I Don't Write About Race

by June Gehringer

I Don't Write About Race is a poetic exploration of identity, as told through apologies, anecdotes, and admonitions. An autofictional cosmogony of a girl who has been alive too long, this collection of poems represents both the absolute culmination and the ultimate failure of the author's lifelong search for identity.

As its speaker becomes ever more estranged from conventional sources and modes of meaning and kinship, delving from relationship to bar, bar to relationship, from one city, partner, and job to the next, juggling relationship between families both biological and chosen, she becomes intimately acquainted with alienation. I don't write about race engages ever more intimately with one of the fundamental questions of literature: what do you do when you wake up again, alone, and somehow still yourself?

Genres: Poetry, LGBT

94 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2018

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Is that all there is?” is mentioned in one of these poems and it was the moment when the collection truly clicked for me. A person who goes back and forth in life, has so many questions, and who faces hardships that some may identify with and others may very well not. June guides the reader (although often not gently) in a way that forces you to question these interactions in life with people different from yourself as well as those who are close-mind and critical.
*This may not be my most coherent review but it is a truly thought provoking collection of poems from a unique, funny, heartbreaking, and important perspective.

[Paris (parisperusing) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts soon!

[Gabriella Vogt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After I finished the book, I could only really think to wish that she took more time for herself writing this. But maybe there is no time to do that.

[Emily Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤟🏻🥺

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read for all lgbtqia+ individuals. for all that are mixed race for all that are allys. this will sit with me for the rest of my life.

[Salty Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

The are poetry collections that move the reader and those that force you to look deep inside and question every single thing you'd thought you knew ...this one belongs firmly to the latter category.

[jacob · Rating 2 out of 5]

its really disconcerting to see someone so obviously talented pointed and poetic weighed down bu the scaffolded beats of the time.