What We Lose in Words Between Worlds

Jun 01, 2018 Never Without a Book rated it really liked it

I just completed What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons and I don’t know how I feel about it. I'm not saying it’s good, bad or that it doesn’t deserve a review. I just….hmmm. I need a minute to reflect. ...more

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Jul 01, 2017 Katy O. rated it really liked it

Shelves: advanced-reader-copies, adult-reads

Powerfully short, terse, and heart wrenchingly grief-stricken, WHAT WE LOSE is another classic example of my definition of literary fiction: "fiction in which the style of writing and social implications add just as much to the experience as does the story itself". (see my review for Chemistry by Weike Wang). Clemmons' new book is fiction, but reads as memoir or essay, and includes photographs and articles as well as choppy and broken scenes from Thandi's life growing up in Pennsylvania and visi ...more

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Aug 01, 2017 Rachel Rooney rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, diverse-author, audiobook, 2017

This is a short book. It is only 224 pages or less than 4 hours in audio. I listened to it over the course of one day while getting things done around the house.

While I wonder if it will stick with me, I really liked this book. It is written in a brief, vignette format that reminded me of The Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill. The vignette format can give books an ephemeral quality, but don't let that fool you: this novel has plenty of depth.

4-4.5 stars. ...more

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Jul 24, 2017 Tonja rated it it was amazing

I've heard this book described as a meditation and I completely agree. I recently lost my father and related deeply to Thandi's feelings of loss. It was also a book about discovery of self, sexuality and love. I am a sucker for beautifully written sentences and found myself pausing, re reading and letting the words soak in. This is one I could agin and that is rare. ...more

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Aug 11, 2017 Buffy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-tbr

Beautifully written! Loved the unusual flow of this novel. Having lost my mother as well, at times I had to put it down and pull myself together. Definitely recommend reading!

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