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cec_loves_to_read_books's review
5.0
There is something quite special about this anthology of Own Voice memoir, poetry and fiction.
The book features works from writers who are First Nations, People of Colour, LGBTIQA+ or living with a disability and offers many wonderfully rich and diverse perspectives and insights.
Hats off to Rebecca Lim and Ambelin Kwaymullina for a really thoughtfully put together collection.
After I finished each short piece I’d think to myself wow that was excellent and sure to be my favourite and then the next one would come along and I’d think no wait, that’s definitely my fav now!
As well as Rebecca and Ambelin, this book features writing from very well known Australian authors like Alice Pung & Ellen Van Neerven but also lesser known (to me) writers who will now be top of my priority list for finding and reading more of their work.
Meet Me at the Intersection was another book that has been sitting on my TBR shelf for a long time…since I purchased it at the CBCA National Conference in 2019 (and had it signed by two of the contributors). I can’t believe I waited so long to get around to reading it!
Don’t be as silly as me - I recommend reading it as soon as you can.
The book features works from writers who are First Nations, People of Colour, LGBTIQA+ or living with a disability and offers many wonderfully rich and diverse perspectives and insights.
Hats off to Rebecca Lim and Ambelin Kwaymullina for a really thoughtfully put together collection.
After I finished each short piece I’d think to myself wow that was excellent and sure to be my favourite and then the next one would come along and I’d think no wait, that’s definitely my fav now!
As well as Rebecca and Ambelin, this book features writing from very well known Australian authors like Alice Pung & Ellen Van Neerven but also lesser known (to me) writers who will now be top of my priority list for finding and reading more of their work.
Meet Me at the Intersection was another book that has been sitting on my TBR shelf for a long time…since I purchased it at the CBCA National Conference in 2019 (and had it signed by two of the contributors). I can’t believe I waited so long to get around to reading it!
Don’t be as silly as me - I recommend reading it as soon as you can.
littleelfman's review
5.0
A fantastic collection of own voice memoir, poetry and fiction that really highlights how many different points of view there are in the world. Definitely worth reading!
esotericelixir's review
4.0
Meet Me at the Intersection is a fantastic collaboration between #ownvoices Australian authors.
With stories being told from the perspective of people who are First Nations, POC, LGBTI+ or living with a disability, it offers an often untold insight into their life. It was refreshingly raw and honest. I haven't read too many books by Australian authors, but I really should rectify this (being Australian myself).
I would have to say that the one that stuck out to me the most is the poem 'Embers' by Ezekiel Kwaymullina. It was short but to the point and really highlights what it's like to be different and left behind at school.
I really enjoyed the introductions before the stories/poems, they added a personal touch to the book and allowed the reader to gain a bit more insight before they started reading, which I found especially helpful when it's reading from a perspective which I haven't lived.
With stories being told from the perspective of people who are First Nations, POC, LGBTI+ or living with a disability, it offers an often untold insight into their life. It was refreshingly raw and honest. I haven't read too many books by Australian authors, but I really should rectify this (being Australian myself).
I would have to say that the one that stuck out to me the most is the poem 'Embers' by Ezekiel Kwaymullina. It was short but to the point and really highlights what it's like to be different and left behind at school.
I really enjoyed the introductions before the stories/poems, they added a personal touch to the book and allowed the reader to gain a bit more insight before they started reading, which I found especially helpful when it's reading from a perspective which I haven't lived.
joy13_'s review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I have been wanting to read something by First Nations authors for a while and found this in a local op shop so I thought “why not?”
Great anthology, so glad I picked it up. Being a white lesbian Australian, this ones about queer experiences resonated most, but that in no way means the other works were of less values. On the contrary, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about other people’s experiences, from the people that have directly experienced them.
Well worth the read.
Great anthology, so glad I picked it up. Being a white lesbian Australian, this ones about queer experiences resonated most, but that in no way means the other works were of less values. On the contrary, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about other people’s experiences, from the people that have directly experienced them.
Well worth the read.
babyleo's review
4.0
This review was published on Lost in a Good Book
Meet Me at the Intersection is filled with some brilliant stories and pieces of work by authors who are showing that those marginalised and seldom heard voices can be just as powerful and have just as important stories to tell. It is filled with the voices of Young Adult authors and stories but is an anthology that can and should be read by everyone.
The collection is filled with a range of forms and styles from poetry, memoirs and short stories. Each author brings their own style of writing and it was a nice to see so many different voices through the book. There are little explanations of each author and their background before each piece and it is clear there is diversity across all kinds.
In terms of content, each piece takes place in a different time period and it was refreshing to see not every story was contemporary; and while this makes sense for memoir, some of the other stories were from other time periods as well. I also loved the way these stories have been ordered in the collection. In the introduction it mentions that the oldest culture of storytellers deserves to go first and I loved that that was acknowledged.
What made this anthology stand out to me was it never felt like there was a single message being highlighted, instead it was about representation. The blurb mentions that the focus of the work is to represent the everyday lives of Australians and it has succeeded brilliantly. In doing so you gain an understanding by reading about these fictional, semi fictional, and real lives about the ordinariness and extraordinariness of a diverse group of writers. it is wonderfully eye opening and showcases that these lesser heard and unique voices have some amazing stories to tell. It is an anthology filled with own voices and is beautifully, distinctly Australian. What more could you ask for?
Meet Me at the Intersection is filled with some brilliant stories and pieces of work by authors who are showing that those marginalised and seldom heard voices can be just as powerful and have just as important stories to tell. It is filled with the voices of Young Adult authors and stories but is an anthology that can and should be read by everyone.
The collection is filled with a range of forms and styles from poetry, memoirs and short stories. Each author brings their own style of writing and it was a nice to see so many different voices through the book. There are little explanations of each author and their background before each piece and it is clear there is diversity across all kinds.
In terms of content, each piece takes place in a different time period and it was refreshing to see not every story was contemporary; and while this makes sense for memoir, some of the other stories were from other time periods as well. I also loved the way these stories have been ordered in the collection. In the introduction it mentions that the oldest culture of storytellers deserves to go first and I loved that that was acknowledged.
What made this anthology stand out to me was it never felt like there was a single message being highlighted, instead it was about representation. The blurb mentions that the focus of the work is to represent the everyday lives of Australians and it has succeeded brilliantly. In doing so you gain an understanding by reading about these fictional, semi fictional, and real lives about the ordinariness and extraordinariness of a diverse group of writers. it is wonderfully eye opening and showcases that these lesser heard and unique voices have some amazing stories to tell. It is an anthology filled with own voices and is beautifully, distinctly Australian. What more could you ask for?