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lost in language & sound: or how i found my way to the arts: essays
A vibrant and vital collection that celebrates the three most important muses in the life and work of Ntozake Shange—language, music, and dance.
In this deeply personal book, the celebrated writer reflects on what it means to be an artist, a woman, and a woman of color through a beautiful combination of memoir and essay. She describes where her love for creative forces began--in her childhood home, a place where imagination reigned and boredom wasn't allowed. The essays tell stories ranging from the poignant origin of her celebrated play " for colored girls" to why Shange needed to deconstruct the English language to make that production work, from the intensity of the female experience and the black experience as separate entities to the difficulty of living both lives simultaneously; from the intense love of jazz bestowed on her by her father to a similar obsession with dance, which came from her mother. With deep sincerity, attention, and her legendary candor, Shange's collection progresses from the public arena to the private, gathering along the way the passions and insights of an author who writes with “such exquisite care and beauty that anybody can relate to her message” (Clive Barnes, The New York Times ).
In this deeply personal book, the celebrated writer reflects on what it means to be an artist, a woman, and a woman of color through a beautiful combination of memoir and essay. She describes where her love for creative forces began--in her childhood home, a place where imagination reigned and boredom wasn't allowed. The essays tell stories ranging from the poignant origin of her celebrated play " for colored girls" to why Shange needed to deconstruct the English language to make that production work, from the intensity of the female experience and the black experience as separate entities to the difficulty of living both lives simultaneously; from the intense love of jazz bestowed on her by her father to a similar obsession with dance, which came from her mother. With deep sincerity, attention, and her legendary candor, Shange's collection progresses from the public arena to the private, gathering along the way the passions and insights of an author who writes with “such exquisite care and beauty that anybody can relate to her message” (Clive Barnes, The New York Times ).
160 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2011
8 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
About the author
Ntozake Shange
80 books796 followersNtozake Shange (pronounced En-toe-ZAHK-kay SHONG-gay) was an African-American playwright, performance artist, and writer who is best known for her Obie Award winning play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.
Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.
Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 6, 2016
"Like most people of color, Black people in the New World, I came by my passion for literature in a circuitous way, a night journey marked by music, movement, improvisation, and smells of perfume, sweat, and humid star-flickering nights."- Ntozake Shange (In: from analphabetic to script obsessed."
My first book by Ntozake Shange and I'm not sure why it took me this long to finally read her. Her writing is very real and true to her feelings and experiences. I love essays on black art and culture, and the more I read about the arts, the more I realized just how important, life-giving, they are for all, but particularly for marginalized people: for us art is truly about survival. And it's clearly been survival against the odds.
What I appreciated, apart from her lyrical and insightful prose and poetry, was also her diasporic reach and content, from Latin America, the Caribbean, to Africa. For me it's always been important to read about black art in the context of the black diaspora because there are so many connections between cultures, so many ways we have been influenced by people in other places on the globe.
A lot of the essays dealt with language and as a result Shange is very much involved in deconstructing the English language. I'm learning more about what language means to people whose culture, language, and traditions have been suppressed, and more and more I'm in awe by how those people have managed to contort their language to fit their purposes. Linguistic creativity is brilliant to me and when I read the following passage, it made me realize even more what was at stake here:
"i cant count the number of times i have viscerally wanted to attack deform n maim the language that i waz taught to hate myself in/ the language that perpetuates the notions that cause pain to every black child as s/he learns to speak of the world and the "self."
And also:
"in order to think n communicate the thoughts n feelings I want to think n communicate/ i haveta fix my tool to my needs/ i have to take it apart to the bone/ so that the malignancies/ fall away/ leaving us space to literally create our own image." (In: my pen is a machete).
I know less about dance and drama than I do about literature but Shange shared her knowledge and personal experiences. I was grateful to her for allowing me to see the importance and the power of these other art forms.
"We must sing and dance or we shall die an inert, motionless, "sin ritmo" death. "Negros muertos," killed by a culture afraid of who we are and what we have to say with our bodies, our music, and our brains." (In: a celebration of black survival).
Read this if you want to perspective on a black female artist's journey. There is so much honesty and warmth in this book; it gave me a desire to learn more, especially about the world of theatre.
My first book by Ntozake Shange and I'm not sure why it took me this long to finally read her. Her writing is very real and true to her feelings and experiences. I love essays on black art and culture, and the more I read about the arts, the more I realized just how important, life-giving, they are for all, but particularly for marginalized people: for us art is truly about survival. And it's clearly been survival against the odds.
