A review by marenloveland
Disparates: Essays by Patrick Madden

5.0

Disparates is a whimsical and joyous and playful collection, punctuated with tender moments of grief and contemplative solemnity. I was continually surprised and delighted by the pithy humor, the intelligent citations, and the inventive approaches to form that Madden takes. “Repast” in particular reflects the essayistic ingenuity of Disparates, and might be one of my favorite essays of all time. This collection is exhilarating and unexpected, but more than anything, it urges its readers to listen better, read better, and become better humans, which is all I can ask for in anything I read.