A review by jigglydelight
Belonging: A Culture of Place by bell hooks
3.5
I have been reflecting on my current city of residence and and wondering whether the amount of work and money I have to put in to stay here is worth it for the minimal belonging and community I have after 2 years of being here. I went to my home state this summer and it really has me considering what it is to belong. I am trying to decide if it would be worth it to move back, even if that means starting over again.
Belonging is a collection of essays by bell hooks (intentional lowercasing) that describes hooks' journey with Kentucky, racism, and sense of purpose. This is my first bell hooks books and I liked it enough. However, I found it to be quite repetitive after awhile. And while I agree that rural, agricultural life provides sustenance, it was given as too much of a cure all. I think there are healthy ways to build community and heal our relationship to the earth within cities as well.
With all this to say, these essays did punch me in the gut several times. I'd recommend picking it up and reading an essay or two, but a straight through read may diminish enjoyment.
Brooke's Star Rankings (2023):
⭐: DNFd after reading 50%
⭐⭐: finished the book, probably out of spite. Did not like it.
⭐⭐⭐: Fine!
⭐⭐⭐⭐: pretty good book
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Book that has stuck with me for some time after reading it/shifted my perspective
Belonging is a collection of essays by bell hooks (intentional lowercasing) that describes hooks' journey with Kentucky, racism, and sense of purpose. This is my first bell hooks books and I liked it enough. However, I found it to be quite repetitive after awhile. And while I agree that rural, agricultural life provides sustenance, it was given as too much of a cure all. I think there are healthy ways to build community and heal our relationship to the earth within cities as well.
With all this to say, these essays did punch me in the gut several times. I'd recommend picking it up and reading an essay or two, but a straight through read may diminish enjoyment.
Brooke's Star Rankings (2023):
⭐: DNFd after reading 50%
⭐⭐: finished the book, probably out of spite. Did not like it.
⭐⭐⭐: Fine!
⭐⭐⭐⭐: pretty good book
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Book that has stuck with me for some time after reading it/shifted my perspective