shells_bells's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
cestelaine's review against another edition
5.0
Magnificent. Heart affirming. The healthiest book I’ve read in a while.
bbboeken's review
5.0
I'd heard of Kae Tempest, and people had told me I should listen to them and compared them to Anne Clark, who had been a part of my New Wave youth. I hadn't actually listened to Kae Tempest though, because I was no longer into spoken word or the rap music attributed to them. All that changed on 15 July of this year (2022) when I witnessed (half-participated in) a Kae Tempest concert when they performed at Gent Jazz in Belgium. As a concert photographer, I have the privilege of witnessing most if not all concerts at Gent Jazz, and it's always proven worth my time --even with music I'm not particularly fond of. Some performances have really blown me away, and one such performance was theirs.
Tempest had our attention from the word go and seemed to aim for inclusion rather than polarisation. And I do mean inclusion. This was the first time somebody talked about LGBTQ+ and managed to make me feel included rather than excluded.
Anyways. I had a similar experience with this book. I felt included. And you will too. I must have underlined every other sentence in this book. It's that good. It's confronting, but in a way that will make you listen and most of the time agree.
Tempest had our attention from the word go and seemed to aim for inclusion rather than polarisation. And I do mean inclusion. This was the first time somebody talked about LGBTQ+ and managed to make me feel included rather than excluded.
Anyways. I had a similar experience with this book. I felt included. And you will too. I must have underlined every other sentence in this book. It's that good. It's confronting, but in a way that will make you listen and most of the time agree.
emmaljohnson's review against another edition
5.0
As someone who works in theatre and also considers themselves a writer, I've never felt more viscerally exposed after reading a book, particularly Kae's section on writing, and what it means to be a writer. Their words on connection and live performance run so deep too. I've known Kae's work from my university days (I had a Classics professor obsessed with Brand New Ancients, and she passed that onto me!), and they continue to have a cathartic potential like no other. A rare talent.
brynnabailermango's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
tabithatf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0