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sofipitch's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I really loved this collection. It's too complicated to get into the message along with the beauty of each story but you can tell each was made with a lot of love a purpose. The first two stories, "The Memory Librarian" and "Nevermind" did feel a little bit more difficult to get into, but that may just be because they had the most work of introducing you to New Dawn. Either because of this or not, the last three stories are my favorite, my #1 fav being "Save Changes".
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Transphobia, and Police brutality
Minor: Homophobia and Violence
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: racism, homophobia, enbyphobia, border wall/deportation mention, death of a parent, anxiety/panic attacks, police raid
"Can't build nothing if you can't feel nothing. Community comes from feeling and feeling goes hand in hand with creation."
"Who we are and what we feel can't be too much. Might feel like it sometimes, but it isn't true."
The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer is Janelle Monáe's debut novel in collaboration with Alaya Dawn Johnson, Danny Lore, Eve L. Ewing, Yohanca Delgado, and Sheree Renée Thomas. A singer/songwriter, fashion icon, producer, actress, and now an author, Janelle Monáe is a powerhouse and my hero.
Each of these stories expands the universe of Monáe's 2018 Concept album and Emotion Picture, Dirty Computer. First of all, go listen to that album or watch the Emotion Picture on YouTube, it sets the stage for what New Dawn is and what it has done to the citizens under their care. Monáe uses New Dawn as an allegory for government control, Christian "family values"/purity, homophobia, and anti-blackness.
In this world those who do not conform to what New Dawn considers "clean," people are taken and considered dirty computers, and have their memories erased. Monáe explores the idea of who are we without the memories that made us who we are? We get concepts about autonomy and choice, and the importance of fighting back even in small ways. Monáe also explores concepts around time and how it is tied to capitalism and posits, what if time could be shared as an equitable resource? They also explore community in different forms and the importance of those spaces for women and nonbinary folk. She reminds us that in order to make a better future, we must first be able to dream it.
With Monáe herself being queer and nonbinary, this book is full of queer characters of color. It's so nice to see queer people envisioned in the future and making it something better, something peaceful, something beautiful. Each author expertly captured Monáe's voice, as it almost felt as if I could her their voice as I was reading. The writing itself was nothing short of lyrical, and some parts even felt musical like her songs. I'm going to be raving about this book for the rest of my life. Thank you Janelle Monáe for making queer enbies of color feel seen and included.
"Can't build nothing if you can't feel nothing. Community comes from feeling and feeling goes hand in hand with creation."
"Who we are and what we feel can't be too much. Might feel like it sometimes, but it isn't true."
The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer is Janelle Monáe's debut novel in collaboration with Alaya Dawn Johnson, Danny Lore, Eve L. Ewing, Yohanca Delgado, and Sheree Renée Thomas. A singer/songwriter, fashion icon, producer, actress, and now an author, Janelle Monáe is a powerhouse and my hero.
Each of these stories expands the universe of Monáe's 2018 Concept album and Emotion Picture, Dirty Computer. First of all, go listen to that album or watch the Emotion Picture on YouTube, it sets the stage for what New Dawn is and what it has done to the citizens under their care. Monáe uses New Dawn as an allegory for government control, Christian "family values"/purity, homophobia, and anti-blackness.
In this world those who do not conform to what New Dawn considers "clean," people are taken and considered dirty computers, and have their memories erased. Monáe explores the idea of who are we without the memories that made us who we are? We get concepts about autonomy and choice, and the importance of fighting back even in small ways. Monáe also explores concepts around time and how it is tied to capitalism and posits, what if time could be shared as an equitable resource? They also explore community in different forms and the importance of those spaces for women and nonbinary folk. She reminds us that in order to make a better future, we must first be able to dream it.
With Monáe herself being queer and nonbinary, this book is full of queer characters of color. It's so nice to see queer people envisioned in the future and making it something better, something peaceful, something beautiful. Each author expertly captured Monáe's voice, as it almost felt as if I could her their voice as I was reading. The writing itself was nothing short of lyrical, and some parts even felt musical like her songs. I'm going to be raving about this book for the rest of my life. Thank you Janelle Monáe for making queer enbies of color feel seen and included.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Racism
northernzephyr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Transphobia and Racism
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