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campjamie's review
Not going to give this a star review - half of the essays in this book were very interesting to me, so I liked them, and the other half were on topics I didn’t care about, so I can’t evaluate them. This is probably a better collection for someone who likes ~art~
samstillreading's review
4.0
Rachel Kushner is an author I have always meant to read, but never got around to until now. Although she is best known for her fiction, The Hard Crowd is a collection of essays from the last twenty years on a wide range of topics. All are brilliantly written, sharp and well researched. While not all the topics were my jam, overall it was a thought provoking read.
The first essay is about a sort-of-illegal motorbike race, which reminded me a little of the Dakar rally but without the money behind it. It’s a gripping read and introduces Kushner to the reader as a woman who knows a lot about a wide range of topics. Several other essays mention classic cars she’s owned or owns (like the Ford Galaxie on the cover). I would have been happy for more about these cars, but sadly it was not to be. Other essays were on topics that I knew little about, such as Shuafat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem, which were fascinating. The Italian politics of the 1970s and the underground films or art I was less interested in, but Kushner puts well informed knowledge forward with strong arguments. Kushner has also lived a fascinating life and her tales of San Francisco outside the tourist realm were captivating. I’d love to read her memoirs or a history of the city written by her. Her writing is always clear, with no room for ambiguity. She writes strongly and I’d love to read more of her non-fiction, focusing of her observations of life.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The first essay is about a sort-of-illegal motorbike race, which reminded me a little of the Dakar rally but without the money behind it. It’s a gripping read and introduces Kushner to the reader as a woman who knows a lot about a wide range of topics. Several other essays mention classic cars she’s owned or owns (like the Ford Galaxie on the cover). I would have been happy for more about these cars, but sadly it was not to be. Other essays were on topics that I knew little about, such as Shuafat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem, which were fascinating. The Italian politics of the 1970s and the underground films or art I was less interested in, but Kushner puts well informed knowledge forward with strong arguments. Kushner has also lived a fascinating life and her tales of San Francisco outside the tourist realm were captivating. I’d love to read her memoirs or a history of the city written by her. Her writing is always clear, with no room for ambiguity. She writes strongly and I’d love to read more of her non-fiction, focusing of her observations of life.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
maraa222's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
interlibraryloan's review
4.0
just a really splendid collection of essays. although a few stood out to me more than others, none were forgettable
karenleagermain's review
5.0
Thank you to LibroFM and Simon & Schuster Audio for a copy of Rachel Kushner’s The Hard Crowd: Essays 2000-2020.
Last summer, I was at a bookstore in Los Angeles, where the cover of Kushner’s novel, The Mars Room, caught my eye. The Mars Room is a women’s prison story, a bit akin to following a character from Orange is the New Black. A fantastic read that I raced through in a single afternoon. I had been looking forward to reading more Kushner, but as with most book lovers, I got distracted by my enormous TBR bookcase. Yes, a bookcase, not just a pile. I was happy to see The Hard Crowd as an option for an audio book arc, reminding me of Kushner.
The Hard Crowd is difficult to explain. Kusher’s essays cover a range of topics, from her participation in a risky, yet thrilling motorcycle race in Mexico to critiques of foreign films and literature. I have to confess that many of Kusher’s topics were unfamiliar to me, however, even without previous knowledge, Kushner deftly sets the stage for readers of all backgrounds to engage with her thoughts. Some of her topics seemed esoteric, yet, I was always intrigued and I finished the collection thinking about new ideas and subjects.
Kushner is a fabulous writer. She kept this reader engaged and curious, even when the topic was unfamiliar or something that wouldn't normal interest me. For example, motorcycles. I have zero interest in motorcycles, but Kushner’s riviting description of the Baja race extended my interest beyond her essay and into a deep dive internet search.
If you’re looking for something a bit different and off-beat, I recommend The Hard Crowd.
Last summer, I was at a bookstore in Los Angeles, where the cover of Kushner’s novel, The Mars Room, caught my eye. The Mars Room is a women’s prison story, a bit akin to following a character from Orange is the New Black. A fantastic read that I raced through in a single afternoon. I had been looking forward to reading more Kushner, but as with most book lovers, I got distracted by my enormous TBR bookcase. Yes, a bookcase, not just a pile. I was happy to see The Hard Crowd as an option for an audio book arc, reminding me of Kushner.
The Hard Crowd is difficult to explain. Kusher’s essays cover a range of topics, from her participation in a risky, yet thrilling motorcycle race in Mexico to critiques of foreign films and literature. I have to confess that many of Kusher’s topics were unfamiliar to me, however, even without previous knowledge, Kushner deftly sets the stage for readers of all backgrounds to engage with her thoughts. Some of her topics seemed esoteric, yet, I was always intrigued and I finished the collection thinking about new ideas and subjects.
Kushner is a fabulous writer. She kept this reader engaged and curious, even when the topic was unfamiliar or something that wouldn't normal interest me. For example, motorcycles. I have zero interest in motorcycles, but Kushner’s riviting description of the Baja race extended my interest beyond her essay and into a deep dive internet search.
If you’re looking for something a bit different and off-beat, I recommend The Hard Crowd.