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citrus_seasalt 's review for:
Zami: A New Spelling of My Name - A Biomythography
by Audre Lorde
Told in occasionally overlapping vignettes that connect Audre Lorde’s life into a cohesive narrative, “Zami: A New Spelling Of My Name” manages to stay an engaging read through the vulnerability, eloquence and wisdom of her prose. Each setting, from the streets of Harlem that shaped Audre Lorde’s childhood, to Mexico City (where she stayed for a year), is beautifully described, and incredibly easy to visualize. Seeing how her understanding of both herself and the political landscape changed over the course of her life was also quite rewarding, while this can definitely function as a period piece of sorts now (Audre was very politically involved!), there’s very little of this book that doesn’t age well. (The focus on intersectionality, as well as racism within the gay community, is very ahead of its time IMO. And a LOT of the issues white gays create throughout the book are still rampant in today’s queer community😅)
I loved how Lorde’s focus on anti-colonialism and Blackness was even preserved in her writing style! This is my first time reading her work, so I wasn’t exactly aware of some of the words she avoids capitalizing and giving importance, specifically those that are tied to a Eurocentric worldview. (Ex: “catholic”, “german”, “america”— my personal favorite of the passive-aggressive de-capitalizations.) On top of it being an interesting stylistic choice, I think it really drove home certain things in her life that caused her harm and she’s known don’t serve her, such as her (traumatic) religious upbringing, and the USA’s inherently homophobic and racist ideals (especially throughout the 50’s, where a bulk of this memoir takes place).
I do have mixed feelings on how exactly emotions were written about? Although they’re part of what makes this book so personal and what kept me glued to the page, regardless of the level of feeling, there was still an air of detachment? Perhaps that comes from the constant past tense? There were several times where although I could read Lorde’s thoughts, and know her actions, it didn’t truly feel like I were in her shoes. (Take that with a grain of salt, as this is probably based on a stylistic preference of mine.)
Other than a couple outdated moments, and bits of weirdness that I’m sure others will resonate with but I just found a little uncomfortable, this is one of the only memoirs I’ve read where I like an author more instead of less after reading it. I resent not being alive at the same time Lorde was, it would have been nice to see the kind of impact her poetry had earlier on, her life is eventful enough that it would have been interesting to ask about, and she seemed like a grounded person.
Maybe I’ll touch up this review in the morning? I’m happy to have read this, especially for June (it made it all the more meaningful!)— Zami may be my first work by Audre Lorde, but it certainly won’t be my last.
I loved how Lorde’s focus on anti-colonialism and Blackness was even preserved in her writing style! This is my first time reading her work, so I wasn’t exactly aware of some of the words she avoids capitalizing and giving importance, specifically those that are tied to a Eurocentric worldview. (Ex: “catholic”, “german”, “america”— my personal favorite of the passive-aggressive de-capitalizations.) On top of it being an interesting stylistic choice, I think it really drove home certain things in her life that caused her harm and she’s known don’t serve her, such as her (traumatic) religious upbringing, and the USA’s inherently homophobic and racist ideals (especially throughout the 50’s, where a bulk of this memoir takes place).
I do have mixed feelings on how exactly emotions were written about? Although they’re part of what makes this book so personal and what kept me glued to the page, regardless of the level of feeling, there was still an air of detachment? Perhaps that comes from the constant past tense? There were several times where although I could read Lorde’s thoughts, and know her actions, it didn’t truly feel like I were in her shoes. (Take that with a grain of salt, as this is probably based on a stylistic preference of mine.)
Other than a couple outdated moments, and bits of weirdness that I’m sure others will resonate with but I just found a little uncomfortable, this is one of the only memoirs I’ve read where I like an author more instead of less after reading it. I resent not being alive at the same time Lorde was, it would have been nice to see the kind of impact her poetry had earlier on, her life is eventful enough that it would have been interesting to ask about, and she seemed like a grounded person.
Maybe I’ll touch up this review in the morning? I’m happy to have read this, especially for June (it made it all the more meaningful!)— Zami may be my first work by Audre Lorde, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Abortion
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape