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rkivemyreads's review against another edition
5.0
I decided to write up a rough draft of my review by the time I was only halfway through this book because I was inspired and so much of what I was feeling had to pour out.
“If you are an established member of ARMY, thank you; I hope you find yourself amongst these pages.” Oh, I did and I’m now even more grateful to be a part of ARMY. In my own humble opinion, what Wallea Eaglehawk sought to accomplish in this publication could not have been better achieved than it was in this first installment of ARMY autoethnographies. I felt seen and I felt empathy, it was crushing and hopeful and comforting to get a peak behind the curtains at the experiences from a handful of incredibly strong, beautiful members that make up this enormous fandom that has made the choice to embark on this life-changing journey alongside 7 Korean men.
The uncertainty of the world’s current circumstance has thrown me into a period of stagnant anxiety. I don’t consider it exclusive to myself as I’m sure many others are feeling this way, but where my identities: queer, nonbinary, person of color struggling with mental illness and trauma intersects with my identity as an ARMY can be difficult to put into words as it is, so in the context of where BTS and ARMY find themselves in current times I seem to find it nearly impossible. But this book certainly provided me a space to smile and cry at all the moments I so excitedly and painfully related to. Reading these stories made me feel a bit foolish that I have allowed myself to somehow believe that my own no longer matters, the catharsis I went through while taking in the words of others I felt connected to by shared experience reminded me why that’s entirely untrue, reminded me why I used to call myself a writer. Words that come from a personal and vulnerable place transcend logical impulse to trivialize them as nothing more than letters strung together to form sentences. After all, BTS has taught ARMY just how powerful giving meaning to words can be through their music, their lyrics, their encouraging sentiments, their own struggles and fears that they share with us that have catapulted many of us in this fandom into making changes in our own lives for the better. It’s in the pages of this book that one can find a diverse set of examples of those meanings BTS gave ARMY reflected back at them.
It can be difficult to explain to non-ARMY the immense and overwhelming transformative power that BTS can have once they have seeped their way into your mind, especially when one could argue that pop culture, no matter where it’s produced, has been watered down to a capitalistic and hyper-consumerist venture of sorts. How could a South Korean boyband from an industry that’s long been deemed a factory of manufactured music be any different? I'm sure it's more than complicated to embrace the multi-faceted nature of what this group and this fandom offers when the capitalist patriarchy sits in the corner taunting you for falling in love with a boyband, right? Enter I Am ARMY to provide deeply personal testimonies as to how BTS disrupts those oppressive systems and encourages ARMY to do the same. This book will give anyone who is open to understanding a chance to bear witness to what makes BTS stand out in today’s celebrity and entertainment landscape—not in the sense of global superstardom, history made and records broken but more specifically what has for the last 7 years made them special in the hearts of ARMY, who BTS consistently express is their beginning and end, and why so many are still walking with them.
“If you are an established member of ARMY, thank you; I hope you find yourself amongst these pages.” Oh, I did and I’m now even more grateful to be a part of ARMY. In my own humble opinion, what Wallea Eaglehawk sought to accomplish in this publication could not have been better achieved than it was in this first installment of ARMY autoethnographies. I felt seen and I felt empathy, it was crushing and hopeful and comforting to get a peak behind the curtains at the experiences from a handful of incredibly strong, beautiful members that make up this enormous fandom that has made the choice to embark on this life-changing journey alongside 7 Korean men.
The uncertainty of the world’s current circumstance has thrown me into a period of stagnant anxiety. I don’t consider it exclusive to myself as I’m sure many others are feeling this way, but where my identities: queer, nonbinary, person of color struggling with mental illness and trauma intersects with my identity as an ARMY can be difficult to put into words as it is, so in the context of where BTS and ARMY find themselves in current times I seem to find it nearly impossible. But this book certainly provided me a space to smile and cry at all the moments I so excitedly and painfully related to. Reading these stories made me feel a bit foolish that I have allowed myself to somehow believe that my own no longer matters, the catharsis I went through while taking in the words of others I felt connected to by shared experience reminded me why that’s entirely untrue, reminded me why I used to call myself a writer. Words that come from a personal and vulnerable place transcend logical impulse to trivialize them as nothing more than letters strung together to form sentences. After all, BTS has taught ARMY just how powerful giving meaning to words can be through their music, their lyrics, their encouraging sentiments, their own struggles and fears that they share with us that have catapulted many of us in this fandom into making changes in our own lives for the better. It’s in the pages of this book that one can find a diverse set of examples of those meanings BTS gave ARMY reflected back at them.