What I appreciated, apart from her lyrical and insightful prose and poetry, was also her diasporic reach and content, from Latin America, the Caribbean, to Africa. For me it's always been important to read about black art in the context of the black diaspora because there are so many connections between cultures, so many ways we have been influenced by people in other places on the globe.
A lot of the essays dealt with language and as a result Shange is very much involved in deconstructing the English language. I'm learning more about what language means to people whose culture, language, and traditions have been suppressed, and more and more I'm in awe by how those people have managed to contort their language to fit their purposes. Linguistic creativity is brilliant to me and when I read the following passage, it made me realize even more what was at stake here:
"i cant count the number of times i have viscerally wanted to attack deform n maim the language that i waz taught to hate myself in/ the language that perpetuates the notions that cause pain to every black child as s/he learns to speak of the world and the "self."
And also:
"in order to think n communicate the thoughts n feelings I want to think n communicate/ i haveta fix my tool to my needs/ i have to take it apart to the bone/ so that the malignancies/ fall away/ leaving us space to literally create our own image." (In: my pen is a machete).
I know less about dance and drama than I do about literature but Shange shared her knowledge and personal experiences. I was grateful to her for allowing me to see the importance and the power of these other art forms.
"We must sing and dance or we shall die an inert, motionless, "sin ritmo" death. "Negros muertos," killed by a culture afraid of who we are and what we have to say with our bodies, our music, and our brains." (In: a celebration of black survival).
Read this if you want to perspective on a black female artist's journey. There is so much honesty and warmth in this book; it gave me a desire to learn more, especially about the world of theatre.
June 25, 2012
Ntozake Shange is perhaps best known for her ground-breaking 1975 play, "for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf." Consisting of 20 poems told by multiple narrators, the play ranges from darkness to light, from love and relationships to the horror of domestic violence. At the end of the play, the women join together, chanting: "I found God in myself/and I loved her/I loved her fiercely."
More than 35 years later, Shange's collection of essays, “lost in language & sound: or how I found my way to the arts” is equally expansive. The book embraces a variety of topics, all of which Shange magically interweaves: her relationships with her parents, art, dance, narrative, education, politics, pop culture . . . the list is almost endless. Shange's mind is always inquiring, always testing, always experimenting, always asking why, even as she casts astute observations based on a lifetime of experience and hard-won knowledge. She's actually not "lost” in language and sound--she is acutely aware of the power of both. She bravely dives into language and sound, music and dance, describing how the motions of her body allow her to speak in ways in which words cannot. The interdependency of the arts is a much-addressed topic, but here Ms Shange offers her own highly personal perspective as a tremendously talented woman, artist, writer, critic, dancer, poet, mother, daughter, lover, African American feminist, cultural creator, commentator, and sage.
At times the writing is raw, very raw, as the author reveals to us intimate details of her life. The book can be angry, too, as well as joyful, hopeful, political, and humorous. The narrative is not linear--it moves with Ms Shange's personal rhythm, sometimes a dreamy slow dance, sometimes a lightning quick step. The final “letter to a young poet” is exquisite.
The audiobook narrator, actress Allyson Johnson, delivers the work with precision, nuance, and flair--her voice has as many expressions as the narrative, and all are equally and beautifully cast. The audio adds greatly to the narrative, and the production is highly recommended.
More than 35 years later, Shange's collection of essays, “lost in language & sound: or how I found my way to the arts” is equally expansive. The book embraces a variety of topics, all of which Shange magically interweaves: her relationships with her parents, art, dance, narrative, education, politics, pop culture . . . the list is almost endless. Shange's mind is always inquiring, always testing, always experimenting, always asking why, even as she casts astute observations based on a lifetime of experience and hard-won knowledge. She's actually not "lost” in language and sound--she is acutely aware of the power of both. She bravely dives into language and sound, music and dance, describing how the motions of her body allow her to speak in ways in which words cannot. The interdependency of the arts is a much-addressed topic, but here Ms Shange offers her own highly personal perspective as a tremendously talented woman, artist, writer, critic, dancer, poet, mother, daughter, lover, African American feminist, cultural creator, commentator, and sage.
At times the writing is raw, very raw, as the author reveals to us intimate details of her life. The book can be angry, too, as well as joyful, hopeful, political, and humorous. The narrative is not linear--it moves with Ms Shange's personal rhythm, sometimes a dreamy slow dance, sometimes a lightning quick step. The final “letter to a young poet” is exquisite.
The audiobook narrator, actress Allyson Johnson, delivers the work with precision, nuance, and flair--her voice has as many expressions as the narrative, and all are equally and beautifully cast. The audio adds greatly to the narrative, and the production is highly recommended.
