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Before the Earth Devours Us
In Esteban Rodríguez’s debut essay collection Before the Earth Devours Us, a young boy emerges from the valley of childhood memories, curious and seeking to understand a world that is violent, uncertain, and as full of loss as it is of life from the people who inhabit it. Here, the pages unfurl with uncles engaged in physical conflict; dogs roam neighborhoods and alleyways; a dead bird is used as a play object; and our protagonist, through observation and conflict of his own, begins to make sense of the impact he and his body have on others. Lyrical, engaging, and always honest, Rodríguez’s memorable collection reminds us that the past is never beyond language’s redemption.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2021
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October 23, 2023
NAMED "2021 IMPRESSIVE INDIE BOOK" BY INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEW
NAMED "BEST OF 2020/2021 NONFICTION BOOK" BY ENTROPY
Y'all. READ. THIS. BOOK.
In Esteban Rodríguez’s debut essay collection "Before the Earth Devours Us," a young boy emerges from the valley of childhood memories, curious and seeking to understand a world that is violent, uncertain, and as full of loss as it is of life from the people who inhabit it. Here, the pages unfurl with uncles engaged in physical conflict; dogs roam neighborhoods and alleyways; a dead bird is used as a play object; and our protagonist, through observation and conflict of his own, begins to make sense of the impact he and his body have on others. Lyrical, engaging, and always honest, Rodríguez’s memorable collection reminds us that the past is never beyond language’s redemption.
Blurbed by Sven Birkerts and Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, who says, "A meditative exploration of God, guilt, fear, and loneliness, this is a book that poignantly delivers a landscape of memories both unique and universal, a map of wonder and awe."
NAMED "BEST OF 2020/2021 NONFICTION BOOK" BY ENTROPY
Y'all. READ. THIS. BOOK.
In Esteban Rodríguez’s debut essay collection "Before the Earth Devours Us," a young boy emerges from the valley of childhood memories, curious and seeking to understand a world that is violent, uncertain, and as full of loss as it is of life from the people who inhabit it. Here, the pages unfurl with uncles engaged in physical conflict; dogs roam neighborhoods and alleyways; a dead bird is used as a play object; and our protagonist, through observation and conflict of his own, begins to make sense of the impact he and his body have on others. Lyrical, engaging, and always honest, Rodríguez’s memorable collection reminds us that the past is never beyond language’s redemption.
Blurbed by Sven Birkerts and Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, who says, "A meditative exploration of God, guilt, fear, and loneliness, this is a book that poignantly delivers a landscape of memories both unique and universal, a map of wonder and awe."
Displaying 1 of 1 review