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What We Lose
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
From an author of rare, haunting power, a stunning novel about a young African-American woman coming of age a deeply felt meditation on race, sex, family, and country Raised in Pennsylvania, Thandi views the world of her mother s childhood in Johannesburg as both impossibly distant and ever present. She is an outsider wherever she goes, caught between being black and white, American and not. She tries to connect these dislocated pieces of her life, and as her mother succumbs to cancer, Thandi searches for an anchor someone, or something, to love. In arresting and unsettling prose, we watch Thandi s life unfold, from losing her mother and learning to live without the person who has most profoundly shaped her existence, to her own encounters with romance and unexpected motherhood. Through exquisite and emotional vignettes, Clemmons creates a stunning portrayal of what it means to choose to live, after loss. An elegiac distillation, at once intellectual and visceral, of a young woman s understanding of absence and identity that spans continents and decades, What We Loseheralds the arrival of a virtuosic new voice in fiction."
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Lcsmcat
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Mehso-so

I found this disjointed and unsatisfying. It felt more like an immature collegiate diary than a novel. So many statements put forth as “profound” that were merely trite. Not a fan.

TheLudicReader I also bought this, but I couldn‘t get into at all. Now I feel vindicated. 😀 1mo
Lcsmcat @TheLudicReader So there‘s at least two of us. 😀 1mo
40 likes2 comments
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jfoster
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Current read on audible

4 likes1 stack add
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mrp27
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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#septemberbookspin

Still working on August pick but also looking forward to September‘s pick.

megnews Fall and Rise is SO good 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
mrp27 @megnews I've heard good stuff about this one. I also really liked 3y
megnews Yes, that one was excellent as well 3y
24 likes4 comments
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amyf0x
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

Thandi grapples with the intense grief of losing her mother to cancer while preparing to have an unplanned child of her own.

Read February 12-13
Rated 3.5/5 ⭐️
Book 11/60

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crhealey
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

There are parts of this book that are STUNNING. I think it got stronger towards the end and the beginning was a little fragmented. This was such an intense portrait of grief and race and how these things intersect. I can‘t wait to read more of Clemmons‘s work!

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behudd
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I didn‘t really know what to expect from this book, and I was blown away. Clemmons says things about grief & loss & parenthood that I‘ve thought & felt, but never said. It‘s such a honest portrayal. This book is short & could be a very quick read, but I‘m glad I paced myself through it to really take it all in. It packs so many punches, and I highly recommend. I‘m pretty sure this will end up being one of my best books of 2021.

behudd This was my January #bookspin book! @TheAromaofBooks 4y
ClairesReads Great review 4y
TheAromaofBooks And I absolutely love that cover! 4y
21 likes3 comments
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Lcsmcat
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Look what arrived in this morning‘s mail! Thank you @Soubhiville ! I love participating in #authoramonth - it‘s exposed me to authors I might not have read otherwise- and this is the icing on the cake. I look forward to reading it!

TheNerdyProfessor I loved this one! 4y
Hollie What a lovely cover! 4y
Soubhiville You‘re welcome! I hope you‘ll enjoy it. 4y
See All 6 Comments
Soubhiville Did you find the card and bookmark inside? 4y
Lcsmcat @Soubhiville I just did. I should update the picture! I love the hummingbird card, and I‘ll use the bookmark for my 2021 author a month reads! 4y
Soubhiville 💜 4y
56 likes6 comments
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Soubhiville
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

Thandi grew up in Pennsylvania with her biracial mother who was born in South Africa and her white American father. They frequently visit Johannesburg, and her family there is a foundation of who she is. This novel is about struggling to come to terms with her mother‘s cancer diagnosis, subtle and obvious racism in both places, and what Love means to her.

Clemmons includes interesting quotes, photos, and graphs, contributing a lot to the book.

charl08 Gorgeous cover too. Adding to the stack. 4y
67 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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ClairesReads
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

A thoughtful, moving novel about the loss of a parent and its resultant grief. Clemmons' narrative is succinct, and a little more experimental than I'd anticipated. Because or in spite of this it is full of moments of insight into immense pain and disconnection. As I read, I wondered why I had left it so long to get to this one.

