Between the World and Me has quickly become required reading for many people and I can see why, particularly in today’s troubling world. Under the advice of my sister I got a copy of the audiobook so I could fully live Coates’ words. Written as a letter to his fifteen year son, following the Michael Brown verdict, Between the World and Me is pure poetry. Short, passionate and beautiful.
“My work is to give you what I know of my own particular path while allowing you to walk your own.”
I didn’t agree with everything Coates said (particularly his lack of sympathy or emotion for the fallen New York policemen & firemen during 9/11 following the death of a friend to corrupt Virginian cops) but he is ardent in his convictions and brings up many valid points in the ongoing American racial divide.
Anyone dissatisfied with the world around them should seek this out. Anyone who is satisfied with the world around them should seek this out.
I just read this, and agree that it’s required reading. But I don’t think I’m going to review it. It’s made me think and reflect, but I haven’t found a way to put it all into words and I’m not sure I ever will.
It was a very difficult review for me to write, and felt much more like a blog post than review. But sometimes that is what’s needed.