*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: Out of the Sun
Author: Esi Edugyan
Publisher: House of Anansi
Publication Date: September 6, 2021
ISBN: 9781487009878
Synopsis from Goodreads:
What happens when we begin to consider stories at the margins, when we grant them centrality? How does that complicate our certainties about who we are, as individuals, as nations, as human beings? Through the lens of visual art, literature, film, and the author’s lived experience, Out of the Sun examines Black histories in art, offering new perspectives to challenge us.
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Esi Edugyan never fails to disappoint. Out of the Sun is a stunning and poignant collection of essays on race and belonging, on identity and Black experiences. Weaving together personal anecdotes, historical research, and artistic criticism, Edugyan shares the untold stories and explores the intricacies of race and storytelling, historically and in current times.
Her book explores areas of racial passing and trans racialism, portraiture and the complex portrayal of Black historical figures, ghost stories, perceptions of Blackness in Asia, and so much more. Her writing is poised, thoughtful, and fluid. Her prose is delicate, yet imbued with meaning and relevance. Even in the simplest sentences, her word selection breaths life and colour into her work so it is not simply a collection of essays, but a work of art.
Edugyan is a masterful writer. I have never not enjoyed anything she’s written and Out of the Sun is no exception. Her book is timely, relevant, and a wonderful edition to the world of Canadian writings. I hope I am fortunate enough to hear her speak on this book. I certainly didn’t get nearly enough of Edugyan’s writing. If anything at all, this book is certainly worth a number of re-reads. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
Happy reading!
Worn Pages and Ink 