Reviews

Talk Like a Man by Nisi Shawl

fantasynovel's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed these stories, but I thought the best chapters in this collection were the essay and the interview. I was super interested in everything Nisi Shawl had to say about science fiction and science, Ifa and religion, especially when they spoke about Ifa's social technologies, including altars, music, and offerings. "Viewing Ifa more as a spiritual practice, a cultural and social milieu, than as a theoretical construct of the cosmos, it's possible to see certain of its elements as social tools, as parts of a social technology" (89). I was also drawn to the Afrofuturism conversation, and I wish that there had been more time dedicated to that. The next Shawl work I read will be Writing the Other.

c_el_gee's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

cebolla's review against another edition

3.0

Some of the stories were decent, some were confusing and boring. I guess I'd probably read something else by them.

funcharge's review

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

aconfundityofcrows's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

indalauryn's review against another edition

5.0

Somehow, Nisi Shawl's writing always comes at the right time for me. I enjoyed the shorts and essays here and with "Something More" was reminded of how I wish I could write about music and musicians in the way they do. I was taken back to what struck me about Filter House and see that Shawl still has that flair for making the fantastic part of the every day.

vortacist's review

adventurous reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

poulpoboop's review

emotional hopeful informative mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5