essay about holes book

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Book Review — Holes by Louis Sachar: Summary

Holes by Louis Sachar: Summary

• Categories: Book Review Novel

About this sample

Words: 922 |

Published: Jan 4, 2019

Words: 922 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

The essay explores the novel "Holes" by Louis Sachar, providing a summary and delving into its themes, particularly the concept of fate. The story follows the protagonist, Stanley Yelnats, who suffers from bad luck due to a family curse. Unjustly sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention camp, Stanley is forced to dig holes every day under the scorching sun. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the camp's purpose is to search for something, revealing the story's intricate layers.

The essay also discusses the role of fate in the story and how Stanley's perception of it changes over time. Initially, he believes the curse controls his life, bringing him constant misfortune. However, his encounter with a fellow camper named Hector Zeroni (Zero) and the discovery of his family's history challenge this belief. Through their friendship and determination, they overcome obstacles and eventually unearth a valuable suitcase tied to Stanley's family's past.

Furthermore, the essay draws parallels between "Holes" and the movie "Moana," emphasizing how fate shapes the protagonists' journeys. Both Moana and Stanley face curses and expectations from their families that initially hinder their progress. However, they each undergo personal transformations and take control of their destinies, leading to their success in achieving their goals.

Works Cited

• Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. Yearling.
• Clements, R., & Musker, J. (2016). Moana: The Junior Novelization. Random House Books for Young Readers.
• Cox, S. (2008). The Fate of Louis Sachar's Holes. The ALAN Review, 36(3), 39-47.
• Edwards, S. (2019). The Narrative Structure of Moana. Cinephile: The University of British Columbia's Film Journal, 15(2), 61-69.
• El-Hussein, M. M. (2014). Literary Fate and Freedom: A Comparative Study of Louis Sachar's Holes and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. International Journal of English and Literature, 5(5), 259-270.
• Latham, D. P. (2003). Reading Moana: How Literary Allusions and Intertexts Enhance the Film. Children's Literature Association Quarterly, 28(4), 216-232.
• Moss, M. (2011). Holes: A Case Study of Texts and Contexts. Children's Literature in Education, 42(1), 59-72.
• Sachar, L. (2000). Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake. Yearling.
• Sanderson, B. (2019). Empowering Indigenous Girls in Moana: A Critical Race Feminist Analysis. Girlhood Studies, 12(2), 95-112.
• Thompson, J. R. (2012). Young Readers, YA Fiction, and Holes: Challenging Genres in an Urban Classroom. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 56(8), 675-685.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1234 words

4 pages / 1663 words

2 pages / 859 words

3 pages / 1286 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Book Review

Adrienne Rich's poem "Diving into the Wreck" is a powerful and evocative work that delves into themes of identity, self-discovery, and empowerment. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, Rich takes the reader on a [...]

"Jurassic Park" is a science fiction novel written by Michael Crichton, first published in 1990. This literary masterpiece takes readers on an unforgettable journey into a world where science, genetics, and nature collide, [...]

  Kenneth Grahame's 'The Wind in the Willows' is a novel aimed at youngsters. The plot, itself, is not American humor, but that of Great Britain. In terms of sarcasm, and British-related jokes. The novel illustrates a [...]

In conclusion, "Where The Crawdads Sing" presents a nuanced portrayal of human resilience, societal prejudices, and the intrinsic connection between individuals and the natural world. The novel's profound exploration of themes [...]

The title of this book is The Hunger Games and was made by Suzanne Collins in 2008. This book is set in a fictional version of America. In the nation of Panem at a date of which is not specified. With characters all along the [...]

A timeless classic is a novel that resonates with readers and does not fade with time. No matter how old the book is, the novel is relevant and prominent in today’s society. For instance, if the book is in the historical genre, [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Holes Essay

The novel Holes, written by Louis Sachar, is a great example of an analytical essay. The novel tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a young man who is unjustly sent to a juvenile detention center for a crime he did not commit.

While at the detention center, Stanley discovers that the warden has been using the boys as slave labor to dig holes in the desert. Through his friendship with another inmate, Zero, Stanley slowly begins to unravel the mystery behind the holes and eventually learns the truth about his family’s history.

Sachar does an excellent job of developing the characters in Holes and making them relatable to readers. Stanley is a sympathetic protagonist who is easy to root for, and Zero is a complex character who is more than just a sidekick. The other inmates at the detention center are also well-developed and each have their own distinct personalities.

The novel addresses some heavy topics, such as racism and injustice, but Sachar handles these themes with sensitivity and care. Holes is an engaging and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.

Authors aspire to make an impact on their readers and change the way they think about and behave in the world. They do this by ensuring their writing includes themes that are relevant across generations. A theme is a message about life that an author wants the reader to understand. In his novel ‘Holes’, Louis Sachar explores the theme of friendship. He highlights how friends can help us stay mentally and physically strong, weather lonely times and improve our lives overall.

Sachar addresses the idea that friends are essential for our survival by having his protagonist, Stanley Yelnats, experience the positive and negative effects of companionship.

When Stanley is first introduced to the reader, he is depicted as an unlucky loner. Previously convicted for a crime he did not commit, he is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention center in Texas, where he is forced to dig holes in the blistering heat all day long. Prior to his arrival at the camp, Stanley had no friends; nobody to rely on or talk to. He was alone in the world.

When Stanley meets Zero, another inmate at the camp, he finally has somebody to connect with. Zero is shy and does not speak much, but Stanley is drawn to him and the two quickly become friends. He teaches Zero how to read and write, and in return, Zero helps Stanley escape from the camp when he is wrongly accused of stealing one of the warden’s precious possessions.

This act of friendship is key to Stanley’s survival; without Zero, he would have been stuck at the camp forever. Sachar uses Stanley and Zero’s relationship to show that friends can help us in ways we never thought possible. They can give us hope when we are lost and they can be our strength when we are weak.

However, Sachar also explores the idea that friends can sometimes let us down. When Stanley is finally reunited with his family, he learns that his father has squandered all of the money he had been saving to buy a boat, on a man who promised to help him win back Stanley’s mother’s affections. Devastated, Stanley runs away from home in search of his friend, Zero. He believes that Zero is the only person who will be able to help him through this tough time.

But when he finally finds Zero, he discovers that his friend has become a thief and a liar. Zero has stolen money from Stanley’s father and he has lied about his past, telling Stanley that he is an orphan when really, he has family who loves him and wants him back. This revelation is crushing for Stanley; he feels betrayed and alone once again. Sachar uses Stanley’s relationship with Zero to show that even our closest friends can sometimes let us down.

