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half_book_and_co's review against another edition
4.0
Edited by Nikesh Shukla, this issue brings together short stories, essays, photography, and poetry. The Good Journal is (as the editor's note says) "aimed at showcasing the best writing from British writers of colour". This first issue makes one excited about all the coming issues and I hope a long run of this magazine. There is the beautiful, tender opening essay "Mother Tongue" by Jimi Famurewa about (re)learning Yoruba as an adult. Alex Luke's biting, intricate, and clever story "Feel This Bad" about mobbing is very memorable - and I can't believe it is her first publication (I can't wait to see what she does next). Daniellé DASH contributes the essay "Stockholm Syndrome", wondering how to reconcile her love for London with the knowledge how slavery shaped the city - it is also about feeling for Killmonger. In Charlotte Forfieh's humorous story "April Fools" a few gods grapple with mortal and immortal problems. I could go on - the entire issue is packed with great writing and art (the illustrations for each title are fabulous as well). The only text I was wondering (in a negative sense) about was Vaseem Khan's "Lessons for Post-Brexit Britain from a British Asian's Decade in India", while I found the premise interesting, I felt quite a few conclusions were a bit simplistic. The next issue of The Good Journal will be edited by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan!
aligeorge's review against another edition
5.0
The first volume of The Good Journal is packed with brilliant short stories and journalism from BAME authors in the UK. There's some fairly surreal stuff, like The Woman Who Turned To Soap by Harkiran Dhindsa. And there are several really interesting takes on what it is like to have your culture hidden or erased in the name of integration - had to immediately follow Danielle Dash on Twitter after reading her essay, Stockholm Syndrome. I also found the tales of teenage girls trying to fit in pretty heartbreaking. And there are some really harrowing and touching stories of women reacting against restrictive cultures, see Happy by Isha Karki, Do You Go Back Home Often by SJ Ahmed, and Whose Men Are These by Phoebe Roy. I subscribed as part of the Kickstarter but you can still get copies I think (thegoodjournal.co.uk) - would highly recommend you do and can't wait to read volume 2.
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