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tellsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
To think that a “Canadian” wrote this — originally a Haitian! Big up to Haiti! But real talks, to think that a Canadian wrote this and a Canadian went THERE; wow! This is a very interesting short piece of art. I can totally see how when this book was released this guy might have to have gone into hiding. It’s provocative as fuck, explosive, exposing and I can’t say that it’s right, conceptually, but fuck it feels right and it feels right on the money.
The thing that stands out to me here is — how much sex/sleeping with a white woman means to the black male psyche, and how much of nothing it means to the white woman beyond like “personal exploration” at one time or another in their lives, typically their youth. The exchanges are all power, reward and conquest based and are completely passionless and loveless. It speaks a lot to insecurity, it speaks a lot to inferiority complexes. I’m sure many men of colour have this same experience but it’s just that the experience of black men and white women has led to so much death and pain; that this is an interesting sort of observation almost. It’s unique how comically this writer captures this experience. I had heard there was a film about this or based on this book and I definitely want to watch the film.
“Ice burns up everything here..” — this is a line that stands out to me as well. It brings so much into context about this book, the writer’s being Canadian, exposed to winter, the cold; the influence of feeling okay to chase white women in Canada without fear of death, etc, the hollowness of it all. It’s a very interesting dynamic.
The thing that stands out to me here is — how much sex/sleeping with a white woman means to the black male psyche, and how much of nothing it means to the white woman beyond like “personal exploration” at one time or another in their lives, typically their youth. The exchanges are all power, reward and conquest based and are completely passionless and loveless. It speaks a lot to insecurity, it speaks a lot to inferiority complexes. I’m sure many men of colour have this same experience but it’s just that the experience of black men and white women has led to so much death and pain; that this is an interesting sort of observation almost. It’s unique how comically this writer captures this experience. I had heard there was a film about this or based on this book and I definitely want to watch the film.
“Ice burns up everything here..” — this is a line that stands out to me as well. It brings so much into context about this book, the writer’s being Canadian, exposed to winter, the cold; the influence of feeling okay to chase white women in Canada without fear of death, etc, the hollowness of it all. It’s a very interesting dynamic.
imanit's review against another edition
4.0
Confirmed what I already knew about Mcgill, everyone who goes there is a freak for real. Jokes aside, a really fun and biting book on race, sexuality, and how we stereotype the people around us
browngirlreading's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
bookofcinz's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
Hilarious, reflective, engaging, thought-provoking.
I can just imagine how this was recieved when it was just released. It is clear the author wanted to provoke the reader and push the enevlope with this one.
An engaging read.
I can just imagine how this was recieved when it was just released. It is clear the author wanted to provoke the reader and push the enevlope with this one.
An engaging read.
lauralauralaura's review against another edition
4.0
Kind of a fever dream of what I imagine it might have been like to be young and horny in the 80s, with layers of sexual and racial politics simmering away (mostly) under the surface.
1raquetteur's review against another edition
4.0
Extrêmement ludique et toujours pertinent même 35 ans plus tard.
tromatojuice's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25