Thot

by Chanté L. Reid

Thot is a ground-breaking, fast paced, book length essay that experiments with poetry, dialogue, and memoir. At its epicenter are two competing forces. One is Chanté’s upbringing in the splendor, density, rhythms, and madness of Bronx, NY, including the murder of Chante’s neighbor, Deborah Danner, killed by a police officer during his break-in. The other is Reid’s academic life at Brown University, where she is completing a critical thesis on Toni Morrison’s book, Beloved. Its characters—Sethe, Denver, Margeret Garner—wind in and out of the conversation, as do the Medea and Narcissus of Greek myths. Thot is a thrilling cacophony, a highly original mix of genre and voice, sure to please readers in search of something startling and new.

Genres: Poetry, Essays, Nonfiction

88 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2022

Reviews

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in love with this work because it illustrates and reminds me of conversations I have around the clock with my mama.

”The place in which you live is responsible for you; you, who is irresponsible and slightly adjacent and therefore ostracized and authorized.

There’s layers in her writing. It’s alive. It’s breathing in your face. It’s present. It’s reflective. It’s painful at points. A lot of questions are asked that can never be answered. She exposes how flimsy safety can be for Black folks in society, and also how important community is.

I love that Chanté’s writing fights the lines between essay and poem. I love that, much like Beyoncé, Chanté Reid feels no staunch attachment to boundaries when it comes to genre. It’s powerful and allows for so much expression, conversation. Bringing in Toni Morrison to highlight a point about the mental torture of the history of capture and engagement vs the everyday reality that we’re still struggling with freedom, you can’t even be free in your own home. Sometimes you can’t even get space, understanding in your own community.

“That lady was bat-shit , B. She been bat-shit since we were little and you know that so like she swung on him. Suicide-by-cop.
Suicide-by-cop in her own fucking house? You believing or reporting?
I mean—like, I’m just telling you what the station is saying, B.
What you saying tho?
I’m not saying shit. I’m just saying what’s being said. What you trying to say, my nigger?
Don’t call me a nigger, Leo
Why are you talking to me like I’m white—shit’s just tragic.”

A lot of folks try to justify everyday madness because sometimes it’s like what are we supposed to do? Communities are tired but just because it’s hard to rage 24/7 doesn’t mean we don’t care. We care so much we have to take a breath and look around it to see inside of it. It’s a lot to contend with. Lots of emotion and thought came up.

This was a solid National Poetry Month read.

[Darian Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much to unpack here. So beautifully written. So creative yet so raw. I felt moved by every page. I love the way Reid's brain works. What a wonderful experience.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the formatting and theme of constant revision; not revising to replace, but revising to discover. Looking back at what you’ve already done to figure out where else you can go

[Prisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite essays for sure. Reid entirely reinvents poetry and the academic essay with this piece that somehow ends up giving a sense of memoir. Some of my fave quotes below:

—-

“Moms”
“Pops”
“Mans” — singular but plural because when you know/love someone, you acknowledge their multiplicity.

——

The first thing you learn about in the study of White Gods/Classics/Authorities, is that tragedies are for men. A Woman/Iphigenia/Alcestis/Beloved (the//baby) is a sacrifice/offering/surrender/suicide)

—-

Would recommend for anyone who enjoys a modern take on a new style of poetry; essay enjoyers, and anyone who wants a more informal and atypical glimpse into the life of a black American woman.

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even begin to describe how the style this was written ellicited so many feelings from me. Understanding language and having it decoded between the lines was such an effective and powerful structure to really exemplify the pain experienced throughout this book. I am so excited to dive into Beloved and eventually read this again with that perspective. Part of me is thankful I put it back on the shelf during black history month. The quotes from music you recognize, the shift in language across generation, there were so many components that continues to this perspective. And ending with a line from on and on? Poetic to say the least.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When someone’s using the word 'accessible,' I ask, Accessible to whom? Who is making those distinctions? The question remains, What is authority? Who has it? Who has the right to it?"

Full interview with the author on Full Stop: https://www.full-stop.net/2023/02/28/...

[jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erasure's remedy is not inclusion- it is adornment, however illegible, however close to the edge.

Finished this at flow facility. Exciting structures and unwinding form. I liked the description of cacophony, bet it would be read aloud well :)

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5