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dreaming_ace's review against another edition
4.0
A colelction of powerful but heavy stories about Hati and what it means to be from Hati
tessasap's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
teilorann's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
carlyxdeexx's review against another edition
4.0
Managed to get this at BEA this year—definitely the book I was happiest about snagging. Roxane Gay’s one of my favorite writers, and the first book I read by her was AN UNTAMED STATE. These stories are evocative of that novel’s themes and it’s style, and one of the stories in particular seems to be a seed of that larger work. To be clear, this collection was published before the novel, and is just now being re-released with a new (lovely) cover.
The stories are very short, short enough to make you want more from them in a greedy sort of way. The writing is evocative of prose poetry. I’ve always liked Gay’s depictions of sex and sexuality—there are stories here that showcase her talent for that. I’d be happy to read this again and could probably re-devour it in moments. It’s at once a personal and political collection—direct connections are drawn and redrawn between the two in each story, feeding into each other. The political is seen intimately, as it is often seen by those it affects immediately instead of from a spectator’s distance. The intimacy reveals nuance often missed, and we could always do with more nuance.
The stories are very short, short enough to make you want more from them in a greedy sort of way. The writing is evocative of prose poetry. I’ve always liked Gay’s depictions of sex and sexuality—there are stories here that showcase her talent for that. I’d be happy to read this again and could probably re-devour it in moments. It’s at once a personal and political collection—direct connections are drawn and redrawn between the two in each story, feeding into each other. The political is seen intimately, as it is often seen by those it affects immediately instead of from a spectator’s distance. The intimacy reveals nuance often missed, and we could always do with more nuance.
elizabethd28's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
It’s a series of short stories reflecting on the experiences of Haitian people. Great representation of queer women especially.
storeytale's review against another edition
4.0
A poignant collection of short stories about Haiti and Haitians in America.
ingread27's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this collection. Roxane Gay has such a genuine, no-bs way of delivery that I enjoy, almost awkward at times. A couple of these stories i would have loved to see extended into novellas. But a fantastic collection.
krysnotchris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
vyhurz's review against another edition
4.0
Many of these stories are brutal, and I believe all of them are shockingly explicit. It's amazing how Gay can write so plainly, to just lay the truth bare. It's hard to look at. I love everything she's written. The only thing that saddens me is that every story was about pain, and perhaps finding some small pleasure in that pain. I would have loved one story that focused on joy or pride in Haiti rather than just enending pain.
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Ayiti (which is the Creole word for Haiti) is a stunning short story collection By Roxane Gay. The stories focus on Haitian immigrants in the US and Haitians still living in Haiti. The stories are often raw and disturbing as they portray the hardships that the characters are going through.