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jourdanicus's review against another edition
4.5
Some of the essays hit deep and others seemed, idk, a little unfinished? But still beautiful.
I loved the concept - it was almost like memoir plus social/political commentary through the lens of music criticism. All things I love, especially when early pop punk is involved. I can't wait to read Abdurraqib's poetry.
Moderate: Racism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Police brutality, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
erinmcav's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Suicide, Police brutality, and Death
Minor: Islamophobia
sydapel's review
5.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Drug abuse and Death
savvylit's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, Suicide, and Racism
annejmartin's review
5.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Violence, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Racism, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, and Hate crime
emmasbelovedbooks's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Suicide
blackberryjambaby's review
4.75
Graphic: Islamophobia, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Addiction, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Terminal illness, War, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Drug use, Child death, and Alcoholism
Minor: Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Slavery, and Pedophilia
imstephtacular's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Gun violence, Grief, Islamophobia, Hate crime, Cursing, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Classism, Misogyny, Suicide, Sexism, Bullying, Slavery, Child death, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Religious bigotry
lilybear3's review against another edition
5.0
You don't have to have heard all of the artists, albums, and songs he mentions to read his essays, but I feel it might help. He gives readers the vibe of his references and it's pretty easy to understand how the music fits in the context. It will certainly open the doors to new-to-you music. I listened to Carly Rae Jepsen's Emotion after reading the first essay on it and, again, why did I wait so long to listen?
His stories and experiences on being black in the United States are a number of things: difficult, informative, joyful. Empathy is one of the most important feelings to be human. I read the 5th anniversary edition, the first edition was published in 2017. He writes on the turbulent year of 2016 and shortly after. What he has to say in this book continues to be relevant in 2023.
As a person who resides in the Columbus area, it was interesting to learn about Columbus through his perspective. I don't know a lot about the city, I've been here a little over a year and half. But knowing Columbus isn't a requirement, just a little perk.
I look forward to reading more of his work. I cannot recommend this book enough. It might be cliche to say, but my life was changed by this book.
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Suicide, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
Minor: Addiction
caseythereader's review against another edition
5.0
- It does help that I was big into the 2000s emo scene, which many of the early essays in this book center on. No, YOU cried about Fall Out Boy while reading this book!
- It’s not just about the music, though, it never is with his writing. Music is life, and it illuminates what it’s like live in Abdurraqib’s body in this world.
Graphic: Drug use, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Racism, Murder, Cursing, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Slavery, and Suicide