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hannahfication's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
oh boy!!!! this is a very special selection of essays. most of it holds up really well (one or two things i'm 'eh' on). by and large a valuable read. reflections on society, family roles in perpetuating white supremacy, functions of southern culture (lies, humor are both interrogated wonderfully), and selections from a notebook during a contentious and virulently homophobic 1984 senate race. segrest's critique of american literature was a highlight too. very vulnerable and relatable in the lengths we go to to be like the idols placed before us, explained perfectly in the moment when she describes reading faulkner in a graveyard and, in writing her essay, reflecting on that activity as pretentious, moving her to critique american literature more broadly. i felt less alone reading this. she asked questions i've thought before but never interrogated thoroughly.
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