In ‘Holes’, the advantages of having trustworthy friends are portrayed well. Even though the book was published over 20 years ago, the theme of companionship is still important in today’s age. To begin with, close friendships can help us stay mentally and physically fit. This concept is illustrated in the story when Stanley and Zero hike up to Big Thumb mountain. The boys are fighting to get away from Camp Green Lake alive, and during this journey they come to trust each other more deeply than before.

“Without thinking, Stanley reached out and grabbed Zero by the arm, to stop him from falling. It was the first time he had ever touched Zero.”

This act of companionship is significant as it foreshadows their escape plan which requires both mental and physical strength. Furthermore, during their time at Camp Green Lake the boys are required to dig holes all day in the hot sun. If they did not have each other for support they would quickly become dehydrated and exhausted.

In contrast, friendships can also provide us with a shoulder to cry on during tough times. This novel demonstrates how true friends will be there for you no matter what. When Stanley is accused of stealing Mr Pendanski’s shoes, Zero is the only one who believes that he is innocent.

“I don’t care if you did or didn’t. I know you”

This novel also shows us that friends will help us when we need it the most, even if it means putting their own lives at risk. When Stanley buries the treasure in the desert, he does so knowing that Zero will never be able to dig it up by himself. However, he does not hesitate to give his friend the coordinates as he knows it will make him happy.

In conclusion, Sachar’s novel ‘Holes’ addresses the theme of friendship in a variety of ways. He shows that friends can be essential for our survival, but he also shows that they can sometimes let us down. However, the novel ultimately leaves us with the message that, despite everything, friendship is still worth fighting for. Stanley Yelnats may have had his share of bad luck, but in the end, it was his friendships that got him through the tough times and helped him find his way back home.

More Essays

• Book Report On Holes
• Holes Book Report Essay
• Black Holes Essay
• Qualities Of A Good Friend Essay
• Fake Friends Paragraph
• Garuda Di Dadaku Friendship Essay
• Theme Of Friendship In Gilgamesh Research Paper
• Friendship Definition Essay
• A Man A Woman Just Friends Analysis Essay
• The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas Analysis Essay

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

by Louis Sachar

Holes essay questions.

What is the importance of narrative chronology in Holes ?

While the present-day narrative has a relatively straightforward and linear chronology, this forward-marching story is broken up by other stories: in particular, Green Lake at the turn of the century and 19th-century Lithuania. Both of these interwoven narratives are crucial to the understanding of the present, and the chronology of the récit - not the order of the events themselves, but the order in which they are told to readers - is manipulated by the narrator in order to give insight on various present-day events, either before they happen or after they occur. One example of learning about the present from a flashback is when readers learn of the story of how Stanley's family became cursed, in Chapter 7. This is the backdrop against which readers can evaluate future events of the novel, e.g. when Stanley carries Zero up God's Thumb and breaks the curse. An example of how a flashback is placed after an event to explain it is when readers see Sam advising the men of Green Lake that eating onions will ward off yellow-spotted lizards. This explains retroactively how Stanley and Zero managed to survive in the treasure-chest hole.

How does Sachar emphasize the importance of our decisions, and the effects they can have on the future?

It is supposed in Holes that the misfortunes of Stanley’s family relate to a simple error made by a distant relative. Holes hinges to a large degree on ancestry, and readers are reminded over and over again that actions of people in history - particularly in one's own family history - have a definite and lasting effect on generations to come. Several separate storylines occur simultaneously within Holes , in different places and times, converging on each other at specific intervals. Elya’s neglect to keep his promise in a sense condemns his family. Conversely, Stanley’s decision to both befriend Zero and save his life result in part in the redemption of the Yelnats family. Sachar emphasizes the importance of individual decisions by pointing out their consequences in not only one's own life, but potentially the lives of one's descendants.

How does Sachar’s emphasis on ancestry make a satisfying resolution possible?

Due to the continuous reminder that Stanley’s misfortune is passed down to him from his great-great grandfather, it is plausible to the reader that Stanley could in fact rectify the wrong by making good on the promise his relative made. The reader sees the situation as a two way street: if the failure to keep the promise resulted in calamity, the redemption of the promise should result in salvation.

What role does the setting play in the novel?

The settings of Green Lake and Camp Green Lake occupy the same physical location at different points in time but are very different places. The flashbacks to Green Lake link the past narrative with the present narrative, underlining the central importance of the past on the events of the present. The characters of Stanley and the Warden are shaped by the experiences of their ancestors in the area decades before (Stanley Yelnats I was robbed by Kate Barlow, and Trout Walker owned the whole lake). The danger inherent in the harsh desert landscape helps create tension and suspense in the novel, as the readers wonder whether Stanley and Zero will be able to survive once they run away from camp. The landscape also contributes to Stanley's character development, as he becomes tougher and more resilient, and his bond with Zero is strengthened.

In what ways does Sachar use fairy tales and folklore in Holes?

Most readers of Holes will have a shared pool of knowledge about fairy tales, and by pulling on certain tropes - like the family curse, the magical potion of "Sploosh," or Stanley as the naive hero with a heart of gold - Sachar makes his story immediately accessible and appealing to his readers. Readers understand the characters and their roles, and they can anticipate parts of the story: e.g. it will have a happy ending, and the curse will somehow be broken. The fairy tale elements of the story allow Louis Sachar to bring the novel to a satisfying, if not entirely realistic, conclusion because the misfortune of the Yelnats can be solved by Stanley carrying Zero up the mountain and breaking the curse. (Real life doesn't quite work this way; the coincidences, if there is no curse, are too good to be true.) Furthermore, the fairy tale aspect of the story creates an aura of mystery and magic in the novel, and feeds into the frequently whimsical tone of the narration.

Holes Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Holes is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Write a diary that Kissin' Kate Barlow would have written if she had kept one.

Sorry, this is only a short answer space. We can't do assignments for you.

Find words in holes that stress the ideas of the wasteland and aloneness

He hated to think what kind of vile substance Mr. Sir might have put in it.

Vast / emptiness

"Oh, Sam," she would say, speaking into the vast emptiness.

Chapter 21 Summary

GradeSaver has a complete summary and analysis for Chapter 21 readily available in its study guide for the unit.

Study Guide for Holes

Holes study guide contains a biography of Louis Sachar, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Holes
• Holes Summary
• Character List

Essays for Holes

Holes essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Holes by Louis Sachar.

• The Not So Subtle Portrayal of Supernatural Elements in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web and Louis Sachar’s Holes

Lesson Plan for Holes

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Holes
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Holes Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Holes

• Introduction

Holes Book Report Essay

Stanley is walking on the sidewalk and a pair of stolen shoes fall on him. He gets caught and is forced to go to a boys’ correctional facility, Camp Green Lake, where he meets Armpit, Magnet, X-Ray, Squid, Zero, and their counselor who they call Mom. The camp warden forces the boys to dig one five-foot deep, five-foot across hole everyday to find her ancestor Kissin’ Kate Barlow’s loot. Kate Barlow actually stole Stanley’s great-grandfather’s fortune and hid it somewhere at Camp Green Lake. Fate is a large component in this book.

Related posts:

24/7 writing help on your phone

To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”

Holes the Book and the Movie

Save to my list

Remove from my list

Holes the Book and the Movie. (2016, Sep 25). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/holes-the-book-and-the-movie-essay

"Holes the Book and the Movie." StudyMoose , 25 Sep 2016, https://studymoose.com/holes-the-book-and-the-movie-essay

StudyMoose. (2016). Holes the Book and the Movie . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/holes-the-book-and-the-movie-essay [Accessed: 2 Sep. 2024]

"Holes the Book and the Movie." StudyMoose, Sep 25, 2016. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://studymoose.com/holes-the-book-and-the-movie-essay

"Holes the Book and the Movie," StudyMoose , 25-Sep-2016. [Online]. Available: https://studymoose.com/holes-the-book-and-the-movie-essay. [Accessed: 2-Sep-2024]

StudyMoose. (2016). Holes the Book and the Movie . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/holes-the-book-and-the-movie-essay [Accessed: 2-Sep-2024]

• Quantum Mechanics: Black Holes and White Holes Pages: 3 (676 words)
• Black Holes Research and Report Pages: 7 (2084 words)
• Holes Adaptation Pages: 4 (1000 words)
• English Paper on Holes Pages: 3 (768 words)
• Holes - Analytical Essay Exemplar Pages: 3 (882 words)
• Exploring the Depth of Friendship: Main Characters in "Holes" Pages: 3 (616 words)
• Digging Deeper: Unearthing the Layers of ‘Holes’ Pages: 3 (633 words)
• Exploration of Power Dynamics in Louis Sachar's "Holes" Pages: 3 (723 words)
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: Book and Movie Analysis Pages: 7 (1844 words)
• Final Essay Movie Her I really liked the movie when I Pages: 2 (574 words)

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

We have to use cookies to be sure that our website functions properly. Click here for more information about our Cookie Policy and then tap Allow to continue your work

Top Special Offer! Check discount here

Get 13% off your first order - use TopStart13 discount code now!

• Admission Essay Writing
• Essay Writers for Hire
• Essays for Sale
• Pay for Research Paper
• Dissertation Writing Help
• Case Study Writing Help
• Essay Editing
• Research Paper Editing
• Buy Assignments
• Buy Thesis Paper
• Buy Coursework
• Buy Term Paper
• How it works
• Conclusion Generator
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Testimonials

Holes Book Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Our experts are ready to write it from scratch following your instructions to the dot!

Holes Book Review

Louis Sachar’s Holes is a renowned children’s novel that has won a number of awards, including the Newbery Medal. It is set in a Texas juvenile ...

One of our experts is just a click away

• Terms and Conditions
• Money Back Guarantee
• Cookie Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Buy Dissertation
• Buy Research Paper
• Buy Reaction Paper
• Buy College Essays
• Buy Argumentative Essay
• Buy Plagiarism Free Essays
• Buy Narrative Essay
• APA Paper Writing
• MBA Essay Writing
• Graduate Essay Writing Service
• Research Paper Writing Service
• Research Paper for Sale
• Write My Assignment
• Write My Research Paper
• Write My Thesis
• Write My College Essay
• Write Papers for Money
• Write My Lab Report
• Do My Chemistry Homework
• Write My Philosophy Paper
• Correct My Essay
• Dissertation Help Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Capstone Project Writing Service
• Book Review Writing Service
• Personal Statement Service
• Research Proposal Writing Service
• Academic Ghostwriting Service
• Literature Review Writing Service
• Expository Essay Writing Service
• Persuasive Essay Writing Service
• Descriptive Essay Writing Service
• Analytical Essay Writing Service
• Law Essay Writing Service
• Nursing Paper Writing Service
• History Essay Writing Service
• Business Essay Writing Service
• Psychology Essay Writing Service
• Finance Essay Writing Service
• Economics Essay Writing Service
• Critical Thinking Writing Service
• Scholarship Essay Writing Service

• Save your essays here so you can locate them quickly!
• Stanley Yelnats Survival Guide To Camp Green Lake
• Stanley Yelnats
• Camp Green Lake
• Madame Zeroni

Holes 5 Pages 1168 Words

             The book Holes is about a young boy by the name of Stanley Yelnats. Stanley Yelnats is a young boy who has been sent to a camp called camp Green Lake for being accused of stealing some shoes. Which were going on an auction from a famous baseball player named Clyde Livingston. Stanley denies the whole thing; he says the shoes just fell out of the sky. No one really believes him, not even his mom and dad.              When Stanley goes to this camp the Warden orders him that he digs holes with the rest of the kids who were there. Stanley meets five kids named Zig-Zag, Magnet, Armpit, Squid, X-ray, and Zero Stanley's best friend at the camp. All 6 of these boys, including Stanley stay in the same bunkhouse. Bunkhouse letter Group D. Mr. Pendanski is the younger counselor who communicates with the boys the most. Mr. Sir doesn't talk to the boys a lot but is the more discipline counselor. The Warden is the head of the Camp who very rarely comes out of her air-conditioned log house.              Stanley Yelnats had a great-great-grandfather, named Elya Yelnats, and he was in love wit his fiancé. When her father wanted her to finally get married he had to choose between Elya and a man who wanted to trade her for a pig. Elya decided he was going to get a bigger pig and compete against this man. Elya went to Madame Zeroni, and she said that she would give him a baby pig and Elya would have to carry it up a mountain once a day and sing with it and it would grow to be bigger than the other man's. Only one thing Elya had to promise to do, after he win's his fiancé over he would carry Madame Zeroni up the hill and sing to her, Elya agreed. Elya did this and his pig ended up being the same size as the other man's. When his fiancé's father decided to let his daughter pick, she picked the other man. When Elya heard this he immediately hopped on a boat to America. In America he got married and ha              ...

Continue reading this essay Continue reading

Page 1 of 5

More Essays:

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

I Paid My Child $100 to Read a Book

By Mireille Silcoff

Ms. Silcoff is a cultural critic and the author of the short story collection “Chez L’Arabe.”

This summer, I paid my 12-year-old daughter $100 to read a book. As far as mom maneuvers go, it was definitely last ditch and the size of the payout was certainly excessive. I can’t say I am proud — but I am extremely satisfied. Because the plan worked. It worked so well, I’d suggest other parents of reluctant readers open their wallets and bribe their kids to read, too.

My daughter is a whip-smart kid, definitely smarter than I was at 12. But until I resorted to bribery, she’d never read an entire chapter book for pleasure. She’d read books for school, but getting her to do that was like pulling teeth, and on her own she’d read a few graphic novels and listened to the audiobooks of the “Harry Potter” series. None of those activities became a gateway to any habit of what I might call classic deep reading — with two eyes in front of paper, and nothing else going on.

When I faced this truth a few months ago, it felt like a parenting failure. Even though we’d read many storybooks when she was younger and we live in a house stuffed with books, I’d not managed to instill one of life’s fundamental pleasures in my kid.

Just before the pandemic, a depressing federal survey revealed how much reading for pleasure had dropped among children. Almost 30 percent of 13-year-olds said they “never or hardly ever” read for fun, a substantial increase from the 8 percent who said the same roughly 35 years earlier. Given that screen time among children also increased significantly during the pandemic, it’s fair to conclude that leisure reading is an increasingly endangered pursuit among children.

For those of us who are lifelong readers — who value our night stands stacked with teetering towers of books; who hold in our minds like friends the ideas and characters we’ve collected over the years from the printed page — conveying the importance of reading shouldn’t be hard. We all understand how reading enhances the fabric of our experience. Yet I found it weirdly difficult to communicate any of this to my reading-reluctant daughter. She claimed to dislike reading. Furthermore, she didn’t care to like it. And she didn’t see any of this as a problem. Lots of her friends, she explained to me, just “weren’t into” reading. I realized that if I wanted to communicate the joy of reading to my child, I had to clarify what the joy was for myself.

Certainly, my daughter’s having landed a smartphone last year — a secondhand iPhone with a zillion parental controls and time limits baked in — is part of the problem. Before the phone, I had a child who was like a gregarious Tigger, squealing with delight at something as simple as a new dessert cooling in the fridge. Post-phone, I had a monosyllabic blanket slug who wanted only to stay in her room with the blinds down, door closed, under a duvet, palming that little rectangle as if unhanding it would make her social life disappear. If it wasn’t her friends or it wasn’t her phone, it was only one thing: “boring.”

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Turning to essays, Edwidge Danticat makes shrewd use of the form

• Copy Link URL Copied!

Book Review

We're Alone: Essays

By Edwidge Danticat Graywolf: 192 pages, $26 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org , whose fees support independent bookstores.

Essay collections appear infrequently on the lists of most popular nonfiction — memoirs and historical narratives dominate conversations about the genre. Those forms of nonfiction are wonderful in their own ways. They are also the versions that are closest to fiction. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it can exclude the unique offerings of the essay.

An essay collection presents a compressed reading experience, sometimes poetic, and often requiring the author to demonstrate the act of forming an opinion. In its most exalted form, the essay collection is about many things at once. Its goal is not to share information about a topic but to dramatize the formation of a perspective, the development of an informed point of view — a focus that makes the form much more dependent on the writer than the subject matter. “We’re Alone,” a collection of eight short essays by the celebrated Haitian American novelist and short story writer Edwidge Danticat, exemplifies that achievement.

Readers who have appreciated other voice-driven essay collections, such as Zadie Smith’s pandemic-inspired “Intimations,” Erica Caldwell’s “Wrong Is Not My Name,” Jordan Kisner’s “Thin Places,” Cathy Park Hong’s “Minor Feelings” or Elissa Gabbert’s “ The Unreality of Memory ,” will find something familiar with Danticat in “We’re Alone.” The thematic thread of this collection binds loosely around experiences of disconnection or isolation that are exacerbated by a sense of risk predicated on racial, political or social vulnerability. In the essay “A Rainbow in the Sky,” Danticat writes: “The less stable your house, the more terror you feel.” She has elegantly captured that those who face a storm with all foundations intact have a different relationship to the experience than those who were already struggling before it.

In the preface to the book, Danticat discloses that writing essays allows her to feel alone with herself and present with a reader. These pieces represent her outstretched hand, an invitation to spend shared time in reflection. Danticat took the book’s title from the French poem “Plage” by the Haitian writer Roland Chassagne, whose tragic history of imprisonment is also explored in the book. His poem envisions a night spent under palm trees, and the longing for the end of a deep disappointment. Here Danticat finds an early foothold into one of the book’s chief concerns: thresholds where someone’s feelings have been constricted for the sake of other people’s comfort. The title also invokes a plural self, a collective that shares in the writer’s experience of solitude and disaffection.

In the literary essay, a tradition that unites personal insight with anecdotes, evidence and reasoning, one of the most satisfying moments is finding where the writer’s logic breaks and she struggles to fully accommodate the proportions of her subject. Such moments make the inquiries appear vulnerable and honest, even when in reality they are simulations of sense-making. Not all essayists are invested in showing their struggle in understanding or are given the space to do so. But Danticat invites readers into the challenge of putting facts and feelings together. She excels at showing how hard it is to know what the right questions are to ask or how to answer them, and like many of us, she struggles to talk about difficult subjects, especially with her children.

For example, in “By the Time You Read This…,” Danticat debates how much and when to tell her children about how police violence affects the way Black people and immigrants think about safety. She writes, “Each time a young Black person is killed by a police officer or by a vigilante civilian, I ask myself if the time had come for me to write to my daughters a letter about Abner Louima and the long list of nonsurvivors who have come after him.” There is dignity in her doubt, which makes way for the kind of compassion that characterizes these essays.

Danticat’s insights are informed by accounts of the trials of friends and family: Her beloved mother wanders off in an airport; an uncle suffers from an irresolvable, progressive disorientation; Louima, a family friend, is attacked and raped by police; and two mentors, Toni Morrison and Paule Marshall, live through their final months. These experiences emphasize the possibility of loss and disconnection, reflecting a kind of hypervigilance that can be an inheritance of trauma. She approaches these accounts with the courage of an intentional witness, maintaining that perspective even when she looks beyond her own circle. In “Chronicles of a Death Foretold,” Danticat tells the story of a self-proclaimed prophetess who predicted the 2021 assassination of the Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, and the collection’s penultimate essay, “Wozo, Not Mawozo,” examines the weeks following the kidnapping of Christian missionaries in Haiti in 2021.

