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A review by saralynnburnett
The Age of Skin by Dubravka Ugrešić
5.0
Such a thought-provoking collection of essays. So much to mull over here and the tone was on point for me: a little sarcastic, a little grouchy, well-researched & accurate, 100% unique. Some topics covered are her (and my) dislike of the movie La La Land and Planet of the Apes, the preservation of Lenin's corpse, the theatricality of crime (+ the social media induced theatricality of everyday life), communism, corporate capitalism, economic slavery, lots and lots about the Eastern Bloc, being a working woman, the tale of an astrophysicist looking for work online and how Kim Kardashian's "oiled butt" was everywhere instead of jobs for geniuses (if that's not an apt illustration of how wrong our priorities are I don't know what is), how flag desecration = more jail time than sexual assault or rape, and so much more. Had to read this one with a pencil in hand to underline some thinkers like:
"The people of the United States comprise only 5% of the world's population, yet account for 1/3rd of the human biomass" (pg. 6)
"Thanks to media, stupidity has now gone global" (27).
"...democrotatorships busy producing a simulacrum of democracy" (56).
"The church is the most totalitarian and efficient system of all: they take everything, and in return they sell the tepid water of consolation" (57).
The non-glory of the tiny but mighty such as "there are few public monuments dedicated to the potato or rice, though it's the potato and rice—not military leaders—that have fed mankind" (122).
The history of the Scold’s Bridle, used to silence women who talked “too much” (146)
“Nobody seems too excited over the news of women being gang raped in India… but a mocking caricature of a Muslim religious leader and bingo, the whole world is on its feet” (150)
I could go on and on. Highly recommend.
"The people of the United States comprise only 5% of the world's population, yet account for 1/3rd of the human biomass" (pg. 6)
"Thanks to media, stupidity has now gone global" (27).
"...democrotatorships busy producing a simulacrum of democracy" (56).
"The church is the most totalitarian and efficient system of all: they take everything, and in return they sell the tepid water of consolation" (57).
The non-glory of the tiny but mighty such as "there are few public monuments dedicated to the potato or rice, though it's the potato and rice—not military leaders—that have fed mankind" (122).
The history of the Scold’s Bridle, used to silence women who talked “too much” (146)
“Nobody seems too excited over the news of women being gang raped in India… but a mocking caricature of a Muslim religious leader and bingo, the whole world is on its feet” (150)
I could go on and on. Highly recommend.