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ClairesReads
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Liberal people things- calling your parents by their first names 😂✌🏻

Sace Hunh. My parents were super liberal but we never called them by their first names. 😂 4y
ClairesReads @Sace fair- I guess I didn‘t mean all liberal people let their children call them by their first names, but most people who do that are probably liberal. Does that make sense? My friends always joked about this with me because I call my parents by their names 4y
Sace @ClairesReads oh I knew you were being tongue in cheek. And that totally makes sense that most likely it would be a more liberal family that would allow it. 4y
24 likes3 comments
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MsLeah8417
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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ManyWordsLater
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Christine Great choices. ❤️ 4y
Emilymdxn Hunger is one of my favourite books of all time! It‘s the only book I‘ve ever written to an author to thank them after I read it. I really hope you like it, and the rest of the stack! 4y
45 likes1 stack add2 comments
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sarahlandis
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
Mehso-so

Didn't love this book... It seemed memoir-esque with the way it intertwined real life statistics and events with the story.. but it was overall unorganized and confusing. Some parts would draw me in and then it'd lose me again. Didn't hate reading it, but wouldn't recommend it

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MsLeah8417
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Finally pulled this one off of my TBR shelf

13 likes1 stack add
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TracyReadsBooks
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

A fast, powerful read about a woman struggling with the death of her mother and life afterwards. Told in vignettes which move through time and place, from reminisces about her mother to stories about trips to South Africa where her mother was from, this story is filled with the pain of losing someone you love and trying to find yourself again. It‘s a day by day process and this book explores that in raw, heartbreaking, & hopeful honesty.

Nute Excellent review, Ms. Tracy! 5y
22 likes1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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I‘m out and about this morning and this is the book I‘m taking with me.

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MelKelsey
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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We've all been there as parents! 😂

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MelKelsey
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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As she's losing her mom.

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MelKelsey
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Mehso-so

Well-written, this novel reads like a stream of disconnected thoughts, interspersed with tidbits of South African political history and story. Half of my mental energy was spent trying to understand what I was reading while the rest just enjoyed the writing.

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TheBookAddict
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Tookey finally move you guys, so now I can eat dinner and start another book. What do you guys think, does it look like the picture on the box or did I get bamboozled? 😆 🤦🏽‍♀️

#YesiReads

RamsFan1963 Definitely looks like a large cheese deficit on the actual pizza. 5y
TheBookAddict @RamsFan1963 😆 right! The melted cheese is one of the best parts, but I don‘t have much of it at all. 😔 5y
57 likes2 comments
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candority
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Mehso-so

I listened to this on audio, and unfortunately, I think that may have reduced my enjoyment. I have seen from other reviews that the book is structured in short vignettes, but the break between these vignettes was lost in the audiobook, which often left me confused and made the whole book feel piecemeal. While I found many parts interesting, I was expecting more depth in the exploration of Thandi‘s grief and relationships. I was underwhelmed.

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Cinfhen
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Mehso-so

Don‘t let this pretty cover fool you!!! This is NOT a happy, cheerful read. Told in vignettes ( without chapter headings or numbers) this is more of a stream of consciousness musings of a young woman coming to terms with grief, identity, loss and motherhood. Some beautiful sentiments but overall I felt detached from the story. I think the author‘s intentional use of short passages and jarring pacing left me feeling too disconnected.

Reviewsbylola Definitely not for me, but that cover!! 🥰🥰 6y
saresmoore I really loved the disconnected, stilted feel of this. I thought it made the reading experience unique and gave force to the material. But I certainly agree that the insides don‘t match the outside! 6y
Cinfhen I think I went into this book expect a full bodied novel so I was disappointed with the structure @saresmoore I guess I wanted something more solid 6y
Mdargusch Like you said in someone else‘s review - great review but #nothanks 😁 6y
115 likes5 comments
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Cinfhen
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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I think @Reviewsbylola mentioned this technique of books without chapters. It‘s driving me crazy!!! While I‘m enjoying the story and the writing, I‘m hung up on pacing and lack of chapter indicators. At least Kindle is telling me I‘m at 31%😅

