

"Black students often turned to bookshops like Mulzac's to supplement their formal education through the shop's community programs, educational events, author talks, and debates. People of African descent could go to Black bookstores for the instruction and education they couldn't find in formal higher education" (67).

We may often take programs in Ethnic Studies for granted, but back then such programs did not exist and/or were fighting for their place in academia. And now with the current regime they are fighting for their academic lives again. 

 

Quote to remember: 

"Stop begging someone else to do for you what you should be doing for yourself" -- Ed Vaughn, activist and owner of Vaughn's Books. 

 

A pattern in Black America, one the Black bookstore faced: 

"This was a familiar pattern in Black America: when an aspect of Black culture became popular, large companies would capitalize on the market. With few resources to fight back, Black small business owners faltered under the disadvantage" (149). 

 

Boycott Note: This book is published by an imprint of Penguin Random House (PRH), and so it falls under my publishers' against Internet Archive boycott. However, I am exercising the library exception to the boycott in order to read it since my own library acquired it. Thus I am writing my full review here, and I will post a short review on our library blog. After that, I am not promoting it actively any further.  

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive

Lee Allred, et.al., Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2019. ISBN: 9781684054145. 

Genre: comics

Subgenre: crime, detectives

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington Public Library 

 

This was a fun romp to read. Dick Tracy, the iconic detective with the yellow trench coat, hat, and his two-way wrist radio, is modernized for the 21st century. However, the writers and artists maintain the essence of the character. 

Tracy is as honest as they come. After a big bust costs him his job in one city, he ends up in Chicago. He soon starts to clean up the city, and he soon clashes with the local corruption from the mayor, police chief, so on. Only support from the state government keeps him on the job, and a special task force helps him when he gets framed for a crime, an attempt to get him out of the way. 

The story is fast paced and fun overall. Once you start reading, you just keep going. The art feels like the classic comic strips,  but they also have a bit of 1990s or so style of cartoons. In modernizing, the authors try out some interesting things. For example, his wrist radio uses a special technology so cannot be tracker. This counters the need and risk of using a cellphone. 

Overall, the story feels retro and modern. In a time when so many comics want to be dark, gritty, and edgy, this one is just fun. It has a silly moment here or there, but that is part of the charm. The art is colorful and light. Old fans and new fans alike can enjoy this book. The book features the first four issues of the series. The book also includes an overview and historical timeline of the comic strip plus some extra annotations and editorial art. I am not sure if the series has continued at this time, but I would read more of it. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Deck Review: Runic Tarot

Jack Sephiroth, et.al., Runic Tarot. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. ISBN: 9780738770734. (link to publisher)  

Genre: Tarot decks

Subgenre: vikings, Norse

Format: Kit with companion book and deck

Source: I own this one  

 

The Fool-0 

Up front, if you liked the Heaven and Earth Tarot deck (link to my review), you might like this one. JackSephiroth, artist and author of the Heaven and Earth Tarot, is the artist and author for the Runic Tarot. The art style here is similar to his other deck, which is a reason why I picked up this kit. Allen Dempter also worked on the deck's concept and did the runes research. Jaymi Elford wrote the book. A book by Elford is another good reason to pick up a deck kit. So we are off to a good start. 

The deck kit includes the companion book and the 78-card deck. The book is arranged as follows: 

• Runic Tarot. A small runic meditation to set up mood and get started working with the deck. 
• Introduction to Tarot. Briefly introduces the deck's concept combining runes and Tarot. We also get a short overview of Tarot structure. 
• Introduction to Runes. A brief overview to runes. We also get a table of runes. 
• Unlocking the Meanings. Some advice on using the book as starting point for your journey with the Tarot and runes. 
• Major Arcana. First we get a table showing which Nordic deities and runes connect to Major Arcana cards. Then you get the Major Arcana entries. Each entry includes a full color illustration of the card, image description, meanings, keyword for upright and reversed interpretation, and interpreting the runes. 
• Minor Arcana. Entries are arranged by suits. Note each suit draws from different runes. For example, runes in the suit of horns (cups) are drawn from the Medieval Futhark.  The card entries here lack illustrations. You get image description, meanings, keywords upright and reversed, and interpreting the runes. The text is shorter than in the Major Arcana entries, but you get enough to work with the cards. 
• Reading Tarot. This includes brief instruction on using the cards, runic spreads featuring 3 spreads, and a list of steps to do your first reading. If you're experienced you might skip the last page, but I'd say try the steps anyway to reinforce learning. 

