conversationswithkara's Reviews (313)

fascinating stories but i couldn't in good conscience give this book more than 2 stars because of its gross ableism and racism. i get that this was last updated in the 1980s but jfc. if you're not gonna edit those parts (which would be the decent thing to do) at least flag it in the foreword or show some awareness that these terms and views are outdated??? actually so angry rn i'm taking half a star away

fav poems:
- faith and despondency 
- hope: "hope was but a timid friend"
- sympathy: "there should be no despair for you"
- self-interrogation: "the evening passes fast away"

5 star essays:
- on keeping a notebook
- on self-respect 
- guaymas, sonora 
- goodbye to all that

writing this review 8 months after reading it bc i have not stopped thinking about this book. it’s actually everything to me. ali smith somehow managed to make litfic the most joyous thing to read and i love her for it