August 5, 2014
"I have to scrape the bottoms of souls, dreams, nightmares,and syllables to taste what justice might possibly be" (129).
I really like Shange's work as a playwright, poet and children's book author, so I was excited to see that penned this memoir/essay collection. And as she wrote this book of recollections and thoughts when she was struggling with an illness (xi), I can understand its discombobulated nature- as she discusses her childhood, racism, poetry, and American theatre while mixing in some great new poems. There are lovely personal essays - like "ellie, who is my mother" - which have such rich details and are a pleasure to read. Yet, overall, I wasn't as pulled toward this collection as I have been to her other work and to other similar memoirs by successful writers. Hence, the two star review.
I really like Shange's work as a playwright, poet and children's book author, so I was excited to see that penned this memoir/essay collection. And as she wrote this book of recollections and thoughts when she was struggling with an illness (xi), I can understand its discombobulated nature- as she discusses her childhood, racism, poetry, and American theatre while mixing in some great new poems. There are lovely personal essays - like "ellie, who is my mother" - which have such rich details and are a pleasure to read. Yet, overall, I wasn't as pulled toward this collection as I have been to her other work and to other similar memoirs by successful writers. Hence, the two star review.
March 10, 2012
I sat down in one afternoon with my journal and this book and left my coffee shop with my head swirling and my soul full. As a writer and an artist, the honesty and perspective of this artist felt like a mother's hug, full of knowledge and understanding. The transparency of her journey, her triumphs, her fears is inspiring and i highly recommend this book to any artist who needs some reassurance that it is okay to question the journey.
April 2, 2014
Absolutely one of the best books about art, the identity of the artist, and the value of art that I have ever read. The book challenged me to think more complexly and outside of my own experience while it also resonated with some of the deepest - but yet unspoken - feelings I have about writing and language.
I listened to the book on audio, but this is a book I will also get in print so I can savor it, line by line.
I listened to the book on audio, but this is a book I will also get in print so I can savor it, line by line.
February 14, 2012
Ms Shange never disappoints me in this autobiographical book on her life and all the energies given and taken to achieve the place in literary and poetry on the world's stage. Dancin', singin' and actin' was what she wanted to do with her life. Bravo!!!
April 21, 2021
This was a slow start for me. The first few essays are a bit "inside baseball" but if you are more familiar with Shange's contemporaries and work than me, you'll probably get more out of it. She goes into the history of Black theater and her most famous creation, "for colored girls who have considered suicide..." The last few essays delve more into her personal life including her relationships, her parents' prioritization of Black culture and joy, and how she found herself as a poet and writer. They are a real treat. I particularly liked "on silk." I wouldn't say this is a must-read but for anyone more interested in Shange, I think this provides excellent insight into her worldview, particularly how she sought to live a life of decolonization and liberation, from changing her name to her use of language.
January 28, 2024
Movement through dance, poetry in motion, and bending and stretching language are the strengths of Ntozake. In this collection of essays, she gives the reader insight into her process as a writer and her thoughts on many topics. Some essays were challenging to read because she casually threw names of people and their art around. If you’re like me as a reader, you’ll be tempted to look up everyone— promise yourself you’ll come back to it later. She has an essay about her father that made me cry, her vulnerability when discussing mental health was heartwarming, and her love for her craft is inspiring. Ntozake’s form is unique. It truly shines in these essays.
December 31, 2016
When I started listening to this book, I wondered if Shange's references to the people in her life were too obscure. They were people that I happened to be aware of because of the time and place. As the stories progressed, they went beyond the personal into the universal, transcending the individual people who were instrumental in her life into how she became herself. It is always interesting to see how someone becomes the person they are. It is never an easy story to tell. Shange tells hers with aplomb.
January 17, 2019
I really wanted to like this book. I’ve read selections previously, and enjoy other pieces I’ve read by Ntozake Shange. In the intro there’s a quote that really spoke to me, “it’s not that I’m a recluse, it’s that my intimates are words & notes.” Based on that I thought I would love it, but this was a clear example of a book I forced myself to finish, when I need to learn to accept a DNF. I couldn’t get into the rhythm, I tried both reading and listening. Some essays or poems did resonate with me, but some I had difficulty following.
April 25, 2019
For me, this was a startling introduction to Shange. I recently read about her life in The New York Times Magazine, December 2018, which featured important people who died in 2018. Next I'd like to read her award-winning play, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. The collection of essays in this book should be mined for ways to talk about and acknowledge how black is beautiful, wronged, rich.
