Nelson is one of my favorite contemporary writers, but this was book was really disappointing--meandering, uneven, uncommitted, and dense without being substantial. It was very tough to get through. Long tangents abound, only to land on a really obvious point that no one is really arguing. There are so many references and quotes--Nelson has such an interesting mind and I want to know what SHE thinks, not everyone else!

The final essay about climate change, "Riding the Blinds," was by far the most interesting and personal. Unfortunately, I had to trudge through the rest to get there.

The poet Sandra Simonds wrote an excellent review in the Georgia Review about the book, and I am in perfect agreement with her thoughts:

https://thegeorgiareview.com/posts/on-on-freedom-four-songs-of-care-and-constraint-by-maggie-nelson/