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susannes_pagesofcrime's review
5.0
I found this to be a warm hug of a book, mainly due to the way Warren Ellis has written it, with a warmth and self awareness that comes across as being very genuine.
So much has stemmed from the fact that he stole a piece of Nina Simone's chewing gum after a concert and kept it wrapped in a towel for twenty years. By giving a bit of his background, the story of keeping the gum and what has happened in the last couple of years after he decided to "let it go" we are treated to a glimpse of his life, thoughts and friendships.
Well worth the read.
So much has stemmed from the fact that he stole a piece of Nina Simone's chewing gum after a concert and kept it wrapped in a towel for twenty years. By giving a bit of his background, the story of keeping the gum and what has happened in the last couple of years after he decided to "let it go" we are treated to a glimpse of his life, thoughts and friendships.
Well worth the read.
drewbertmcgee's review
5.0
Loved this. One nitpick I have is that I wish it chronicled more of Nina Simone herself, but the focus really is on the awe and power of her gum. It’s about the act of making something mundane sacred and what found objects can mean to us, the meaning we imbue into the every day. Really really loved this.
captainfez's review
5.0
Let's get something out of the way up front.
Warren Ellis is a fuckin' delight.
Like, a we're pretty lucky to have him-level delight.
Nina Simone's Gum is a rare thing: a shortish book that seems to be filled to the brim with delight. It's about Ellis, but not really. It's about chewing gum, but not really. It's about a sense of the man as conveyed by a worshipful consideration of a legendary singer's ephemera.
It is inexplicably, joyfully Warren.
less common now, but just as essential – and part of the joy of those gigs is the fact that a bunch of their runtime is spent listening to Ellis introduce tunes in a rambling manner that involves drugs, God, soap, Elliott Gould and being real fuckin' bummed about death. It's what you'd get if Gandalf was both a beatnik and a leprechaun.
Consequently, it's not a surprise that the man's written a book. He's always had a loquacious streak, so this is the natural extension of that gabbiness.
To read the rest of this review, please visit my blog.
Warren Ellis is a fuckin' delight.
Like, a we're pretty lucky to have him-level delight.
Nina Simone's Gum is a rare thing: a shortish book that seems to be filled to the brim with delight. It's about Ellis, but not really. It's about chewing gum, but not really. It's about a sense of the man as conveyed by a worshipful consideration of a legendary singer's ephemera.
It is inexplicably, joyfully Warren.
less common now, but just as essential – and part of the joy of those gigs is the fact that a bunch of their runtime is spent listening to Ellis introduce tunes in a rambling manner that involves drugs, God, soap, Elliott Gould and being real fuckin' bummed about death. It's what you'd get if Gandalf was both a beatnik and a leprechaun.
Consequently, it's not a surprise that the man's written a book. He's always had a loquacious streak, so this is the natural extension of that gabbiness.
To read the rest of this review, please visit my blog.
no_rah_reads's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
Basically Warren Ellis' love letter to music. I feel privileged to have been allowed a window into his devotion.
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