August 23, 2019
Part memoir, part essays, part reflection on her choreopoem for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf, Shange delves into her childhood, her relationship to her parents, how she was pulled into the art movement...her reflection on heteronormative relationships and the power dynamics often within them...this was really great, and i took notes on some quotes
January 1, 2018
Third part was good. The book is an overall nightmare for dyslexics. Struggled to get through it.
November 17, 2020
This is my pick for Book Riot's 2020 Read Harder challenge task 8. Read an audiobook of poetry
Read
April 27, 2023What a powerful writer…
July 3, 2023
3.5 is my actual rating, lol.
Want to read
May 14, 2025library
December 13, 2011
This collection of essays was released earlier this month. Essays are usually hit or miss for me,overall this collection worked very well for me. I especially loved the first half, in which much of it read like a homage to African American dance,dancers Jazz. I only recognized a few of the dancers mentioned, I did a little better with the Jazz artist (though barely). But it did not matter either way, Ntozake Shange wrote in such a way that it made me feel like I knew them, or at the very least I felt their love of movement and that was more then a enough. The author reminisces about the beginning of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered When the Rainbow is Enuf. One of the messages I got from this collection was that you can try to steal or silence the African Americans but we will always new way to speak and be heard, be it through dance, music or any other artistic avenue of our choice.
"We must sing and dance or we shall die an inert, motionless, "sin ritmo" death. "Negros muertos," killed by a culture afraid of who we are and what we have to say with our bodies, our music, and our brains. Black folks do have brains. We even have ideologists, scholars, choreographers, and always the grace of the goods. "
Reading this collection reminded me how much I love Ntozake Shange's work, there's a beautiful rhythm to her words which always have purpose. The author reveals much of herself in each piece. I truly enjoyed this lost in language & sound, though I did question the inclusion of one piece entitled "2 live crew" Black men demoralizing Black women is still an issue but I just felt the exploration of 2 live crews exploits was dated. Its in inclusion always halted a bit of the flow of the collection. However I still highly recommend lost language & sound without missing a beat.
"We must sing and dance or we shall die an inert, motionless, "sin ritmo" death. "Negros muertos," killed by a culture afraid of who we are and what we have to say with our bodies, our music, and our brains. Black folks do have brains. We even have ideologists, scholars, choreographers, and always the grace of the goods. "
Reading this collection reminded me how much I love Ntozake Shange's work, there's a beautiful rhythm to her words which always have purpose. The author reveals much of herself in each piece. I truly enjoyed this lost in language & sound, though I did question the inclusion of one piece entitled "2 live crew" Black men demoralizing Black women is still an issue but I just felt the exploration of 2 live crews exploits was dated. Its in inclusion always halted a bit of the flow of the collection. However I still highly recommend lost language & sound without missing a beat.
July 25, 2013
The third part was definitely the best, though I the final piece in the second set, about rap/rape and the culture created through language, was definitely well-written and thought-provoking. A number of the essays, though, seemed more like reviews of things her friends had done than essays on her craft (granted, those things are intertwined).
Not a bad set of essays, overall, but some were better than others.
Not a bad set of essays, overall, but some were better than others.
May 2, 2015
More 3.5 than 4 stars.
She's a lyrical genius when it comes to prose, but sometimes she lost me with the sculpting of her sentences and paragraphs.
Her goal is to scrap down language raw to the bone, yet at times I just couldn't see her point.
However, most of her essays inspired me and gave me great ideas for sound when it came to writing.
She's a lyrical genius when it comes to prose, but sometimes she lost me with the sculpting of her sentences and paragraphs.
Her goal is to scrap down language raw to the bone, yet at times I just couldn't see her point.
However, most of her essays inspired me and gave me great ideas for sound when it came to writing.
August 31, 2016
I am honestly sad that I don't like this collection more. I wanted to, but it just didn't happen. Perhaps it's because this book wasn't meant for me. That was something I considered heavily as I read. Still there were some powerful and challenging essays within these pages. It's a valuable read.
March 22, 2012
Exciting use of language, setting and personal philosophy. I did not know the author well, but truly found this fascinating. No particular critical response...just enjoyed the essays immensely.
March 20, 2015
not my cup of tea. some really good observations. i love this writer. not this work, though. maybe more for theatre people?
October 24, 2015
lost in language & sound
May 1, 2016
I fell face first into a book of essays by the ever colorful Ntozake Shange that left me feeling unresponsive, unworthy & above all things: lost.
September 24, 2016
I could scarcely catch my breath. Every word so precious and dear to me.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews