Ayo’s Reviews > Black Bag > Status Update

“Our only obligation to each other should be a vast oceanic affection.

Our only assumption must be that everybody else’s life is more meaningful than our own. That is the only way to encounter the other.

The rest is window dressing. “ ❤️

I LOVED so many things about this book. I wont be surprised if this wins the 2026 Booker.The only deterrent is that it is centered on a male protagonist like Flesh.

“I believe it’s the role of women to cover up the truth of mortality. And that’s a lot of work. . . Is it any wonder we might want to outsource that?”

😍🎯❤️

This is a highly brilliant, smart and beautiful book. It takes a lot of skill to put beauty and intellectualism in the same bottle. I like how the prose randomly detours into the poetic. It’s so BEAUTIFUL!!! 🥹 what a writer!!!

“We talk endlessly about sexual identity but isn’t sex more an escape from the self?

For that to be the case one needs to have a discernible personality to escape from. And many don’t - which why they are so bad at sex itself.”

🥰❤️😍

OMG!!! That moment you’ve always thought of something and someone expresses it PERFECTLY!!! 😍🎯

“I am a person. You are an absence. Ultimately I will like to fuck nothing.”

😍🤣🥰

“Those who wish to sing always find a song.”

I agree with the gripes folks have with this book - it’s leans too much into philosophy and less into story but I LOVE IT.

It’s saying something distinct. And the concept is mind blowing. 😍

I can’t stand Justine Pearce though 🤣😌

This would make a good miniseries on HBO. Also there’s a lot of room to morph it for TV 😍

“Worry gives a small thing a big shadow.”

😍❤️🥰

“When damaged men have money and influence, that’s a problem for the whole world.

It can be also be a problem for their companies and stakeholders. “


🎯

“Waiting for a response can drive you to distraction. Too much depends on the outcome. It is always best to already be working on the next thing. . . “


🎯

“I buy alcohol on credit card and it’s the only thing I use the credit card for.”

Okay - I have enough to say I like what Kennard is doing here. Black Bag asks can connection happen when someone is hiding? Also how we use various roles we play in society to hide and become anonymous.

Brilliant 😍

“My belly is full of falafel and wet well-seasoned salads. The traffic parts for me like a Red Sea.”

😍❤️🥰