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yajairat's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Very powerful and informative essays. I really only knew Myriam Gurba through her essay on American Dirt, but wow does she have a voice and a way with words. Her commentary on the creeps around us, the systems currently in place, misogyny and racism was sharp. All of her essays were great, but Creep, Cucuy, and Navajazo stood out to me. This is my second time reading about Lorena Gallo in the span of a month or two, and I will now regard her as a female folk hero!
some quotes, more on the informative side:
"Chief William H. Parker ruled the LAPD from 1950 to 1966. His involvement in Dragnet, the show that created the template for all future copaganda, made Parker the country's most influential policeman. Parker used the show to "publicize his views on law and order" and advisers scrutinized scripts to make sure that Dragnet portrayed LAPD officers as "ethical, terse, efficient, and white.."
"California doesn't deserve its reputation as a progressive state. If it were so damn progressive, it wouldn't rely on jails and prisons to take care of its problems." - also thought of NY while reading this
"Mom's half siblings, the children of la otra mujer, attended the funeral too. Offspring who'd been denying the existence of one another for decades were now gathered around the husk of the man who'd made them and hurt them."
"Tyrants revel in the chasm separating the literate from the illiterate. Hoarding literacy gives them the power to define, defraud, and shatter."
"Some people in my family mention my grandfather's misogyny as if it were a charming yet harmless quirk. Something to giggle about... When a man leaves his wife and children to subsist on water for seven days, it's the opposite of charming."
"What irks is [Joan] Didion's racial grammar. A conceptual metaphor developed by the sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, racial grammar is what gives racism its elemental quality, the sense that its natural, no different from earth, wind, or fire." - very interesting essay about Joan Didion!
"Some men will shatter the mirror you hold up to them. Next, they'll take the shards and stick them in you."
"When asked how he knows that a trauma patient has recovered, Dr. Jack Saul, director of the International Trauma Studies Program, answers that a survivor's ability to exercise spontaneity is his sign. Spontaneity happens when avoiding death or injury stops being a survivor's primary concern."
"People who hurt people can be charmers. It works in their favor. Charm disarms victims and make us feel special. Chosen... Those who believe that if they encountered someone like Q they'd immediately sense danger delude themselves. It's not like you're on your first, second, third, fourth, or fifth date with a Q when they announce, "Pass the salt, you dog-faced cunt, or I'll slice you from neck to stomach!". That part comes once they, with the help of others, have lured you into the fog."
some quotes, more on the informative side:
"Chief William H. Parker ruled the LAPD from 1950 to 1966. His involvement in Dragnet, the show that created the template for all future copaganda, made Parker the country's most influential policeman. Parker used the show to "publicize his views on law and order" and advisers scrutinized scripts to make sure that Dragnet portrayed LAPD officers as "ethical, terse, efficient, and white.."
"California doesn't deserve its reputation as a progressive state. If it were so damn progressive, it wouldn't rely on jails and prisons to take care of its problems." - also thought of NY while reading this
"Mom's half siblings, the children of la otra mujer, attended the funeral too. Offspring who'd been denying the existence of one another for decades were now gathered around the husk of the man who'd made them and hurt them."
"Tyrants revel in the chasm separating the literate from the illiterate. Hoarding literacy gives them the power to define, defraud, and shatter."
"Some people in my family mention my grandfather's misogyny as if it were a charming yet harmless quirk. Something to giggle about... When a man leaves his wife and children to subsist on water for seven days, it's the opposite of charming."
"What irks is [Joan] Didion's racial grammar. A conceptual metaphor developed by the sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, racial grammar is what gives racism its elemental quality, the sense that its natural, no different from earth, wind, or fire." - very interesting essay about Joan Didion!
"Some men will shatter the mirror you hold up to them. Next, they'll take the shards and stick them in you."
"When asked how he knows that a trauma patient has recovered, Dr. Jack Saul, director of the International Trauma Studies Program, answers that a survivor's ability to exercise spontaneity is his sign. Spontaneity happens when avoiding death or injury stops being a survivor's primary concern."
"People who hurt people can be charmers. It works in their favor. Charm disarms victims and make us feel special. Chosen... Those who believe that if they encountered someone like Q they'd immediately sense danger delude themselves. It's not like you're on your first, second, third, fourth, or fifth date with a Q when they announce, "Pass the salt, you dog-faced cunt, or I'll slice you from neck to stomach!". That part comes once they, with the help of others, have lured you into the fog."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Racism
vickywoodburn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I typically don't read too many essays or memoirs, but I am pleased I took the time to read Myriam Gurba's "Creep: Accusations and Confessions."
Through a series of essays, Gurba explores topics ranging from the stereotypes that are placed on a Queer Mexican woman, to her family's history, to her personal experiences with abusers and creeps. The result is an emotional, complex, heavy, and even funny understanding of the creeps in our world and the dangers that creep around us. It challenges readers to confront their biases and think critically about the people and systems that define our society.
Gurba's unique voice shines through in each essay as she invites us into her life and gives a voice to many victims who cannot tell their stories. Summarizing the complete book is a challenge, but it is certainly a worthwhile read. Perhaps a better descriptor would be to share that I was reading this book while sitting at a restaurant one day. As I got up to leave, the server approached me because she "had to know what I was reading" since I appeared so engaged while reading. Admittedly, I struggled to describe the subject matter, but I showed her the cover and highly recommended it.
While each essay is intriguing, my favorites were "Locas," which told the heartbreaking story of Myriam's cousin Desiree, and "Cucuy," which ties mythical monsters to a real-life serial killer.
The final essay, in particular, which goes in-depth into Gurba's own experience with domestic violence, is exceptionally well-written and provides an intimate look at how easily creeps can blend into modern society. Regardless of one's past, I think many themes and experiences in this book will be relatable to readers, especially those sharing similar identities. Nevertheless, I still highly recommend this book to all readers interested in challenging their assumptions and better understanding the creeps among us. I am eager to read more of Gurba's work.
Through a series of essays, Gurba explores topics ranging from the stereotypes that are placed on a Queer Mexican woman, to her family's history, to her personal experiences with abusers and creeps. The result is an emotional, complex, heavy, and even funny understanding of the creeps in our world and the dangers that creep around us. It challenges readers to confront their biases and think critically about the people and systems that define our society.
Gurba's unique voice shines through in each essay as she invites us into her life and gives a voice to many victims who cannot tell their stories. Summarizing the complete book is a challenge, but it is certainly a worthwhile read. Perhaps a better descriptor would be to share that I was reading this book while sitting at a restaurant one day. As I got up to leave, the server approached me because she "had to know what I was reading" since I appeared so engaged while reading. Admittedly, I struggled to describe the subject matter, but I showed her the cover and highly recommended it.
While each essay is intriguing, my favorites were "Locas," which told the heartbreaking story of Myriam's cousin Desiree, and "Cucuy," which ties mythical monsters to a real-life serial killer.
The final essay, in particular, which goes in-depth into Gurba's own experience with domestic violence, is exceptionally well-written and provides an intimate look at how easily creeps can blend into modern society. Regardless of one's past, I think many themes and experiences in this book will be relatable to readers, especially those sharing similar identities. Nevertheless, I still highly recommend this book to all readers interested in challenging their assumptions and better understanding the creeps among us. I am eager to read more of Gurba's work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Torture, Grief, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Death, Rape, Violence, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
kklecornu's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.5
This was a masterpiece of a memoir. The author seamlessly wove cultural critique and historical fact with personal narrative. Gurba's analysis of the interplay between trauma and humor was a completely fresh perspective, and the way she threaded that duality through multiple essays hammered at the nuance of her point. The last essay may be the most horrifically accurate description of domestic abuse I've ever read. Gurba's writing is confessional without being extravagant, and this work instantly puts her in the top tier of memoirists of our generation. Move over Joan Didion, California has a new literary queen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Xenophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Stalking
Minor: Child death and Police brutality
auteaandtales's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
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