American Dreams

This collection gets four stars not because I enjoyed it but rather because I found it exceptionally necessary. Sapphire's writing is brutal, harrowing, and unequivocally real. She sugarcoats nothing, imbuing her work with all the anger and ugliness that the situations possess when experienced in real life. At the same time, she manages to write of horrible and traumatic experiences in sometimes beautiful ways which makes the ugliness of the situations cut more sharply. I believe this collection offers great insight into what it can mean to be a Black woman, a survivor of sexual and physical assault, a woman loving woman, and a creative person among other things and recommend it for those reasons with the caveat that this whole book show more deserves a long list of trigger warnings (most notably for intense descriptions of rape, physical abuse, misogynoir, and strong references to suicide). show less

I really liked this book. I reminded me a lot of "A Piece of Cake" (which I think I still like better). I was very raw, emotional, sexually charged, and honest. I realize that many people might be uncomfortable about some of the topics in this book (incest, rape, lesbianism, sexism) but I find the stuff not only fascinating, but real.

Sapphire is truly gifted. She knows how to get deep within the reader and rattle perceptions of African Americans as well as women. This work was a eye-opening glimpse into the lives of people many of us would like sooner to forget or put out of our minds

Sapphire is an awesome writer who deserves your attention. the issues she raises are often ignored but are devastating when they come to light.

sapphire's poetry is vivid, brutal and gorgeous.