karimorton33's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing read, I’m glad to finally have read an Audre Lorde! Even if each essay didn’t fully resonate with me, the writing still drew me in in a way I haven’t experienced before. It was like being there or chatting with a friend. Reading this 30+ years after it was originally published, how relevant the topics are is uncanny. A classic, essential feminist text. (Read for Feminist Book Club)
carcass_in_bloom's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
katreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
Thought provoking, poetic essays about being a woman, especially a black woman, and a lesbian. These essays spoke to me and was worth finishing though it ended up in a library fine for me.
dorothy_gale's review
3.0
I chose this in my Feminism reading journey because I was due for a 1980s book, and at the time, it had a 4.49 Goodreads rating by 13k+ people. It was categorized about 4-to-1 as Feminism before Race, but I found it mostly to be about Race. And the format was essays, which is not my thing. So, it didn't meet expectations, although the author seemed to be clear and resolute about her opinions. She was also LGBT so quite honestly I'm not sure how she separated all of the issues. Next on my list is the 1989 "Gender Trouble" which is non-Race, non-Essay -- so hopefully that is better.
marianne_maschine's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
lalaverne92's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
dorhastings's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
While it is friggin tragic that it has taken me this long to read Audre Lorde, I'm glad I've finally read some of her work. I highlighted like half of the book. I don't expect I'll give a full review of this book, not because the book doesn't warrant it, but perhaps because I have no complaints and feel the book really stands on its own without my review.
There were some sections of the book that I found less engaging, certainly. Not because they didn't involve me and my identity, as I don't feel I'm the target audience for much of this book. But just because I didn't feel quite as invested, such as the first essay, "Notes From a Trip to Russia". What I did get from that particular essay was that racism and inequality can easily still exist in a communist society (or whatever type of society the Soviet Union was/is). I also felt a little less invested in the essay defending poetry. I don't love poetry, but I also think it's a valid form of writing and expression, and I'm sad at the idea that others devalued its form as less important or scholarly.
I think what I really enjoyed reading was the articulation of issues within the Black community, especially as it relates to sexism. Lorde makes clear appeals to Black men and women, two groups who, in her experience, disapproved of each other and of homosexuality. She articulated the point that the Black community is not always as supportive as outside society would let on, and that it feels especially wounding to have Black women in the community not support other Black women. For beyond the sisterhood is still racism.
To be sure, Lorde also calls out white women for focusing on sexism first and racism second (or, really, not at all) while smoothly overlooking Black women's unique experiences. One of the essays is a letter she sent to Mary Daly, whose work I haven't read but I'm vaguely familiar with. I'm familiar enough to know that Daly's writing about sexism and, per Lorde's letter, seems to almost completely ignore Black women's cultures.
My review is all over the place, but it's enough to say that the material in this book is essential reading, regardless of perceived "target audience", and I would love to read more of her work.
There were some sections of the book that I found less engaging, certainly. Not because they didn't involve me and my identity, as I don't feel I'm the target audience for much of this book. But just because I didn't feel quite as invested, such as the first essay, "Notes From a Trip to Russia". What I did get from that particular essay was that racism and inequality can easily still exist in a communist society (or whatever type of society the Soviet Union was/is). I also felt a little less invested in the essay defending poetry. I don't love poetry, but I also think it's a valid form of writing and expression, and I'm sad at the idea that others devalued its form as less important or scholarly.
I think what I really enjoyed reading was the articulation of issues within the Black community, especially as it relates to sexism. Lorde makes clear appeals to Black men and women, two groups who, in her experience, disapproved of each other and of homosexuality. She articulated the point that the Black community is not always as supportive as outside society would let on, and that it feels especially wounding to have Black women in the community not support other Black women. For beyond the sisterhood is still racism.
To be sure, Lorde also calls out white women for focusing on sexism first and racism second (or, really, not at all) while smoothly overlooking Black women's unique experiences. One of the essays is a letter she sent to Mary Daly, whose work I haven't read but I'm vaguely familiar with. I'm familiar enough to know that Daly's writing about sexism and, per Lorde's letter, seems to almost completely ignore Black women's cultures.
My review is all over the place, but it's enough to say that the material in this book is essential reading, regardless of perceived "target audience", and I would love to read more of her work.
martynahanna's review against another edition
5.0
A great collection - moving, informative, educational, eye-opening, accessible. Loved it.