Out of the Sun: On Race and Storytelling by Esi Edugyan

4.36 AVERAGE

bella_cavicchi's review

5.0
informative reflective medium-paced
It's been a long while since I've read an essay collection, and Esi Edugyan reminded me why I love them so: more often than not, they're books that sit with you and change your understanding of the world (however slight). OUT OF THE SUN delivers on both accounts. Edugyan writes on various nuances of race with great grace, highlighting oft-overlooked narratives and characters of history in the process. Her essay on ghosts is a true winner.

Highly recommend.
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sukerbole's review against another edition

4.5
Ik zou willen dat alle kunstwerken die in het boek beschreven worden, in het boek zelf te zien waren. Door alleen een selectie toe te voegen moet je alsnog zo nu en dan dingen zelf opzoeken, wat het leesgemak onderbreekt.
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cb_reads_reviews's review against another edition

4.0
Edugyan’s Massey Lecture for 2021, “Out of the Sun: On Race and Storytelling” was a great read to start the new year. Her fascinating collection of forgotten or little known stories of peoples of African descent, around the word, are told in juxtaposition to the societies in which they were living, framed through a particular focus for each country or continent she chose for each of the five chapters/lectures. Her memoir approach, further framing these incredible stories within her own experiences and family history, make these stories even more poignant. Edugyan’s own storytelling is effective, respecting the subjects of the stories and considering their own potential perspectives as well as providing context for the perspectives of others in those times and places. An important read reflecting upon the subjective nature of storytelling - whose stories are told and how they are told.
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renepierre's review

4.0
informative reflective medium-paced
bibliomania_express's profile picture

bibliomania_express's review

4.0
challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced
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renss's review

4.75
challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

raphou's review against another edition

4.0
informative reflective fast-paced

coreymitch5's review

3.5
informative reflective medium-paced
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theboywhocouldfly's review against another edition

4.25
challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced
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pagesandstages's review

4.0
informative reflective medium-paced
Out of the Sun is a really accessible, nuanced and fascinating collection of essays that mix history, cultural criticism and memoir into a beautiful blend of thought-provoking writing. The essays all discuss race in some way but beyond that they’re very different, engaging with subjects that I haven’t seen much discussed before such as the racial dimension of ghost stories and historical relations between Africa and East Asia. Edugyan roots her essays in personal experience, often starting with a story from her life and expanding into multiple avenues that branch off from the original thought without ever losing direction. She owns the contradictions and uncertainties found in these complicated issues instead of insisting she has all the answers, which is really refreshing. This book is easy to read but never over-simplified, overall intriguing and well worth a read.