Scan barcode
A review by jayisreading
Things I Have Withheld by Kei Miller
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This was a stunning essay collection to read and reflect on. I absolutely loved the way Miller drew attention to the multifaceted body (yet read as one-dimensional) and how his is read in different spaces in such a way that it made conscious of your own body. Whether it be in Jamaica (and there are many Jamaicas, as he points out, depending on what area you’re in), the United Kingdom, or Africa, Miller reflects on the way his Blackness, his queerness, his maleness, his upbringing, and so much more have a particular affect in his interactions with others. I also loved the way he approached each essay from different angles, all of which reveal what is written on the body. They were open letters, storytelling, personal anecdotes, and more.
Just beautifully and thoughtfully written.
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship