A review by wchereads
Sordidez by E.G. Condé

challenging emotional reflective

3.75

Reading this book has been such an interesting experience. And that's just it - this was less like a story with a clear plot and protagonist, and more like an experience. The writing was poetic and atmospheric, and despite my inability to understand Spanish or any indigenous languages featured in the book (the glossary was a huge help, though!), and my inability to tell sci-fi made-up words and "actual" words apart, I enjoyed it. I felt immersed in the Taínofuturistic world and found myself caring deeply about the people's struggles and awed by their strength, patience, wisdom and resilience.

"A plant like this one will survive my harvesting, just as it might survive droughts or flooding or fires or diseases. Even after all that it still finds a way to bloom. Not by forgetting what it has been through, but by building on it."

Sometime ago I went to a queer indigenous bookshop and got a sticker that said "decolonize yourself." Later I asked some friends what they think the phrase means because I realized I couldn't really put my understanding into words. I still have trouble articulating it, but this is one book I would point to as an example of decolonization - not only is that what the story is about, reading it has also felt like an act of "declonizing myself", or changing my brain chemistry, if you will. I would absolutely love to read more indigenous sci-fi stories.