christa reviewed Alien Daughters Walk into the Sun by Jackie Wang
for the millennial alien daughters
5 stars
I really loved this. I had read Jackie Wang's Carceral Capitalism a few years ago, but hadn't read any of her more personal writing. This had an extremely nostalgic mix of places and phases of life that are familiar (early 2010s punk houses, bike tours, zines, queer feminist spaces) - kept wondering how narrowly we missed each other and what overlaps I'd find if I looked -, and I think was beautifully written. Fittingly, has a very Semiotext(e) feel that I find comfortable.
Sometimes essay collections take me a bit to get through since they can feel disjointed—like I constantly need to get momentum after an essay ends. This was laid out more chronologically as she moved through the world, so it felt like chapters of a life where common characters would reappear in latter works. Also avoided feeling repetitive, or like you were getting the same material reworked. Anyway, …
I really loved this. I had read Jackie Wang's Carceral Capitalism a few years ago, but hadn't read any of her more personal writing. This had an extremely nostalgic mix of places and phases of life that are familiar (early 2010s punk houses, bike tours, zines, queer feminist spaces) - kept wondering how narrowly we missed each other and what overlaps I'd find if I looked -, and I think was beautifully written. Fittingly, has a very Semiotext(e) feel that I find comfortable.
Sometimes essay collections take me a bit to get through since they can feel disjointed—like I constantly need to get momentum after an essay ends. This was laid out more chronologically as she moved through the world, so it felt like chapters of a life where common characters would reappear in latter works. Also avoided feeling repetitive, or like you were getting the same material reworked. Anyway, if any of this appeals to you I'd recommend it!