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A review by erikahope
Ordinary Light by Tracy K. Smith
5.0
I think this book was justifiably well received and to those few who disparage it...I guess they need something more urgent and fraught with the drama of physical suffering, brutality, trauma or disaster for their interest to be grabbed. Some complain about her discussion of Christianity. That was a huge part of her upbringing so naturally she examines it. Everyone is different but complaining about this book as dull (nothing happens!) reminds me of a great quote I saw from Nick Pettigrew
"Bemoaning Taylor Swift's intersectional feminism is like criticising Reni Eddo-Lodge for not writing enough catchy pop hooks."
Smith's writing is nuanced and sensitive but also very grounded in the mundane aspects of life-not off in some other ethereal world. People who complain about lack of action or struggles lead me to wonder why they picked up a memoir written by a poet. Smith makes no claims to a harrowing tale...aside from the tragic loss of her mother and the struggle of growing up black in a very white suburb and later attending a New England Ivy League school-as a minority. She had a charmed life by some standards but she writes about it with such delicate and perceptive detail and imagery that I found it almost memorizing-and at the very least utterly engaging. How does she recall all these details? She is unflinchingly honest throughout and touches with candor on aspects that are very personal. Her first encounter with a NY cousin (Nina) for example (who shook up Smith's more prim Christian outlook when she wrote "motherfucker" on her mom's car window). She touches on many interesting experiences as an African American growing up in Northern California and how that felt. She is a poet writing her memoir. I am guessing these detractors don't read much poetry. Actually I don't read much poetry either- but maybe I'll check out her work.
"Bemoaning Taylor Swift's intersectional feminism is like criticising Reni Eddo-Lodge for not writing enough catchy pop hooks."
Smith's writing is nuanced and sensitive but also very grounded in the mundane aspects of life-not off in some other ethereal world. People who complain about lack of action or struggles lead me to wonder why they picked up a memoir written by a poet. Smith makes no claims to a harrowing tale...aside from the tragic loss of her mother and the struggle of growing up black in a very white suburb and later attending a New England Ivy League school-as a minority. She had a charmed life by some standards but she writes about it with such delicate and perceptive detail and imagery that I found it almost memorizing-and at the very least utterly engaging. How does she recall all these details? She is unflinchingly honest throughout and touches with candor on aspects that are very personal. Her first encounter with a NY cousin (Nina) for example (who shook up Smith's more prim Christian outlook when she wrote "motherfucker" on her mom's car window). She touches on many interesting experiences as an African American growing up in Northern California and how that felt. She is a poet writing her memoir. I am guessing these detractors don't read much poetry. Actually I don't read much poetry either- but maybe I'll check out her work.