It can be difficult to explain to non-ARMY the immense and overwhelming transformative power that BTS can have once they have seeped their way into your mind, especially when one could argue that pop culture, no matter where it’s produced, has been watered down to a capitalistic and hyper-consumerist venture of sorts. How could a South Korean boyband from an industry that’s long been deemed a factory of manufactured music be any different? I'm sure it's more than complicated to embrace the multi-faceted nature of what this group and this fandom offers when the capitalist patriarchy sits in the corner taunting you for falling in love with a boyband, right? Enter I Am ARMY to provide deeply personal testimonies as to how BTS disrupts those oppressive systems and encourages ARMY to do the same. This book will give anyone who is open to understanding a chance to bear witness to what makes BTS stand out in today’s celebrity and entertainment landscape—not in the sense of global superstardom, history made and records broken but more specifically what has for the last 7 years made them special in the hearts of ARMY, who BTS consistently express is their beginning and end, and why so many are still walking with them.
anna_scht7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
sayakel's review
4.0
I am an ARMY, albeit a baby ARMY. But reading through all these chapters of people, people, reliving their fandom experiences, people breaking stereotypes, people feeling the emotions, I seem to have felt merely moths ago, was a roller coaster of chills and goosebumps. It puts into my focus once again, just how big BTS is, and how genuine. The books also bring into life different perspectives from different parts of the world and are able to put to a paper substance I am sure people have found it hard to put into words. It's a glorious record of love, love, love, and a refreshing reminder to how music heals us, how ARMY is deliciously unique as a fandom and how beautiful the experience of being an ARMY is. From organising charity projects to finding ways to love ourselves, from mere existing to real living, I related to various little bits from each chapter. The way we learn from them, the way they seem to understand us and the way pain seems to be universal. It's not just BTS who must be credited, but it is also ARMY because we have found something worth fighting for, just as they found something so sublime. Our love brings us together, though it's something so much greater than love. This book was able to capture all of that, putting through technicolour lenses through the lives of everyone who was in it. I hope I get to write a chapter someday. My chapter of being an ARMY soon.
catie132's review
5.0
A great book for ARMY (fans of BTS) and general readers alike. Each chapter tells the ARMY experience through both an anecdotal and academic lens, the writers spanning from around the globe to tell their story of how they came to know BTS. I loved reading from each writer, as all of their experiences are so different and yet connected by the same thread. Can't wait for the next book in the series!
hannahjoergensen's review against another edition
5.0
This book is about ARMY and conveys perfectly the wonderful and diverse community supporting BTS.
I enjoyed learning about different ARMY’s stories on how they found BTS as well as how BTS has affected their lives. I could see a little part of myself in almost all of the stories - the feelings of community, belonging to something, believing in something, believing in yourself are woven into all the stories, which just shows that these are feelings universally and deeply connected with being an ARMY.
I recieved an advanced copy of this book, which I enjoyed reading so much that I decided to buy a physical copy as well as another one of Wallea Eaglehawk’s works; "Idol Limerence".
I enjoyed learning about different ARMY’s stories on how they found BTS as well as how BTS has affected their lives. I could see a little part of myself in almost all of the stories - the feelings of community, belonging to something, believing in something, believing in yourself are woven into all the stories, which just shows that these are feelings universally and deeply connected with being an ARMY.
