The Blind Pig

by Aziza Barnes

the blind pig is an afro surrealist excavation of a gender queer blk millennial’s formal introduction to their ancestral point of Mecca and No Return; the American South. In essayistic prose, this book weaves and unbraids the synapses of a blk American falling in and out of time.

Genres: Poetry

110 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2019

About the author

Aziza Danielle Bailey Barnes was an American poet, screenwriter and playwright. Barnes frequently performed slam poetry and performed at the Da Poetry Lounge, Urban Word NYC, PBS News Hour and Nuyoricans Poets Cafe. They wrote for television shows, including Snowfall and Teenage Bounty Hunters.

Reviews

[Deyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel incredibly grateful that I stumbled upon Not a Cult one day and ordered a few books, the blind pig being one of them. I'm not sure what to define this genre as it defies bounds, a mixture of poetry and prose, but whatever it is, it's certainly becoming a favorite (if not already) of mine.

This is one of those works where it takes just a little bit of time to settle into the tone and devotion, and then you keep reading and you eventually fall into a state of flow, eyes grazing over the passages as if in complete sync with the text. Aziza's work is timeless yet timely; so, if you've got some time, read this.

[BooksWGreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"you're not alone in this. I can't stay human all the time too."

This book is not an easy read, for many reasons, but it is something I think everyone, at some point, should read. It is dark but beautiful, and something that I think has changed me in many ways. This story touches on some hard topics, including sex, race, and gender, but I don't know if I've ever seen someone better write how I experience my gender.

It's pacing is both fast and slow at the same time, making it hard to put it down, but also at times the need to step away just to process everything. The style and format is interesting and unique, something I would love to see more.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would 100 percent recommend to anyone looking for a hybrid work. I’m going to be thinking about this book for years. It will probably influence everything I do now. I think I’ve been waiting for a book like this my entire life. Thanks, Aziza Barnes.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

i will be coming back to this in the future i think this is one of those books that i will understand differently at different stages of my life. this was a whirlwind of a book, an amazing collection.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written prose of being Black and queer, dealing with abuse and identity. Worth reading excerpts out loud to take in some of the words Aziza has written.