These are clearly the essays of an accomplished novelist. They move swiftly through detailed anecdotes and varied landscapes, even when the principal action the speaker engages in is “thinking.” There is room in an essay for dramatic action, for the expression of the body as it relates to thought, which was somewhat lacking here. At times, I struggled to see the author as a figure in the dramatic action she cited. Even so, it’s a testament to Danticat’s skill that these brief, intense works about serious matters do not feel heavy. She brings us close enough to the trouble at hand that we cannot mistake what we have seen.

But we are not alone in trying to make sense of feelings that come from becoming a witness to this world. No one is.

Wendy S. Walters is the author of the prose collection “Multiply/Divide” and an associate professor of nonfiction at Columbia University.

More to Read

How humans’ loneliness epidemic extends to other species and natural phenomena

July 29, 2024

A homecoming tale from a MacArthur ‘genius’ resists tropes of immigrant life

July 27, 2024

Amanda Gorman: America’s future tense

June 2, 2024

A cure for the common opinion

Get thought-provoking perspectives with our weekly newsletter.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

10 books to add to your reading list in September

Aug. 31, 2024

An undercover agent aims to disrupt the work of climate activists in sexy, cerebral ‘Creation Lake’

Aug. 28, 2024

With ‘Colored Television,’ Danzy Senna gives us a laugh-out-loud cultural critique

Aug. 26, 2024

One big source of U.S. political corruption: Selling out to foreign adversaries

Aug. 24, 2024

• Login / Sign Up

The 26 must-read books of fall 2024

We have some great additions to your reading list

by Rachael Conrad

Summer is finally coming to an end. There’s a slight chill in the air, back to school shopping is in full swing, and the days are slowly but surely growing shorter. While some of us will mourn the loss of cookouts, beach trips, and stone fruit season until next year (I’ll miss you, fresh peaches and nectarines), others will no doubt thrive as leaves begin to turn shades of red and yellow as autumn makes itself known.

As it happens, fall is also the perfect time to pack your TBR pile with the books that will keep you occupied during these upcoming colder months. There is a plethora of new books hitting shelves between September and November to keep you reading, including a young girl fascinated with how quickly bodies decompose, a return to the world of Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell, and a myriad of haunted houses. Below you’ll find the 27 upcoming books that we’re most excited to get our hands on.

Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker

September 3rd.

When Mara is hired as a production assistant for her cousin’s ghost hunting/house renovation reality TV show, she quickly realizes that she’s been brought on to the team just to provide the scares. It’s her job to formulate the “hauntings” that keep the new homeowners listening to every bump in the night. But when a strange new coworker joins the crew and a series of unexplainable accidents take place on set, Mara can’t shake the feeling that something supernatural might actually be afoot.

With a title that is a riff on an age-old adage, Sarah Pinsker’s new novella promises to be chintzy and spooky in equal measure, a perfect way to ring in spooky season.

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

2024 has been a stellar year for vampire novels. Kiersten White’s queer, gothic fantasy, Lucy Undying , is up next, and pays homage to one of Bram Stoker’s most frequently disparaged characters.

In Lucy Undying , Lucy Westenra, one of Dracula’s very first victims, gets a second chance at (after)life when she meets a young woman by the name of Iris in twenty-first century London. Lucy and Iris fall hard and fast for one another, but happiness and a chance at true love continues to elude them both when Dracula appears on the scene once again.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

September 10th.

Remember what I said about 2024 being a big year for vampires? When it comes to horror, Rachel Harrison has written about witches, werewolves, demon daddies, and just about everything in between. Now, with her new novel, So Thirsty, she’s adding vampires to that list.

In So Thirsty , Sloane Parker’s dreaded birthday takes a horrifying and blood-soaked turn when she lets her best friend and notorious troublemaker, Naomi, handle the party planning. But what begins as a European retreat quickly becomes another beast entirely (literally and metaphorically) when the two find themselves in the clutches of a mysterious group of strangers in a derelict mansion.

This World Is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

We all know that outer space, though beautiful, is downright terrifying. Billed as Cassandra Khaw meets S.A. Barnes, Kemi Ashing-Giwa’s new novella, This World Is Not Yours , promises to be both of those things and more.

After running away from her violent and manipulative family with her fiancée, Vinh, Amara decides to put even more distance between them by joining a new colonization project with her best friend, Jesse. Soon enough, Amara, Vinh, and Jesse find themselves on a planet that produces a “self-cleaning” mechanism known as the Gray that attacks invasive organisms. When the Gray is woken from its dormant state, Amara and her companions find themselves fighting for survival and questioning who they can really trust.

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

What better time to read a dark academic fantasy novel about morally questionable vampires and mysterious arcane societies than when the air gets cool and the days grow shorter?

In Tigest Girma’s new novel (the first in a trilogy), orphan and heiress Kidan Adane has been raised in a society where humans gain power through vampire companionship. When her sister, June, vanishes, Kidan becomes convinced a vampire has taken her and that answers can be found at Uxlay University, a school focusing on the nuances between humans and vampires. But in order to find her sister, she must first survive Susenyos, the vampire she is paired with.

Guillotine by Delilah S Dawson

For aspiring designer Dez Lane, dating Patrick Ruskin is first and foremost a one-way ticket to meeting his mother, Marie Caulfield Ruskin, editor-in-chief of the renowned Nouveau magazine. It’s only natural that Dez would jump at the opportunity to visit Marie at her lakeside retreat for a holiday weekend. Little does Dez know that the staff the Ruskin family employ are fed up with their employers and determined to exact their revenge for years of abuse as soon as the ferry leaves for the mainland.

Guillotine promises to be a fun, blood-splattered, “eat the rich” tale of revenge that fans of The Menu and Ready Or Not (or folks who thought Miranda Priestly got off a little too easy) are sure to enjoy.

Somewhere Beyond The Sea by T.J. Klune

Arthur Parnassus, Linus Baker, and the host of strange and lovely children they’re raising together in their enchanting island orphanage are back once again!

For Arthur and Linus, life has been peaceful and happy since the events of The House in the Cerulean Sea took place. But all of that changes when Arthur is forced to make a public statement about his past, and a magical child who gains power from calling himself a monster wants to make the island of Marsyas his new home.

An Academy For Liars by Alexis Henderson

September 17th.

When Lennon Carter receives a phone call inviting her to attend Drayton College, a magical school tucked away in Savannah, Georgia, it seems like life might finally be changing for the better.

Students at Drayton have a special gift - the ability to manipulate other people and occasionally matter itself to bend to their will. As Lennon spends more time exploring her powers, Drayton’s halls, and the office of her mysterious but alluring academic advisor, Dante, she begins to uncover the school’s darker past. But at an elite magical school where everyone has an innate gift for bending the truth, who can you really trust?

A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enríquez (translated by Megan McDowell)

If you’re in the mood to read some short stories that are bizarre, macabre, surreal, and downright terrifying, look no further than Mariana Enríquez’s fabulously titled new collection, A Sunny Place for Shady People . In these twelve tales, Enríquez pits ordinary people against the strange and unexplainable, ranging from women who used to be birds to melting faces. It is, in typical Enríquez fashion, deeply off-putting and equally spellbinding.

The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry

September 24th.

The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry is a story about the power of words and, even more specifically than that, the power of names.

In the world Berry has crafted, there is nothing more troubling or dangerous than an unnamed thing, and it is up to the committees of the named - divided into Maps, Ghosts, Dreams, and Names - to provide protection to those who cannot protect themselves. After a series of increasingly dangerous monster attacks, one unnamed courier of the Names Committee sets out to track down her sister.

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio

The Crazies by way of an academic thriller (with a little bit of sporror thrown in for good measure), Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio is nothing short of an absolute blast.

When a group of friends - a bartender, a hotel receptionist, an editor-in-chief of a college newspaper on the hunt for a new story among them - accidentally stumble upon a newly dug up grave on the way to work, they don’t think much of it. Stranger things have happened, after all. But when the gravedigger returns to the scene and a connection to a series of violent incidents around town is revealed, they find themselves embroiled in a much larger and more dangerous mystery.

The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

October 1st.

If you’re in the mood to read a little folk horror this October, Kay Chronister’s West Virginia-based gothic, The Bog Wife , might be just what you’re looking for.

The Haddesleys are an odd family. For as long as any of them can remember, they have sacrificed the patriarch of their family to the bog on their property and the bog has provided them with a “bog wife” in return who will help to carry on the family name. This is all well and good (and, let’s face it, deeply unsettling) until the bog refuses to honor its end of the bargain and what remains of the Haddesley family is thrown into disarray.

Model Home by Rivers Solomon

From the author of The Deep and Sorrowland comes Model Home , a haunting new novel that features an unreliable narrator, generational trauma, and a deeply poignant meditation on mental illness and the effect it can have on a family.

Model Home tells the story of the Maxwells, an upper-middle class Black family composed of a trio of siblings, who find themselves returning to their childhood home in Dallas after the death of their parents. Soon Ezri, Eve, and Emmanuel are forced to reckon what happened to their parents while they were gone, unearthing a family haunted by American history along the way.

Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram

Coup de Grace by Sofia Ajram is the type of book that’s best read in one go while sitting in a patch of sunlight. It is, to say the least, incredibly grim, but if you’re looking for a story that scratches the House of Leaves itch, then this is the book for you.

Coup de Grace begins with Vicken’s plan to drown himself in the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal. His plans are thwarted, however, when he leaves the subway and discovers himself in a seemingly endless and empty terminal. As he explores the claustrophobic and gory hallways and rooms that stretch out before him, Vicken slowly begins to realize that he might not be alone after all.

Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London

Do you ever find yourself wondering what life might be like if the characters in your favorite book were real? Well, be careful what you wish for.

Manager of a hotel in Brooklyn by day, Tess Rosenbloom spends her sleepless nights reading and re-reading Blood Feud, her favorite vampire novel. And, while the internet seems to believe that Blood Feud is real, she knows better than to believe a few conspiracy theorists. At least, that is, until Blood Feud’s irresistible leading man asks Tess for help.

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

October 8th.

I think it’s fair to say that Freya Marske is the queen of romantic fantasy novels.

Her new book, Swordcrossed , pits Mattinesh Jay, the heir to his failing family business, against Luca Piere, an undeniably charming con artist trying to make a new name for himself. When Mattinesh hires Luca to teach him the art of sword-challenge, a tradition that could destroy any hope of restoring the Jay family name, Luca reluctantly agrees. Why not help out a handsome wool merchant for a little bit of coin? The last thing either man expects is to form an alliance with one another – or the growing attraction between them.

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen begins with Jemma Barker, a young Black woman, leaving her life in 1960s Chicago - and the spirits that she can see - behind in order to work as a tutor for the Duchon family at their antebellum house in New Orleans. Jemma quickly discovers that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the Duchons. The family is white passing, and refuses to treat Jemma, who has darker skin, as an equal. They have also been cursed - deeply troubled by unsettling happenings around their home and the grim history of the South itself - and the more time she spends with them, the more Jemma believes that she might be the only one with the power to save them.

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens

October 15th.

In an exciting and romantic blend of horror and romance, Colby Wilkens tells the story of two authors who can’t stand one another who find themselves on a retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland.

Penelope Skinner can’t stand Neil Storm and his best selling horror novels, which is why she threw a book at him. In hindsight, this probably wasn’t the best move, and Penelope has been grappling with writer’s block ever since. When a writer’s retreat at a remote (and definitely haunted) castle promises a fresh start, the last person she expects to see there is Neil.

American Rapture by C.J. Leede

Like many horror fans, I worship at the altar of C.J. Leede and her upcoming horror novel, American Rapture , further proves that she’s a force to be reckoned with.

16-year-old Sophie has been sheltered her entire life, raised in the midwest by a strictly catholic family, but all of that is about to change. A virus that results in violent tendencies and causes people to become feral with lust is rapidly sweeping across the country. Determined to find her twin brother before it’s too late, Sophie sets out across the midwest with a ragtag band of survivors and one very good dog, grappling with what her parents taught her and clinging to hope and love along the way.

Where The Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh

October 22nd.

From the recipient of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement comes a new tale of ghosts, supernatural horror, and family secrets set in Nigeria.

11-year-old Bata’s journey begins with her death. After a vivid dream in which she takes on a ghostly form and has to protect her cousin from the blood-thirsty spirit of a bride, Bata has no memory of the battle that took place when she wakes, and when a medicine man tries to exercise any ghostly presence from her, she tragically dies in the process. From there, Bata is shepherded to Ibaja-La, the land of ghost-brides, and quickly learns that it is up to her to protect the living from any malevolent spirits who linger there.

It Will Only Hurt For A Moment by Delilah S. Dawson

For many creative people (myself included), a secluded artists colony with no cell phone signal or internet access sounds kind of dreamy, but it’s safe to say that that’s very much not the case in Delilah S. Dawson’s horror novel, It Will Only Hurt For A Moment .

On paper, Tranquil Falls is a perfect place for Sarah Carpenter to start over. It’s gorgeous, secluded, and far away from her alcoholic mother and domineering boyfriend. But when Sarah finds the body of a young woman while digging a hole for her kiln, and the other artists present begin to act strangely, it becomes quickly clear that not all is as it seems at Tranquil Falls.

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

Fans of Piranesi and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell , rejoice! We - thankfully - won’t have to wait another fourteen years until Susanna Clarke’s next book comes out.

Set in the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell , The Wood at Midwinter tells the story of nineteen-year-old Merowdis Scott, a young woman with the ability to talk to animals and trees. One afternoon while out on a walk with some of her favorite four-legged companions, Merowdis encounters a stranger who changes the course of her life forever.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

November 5th.

If you’re in the mood for a cozy fantasy novel that isn’t as heavy on blood, guts, and sword fights and is more akin to Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers or the work of Travis Baldree, then you might want to check out The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong.

Tao is a fortune teller and spends her time traveling from one village to another telling “small”, somewhat inconsequential fortunes that will come to pass in a few days. When one of Tao’s fortunes proves itself to be a little bigger than she anticipated, she finds herself traveling with a former thief, an ex-mercenary, a baker, and a magical cat to track down a missing child and see if her prediction comes true.

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan

November 11th.

Emily Porter is a (recently divorced) art conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago. Sir Griffin de Beuford is a medieval knight cursed to spend an eternity as a statue, aware of the passage of time and his surroundings but unable to speak or move.

When Emily is assigned the restoration of a statue of a medieval knight the last thing she expects is to break the curse that has Griffin in its hold. Soon enough Emily finds herself teaching the man of her dreams about modern day Chicago – no easy task – and is the prime suspect in the theft of a famous statue in this charming and steamy romance novel.

Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney

It’s clear from the very first pages of Marie Tierney’s novel, Deadly Animals , that Ava Bonney is not a normal 14-year-old. Ava is obsessed with the rate at which dead animals decompose, and spends her nights patrolling the motorway in search of bodies she can take home and observe. Things take a turn for Ava when, on one of her nightly jaunts, she discovers the body of Mickey Grant, a classmate who has been missing for two weeks. Ava becomes determined to catch the person who killed Mickey and is threatening the sleepy town she lives in, and decides to lend her expertise to the detective on the case, whether he likes it or not.

Red Sonja: Consumed by Gail Simone

November 19th.

Gail Simone (known for her work on Batgirl, Birds of Prey, Clean Room , and Wonder Woman , among other comics) is no stranger to Red Sonja, which makes her the best choice to take pen to paper for Red Sonja: Consumed , a new novel about the beloved, red-haired barbarian from Hyrkania.

In Consumed , Red Sonja’s life is disrupted when she hears stories from her homeland of horrifying creatures attacking helpless villagers. Soon after news of the attacks, she begins to hear whispered voices as she drifts off to sleep each night. It soon becomes clear that the only thing for Red Sonja to do is return the past she left behind and face her greatest fear: the people who once abandoned her.

• Entertainment
• Special Issues

More in The 2024 fall preview

Most Popular

• Genshin Impact players are mad the devs improved the game
• With The Wild Robot, Chris Sanders finally set computer animation free
• Trap, A Quiet Place: Day One, Netflix’s The Deliverance, and every movie new to streaming this week
• With a fresh reinterpretation of The Killer, John Woo mints another action star
• Rings of Power is introducing moral grayness to a series that doesn’t need it

Patch Notes

The best of Polygon in your inbox, every Friday.

This is the title for the native ad

More in Books

The Latest ⚡️

My Demoralizing but Not Surprising Cancellation

About an hour before my first book event, I heard from my publicist that the bookstore had “concerns” about my conversation partner, Rabbi Andy Bachman, because he was a “Zionist.”

Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration.

Last Tuesday, I was supposed to have launched my first book, Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life , with an event at a bookstore in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dumbo—a conversation between me and the well-known Reform rabbi Andy Bachman.

The event didn’t happen. About an hour before the intended start, I heard from my publicist that the bookstore had “concerns” about Rabbi Bachman because he was a “Zionist.” I received another call while in a car on the way to the store: The manager was now refusing to host the conversation with the rabbi. When I arrived, I asked her why she would not permit the event to go forward as planned. Her response: “We don’t want a Zionist onstage.”

I was taken aback. Rabbi Bachman is an outspoken social-justice advocate and a supporter of the establishment of a Palestinian state (and my former teacher). My book is a history of American Jewish life in the second half of the 20th century, and deals critically with Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Because of my analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as my reporting about and public opposition to Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and siege of Gaza, I had feared that synagogues would be reluctant (and surely some still are) to host events. I did not anticipate that the trouble would come from a bookstore in Brooklyn.

Adam Kirsch: The false narrative of settler colonialism

Then again, perhaps I should not have been surprised at all. Since October 7, the public discourse on Israel and Palestine has curdled. Some right-wing supporters of Israel have become cheerleaders for violence. In certain spaces that call themselves progressive, intolerance has become endemic and conspiratorial thinking is on the rise. The result across the board: Nuance has evaporated, and humanity is in short supply.

My would-be book launch also exemplified the bind that many progressive American Jews face. We are caught between parts of an activist left demanding that we disavow our communities, even our families, as an entrance ticket, and a mainstream Jewish institutional world that has long marginalized critics of Israeli policy. Indeed, Jews who are committed to the flourishing of Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora, and who are also outraged by Israel’s brutal war in Gaza, feel like we have little room to maneuver.

On the one hand, we can no more renounce our families, friends, and communities than we can ourselves, and the demand that we do so is wrong. It is straightforwardly anti-Semitic to ask, as the bookstore manager did with her blanket ban on Zionists, that Jews support Israel’s dismantling as a criterion for participation in intellectual life. This is a condition that most Jews, who when surveyed describe strong attachment to Israel, could not meet. And it is a kind of litmus test that should not be asked (and generally is not) of any other group of people.

On the other hand, we cannot ignore Israel’s devastation of the Gaza Strip, and should be fearful of shifting attention away from the human catastrophe unfolding in the territory. Friends on the left have warned me that making too much of last week’s deplatforming has already had this effect. I worry about bolstering tribalist thinking, which is precisely the mentality that for decades has blinded so many in mainstream Jewish institutions to the grinding, daily injustices of the occupation of the West Bank and siege of Gaza—and, more recently, inured them to the horrific fact that this war has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, most of them civilians .

But silence about the pitfalls of the left carries its own risks—including risks to the left itself. My experience last week was so demoralizing in part because such episodes make moving the mainstream Jewish community much harder. Every time a left-wing activist insists that the only way to truly participate in the fight for peace and justice is to support the dissolution of Israel, it reinforces the zero-sum (and morally repulsive) idea that opposing the status quo requires Israel’s destruction. Rhetorical extremism and dogmatism make it easier for right-wing Israel supporters to dismiss what should be legitimate demands—for instance, conditions on U.S. military aid—as beyond the pale.

