About Book Marks
Recent Reviews
Danielle Evans
Rave Financial Times (UK) ... an accomplished short story writer. Here she explores a staggering number of contemporary issues through the lens of her primarily black female protagonists, from the many different facets of race (racial disparities, respectability politics, passing, microaggressions, white supremacy) and class, to abuse and relationships. In the hands of a lesser writer, it might have felt breathless and overburdened, but in each of the works here, Evans delves into these themes with care, nuance and a sharp wit ... Each story in this superb collection offers an observation of modern life that feels urgent and vital, and confirms Evans’ place as one of the most electric and insightful voices writing today.
Deesha Philyaw
Rave The Financial Times (UK) Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour. https://www.ft.com/content/1f5cb8d5-ef3e-4e16-8b46-b8aac906b584 By turns darkly funny and tragic, the stories provide an intimate — at times voyeuristic — perspective on the desires, romances and fears of a complex cast of black female characters. The collection has also been a resounding success for Philyaw, winning a number of awards, and it is currently being adapted into a television series for HBO Max ... Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour. https://www.ft.com/content/1f5cb8d5-ef3e-4e16-8b46-b8aac906b584 Philyaw’s frank, lyrical prose is a thing of beauty, deftly capturing whatever she turns her hand to, be it fractured mother-daughter relationships or burgeoning romances. These short stories offer an arresting view on the inner lives of black women, and the nourishment they find in their spirituality and each other.
Akwaeke Emezi
Rave The Financial Times Emezi’s tender prose deftly depicts the inner lives of Vivek, Osita and those around them. It also alludes to the author’s work as a video artist, with photography and pictures a recurring motif in the novel, and scenes arranged like subject matter in a painting ... While the mystery surrounding Vivek’s death is finally revealed towards the end of this spellbinding mystery, what proves most satisfying is all that is learnt in the search for truth.