RaveZYZZYVA...a fascinating reflection on the sexual assault that shaped part of Hale’s life, as well as on humanity’s rapacity, Internet trolling, and mental illness ... Hale’s self-deprecating humor helps to build and release tension, showcasing the irresistible charm of her writing ... As in all of these essays, nothing is straightforward, but rather a swarming collection of thoughts, emotions, and humor, all skillfully constructed into a narrative ... Like most great writers of nonfiction, she is acutely aware of her flaws; in the end, she finds herself the most ridiculous of all ... Hale’s fascinating essays challenge readers to examine and perhaps even embrace the animal nature in everyone.
Chris Rush
RaveZYZZYVAWhile Rush’s story is incredibly interesting and thought-provoking on its own, his writing style lends an honest and mind-bending quality. Rush recounts the highs and lows with a clarity that refuses to glorify or ask for pity. He simply presents his adolescence for what it was: a time of infinite magic and joy as well as one plagued by addiction and isolation ... Although the memoir takes the reader to some dark moments in Rush’s life, overall it serves as a recollection of the wonder of his youth ... all throughout this story is Rush’s large-hearted compassion for the friends he made along the way ... It’s difficult to come away from The Light Years without an appreciation for the beauty Rush finds in a seemingly harsh world. Seeing through his perspective could potentially leave readers changed for the better.
David Means
RaveZYZZYVA... further secures [David Means\'s] position as a standout writer of short fiction ... the book’s prose takes you on a trek, one that demands complete attention from the reader, but repays that attention. Through his dense, carefully crafted sentences, Means transports us through time and place, interweaving action with his characters’ inner ruminations and flashbacks, and in the process touching on the most tender and enigmatic parts of existence ... gives voice to those who often remain voiceless, delivering portrayals of raw vulnerability and urgency that compel one to keep reading.
Lisa Locascio
RaveZYZZYVA... a politically charged and erotic story that fearlessly tackles race, xenophobia, and female sexuality ... the novel seethes with passionate descriptions of both sex and emotions. It shamelessly details something often hidden and rarely discussed –– female sexuality in its rawest form ... With careful observation and lush details, Locascio distills the experiences of the body and the pleasure sex brings, which become an important means through which Roxana feels alive. Daring and flawless in her depiction, Locascio locates the desire at the root of this sensuality ... Open Me is an intimate story of self-discovery in a foreign land. Laced with politics and sexuality, Locascio’s novel plumbs a deeper place of love and understanding, toward oneself and others.
