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fantasynovel's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very neat book, with a very MFA voice. It has a lot to say, and it says it very well, but there's nothing raw that elevates the prose above pat perfection. Every word sits in its place. I found the cancer metaphor to be both too on-the-nose and an excellent example of theme shaping the reality of a story, which is something I almost always like. The force of racism and her deteriorating mind made physical is a powerful symbol. I just wish that the book had delved more into it, instead of mostly ignoring the cancer except for a few excellently written paragraphs.
Brown is an incredibly talented author, and I'm excited to see what she does next, but I think the voice in this novella is a little too controlled. Though this does make sense as the narrator is fighting an unending battle against post-colonial racist society as a whole and racists as individuals, and she "saves" herself by dissociating. However, there is never a moment of rupture in this story, which continues inexorably down its tracks to the semi-predictable conclusion. (And maybe that's the point, that in real life there's rarely any rupture, any moment where someone suffering from systemic oppression get to experience catharsis from that systemic oppression.) Despite its predictability, though, I appreciated the ending, which leans into the uncertainty of the main character's predicament and what she will choose.
The best part of this book was where it leaned into the main character's observations about society, racism, misogyny, etc. They were always deeply felt, and often about what it means to be Black and/or in the Black Diaspora and/or a Black woman. The rage and frustration simmering in this book are powerful if understated—except in the brutal action of one woman refusing cancer treatment. That is as loud a protest as she can make, it feels like, in this society that fights her at every turn. It's her one way to acknowledge the physicality of it, the way the consumption of Black pain literally eats up her body. What greater statement of rage can there be than death? At the same time, fighting back with your own death is as equally impotent as it is powerful. What does it mean for the narrator of this story to choose death?
Overall, I found this to be a thematically resonant story about the insidious and cancerous grasp of racism, with quality prose, despite some craft concerns. Brown managed to pack a punch with just 102 pages, and I'll probably be reading this one again. (Pack a punch!! Why am I writing like a fucking book reviewer. It's because I haven't slept.)
"Because they watch (us). They're taught how to, from school. They are taught to view our bodies (selves) as objects. They learn an MEDC/LEDC divide as geography — unquestionable as mountains, oceans and other natural phenomena. Without why's or wherefores, or the ruthless arrows of European imperialism tearing across the world map. At it most fundamental: the nameless, faceless, unidentified (black) bodies, displayed, packed, and chained, side-by-side head-to-toe, into an inky-illustrated ship. Conditions unfit for animals. In perpetuity, they're shown these pictures, over and over in classrooms again. Until it becomes an axion; that continuous line from object,
"to us" (81).
^^^One of my favorite quotes.
Brown is an incredibly talented author, and I'm excited to see what she does next, but I think the voice in this novella is a little too controlled. Though this does make sense as the narrator is fighting an unending battle against post-colonial racist society as a whole and racists as individuals, and she "saves" herself by dissociating. However, there is never a moment of rupture in this story, which continues inexorably down its tracks to the semi-predictable conclusion. (And maybe that's the point, that in real life there's rarely any rupture, any moment where someone suffering from systemic oppression get to experience catharsis from that systemic oppression.) Despite its predictability, though, I appreciated the ending, which leans into the uncertainty of the main character's predicament and what she will choose.
The best part of this book was where it leaned into the main character's observations about society, racism, misogyny, etc. They were always deeply felt, and often about what it means to be Black and/or in the Black Diaspora and/or a Black woman. The rage and frustration simmering in this book are powerful if understated—except in the brutal action of one woman refusing cancer treatment. That is as loud a protest as she can make, it feels like, in this society that fights her at every turn. It's her one way to acknowledge the physicality of it, the way the consumption of Black pain literally eats up her body. What greater statement of rage can there be than death? At the same time, fighting back with your own death is as equally impotent as it is powerful. What does it mean for the narrator of this story to choose death?
Overall, I found this to be a thematically resonant story about the insidious and cancerous grasp of racism, with quality prose, despite some craft concerns. Brown managed to pack a punch with just 102 pages, and I'll probably be reading this one again. (Pack a punch!! Why am I writing like a fucking book reviewer. It's because I haven't slept.)
"Because they watch (us). They're taught how to, from school. They are taught to view our bodies (selves) as objects. They learn an MEDC/LEDC divide as geography — unquestionable as mountains, oceans and other natural phenomena. Without why's or wherefores, or the ruthless arrows of European imperialism tearing across the world map. At it most fundamental: the nameless, faceless, unidentified (black) bodies, displayed, packed, and chained, side-by-side head-to-toe, into an inky-illustrated ship. Conditions unfit for animals. In perpetuity, they're shown these pictures, over and over in classrooms again. Until it becomes an axion; that continuous line from object,
"to us" (81).
^^^One of my favorite quotes.
dreaminthepages's review against another edition
4.0
Wow what a little yet mighty book - it sure packs a punch and highlights all of the important political topics of today including sexism, racism, identity, colonialism, socialism, white privelage, entitlement, generational wealth, capitalism, finance...etc etc.
Its really well done and the format may seem confusing but I intepret it as all the thoughts running through the main characters head during one day in her life.
Defo think everyone should pick this one up.
Its really well done and the format may seem confusing but I intepret it as all the thoughts running through the main characters head during one day in her life.
Defo think everyone should pick this one up.
izzy006's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
zeebookdragon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gummistiefelfisch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
abbeyholland's review against another edition
I like the concept but didn’t love the steam of consciousness style of writing. I think I may have liked it better if I read it - the narrator of the audiobook didn’t do anything good for the story and the style of it. I think the book covers a lot of really important topics and that was really interesting to me but I just couldn’t fully get into it with the writing & narrator combo. If any of my friends read this instead of audiobook pls tell me!!!
I saw someone describe it in a review by saying that this is a “it’s not you it’s me” book and big agree - I am the problem here!
dvaughan99's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dariannafv's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sydneygilchrist's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0