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A review by kfan
The Self Unstable by Elisa Gabbert
4.0
Kind of a lyric prose poem essay on the nature of the self, but even seeing a description written out like that is a completely failure to capture how weird and fun and virtuosic this book is. I promise you this book is extremely fun.
It reminded me of Giant Steps by John Coltrane--a hummable melody that belies the incredibly complex and fast-paced chord changes that are happening beneath it. Gabbert tosses out one sharp line after another, but often the juxtaposition of two of these lines next to each other is like: Whoa, how did she even make that mental leap?
My favorite section was A Crude Kind of Progress: Art & Aesthetics (there are other sections on memories, video games, love & sex). Some favorite lines:
A photograph, in contrast to a painting or a sculpture, is not a unique object, and therefore has no aura. It is difficult to view a photography exhibit in a museum and feel moved. It is difficult to feel moved in general.
It’s not that beautiful people are better conversationalists, it’s that nobody cares.
A visitor from the past would look around and mainly see an absence of hats. The primary purpose of fashion is to signal in-group conformism. If everyone walked around naked, it would be difficult to spot our natural allies. We grow attached to our enemies. We would rather they not apologize, which would obviate the reason to hate them.
Wanting people to go fuck themselves isn’t the same as wanting to tell them to.
I'm so glad I was able to find this at my library and I'm extremely interested in reading everything else Gabbert has written.
It reminded me of Giant Steps by John Coltrane--a hummable melody that belies the incredibly complex and fast-paced chord changes that are happening beneath it. Gabbert tosses out one sharp line after another, but often the juxtaposition of two of these lines next to each other is like: Whoa, how did she even make that mental leap?
My favorite section was A Crude Kind of Progress: Art & Aesthetics (there are other sections on memories, video games, love & sex). Some favorite lines:
A photograph, in contrast to a painting or a sculpture, is not a unique object, and therefore has no aura. It is difficult to view a photography exhibit in a museum and feel moved. It is difficult to feel moved in general.
It’s not that beautiful people are better conversationalists, it’s that nobody cares.
A visitor from the past would look around and mainly see an absence of hats. The primary purpose of fashion is to signal in-group conformism. If everyone walked around naked, it would be difficult to spot our natural allies. We grow attached to our enemies. We would rather they not apologize, which would obviate the reason to hate them.
Wanting people to go fuck themselves isn’t the same as wanting to tell them to.
I'm so glad I was able to find this at my library and I'm extremely interested in reading everything else Gabbert has written.