persnickety9's review against another edition
3.0
Some of these stories were really hit or miss for me, which I guess is a gamble you take when it’s a collection of short stories. I love that a collection was made about women of color and LGBTQ+ women. I love that there’s that representation. “Wolfpack,” “Blue Talk and Love,” and “Saturday” were standouts for me. I’d definitely check out another book by this author.
meganmilks's review against another edition
5.0
From my review published on Lambda Literary:
“You! What’s wrong with your body?” demands Malaya’s dance teacher in “Saturday,” one of fourteen exquisitely crafted stories in Mecca Jamilah Sullivan’s debut collection. Malaya, who we’ve first met at a weight-loss support group, is eight years old, and she has missed a step. Mrs. Rhymes won’t let it go: “You got to be in your body, girl! Move your arms! Your feet!” Malaya responds by dissociating, floating through the rest of the dance, daydreaming about going to sleep and waking up “long and lean and limber–waking up “right.”
- Read more here: http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews/05/24/blue-talk-love-by-mecca-jamilah-sullivan
“You! What’s wrong with your body?” demands Malaya’s dance teacher in “Saturday,” one of fourteen exquisitely crafted stories in Mecca Jamilah Sullivan’s debut collection. Malaya, who we’ve first met at a weight-loss support group, is eight years old, and she has missed a step. Mrs. Rhymes won’t let it go: “You got to be in your body, girl! Move your arms! Your feet!” Malaya responds by dissociating, floating through the rest of the dance, daydreaming about going to sleep and waking up “long and lean and limber–waking up “right.”
- Read more here: http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews/05/24/blue-talk-love-by-mecca-jamilah-sullivan
mckaywilde's review
4.0
Trigger warnings for those interested in this book:
-Threat of sexual assault (Wolfpack)
-Rape (Sererie)
-Eating disorders/fat shaming (Saturday, The Anvil)
None of these topics are presented in a positive light.
Sullivan’s prose is simply beautiful. While I definitely have my favorites from this collection (Wolfpack, Blue Talk and Love, Snow Fight, A Magic of Bags, Adale, and Friday, Field Trip Day), every story has something worth noting. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to expand their horizons in terms of books by black authors - this is a real, raw collection of stories that will stick with you for a long time.
I had the honor to hear Sullivan read from this collection at the university that would become my own about a year and a half before I was accepted. This was back in 2017, and I so clearly remember her reading excerpts of Wolfpack, A Strange People, and Powder and Smoke. Just goes to show how impactful her words and stories are.
-Threat of sexual assault (Wolfpack)
-Rape (Sererie)
-Eating disorders/fat shaming (Saturday, The Anvil)
None of these topics are presented in a positive light.
Sullivan’s prose is simply beautiful. While I definitely have my favorites from this collection (Wolfpack, Blue Talk and Love, Snow Fight, A Magic of Bags, Adale, and Friday, Field Trip Day), every story has something worth noting. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to expand their horizons in terms of books by black authors - this is a real, raw collection of stories that will stick with you for a long time.
I had the honor to hear Sullivan read from this collection at the university that would become my own about a year and a half before I was accepted. This was back in 2017, and I so clearly remember her reading excerpts of Wolfpack, A Strange People, and Powder and Smoke. Just goes to show how impactful her words and stories are.
prettymuchbooks's review
challenging
reflective
slow-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
4.5
allisonreadsdc's review
4.0
Like almost all short story collections, some stories in Blue Talk and Love are stronger than others. I struggled a bit getting through the collection because the first story, "Wolfpack" absolutely blew me away - and then the next few in the collection fell flat. I'm glad I stuck with it because some of my favorite stories, "Adale"and "Ruidos" were towards the end.
Mecca Jamilah Sullivan is a talented writer who brings her characters to life. She writes mostly about women; black, queer, fat, immigrant women navigating daily life. Most of her stories take place in New York City, though some are in Africa or elsewhere. "Wolfpack" is a fictionalized story of the New Jersey Four, 4 black lesbians charged with assault for defending themselves against a catcaller in 2006, and is really the standout of the collection - but I highly recommend reading the whole book and adding Sullivan to your writers to watch.
Mecca Jamilah Sullivan is a talented writer who brings her characters to life. She writes mostly about women; black, queer, fat, immigrant women navigating daily life. Most of her stories take place in New York City, though some are in Africa or elsewhere. "Wolfpack" is a fictionalized story of the New Jersey Four, 4 black lesbians charged with assault for defending themselves against a catcaller in 2006, and is really the standout of the collection - but I highly recommend reading the whole book and adding Sullivan to your writers to watch.
kennethwade's review
4.0
I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection, although a few of them seemed to have no real conclusion or purpose.
I definitely felt that the stories got stronger as they went, but maybe it had something to do with my own mood or my own adjusting to the writing style.
At any rate, I would recommend that you give this collection a shot if you want short stories about diverse women of color from many background experiencing unique situations.
Favorites: “Blue Talk and Love”
“Snow Fight”
“A Strange People”
“Adale”
“Wall Women”
4 out of 5 stars
I definitely felt that the stories got stronger as they went, but maybe it had something to do with my own mood or my own adjusting to the writing style.
At any rate, I would recommend that you give this collection a shot if you want short stories about diverse women of color from many background experiencing unique situations.
Favorites: “Blue Talk and Love”
“Snow Fight”
“A Strange People”
“Adale”
“Wall Women”
4 out of 5 stars
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