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lizshine74's review against another edition
5.0
At the heart of this collection is the story of a young woman learning how to shape her own narrative, literally and metaphorically. Clammer is learning how to select single words for effect, how to employ rhythm in language, and when to be direct and when to choose ambiguity. She is learning how and when to pull the reader close and when to keep her at arm’s length. She does not hide the self-conscious writer at work in this collection. These essays also look at how difficult it is to shape our own narratives beyond the patterns of family, culture, and personal psychology. Each essay stands alone and approaches a subject with a new form of narrative, yet there are intersections and parallels that make them cohere into a book. I personally love the subject of how in shaping narratives we shape our lives. I’m obsessed with this idea, actually. It’s no wonder then that I devoured this book in a day and that I am still thinking about it, carrying it around with me, five days later. I couldn’t write this review right away. I had to let it sit a while, turn it over in my mind. One aspect of this book that fascinated me is how Clammer addresses influence, how our narratives are influenced by others: our parents, the vulnerable people whose stories intersect with ours, the storytellers who we admire for their craft and their bravery. At first, I craved more Chelsey, wondered why she kept hiding her story behind others. But, in the end, that technique was essential to the meaning I made from this finely-crafted collection.
marilynbg's review against another edition
4.0
To read Circadian and any of Chelsey Clammer's writing is to dance with vulnerability and boldness together. It's a blast of joy one moment and deep breath of intensity the next, and her utterly uniqe way with words makes me want to shout out in my own voice, now that she has shown the way.
"I un-social-standard-of beauty my body. Dreadlocks. Hairy legs. Armpits, too. And my skin that is no longer thin. I'm learning how to rewrite my letter of acceptance. To encourage before criticizing. And end each thought with a you're doing great and a just keep going. There's always more to write. Always. More to read. Always. Now consider the new shapes of text. The new ways we can read our bodies. Edit. Revolt." YES, a thousand times YES.
"I un-social-standard-of beauty my body. Dreadlocks. Hairy legs. Armpits, too. And my skin that is no longer thin. I'm learning how to rewrite my letter of acceptance. To encourage before criticizing. And end each thought with a you're doing great and a just keep going. There's always more to write. Always. More to read. Always. Now consider the new shapes of text. The new ways we can read our bodies. Edit. Revolt." YES, a thousand times YES.
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