Cathythoughts Thank goodness for kindle 👍🏻♥️ 6y
DivineDiana Love the Philadelphia connection, but I need my chapters!!! 🙂 6y
TrishB Not into that either. No chapters or dialogue punctuation in a recent one I read. 6y
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Crazeedi I really don't know if I could read!? It would be strange 6y
Mdargusch I‘m not sure I‘ve ever read a book with no chapters. Sounds annoying. 🤔 6y
Mdargusch I hate no dialogue punctuation @TrishB 😖 6y
Susanita I need chapters! 6y
MicheleinPhilly Still looking pretty gray in Miami. We have blue again! Yesterday was a TOTAL washout. 😞 6y
Cinfhen Yesterday was HORRIBLE @MicheleinPhilly and today isn‘t much better although the sun looks like it‘s trying to peek out 🌥Hope you‘re enjoying 6y
Cinfhen The book is written as vignettes/ stream of consciousness so maybe that‘s why the author eliminated chapters @Mdargusch @TrishB @Crazeedi @DivineDiana @Susanita @Cathythoughts but it‘s driving me nuts and it‘s taking me away from the book. I‘m almost done and I‘m not feeling it. 6y
valeriegeary I have a love/hate relationship with chapters. As I writer I don't always see the point of them but as a reader they are must-haves!! 😄 6y
Reviewsbylola No chapters is annoying but I could deal. However, vignettes and stream of consciousness gets a huge HELL NO from me. 6y
MicheleinPhilly Sun went away and we‘re getting a light sprinkle now. Perfect time for a Bloody Mary bar break! 6y
Cinfhen Love your professional insight @valeriegeary ❤️ 6y
111 likes14 comments
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MoniqueReads305
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Mehso-so

Overall this didn't work on all levels. The characters, the plot, the writing, all didn't work. Instead, of feeling like a complete novel, What We Lose ends up feeling like an outline of a grander more moving tale. The backbones for a mother-daughter story were there but it was never expanded on enough to fulfill the promises described in the blurb. While What We Lose is a quick read thanks to it vignette style, it was not satisfying.

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MoniqueReads305
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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This months IRL book club selection. Having a cup of coffee and finishing up the book.

#currentlyreading

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Jasxnicole
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Was ready to start book no.2 for #aty2019 and then my second option came in off hold at the library ... so I‘m gonna attempt to fit in both 🙈🤞🏾

#whatwelose #zinziclemmons #whofearsdeath #nnediokorafor #aroundtheyearin52books #abookwithoneofthe5wsinthetitle #blacklitsy #blitsy

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Egleason
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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This February I‘m dedicating all my reading to black authors! Please leave any books that I can‘t miss. I love most all genres, nothing is off limits. #readingrecs #blackhistorymonth #blackauthors

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I did that last year, read some great books! I suggest the Fifth Season by NK Jemisin (scifi/fantasy). And The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (hisfic). These were two of the best books I read all last year. 6y
ManyWordsLater Any James Baldwin. I read Giovanni‘s room last February. 💗💓💕 An American Marriage (Tagged) was pretty life changing too. 6y
6 likes2 comments
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dastevensishagain
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

I thoroughly loved this book. The writing and quirky style, the beautiful, painful, raw look at grief, the glimpses of South Africa, all of it.

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violabrain
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

Depressing (dealing with the death of a parent, marrying the wrong person), but well done and effective.

PassionatelyCurious @violabrain This one got to me. Loved this book. 6y
8 likes1 comment
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CarleyKleinPeters
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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This was the paradox: How would I ever heal from losing the person who healed me? The question was so enormous that I could see only my entire life, everything I know, filling it.

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Kimchacha
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
Pickpick

Beautifully written with such honesty that makes the pain palpable.

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TheLibrarian
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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#kindledeal - Even if it didn‘t sound interesting, I‘d still buy it for the cover. #coverlove

MelissaSue81 Yes! The cover is gorgeous. I‘ll have to check that out! 6y
42 likes1 comment
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TheLibrarian
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Late posting this but my #bookhaul from the day before my wedding 😬 What can I say, there was a bookstore near the hotel.

I‘m digging both these covers and the bookstore had them for 50% off!

Mimi28 Great haul and congratulations 🎊🎈🎉 🎁🎂❤️❤️!! 6y
tammysue Congratulations!!! 🎉🥂 6y
emilyhaldi Congrats on your wedding!! ❤️ 6y
See All 6 Comments
LiteraryinPA Congratulations!!!! 6y
mydearwatson Congratulations! 6y
79 likes6 comments
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Samplergal
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this lovely book about loss, of mothers, of love, of dreams. 4⭐️ #TwoInThree. #3

108 likes1 stack add
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DocBrown
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

This reads like a mashup of The Mothers and Swing Time, which is a good thing. Despite Clemmons‘s ‘exotic‘ heritage this hit very close to home for me, as the MC reminds me very much of my own dear wife. To have experienced such a significant loss so early on in life — it casts such a long large shadow over everything after. Bittersweet (the emotion, not the book), but with an upward ending. An interesting companion to Fierce Kingdom.

115 likes3 stack adds
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moarbookspleaze
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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My current audiobook.

Reviewsbylola 😍😍😍 6y
Texreader Aaaaaaah....another gorgeous cover! 🌼🌸💐🌷🥀🌹🌺🌻 6y
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
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CaitZ
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

In short, thought provoking chapters, Clemmons explores identity, love, loss, and grief. It is beautifully written and I read it in one sitting.

41 likes1 stack add
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alisonrose
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
Pickpick

This book is small but so full and substantial, telling a much deeper and larger story than it‘s size might imply. Her writing about grief and coping/not coping with it is beautiful and painful and would resonate with anyone because, of course, unexpected loss is part of the human condition. I loved that Thandi is far from perfect but in that way is perfectly relatable and recognizable. Heavy but good read. 4/5 ⭐️

saresmoore Great review! 6y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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alisonrose
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Siiiiiiiigh. #timetravelplease

LiteraryinPA 💔💔 6y
alisonrose @LiteraryinLititz I knoooooowwwww 6y
45 likes2 comments
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alisonrose
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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LoverofLit Great quote ❤ 6y
35 likes2 comments
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alisonrose
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons

It wasn‘t sexism, she said (such a disavowal, I noted, was usually a signal that it was) ...

[Yuuuuuup.]

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alisonrose
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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OMG THANK YOU SHE ACTUALLY GETS IT RIGHT!!! I was recently diagnosed with panic disorder and agoraphobia, and it‘s fucking maddening when people think it means “being afraid to leave the house.” (AHEM A.J. Finn, based on what I‘ve heard about your uninformed book.) Not going out as much is a SYMPTOM of the disorder, not the entirety of it. Most of us do in fact leave the house often! But it‘s infused with the exact fear she notes here.

mrsmarch My mom was diagnosed with panic disorder and agoraphobia when I was a child. It is ROUGH. Bless you sister. 6y
alisonrose @mrsmarch Thank you, dear 💗 It is indeed, and I‘ve got a great therapist but oy, some days ... 6y
saresmoore I loved this book! I‘m a fellow panic & agoraphobia sufferer. It‘s such a crapfest. 6y
blondie YES. I've read way too many "agoraphobia" books where they're afraid to leave the house. There's much more to it than that. I have agoraphobia as well. 6y
alisonrose @saresmoore @blondie It‘s so frustrating how much people simplify it! Glad to find others here who know what it‘s really like 💗💗💗 6y
35 likes5 comments
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alisonrose
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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This book is technically 207 pages, but a bunch of pages are just images or like four lines of text. Pretty sure I‘ll be able to get through this one rather quickly 😜 #nowreading

33 likes1 stack add
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24in48
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

Zinzi Clemmons' WHAT WE LOSE is a searing novel of loss and family, told in a series of vignettes that make it perfect for your #24in48 stack consideration. Heavy in subject, short on length and with varying style across chapters. #readathon (pssst... Don't forget to sign up at 24in48.com!)

24in48 Picture description: A hardcover lays on the ground under a green branch. The cover is a bright drawing of red and orange flowers on a yellow background, with the title WHAT WE LOSE in white text over the image. The author name, Zinzi Clemmons, is also in white text beneath the title. 6y
72 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BarbaraJean
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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Pickpick

This was beautifully written. The way Clemmons weaves the story together with digressions on grief, race, culture, history, and relationships is fascinating, but it‘s also the reason the book didn‘t resonate for me. The short chapters & frequent shifts in direction made the narrative feel disjointed, and while the structure echoes both the experience of grief and of being caught between cultures, it also made me feel disconnected from the text.

readingjedi Beautiful cover too! 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 🧡🧡💛💛 6y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BarbaraJean
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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We were holding so much in, our pain distinct from one another‘s in so many ways. I suppose we thought that if we ever acknowledged this, all our carefully assembled control would fall to pieces. I was terrified of his pain—that of losing a lifelong partner, so many years tossed out the window. And I‘m sure he feared the destabilization of my loss—how much of my life yet to live would be marred by this trauma.

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BarbaraJean
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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I do not see the mother with her child as either more morally credible or more morally capable than any other woman. A child can be used as a symbolic credential, a sentimental object, a badge of self-righteousness. I question the implicit belief that only “mothers” with “children of their own” have a real stake in the future of humanity.

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Matilda
What We Lose | Zinzi Clemmons
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#riotgrams june 28: floral covers

TheBookKeepers Lovely! 6y
MicheleinPhilly FLURVE this book! 6y
72 likes2 stack adds2 comments