Tag Archives: Essays and Collections

You Should Pity Us Instead — Amy Gustine

“If you don’t belong where you’re born, you’ll never belong anywhere.”

Genre: Cultural Heritage Fiction, Essays and Collections
Actual Rating: 3 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses death, suicide, mental illness, and so many more things. This is a compilation of really dark stories, so if you’re not in the best headspace, then don’t grab this book.

“You Should Pity Us Instead” was Amy Gustine’s debut collection of short stories (but she’s published lots since then). All following different characters along different settings—from different cultures, cities, countries—these stories will drag you into an existential crisis for sure.

If you’re looking for a depressing compilation of stories, look no further. Amy Gustine found a way to write about really heavy topics and very distinct characters and narrators in these entertaining short stories. Usually I feel like short stories leave us with more questions than answer—due to their short nature—but I am happy to say this was not the case with (most of) this compilation. (And why were they so many cat-related stories? I love cats, why make them into sad sad sad stories?)

Have you read “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara? Well, if you’ve read that and liked it, then this book is for you. The stories are so heavy and depressing, that I’m not sure I would ever be able to give this book as a gift, but it was still a good read.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC — Pangaea: Prose and Poetry — Hinnah Mian

“No matter how much I wear to cover my skin, I can never seem to hide it enough.”

Genre: Poetry, Essays and Collections
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses racism, discrimination, death, and depression.

“Pangaea” is a collection of poetry and prose where the author, Hinnah Mian, looked to express how a body can be destroyed and reborn through many means and for many reasons. Looking at the color of skin, the significance of cultural bias, the power of love—lost and gained, from family and from lovers—, and the impact society has on us, Mian has composed a beautiful oath for our bodies and our selves.

I saw being watered down as a theme. It was mentioned various times and it was something that resonated a lot with me through this book. Hinnah Mian made a wonderful job at highlighting how you can feel like you’re not appropriate in your own ‘home’, how at times you’ll have to dilute yourself to be accepted. The only reason why this book didn’t get a perfect rating from me is because some poems were repetitive and a bit monotone.

I would recommend this poetry book to anyone who’s ever felt invisible in their own skin or—even worse—targeted because of it. I also feel like this could be a powerful gift for a friend or loved one who loves poetry.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 8, 2022

“some nights i am less star
and more the darkness that shrouds them”

ARC — The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy — Edited by James Crews

“We lay together under the stars.
We know ourselves to be part of mystery.
It is unspeakable.
It is everlasting.
It is for keeps.”

Genre: Poetry, Essays and Collections
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Content Warnings: None that I can think of.

I’ve read poetry collections before, and have always had mixed feelings about them. Sometimes I hate them, sometimes I love them. Sometimes they’re right in between. I think the latter is how I feel about “The Path to Kindness.”

Some poems were good, while some felt slightly forced into the narrative. It’s not I didn’t enjoy reading this collection, it’s just I didn’t feel inclined to keep reading at times.

I think my favorite parts of this collection were the reflective pauses. They included an invitation to write down your thoughts, and I liked the prompts.

I would recommend this book to people who have been lonely through this pandemic and who like poetry and journaling.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can pre-order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: April 12, 2022