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karis_dl's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This is a beautiful book that blends poetry and theory. I think perhaps we're being asked to consider how we live out theory. Xiaoxuan is vulnerable and contemplative. There's this sense that the reader is encouraged to also step into that space. Reading this book feels like a practice of self-reflection in the care of another. Huang also establishes this theme of remembering, but remembering also in the present, at the moment we witness something - like an unceasing sense of longing that's its own lens. Beyond these thing, the book is also just visually really pleasing, the way the author uses space, and negative space, on the page is really lovely. If you love queer theory, if you love feeling, if you love poetry, you should read this.
spinesinaline's review
3.0
Thanks to Metatron Press for a copy to review! More reviews on my blog, https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com
The blurb caught my attention because I’ve read some of Judith Butler’s work and was interested in learning more about gender studies and language. At the same time, I found the blurb overwhelming and thought this was likely one I’d need to take my time with and maybe have a dictionary handy.
This may be better for someone who has more of a background in gender studies. The author draws on a lot of existing theory (none of which I’ve read besides Butler) and I couldn’t always follow along because she’s not using this space to explain them, more to bring them together. I feel like you should read the theory first, or at least while you’re reading Xuan’s piece so you can better understand her points.
That said, I found she didn’t make all that many points herself. It felt like a big mashup of quotes from all these other authors that there was so little space for her own voice. She doesn’t say much to connect them in her own words — what she does say is quite powerful but I want to hear even more from her and for her to make more of her own statement in the midst of what everyone else is saying.
The blurb caught my attention because I’ve read some of Judith Butler’s work and was interested in learning more about gender studies and language. At the same time, I found the blurb overwhelming and thought this was likely one I’d need to take my time with and maybe have a dictionary handy.
This may be better for someone who has more of a background in gender studies. The author draws on a lot of existing theory (none of which I’ve read besides Butler) and I couldn’t always follow along because she’s not using this space to explain them, more to bring them together. I feel like you should read the theory first, or at least while you’re reading Xuan’s piece so you can better understand her points.
That said, I found she didn’t make all that many points herself. It felt like a big mashup of quotes from all these other authors that there was so little space for her own voice. She doesn’t say much to connect them in her own words — what she does say is quite powerful but I want to hear even more from her and for her to make more of her own statement in the midst of what everyone else is saying.
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