timbo001's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
ameliasbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
These are essays written by a very angry woman. And though I am not agreeing with all of what have been said, because sometimes Ellmann gets carried away a bit too far and because some things are a bit far stretched, I encourage her anger. Because most of the time women are denied expressing anger and I most certainly won't do that. These essays are very often polemic, so if that's not something you are enjoying, this collection is not for you.
Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed by some ableism in one of the essays.
Apart from that I am here for being angry about a lot of the shit that is going on in this world.
But Galley Beggar Press could we have a word about the binding of this book, please? It's a crime against every reader out there. I usually have no problems to crack the spines, if it enhances my reading experience, but I didn't get the slightest chance to do so. And holding this book was adding a new dimension to discomfort. Lucy Ellmann, I need you to have a rant about that.
Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed by some ableism in one of the essays.
Apart from that I am here for being angry about a lot of the shit that is going on in this world.
But Galley Beggar Press could we have a word about the binding of this book, please? It's a crime against every reader out there. I usually have no problems to crack the spines, if it enhances my reading experience, but I didn't get the slightest chance to do so. And holding this book was adding a new dimension to discomfort. Lucy Ellmann, I need you to have a rant about that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Ableism
textpublishing's review
The following reviews have been shared by Text Publishing - publisher of Things Are Against Us
‘As full of wit as wisdom…Urgent, angry and often very funny.’
Bookmunch
‘[Ellmann’s] ire is matched only by an irrepressible comic impulse…She’s out to foment revolution.’
Observer
‘Funny, sarcastic, playful and self-deprecating, but also provocative and fantastically experimental with language and structure. Ellmann is a master of lists, a seemingly prosaic procession of words builds to a rhythm and poetically creates original insight into how humans are ruining the planet and all of humanity.’
Readings
'[A] wickedly funny, rousing, depressing, caps-driven work of linguistic gymnastics hellbent on upbraiding the deleterious forces of the prevailing misogyny.'
Guardian
'[Lucy Ellmann's] blazing diatribes and comedic energy fuel the purposeful lamentation of these hilarious and potent essays.'
Saturday Paper
'Fiery, provocative…For all the wit and wordplay, Ellmann has important points to make, not least about the way that our flailing world is upheld.'
Independent
'A series of extremely entertaining rants.'
BBC Front Row
'[Ellmann] is just so wise and cynical and angry…she’s not a polite writer; she doesn’t hold back.’
RNZ Nine to Noon
'Something of a literary agent provocateur, lobbing essays like hand grenades into the public domain, [Lucy Ellmann] covers a wide range of topics in this collection...Whether satiric, wacky, or angry, Booker-shortlisted novelist Ellmann is interesting and fearless.’
SMH/Age
‘As full of wit as wisdom…Urgent, angry and often very funny.’
Bookmunch
‘[Ellmann’s] ire is matched only by an irrepressible comic impulse…She’s out to foment revolution.’
Observer
‘Funny, sarcastic, playful and self-deprecating, but also provocative and fantastically experimental with language and structure. Ellmann is a master of lists, a seemingly prosaic procession of words builds to a rhythm and poetically creates original insight into how humans are ruining the planet and all of humanity.’
Readings
'[A] wickedly funny, rousing, depressing, caps-driven work of linguistic gymnastics hellbent on upbraiding the deleterious forces of the prevailing misogyny.'
Guardian
'[Lucy Ellmann's] blazing diatribes and comedic energy fuel the purposeful lamentation of these hilarious and potent essays.'
Saturday Paper
'Fiery, provocative…For all the wit and wordplay, Ellmann has important points to make, not least about the way that our flailing world is upheld.'
Independent
'A series of extremely entertaining rants.'
BBC Front Row
'[Ellmann] is just so wise and cynical and angry…she’s not a polite writer; she doesn’t hold back.’
RNZ Nine to Noon
'Something of a literary agent provocateur, lobbing essays like hand grenades into the public domain, [Lucy Ellmann] covers a wide range of topics in this collection...Whether satiric, wacky, or angry, Booker-shortlisted novelist Ellmann is interesting and fearless.’
SMH/Age
wchereads's review against another edition
This started out very interesting (first essay is arguably my favourite and the most relatable), then quickly became very dull and frustrating. While I do think the author still had a point here and there, ultimately I find her feminist views to be very trans-exclusive with a fixation on genitals and organs.
Now, I absolutely think there are spaces AND frankly an urgent need for more education and awareness about afab/traditionally considered female anatomy. I just think those sorts of education and criticisms of patriarchy and the harms of toxic masculinity can and should exist without being exclusive/intolerant.
Now, I absolutely think there are spaces AND frankly an urgent need for more education and awareness about afab/traditionally considered female anatomy. I just think those sorts of education and criticisms of patriarchy and the harms of toxic masculinity can and should exist without being exclusive/intolerant.
bartvanovermeire's review against another edition
3.0
THINGS disappoint us, as does the title essay from this collection. It had the same hypnotising cadence as 'Ducks, Newburyport', but for me lacked the humorous tone. And why blaming things first and foremost and not humans? And putting the Large Hadron Collider in the list together with fascism, poverty, ... on the minus side of thousands of years of male rule? While the Chrysler Building is on the plus side? 'What a fucking liberty!' as Catherine Tate's Nan would say.
The next two essays, 'The Underground Bunker' and 'Trapped Family Fingers', were underwhelming as well, but luckily Ellmann was back at her best in 'Three Strikes'.
Sadly, the rest of the collection is quite mixed and, while I agreed with most that she wrote, I think that's also why I didn't like it that much: it reminded me too much of myself at times. To be clear, though: Ellmann is more articulate and a lot funnier, especially in 'The Lost Art of Staying Put' she's on a (sedentary) roll.
And finally: I've now really read enough about Laura Ingalls Wilder.
So, let's not complain too much, there were some very good complaints in this collection after all.
The next two essays, 'The Underground Bunker' and 'Trapped Family Fingers', were underwhelming as well, but luckily Ellmann was back at her best in 'Three Strikes'.
Sadly, the rest of the collection is quite mixed and, while I agreed with most that she wrote, I think that's also why I didn't like it that much: it reminded me too much of myself at times. To be clear, though: Ellmann is more articulate and a lot funnier, especially in 'The Lost Art of Staying Put' she's on a (sedentary) roll.
And finally: I've now really read enough about Laura Ingalls Wilder.
So, let's not complain too much, there were some very good complaints in this collection after all.
livnewman's review against another edition
5.0
Lucy Ellmann is pissed and I am here for it. In this collection, she goes in on obvious targets: capitalism, climate change, misogyny, and Trump (who she describes artfully, amongst many other things, as a "lying liar"), but she also tackles airlines, travellers, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Hitchcock movies, morning routine vlogs, the whole genre of crime fiction, the titular 'things', and...all men. While I did not agree with everything she says, I don't think you're meant to, and I took the point she was making every time.
This collection is caustic, it's vitriolic, it's whip-smart, and it's laugh-out-loud funny. In particular, America being described as "the worst boy scout jamboree in history. Or jerk circle,” made me die. The best essay for me was the titular essay 'Things Are Against Us', which I loved for its poetic style and all the hot takes. I also adored the searing critique of teenage morning routine vloggers, whom Ellman rightly points out are vapid and a result of monstrous capitalism.
In the description of the author at the end, Ellmann admits she hates filling out forms and cries when she doesn't get her way, and that resonated with me deep in my soul.
This collection is caustic, it's vitriolic, it's whip-smart, and it's laugh-out-loud funny. In particular, America being described as "the worst boy scout jamboree in history. Or jerk circle,” made me die. The best essay for me was the titular essay 'Things Are Against Us', which I loved for its poetic style and all the hot takes. I also adored the searing critique of teenage morning routine vloggers, whom Ellman rightly points out are vapid and a result of monstrous capitalism.
In the description of the author at the end, Ellmann admits she hates filling out forms and cries when she doesn't get her way, and that resonated with me deep in my soul.