Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

3 reviews

rieviolet's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Like any kind of collection, there are always some parts that you like better than other ones but, overall, there is an awful lot to appreciate here and many interesting, challenging and complex reflections to ponder over.

There were a couple of chapters that I didn't much care about and, in places, were also a bit of a struggle to get through (for example "Notes from a Trip to Russia"; "An Interview: Audre Lorde and Adrienne Rich", which was way too long, too much focused on their personal relationship, and also I do not like Adrienne Rich).

I have to admit that some sections were a bit difficult to understand, but that has more to do with me lacking in similar personal experiences and knowledge, than to any fault of the author. 

A lot of what Audre Lorde reflected on and wrote about back then still resonates deeply today. I think it will be worth it to read more from the author and then revisit these essays.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

notartgarfunkel's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Cancer, Murder, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Rape and Death of parent

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

a work much deserving of its classic status, sister outsider is raw, incisive, deep, and searing; its soul-searching, reclaiming of self and space, and examination into the sinister nooks and crevices of american society in all its -isms and complex intersectionality are cloaked w/ righteous (and relatable) rage, all succinctly yet effectivively articulated in a mix of prose, poems, and interviews, among others, though the last chapter kinda throws me off in its placement and seeming detour from content presented earlier in the book.

not only does lorde get me nodding my head off in vigorous agreement, she also leaves me awed and astounded at times at how insightful and revealing her observations and truth-telling are, and her call to self-awareness and action are inspiring. she's also light years ahead of many others in her understanding and communication of the seemingly seamless blending of race, sex, sexual orientation, class, and other aspects of complex intersectionality, as well as her awareness of her own positionality, resulting in a startlingly non-western-centric work. this is def a book to keep and read then reread.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, Infertility, Rape, and Medical trauma