aishathebibliophile's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Come let us sing anyway is a quirky collection with 23 short stories and flash fiction pieces. I’m glad I waited to share this because it gave me a chance to hear the author talk about the collection over the weekend further cementing my opinion. It is a near-perfect collection. Reading this, it is evident that craft is important and brilliant writing is what makes this so great. In her own words “I have one responsibility to my readers and that is to address the quality of my sentences”.
Thematically it’s hard to categorise because it explores such varied topics and some are more grounded in reality than others. Like any great collection, it allows you to experience a range of emotions from empathetic, serious feelings to more whimsical, even sensuous emotions. Visceral yet tender is how I would describe this “The young black man dies like a flower.” Each story is so unique and the collection will take you on a wild ride. For those with settings, Jamaica or London, I love its fresh perspective of these places.
TW for Suicide, domestic violence and violence against women. Other themes include loneliness, police brutality, friendship, love, queerness and family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Violence, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Mental illness, Grief, and Fatphobia
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