The book is accessible and relatively easy to read. When it comes to the runes, you get the basics. If you know runes and/or work with runes, you may appreciate the integration with Tarot better. If you come with no knowledge, and you are curious, you may want to seek some supplementary reading on runes. Still you can use the deck and book just fine even if your knowledge of runes is limited. 

Eight of Shields (Pentacles) 

The card art is beautiful with a bit of an ethereal quality. If you like vikings, Nordic mythology and imagery, you'll probably like this deck. The deck has some Rider Waite Smith (RWS) elements, but much of the art offers unique elements that can add to your readings and interpretations. 

The cards are fully illustrated. They feature images that you can take your time looking at them. They are rich in detail and expressive. They are colorful with grey tones predominant. I'd say this is a good deck to use during the winter season. Of course, you can use it any time of year, but for me it works well in winter. If you work within the RWS system, this deck can work for you. The deck can work well for intuitives given the rich and expressive art. 

Each image in the deck features one rune or more. A small issue is the artist drew some of the runes too small or hid them too well in the art. There are one or two cards I could not see the runes; I realized a rune was there after reading a card description. I found this is a significant issue on some cards. 

On a side note, there is a mini-edition of this deck available, so if you cannot see some runes on the standard size deck, the issue may be worse in the smaller size. Despite that, I may get the small edition for my work office. 

Overall I love the deck. I found it to be a solid reader, reliable, and responsive. It works for me, In addition, it has made me more curious about runes, so I will start studying them down the road. I am gathering some study resources already. 

If you like Runic, viking, Norse art and beliefs, and you read Tarot, this is a deck for you. If you work with runes, this deck may be for you too. I do highly recommend it. It is one I'd consider getting a back up copy. 

5 out of 5 stars.

 

This deck kit qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Book Review: Tarot: a Graphic History

Valentina Grande, Tarot: a Graphic History. Brighton: Leaping Hare Press, 2025.  ISBN: 9781836002734. 

Genre: graphic novels

Subgenre: Tarot, biography 

Format: e-book galley

Source: Edelweiss Plus  

 

This is probably one of the nicest and sweetest books about Tarot I've read. This is a bit of a biography of Pamela Colman Smith, the artist who brought to life what is now known as the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) Tarot deck. It is also a bit of history about Tarot, and a bit of late 19th century history. 

The story's frame is Pamela meeting at a house with some female friends. During this gathering, they chat, talk and gossip, but also Pamela is reading cards for them. As she reads the cards, she also explains them. Thus we get some small lesson on card meanings and how to interpret them. Pamela also talks about her life and experiences including her travels and comments on contemporaries. 

The art is certainly a good reason to pick up the book. It is colorful, and it has a soft cozy style that draws you in. It brings the story to life. As for the story, the author does some reimagining of events and time, which is explained in the prologue, but we still get a good sense of what her life and times were like. 

The book as a whole is an easy and fun read. It is a definitive biography? No, but if you want a place to start learning about her this book is a good option. This may be a nice book to give as a gift to a beginner in Tarot along with a classic RWS deck. 

The book includes a prologue, 5 chapters, and an epilogue. The book does not include references, though the author mentions a few books they read or consulted to write this one.

Overall, this is a nice and accessible book. It appears simple, but it offers some depth. Public libraries may want to acquire it, especially if they already collect other esoterica. For academic libraries in an interest in pop culture may want to acquire it. I'd buy for our library, and I would not mind getting a personal copy for my collection. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

This book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: