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Spiral Bound
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Life,
Death,
Vertigo.
Sparrows,
Saints,
and Morphine.
Life,
Death,
Vertigo.
Sparrows,
Saints,
and Morphine.
71 pages, paperback
First published January 6, 2008
3 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Dessa
11 books297 followersDessa is a rapper, singer, and essayist who earns her living on the road. She’s performed around the world at opera houses, rock clubs, and sometimes standing on barroom tables. Her imaginative writing and ferocious stage presence have been praised by NPR, Forbes, Billboard, the Chicago Tribune, and the LA Times. As a musician, she’s landed on the Billboard Top 200 as a solo artist; a member of the Doomtree collective; and as a contributor to The Hamilton Mixtape. She’s been published by the New York Times Magazine, MPR, the Star Tribune, Minnesota Monthly, literary journals across the country, and has written two short collections of poetry and essays. She splits her time between Manhattan, Minneapolis, and a tour van cruising at six miles per hour above the posted limit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 22, 2014
Dessa is almost beyond description.
Ostensibly: an early-thirties female rapper/songstress from Minneapolis. Member of the Doomtree hip-hop collective; stage presence like no one I've seen perform, ever. Undergrad in philosophy, spoken word poet. Brilliant, and beautiful (seemingly inside as well as out). But the whole is greater than the sum of her parts; she captures something about human experience, in her lyrics and delivery -- vocal and physical -- that few can touch. Listen to the impeccable "Mineshaft II" from her A Badly Broken Code album. You'll see. (Listen to her perform it live, and your heart might fall apart.)
I've been meaning to get my hands on this collection of her poems and vignettes for ages, and finally picked it up last night at the merch table. On a Dessa post-show high, I devoured it today, ravenously. It's short -- won't take more than an hour to get through, even with well-warranted pauses for reflection -- but packs punches. Punches similar in kind to those that hit you in the gut when she bites out lines of her songs, but not identical.
The poems are unsurprisingly stronger than the structurally-clumsy vignettes; Dessa's an excellent example of someone who can say the most in the fewest words. Still, several -- such as "Camera Obscura," the one where she has an existential revelation while drinking Manhattans on a boat with her father -- slice to the core. They may not be the most unique essays or pieces you've ever read, but they are all imbued with that indescribable presence. Many, too, are gorgeous examples of her talent in turning a phrase.
Dessa is a poet, a rapper -- not yet a prose writer, or at least not a great one. But give her time: she's got so much to say, and she knows what she's doing.
Ostensibly: an early-thirties female rapper/songstress from Minneapolis. Member of the Doomtree hip-hop collective; stage presence like no one I've seen perform, ever. Undergrad in philosophy, spoken word poet. Brilliant, and beautiful (seemingly inside as well as out). But the whole is greater than the sum of her parts; she captures something about human experience, in her lyrics and delivery -- vocal and physical -- that few can touch. Listen to the impeccable "Mineshaft II" from her A Badly Broken Code album. You'll see. (Listen to her perform it live, and your heart might fall apart.)
I've been meaning to get my hands on this collection of her poems and vignettes for ages, and finally picked it up last night at the merch table. On a Dessa post-show high, I devoured it today, ravenously. It's short -- won't take more than an hour to get through, even with well-warranted pauses for reflection -- but packs punches. Punches similar in kind to those that hit you in the gut when she bites out lines of her songs, but not identical.
The poems are unsurprisingly stronger than the structurally-clumsy vignettes; Dessa's an excellent example of someone who can say the most in the fewest words. Still, several -- such as "Camera Obscura," the one where she has an existential revelation while drinking Manhattans on a boat with her father -- slice to the core. They may not be the most unique essays or pieces you've ever read, but they are all imbued with that indescribable presence. Many, too, are gorgeous examples of her talent in turning a phrase.
Dessa is a poet, a rapper -- not yet a prose writer, or at least not a great one. But give her time: she's got so much to say, and she knows what she's doing.
March 1, 2013
"I'm not a writer, I just drink a lot about it."
February 12, 2023
This bite-sized snack is a treat, but perhaps only for Dessa completists--not sure how it would play outside the Dessa-verse. Some short stories, essays, poetry. Like cool extra liner notes to her earlier material.
February 7, 2022
It's short, 71 pages. Some is poetry, which, frankly, I rarely read. The rest is essays. Dessa is fun and interesting to read on a variety of topics.
For example, of backpacking she notes that there is little need for restraint among people you'll most likely never see again. : "If you're so inclined, you can say things like, 'Let's have sex,' or 'Your arrogance repels me,' after 15 minutes of acquaintance."
Another essay ponders why it was that a 16-year-0ld street kid received the first heart transplant in a certain hospital in La Paz.
Her (more recent) memoir, My Own Devices, is longer and I highly recommend it.
For example, of backpacking she notes that there is little need for restraint among people you'll most likely never see again. : "If you're so inclined, you can say things like, 'Let's have sex,' or 'Your arrogance repels me,' after 15 minutes of acquaintance."
Another essay ponders why it was that a 16-year-0ld street kid received the first heart transplant in a certain hospital in La Paz.
Her (more recent) memoir, My Own Devices, is longer and I highly recommend it.
January 1, 2013
I really like Dessa's work and there are some great moments in this, but most of the writing has an unfinished, somewhat immature feel to it. I'm looking forward to her next work.
March 17, 2012
Overrated writer, underrated rapper
April 4, 2023
I have a feeling I’ll be coming back to the ideas and stories told in this collection for many years to come.
August 19, 2017
"It is 4:23 in the morning. I am at the top of the beautiful, stupid staircase in my head."
Honestly, Dessa continues to be one of the greatest unrecognized writers of our time.
Honestly, Dessa continues to be one of the greatest unrecognized writers of our time.
August 31, 2012
When I was my student's age, I expected that I would settle for nothing less than a life on the stage or screen. That creating characters and delivering speeches was the only way to make me come alive. I thought that it was all about the art.
That's one reason I so enjoyed the brief collection of stories and poems collected in Spiral Bound by Minnesota Hip-Hop Icon Dessa. My wife adores Dessa and really all of Doomtree and it was through her that I found and fell for their whip smart lyrics and whip crack beats (yet another thing that I love about my wife). Spiral Bound isn't the foundation for any album, but it's still a great glimpse into the life of an artist as she muses on the stories and images that have made her career what it is.
There are intimate personal stories as she recounts being trapped in the hold of a creaky boat with her father, or hot footing her way around South America on the Hippy Highway, or just living with a little brother. Each of these mini-memoirs, these personal reveries, comfort and combine her life with the audience's, hitting common experiences with deft word choices and beautiful imagery. Her other pieces (including poetry and poetic prose on removing your mind from yourself or trying to fall asleep) showcase other skills, encapsulating complexity and complicating simplicity.
At a slim 66 pages, the only complaint is that you wish she had included more, that you could hear her read the poem rather than seeing the art confined to black and white of a page when it could be sung, or rhymed, or shouted from a stage. Still, Dessa's done a marvelous job of capturing the essence of her art, and taking the reader along for the ride. It's a beautiful experience that leaves you eager for more.
To want more art, to want to live IN art, is an amazing feeling. And it's a feeling I get, not just from the rush of acting or the pride of writing, but from the moment to moment thrills of teaching. I've said before that teaching is less a job and more of an art. I love the challenge of it, the creativity it allows/demands and the people I interact with throughout it. Kudos to Dessa for saying all of that more artfully than I ever could.
That's one reason I so enjoyed the brief collection of stories and poems collected in Spiral Bound by Minnesota Hip-Hop Icon Dessa. My wife adores Dessa and really all of Doomtree and it was through her that I found and fell for their whip smart lyrics and whip crack beats (yet another thing that I love about my wife). Spiral Bound isn't the foundation for any album, but it's still a great glimpse into the life of an artist as she muses on the stories and images that have made her career what it is.
There are intimate personal stories as she recounts being trapped in the hold of a creaky boat with her father, or hot footing her way around South America on the Hippy Highway, or just living with a little brother. Each of these mini-memoirs, these personal reveries, comfort and combine her life with the audience's, hitting common experiences with deft word choices and beautiful imagery. Her other pieces (including poetry and poetic prose on removing your mind from yourself or trying to fall asleep) showcase other skills, encapsulating complexity and complicating simplicity.
At a slim 66 pages, the only complaint is that you wish she had included more, that you could hear her read the poem rather than seeing the art confined to black and white of a page when it could be sung, or rhymed, or shouted from a stage. Still, Dessa's done a marvelous job of capturing the essence of her art, and taking the reader along for the ride. It's a beautiful experience that leaves you eager for more.
To want more art, to want to live IN art, is an amazing feeling. And it's a feeling I get, not just from the rush of acting or the pride of writing, but from the moment to moment thrills of teaching. I've said before that teaching is less a job and more of an art. I love the challenge of it, the creativity it allows/demands and the people I interact with throughout it. Kudos to Dessa for saying all of that more artfully than I ever could.
June 19, 2014
I came into this as a fan of Dessa's work with Doomtree. I expected a collection of provocative, hip-hop infused lyricism written in her style I've come to love. What I got instead was short stories, non-fiction, philosophical ruminations, and a couple free-verse poems. If you strictly want to see written rhymes you may be disappointed. The poetry is all free-verse and lacked the impact Dessa usually provides when she's on the mic, but for a fan this is still definitely worth picking up. The nonfiction pieces were full of Dessa's mastery of picking apart quiet, personal moments to reveal a heartfelt insight of the human condition. I'd recommend this to any Dessa fan without question and I would definitely read more of her work in the future.
December 11, 2016
I was introduced to Dessa's music by my friend, Jill. I really liked it and was impressed with her lyricism. BUT when I had the chance to see Dessa perform at a teeny tiny venue I had a more intense, BIG reaction. By the end of her set I was vibrating; I made a beeline to the merch table so that I could buy copies of both of her albums (I needed to clutch them in my sweaty, little hands).
Dessa is such a gifted writer and parts of these pieces are often painfully beautiful. I read through this short collection twice and found myself picking up on things I had missed the first time.
Dessa is such a gifted writer and parts of these pieces are often painfully beautiful. I read through this short collection twice and found myself picking up on things I had missed the first time.
January 10, 2009
Gold. A short collection of essays and poems from one of the most promising MCs in the underground hip-hop scene. Order at doomtree.net.
October 16, 2010
"Hell yes." - The answer to the following questions:
1 - Was Spiral Bound good?
2 - Are you going to Literary Death Match on the 26?
3 - Will you be at the Doomtree show in December?
1 - Was Spiral Bound good?
2 - Are you going to Literary Death Match on the 26?
3 - Will you be at the Doomtree show in December?
March 28, 2019
Copypasta'd from my Instagram book review:
... Wow. Unbelievable.
This is such a delicious work of art, a reach into the Beat Generation mystique where honesty and grimness and a touch of acceptance and wonder comes together in these poems and snapshots of Dessa's passed years.
I know it's not a perfect work -- especially the spelling errors and somewhat odd prose, and I'm sure that this glowing review makes me seems like a fanatic because of my love of Dessa's work, but can I just say that this was still mind-blowing? That this just made me think about goddamn near everything? That there were lines that punched me so hard that I have a bruise tattooed somewhere on me? Because man, this was fantastic!
... Wow. Unbelievable.
This is such a delicious work of art, a reach into the Beat Generation mystique where honesty and grimness and a touch of acceptance and wonder comes together in these poems and snapshots of Dessa's passed years.
I know it's not a perfect work -- especially the spelling errors and somewhat odd prose, and I'm sure that this glowing review makes me seems like a fanatic because of my love of Dessa's work, but can I just say that this was still mind-blowing? That this just made me think about goddamn near everything? That there were lines that punched me so hard that I have a bruise tattooed somewhere on me? Because man, this was fantastic!
Read
July 16, 2019I have no idea how to rate this book - as I'm a fan of Dessa's music and part of what I enjoyed about this book was getting to know a favorite artist a little better. So I'm aware of how that might not wash with the average reader. Not all of the pieces in this collection are strong...or as strong as I felt they could have been. That said, in my opinion, one of the short stories and one of the poems are more than worth the price of admission. I'll let you figure out which ones they are for yourself.
January 30, 2020
A fun chapbook with some tentative fiction, some memoirs, and some poetry. Dessa has evolved as a writer - My Own Devices is better, although the memoir pieces are the strongest pieces in this collection. Her raps are better poetry than what is contained herein.
November 12, 2020
While reading her words was less of a transcendent experience than hearing them from her, this is still a wonderful book of thoughts and stories from a very impressive writer.
You can read my full review at: https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020...
You can read my full review at: https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020...
December 31, 2025
Paints images in such a beautiful way that seems backwards- poetic and feels like it is written in another language and translated without change to English yet somehow says what it means better than any other possible way
December 13, 2017
As a big fan of Dessas music, i think that it was an interesting read. i look forward to another one
November 10, 2017
I appreciated this window into one of my favorite artist’s life and experience. I especially liked “Camera Obscura” and “The Greatest Remove.”
January 12, 2018
I am madly in love with almost everything Dessa does.
February 25, 2018
Some good stories, but definitely rough around the edges. Everyone starts somewhere.
August 21, 2018
A must-read for any Dessa fan, AND any fan of creative non-fiction or compelling poetry. I can’t say enough how much I think everyone should read this and all her works.
September 6, 2018
Love that Dessa. What a gift she is.
July 25, 2024
I wish for everything to be narrated by Dessa - intellectual, humorous, her words cause new perspectives to permeate my soul. I did not want this book to end.
October 27, 2021
i didnt really like it :(
July 11, 2016
Absolutely breathtaking. I started reading it while I was in the middle of another book, and every time I walked past it I couldn't stop myself from picking it up, opening it to some random page, and reading just one more piece of the book. I read the entire thing this way inside a day, while still telling myself I would finish what I was reading before I actually "read" the book, but once I had finished picking through ever page, I sat down and read the whole thing cover to cover again, and then one more time the next day. As amazing as Dessa is with a mic, I think she is even more spectacular with a pen.
November 29, 2010
People who put themselves to sleep by envisioning their descent down a mental staircase are people who confer great agency to crystals.
There is some mercy after all in our design:
a soft amnesia for the frequently mistreated,
an adrenal surge for the cornered and outnumbered,
a flash of light for the very nearly dead.
There is some mercy after all in our design:
a soft amnesia for the frequently mistreated,
an adrenal surge for the cornered and outnumbered,
a flash of light for the very nearly dead.
March 23, 2018
I found this in back pocket of the car I’m riding in n picked it up bc I know her music. I did not think these stories were that good tbh they sounded like a precocious 8th grader. Disappointing when I think of her songs like the chaconne that r such good stories. Not everyone is good at everything
October 13, 2010
This was an outstanding collection of poetry and essays. I was pretty sure I would like it, as I am a huge fan of Dessa's music. I was not disappointed. For those of you out there looking for an amazing and insightful read, GET THIS BOOK!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews