From the Publisher
Insightful, witty and accessible prose. . . . Gay has an ability to blend the personal and political in a way that feels simultaneously gentle and brutal. . . . For 1,400 or so words you look at a cultural moment through Gay’s eyes and, by the end, you see the world differently.” — The Guardian
"A true star in the literary world known for her uncompromising opinions, timely takes on modern American culture, and in-depth profiles." — Shondaland
“Gay made a name for herself with her pieces, which often turned conventional opinion writing on its head—decisive, funny takes that sat squarely in the space between logic and empathy, and eschewed conventional pundit wisdom. These pieces have been gathered in Opinions, and they showcase her work as a thinker, grappling with the questions of our time.” — Harper’s Bazaar
"Her opinions are not just indictments of the suffering people went through, but intimate conversations capable of uplifting the reader during any phase of their life." — The Harvard Crimson
“Gay’s essays are brilliant and incisive. . . . Each piece on its own is worthy of attention. Taken collectively, this title is not to be missed.” — Library Journal (starred review)
"This is a must-read for not only fans of Gay’s work, but for everyone interested in reading intellectual, accessible, and important takes on timely topics." — Booklist (Starred Review)
“This sharp, thought-provoking anthology will delight Roxane Gay’s devotees and draw new readers to this inimitable talent.” — USA Today
"Essays, op-eds, and pop-culture pieces from the acclaimed novelist and memoirist. . . . [Gay] has a gift for clean, well-ordered prose, and strong feelings on matters of race, gender, and sexuality. Most important, she possesses a fearlessness essential to doing the job right; though she can observe an issue from various angles, she never wrings her hands or delivers milquetoast commentaries. . . . she comes to her opinions more out of empathy than ideology. . . . Fierce and informed riffs on current events and enduring challenges." — Kirkus Reviews
praise for the author Washington Post
A strikingly fresh cultural critic.”
Library Journal
09/08/2023
Readers seek out opinion writing for clarity, to align with or dissent from a writer's ideas, and thus, to illuminate their own thoughts. These are memoirist (Hunger), essayist (Bad Feminist), and publisher Gay's best essays from 2013 to 2023 on topics including politics, race, culture, and feminism. The point is not to see how her opinions evolve on these topics, because they don't, really. They're the products of deeply held values and are expressed with care. The point is to follow her through a decade like no other and to gain clarity on the issues that meant the most to Gay during that time, by collating her best work on, say, American politics from 2013 onward, as loss succeeds loss. In this, the collection delivers sobering clarity about cumulative cultural trauma. Gay's essays are brilliant and incisive. With the weight of the subject matter, especially in the early sections of the book, her wicked sense of humor may be overlooked. VERDICT Each piece on its own is worthy of attention. Taken collectively, this title is not to be missed.—Audrey Snowden
OCTOBER 2023 - AudioFile
Author Roxane Gay performs a collection of her nonfiction pieces from the last decade. The essays range from cultural criticism to celebrity profiles. For example, she interviews Janelle Monáe about how Afrofuturism influenced their album DIRTY COMPUTER and examines the future of the Black Panther franchise after the death of Chadwick Boseman. She also writes about big cultural moments--such as the rise of #MeToo and the protests that took place after the murder of George Floyd--carefully crafting her thoughts with fresh insights. Whatever her subject, Gay's performance highlights her clear, direct prose and sense of humor. She presents her ideas in a deeply personal way that connects with her listeners. K.D.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-03
Essays, op-eds, and pop-culture pieces from the acclaimed novelist and memoirist.
The decision by the New York Times to hire Gay as an opinion writer in 2014 was a no-brainer: She has a gift for clean, well-ordered prose, and strong feelings on matters of race, gender, and sexuality. Most important, she possesses a fearlessness essential to doing the job right; though she can observe an issue from various angles, she never wrings her hands or delivers milquetoast commentaries. As she writes in the introduction, “On the page, I get to be the boldest, most audacious version of myself.” According to the author, police officers shouldn’t march in pride parades, and Louis C.K. isn’t owed a second chance. To Kill a Mockingbird is overrated, and Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who killed nine black churchgoers in 2015, doesn’t deserve the forgiveness the victims’ families gave him. Planted firmly on the left, Gay's thoughts on Trump, #metoo, and Black Lives Matter are predictable, but they are engaging in their ferocity all the same. That’s partly because she comes to her opinions more out of empathy than ideology, which is why she’s also served well as an advice columnist for the Times (a few examples of her columns are included). Like any op-ed writer, she sometimes contradicts herself. For example, a piece explaining her refusal to sign a petition condemning a TV show because “creators are allowed to make bad, irresponsible, problematic art” follows a piece arguing the Roseanne reboot shouldn’t have been made. Mostly, however, Gay is consistent, and the squishiness is relegated to puff pieces profiling Madonna, Janelle Monáe, Tessa Thompson, and others. The author may spit fire in her essays, but even she can’t penetrate the PR armor in which Nicki Minaj has encased herself.
Fierce and informed riffs on current events and enduring challenges.
