Reviews

Mean by Myriam Gurba

chillcox15's review against another edition

5.0

A brilliantly written autofiction, Myriam Gurba's Mean tracks the author's coming of age in a society that physically preys on women, and especially women of color. You know, ours. It captures a full range of emotions, but what most stuck out to me was how good Gurba is at crafting jokes, both microjokes of a few words or less, and macrojokes that she sets up over the course of the entire work. This is maybe the single funniest books of the year, and it only speaks to Gurba's strength as a writer that the humor feels perfectly in tune with the depth of other, more somber emotions running through the book.

mattleesharp's review against another edition

4.0

Sometimes a little too tangential, but always brash. Really dug this.

ruxandra_grr's review against another edition

4.0

This one was a bit of a difficult read. So I need time to emotionally process what happened to me emotionally.

ogreads's review against another edition

5.0

Well written, engaging read. It's been a while since I've read memoir and I found the writing style refreshing and clear in a way that struck me.

mearghan's review against another edition

5.0

I was so enthralled by this book that I almost missed the first meeting at my new job because I kept saying “just one more chapter”

amandaannotates's review against another edition

5.0

“Guilt is a ghost. Guilt interrupts narratives. It does so impolitely. Ghosts have no etiquette. What do they need it for? There is no Emily Post for ghosts.”

Wow. I read this for GWS because I am doing a project on it and I am so glad I picked this book. I literally audibly gasped at some points. First off, I love that it's true crime. Why haven't I read a true crime book before? I love the way Gurba formulated her thoughts. I was so moved and so invested. I relate so much since I am also Chicana and queer. I just. I love this woman. It was so dark, funny, and irreverent. I love the connections and comparisons. I read basically 90% of this book in one day because I got so invested. It was just so tragically beautiful.

esperall's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

3.5

amandaacat's review against another edition

4.0

Probably one of the best memoirs I’ve read. Myriam Gurba’s writing style is amazing. The story she paints is vivid, sad, funny and powerful.

ludovicaciasullo's review against another edition

4.0

Non so perché questo sia spesso descritto come il racconto dello stupro subito dall'autrice, dato che quello che Myriam Gurba ha da dire riguarda solo in parte l'episodio di violenza. Piuttosto, è un romanzo di formazione, in cui vediamo l'autrice destreggiarsi in una piccola comunità, scoprire e amare la propria identità chicana, appassionarsi all'arte al college, vivere l'anoressia della sorella, costruire amicizie bellissime, essere violentata.

Il racconto non è organico: procede in ordine più o meno cronologico, ma molti episodi sono accennati, descritti in poche, sferzanti, battute. Leggendo si ha l'impressione di intravedere, più che esaminare, la vita dell'autrice, ma questo non sembra mai frustrante o superficiale. La struttura frammentata non è particolarmente originale, ma Gurba la gestisce con maestria.

Quello che da dire, Gurba lo dice forte e chiaro, senza bisogno di dilungarsi o di dare molte informazioni di contorno. Sorprendentemente, nonostante i temi affrontati siano piuttosto complessi, è un libro molto divertente. L'autrice è dotata di un'ironia come se ne incontrano di rado, e questo libro è soprattutto un testo dissacrante e tagliente.

bridgettesbitchinbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

4.0