I recieved an advanced copy of this book, which I enjoyed reading so much that I decided to buy a physical copy as well as another one of Wallea Eaglehawk’s works; "Idol Limerence".
kkulecru's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
This may be the first time I've voluntarily read an anthology of essays like this, and I'm very glad I did. With its release on September 13, I Am ARMY will join a select number of BTS-related publications that I feel could be described as 'serious'- in that the content is of a certain level of quality often missing in other coverage of BTS or ARMY. Many of its literary peers are cited in the essays themselves, and I highly recommend seeking them out afterwards if any strike your interest!
At this stage I would not describe myself as a very articulate reviewer, and rather than critique the actual content of this book I feel I am better suited to attesting to the emotions I felt before and after reading. Prior to receiving this advance copy I was extremely excited to learn of this anthology's impending publication, especially as it offered an opportunity to learn more of the story behind [b:Idol Limerence: The Art of Loving BTS as Phenomena|52753649|Idol Limerence The Art of Loving BTS as Phenomena|Wallea Eaglehawk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585366662l/52753649._SX50_.jpg|78753373]. Although it was sent out shortly before a chaotic series of events unfolded in life, I still found the chance to race through it and devour the stories that lie within. I think that this context certainly intensified the emotions I felt whilst reading.
The eight essays published in this book are all extremely compelling and well-written, each describing the unique stories of various ARMY that help to illustrate the complexity and depth of this fandom. As a reader who is easily immersed in a story, each of the perspectives depicted in these essays were able to stir my empathy in different ways, as well as providing a means of catharsis at several points. It feels slightly embarrassing to say that there were a few times where it brought tears to my eyes, but that perhaps speaks to the power and depth of the writing more than anything else.
I wish I could give a (virtual) hug to each of the ARMY that were involved in the creation of this book, including the three that were unable to finish writing before publication. Thank you for sharing your stories in such an articulate and expressive manner; it is heartwarming to see the common elements that can be found in the ARMY experience, and moreso to see them framed and collated in this way. Additionally, thank you for opening my eyes to the many sources cited throughout your essays - I hope I'll have the time to add them to my academic repertoire.
I already have plans to revisit this in the near future to fully appreciate the stories within and take the time to absorb the messages in Chapter 1 and 10 bookending the eight essays. Wallea Eaglehawk neatly wraps up the eight snapshots of the ARMY experience and uses them to sketch out the scope of the Love Yourself, Speak Yourself Revolution in an extremely inspiring manner.
To finish this review, I think I can only say that I recommend this book to any ARMY, and perhaps moreso recommend it to any non-ARMY interested in learning more about this fandom's diversity. I feel that one of the best ways to understand and empathise with something unfamiliar is to gain access to an insider's perspective, which gives the outside the tools to find commonalities in their experiences and humanise the unknown. I Am ARMY truly demonstrates that ARMY is a microcosm of humankind.
This may be the first time I've voluntarily read an anthology of essays like this, and I'm very glad I did. With its release on September 13, I Am ARMY will join a select number of BTS-related publications that I feel could be described as 'serious'- in that the content is of a certain level of quality often missing in other coverage of BTS or ARMY. Many of its literary peers are cited in the essays themselves, and I highly recommend seeking them out afterwards if any strike your interest!
At this stage I would not describe myself as a very articulate reviewer, and rather than critique the actual content of this book I feel I am better suited to attesting to the emotions I felt before and after reading. Prior to receiving this advance copy I was extremely excited to learn of this anthology's impending publication, especially as it offered an opportunity to learn more of the story behind [b:Idol Limerence: The Art of Loving BTS as Phenomena|52753649|Idol Limerence The Art of Loving BTS as Phenomena|Wallea Eaglehawk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585366662l/52753649._SX50_.jpg|78753373]. Although it was sent out shortly before a chaotic series of events unfolded in life, I still found the chance to race through it and devour the stories that lie within. I think that this context certainly intensified the emotions I felt whilst reading.
The eight essays published in this book are all extremely compelling and well-written, each describing the unique stories of various ARMY that help to illustrate the complexity and depth of this fandom. As a reader who is easily immersed in a story, each of the perspectives depicted in these essays were able to stir my empathy in different ways, as well as providing a means of catharsis at several points. It feels slightly embarrassing to say that there were a few times where it brought tears to my eyes, but that perhaps speaks to the power and depth of the writing more than anything else.
I wish I could give a (virtual) hug to each of the ARMY that were involved in the creation of this book, including the three that were unable to finish writing before publication. Thank you for sharing your stories in such an articulate and expressive manner; it is heartwarming to see the common elements that can be found in the ARMY experience, and moreso to see them framed and collated in this way. Additionally, thank you for opening my eyes to the many sources cited throughout your essays - I hope I'll have the time to add them to my academic repertoire.
I already have plans to revisit this in the near future to fully appreciate the stories within and take the time to absorb the messages in Chapter 1 and 10 bookending the eight essays. Wallea Eaglehawk neatly wraps up the eight snapshots of the ARMY experience and uses them to sketch out the scope of the Love Yourself, Speak Yourself Revolution in an extremely inspiring manner.
To finish this review, I think I can only say that I recommend this book to any ARMY, and perhaps moreso recommend it to any non-ARMY interested in learning more about this fandom's diversity. I feel that one of the best ways to understand and empathise with something unfamiliar is to gain access to an insider's perspective, which gives the outside the tools to find commonalities in their experiences and humanise the unknown. I Am ARMY truly demonstrates that ARMY is a microcosm of humankind.
chie's review against another edition
5.0
I'm really grateful to be part of this beautiful community, getting to know BTS and their healing messages.
This book really open my eyes that I'm not alone, and BTS really is the purest souls of 7 kiddos I've ever known, I cannot thank them enough for everything they gave to me.
*Trigger warning*/suicideattempt/
I cannot stop my tears when reading Anna's part. It's too similar to my own experiences. From 'disliking' idol stuff to obsessed with them, my family only see them as 'pretty boy' with no talent, and how these boys give me strength to keep alive, even just one more day, just one more day, they keep me alive, and remind me every single day, one more day, please keep alive.
Thank you Anna for keeping alive!
This book really open my eyes that I'm not alone, and BTS really is the purest souls of 7 kiddos I've ever known, I cannot thank them enough for everything they gave to me.
*Trigger warning*/suicideattempt/
I cannot stop my tears when reading Anna's part. It's too similar to my own experiences. From 'disliking' idol stuff to obsessed with them, my family only see them as 'pretty boy' with no talent, and how these boys give me strength to keep alive, even just one more day, just one more day, they keep me alive, and remind me every single day, one more day, please keep alive.
Thank you Anna for keeping alive!
jordanclaydenlewis's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who isn’t greatly familiar with BTS, I really enjoyed the premise behind this book and how relatable the themes are to someone like me who isn’t part of the fandom. I Am Army critically analyses BTS’ influence on the adversity overcome by a bunch of very diverse writers. Each story is different and offers a different layer to the overall narrative of the book. Well done, Revolutionaries.
akhmalaiman's review
5.0
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
'I Am Army' exquisitely demonstrates how loving, empowered and united the ARMY community is. Their political endeavours are driven by love for love. They are truly revolutionaries.
I appreciate the different and fresh writing styles of all the contributing authors. It's academic and it's reflective - it's autoethnographic. I love the rawness of some of the chapters, especially ANNA SHAFFER's and LILY LOW's. I was close to being emotional. But what stands out to me was KERYN IBRAHIM's... ugh, so mind-blowing!
Overall, an enjoyable read. I swear, BTS would be super proud if they were to read it. Truly brilliant.
'I Am Army' exquisitely demonstrates how loving, empowered and united the ARMY community is. Their political endeavours are driven by love for love. They are truly revolutionaries.
I appreciate the different and fresh writing styles of all the contributing authors. It's academic and it's reflective - it's autoethnographic. I love the rawness of some of the chapters, especially ANNA SHAFFER's and LILY LOW's. I was close to being emotional. But what stands out to me was KERYN IBRAHIM's... ugh, so mind-blowing!
Overall, an enjoyable read. I swear, BTS would be super proud if they were to read it. Truly brilliant.