A review by fromplanetrey
The Activist by Renee Gladman

4.0

Another one we’ve read for class. This one was really interesting. It followed a group of activists, a very strange incident with a bridge that did or did not exist, and the media coverage of it all. It’s a very dreamlike book of poetry that’s maybe also prose? The narration can be confusing at times because you might not know who is speaking but I don’t think you should worry about that as much as you want to. It’s a super queer and fascinating book. I love the map that changes and I love the form. The ending really had me thinking and I loved the class discussion around it all.

Here is a quote I liked from a news portion about the character’s refusing to make sense: “Instead of a hunger strike . .. it's as though they are issuing a logic one.” I love the idea of a “logic strike,” and the chaos that suggests creatively. Maybe I refuse to make sense, too. Girl, am I on a logic strike? Mayhaps.