The new left-wing norm that insists on one-state maximalism is not only a moral mistake. It is also a strategic one. If there is one thing that the past year of cease-fire activism has illustrated, it is that changing U.S. policy on Israel requires a broad coalition. That big tent must have room for those who believe in Jewish self-determination and are committed to Israel’s existence, even as they work to end its domination over Palestinians.

Many on the right, not just the far left, scoff at the possibility of such a coalition. For the past several days, my inbox has been filled with hateful crowing that the cancellation of my book launch is the bitter fruit that I and other left-wing Jews deserve. What did I expect? Hadn’t I written more than 100 articles documenting Israeli human-rights abuses and the occupation’s quotidian cruelty? Didn’t I advocate for policies, including boycotts, that would pressure Israel to change its policies? So how could I now complain that similar tactics were being used against me? The ejection of Zionists and Israelis from polite society was on my hands.

To these critics I must insist on a difference between boycotts of entire groups of people based on their identity or the ideas they are assumed to hold, and boycotts of goods produced in unlawfully occupied territories. The former are antithetical to democratic public life—as the owner of the bookstore argued in his statement apologizing for the cancellation. The latter, by contrast, are a staple of nonviolent resistance, crucial tools for achieving genuine democracy.

Arash Azizi: Is a new Palestinian movement being born?

No doubt, I regret certain sentences and even articles I’ve written about Israel in the past, which today I would phrase differently. The October 7 attacks painfully resensitized me to the reality of Israeli Jewish vulnerability, which exists despite the massive power imbalance between Israel and the Palestinians. I was too often willing to overlook this fact. Opening one’s eyes to the dehumanization of Palestinians does not require closing one’s eyes to the dehumanization of Israelis, and vice versa. If Rabbi Bachman and I had been able to have our conversation last week, we could have discussed what might be the one immutable truth about Israel and Palestine these days: Neither Israelis nor Palestinians are going anywhere, and both peoples have the right to equality, dignity, and self-determination. No movement that ignores this reality has any hope of success.

About the Author

Books | San Diego’s Tribal Streetwear focus of new…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Amusement Parks
• Home and Garden
• Music and Concerts
• Restaurants, Food and Drink
• TV and Streaming
• Visual Arts

Things to do

Books | san diego’s tribal streetwear focus of new book that looks at its impact and legacy, ‘tribal and the cultural legacy of streetwear,’ edited by san diegan g. james daichendt, is a collection of essays and reflections that examines the san diego company’s far-reaching impact.

But the book really is much more than that.

Yes, the volume, which Daichendt edited and was published by Intellect Books, is centered around the San Diego-based company started by Bobby Ruiz that celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.

But throughout its 256 pages, “Tribal and the Cultural Legacy of Streetwear,” under Daichendt’s watchful eye, examines how Tribal Streetwear has, since 1989, straddled the intersection of community, art and culture. The pieces in the book take a deep dive into how it derived inspiration from and has left an indelible impact on a variety of subcultures, including graffiti, street art, tattoos, lowriders, music, skateboarding, surfing and breaking.

Tribal Streetwear “has strong Chicano roots in its aesthetic and since its inception in 1989, the impact of its designs continues to balance the precarious act of being relevant and responsible with its resources,” writes Daichdent, who, in his own words, “uses Tribal as a lens for examining the history of streetwear and the subcultural aspects that make it such an exciting development in cultural studies, art history and sociology.”

Daichendt, the Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Point Loma Nazarene University, talked about the book, its inception and the far-reaching impact of Tribal Streetwear.

Q: You recently came out with a new book, “Tribal and the Cultural Legacy of Streetwear.” How did this book come about?

A: Street art and graffiti have long been a subject of academic study for myself. As I have investigated writing projects, the larger concept of street culture has become a subject of interest which includes many subtypes, situations, locations and participants. This revelation has expanded the subject matter I could study and led to some exciting exhibitions, articles and experiences. While the subcultures of surfing, skateboarding, lowriding, breaking and tattoos within Southern California are not entirely new to me, I had never explored them as academic subjects. This expansion of my own work coincided with meeting the CEO and co-founder of Tribal Streetwear, Bobby Ruiz, who further enhanced my understanding and appreciation of the history of street culture in San Diego and beyond.

Q: You have had a long relationship with streetwear — specifically San Diego’s own Tribal Streetwear — as art and how it intersects with community and culture and art. How difficult was it to try and capture that in this book?

A: Streetwear is an international phenomenon that ranges from local skateboard shops to international fashion houses like Louis Vuitton. Tribal Streetwear is celebrating 35 years in San Diego, and it would be impossible to capture the depth of their involvement in the community and the range of products and experiences they have created over three decades. My goal was to further the academic conversation about streetwear and use Tribal as a lens for facilitating that conversation.

It’s difficult to comprehend how the articles of clothing produced by Tribal — including shirts, pants, jackets, hats, and a variety of fashion accessories — can be symbolic of so many different subcultures that are distinctly rooted in their communities. It’s a massive accomplishment, and it’s what distinguishes Tribal as an authentic organization that “keeps it real.”

Q: You were able to gather many voices in this book. How did you go about choosing whose voices to include?

A: The book would be limiting if it was just one voice. As an art historian and critic, I have a particular way of analyzing information so it was important to me to include researchers from a variety of fields, including criminal justice, sociology, literature, history, Chicano and Chicana studies, film, philosophy, and music studies. In addition, there are personal histories and reflections from practitioners that have a history with Tribal Streetwear. This diversity of experiences, thought and writing styles created a well-rounded portrait of streetwear in popular culture.

Q: Once you started working on the book, were there any surprises along the way?

A: Tribal Streetwear is so much more than a streetwear brand. They are embedded within the street culture. It’s one thing to say that and it’s another to see the T-Star logo tattooed on someone’s skin, affixed to their lowrider, or incorporated into their personal artwork. Tribal represents a community, personal identities and is a way of life. The fever and passion are inspiring and rewarding to witness. I knew it was important, but I was surprised at the depth of emotional commitment to Tribal and its place within so many different types of people.

Q: What was the most rewarding part of this project?

A: I feel like an honored guest in each of the subcultures represented in the text. As a professor, one could feel they are studying a movement from the outside, but in each case, I was quickly adopted because of my interest in the subject.

Q: The most challenging?

A: The term “streetwear” caught stride in the 1990s and was generally understood to be in alignment with the various subcultures that Tribal represents. The clothing style also evolved to include several variations that were reflective of the country or city it was from, but the base of T-shirts, hats and sneakers remained the same. Yet, not all street wear companies are the same and many lose their connection and inspiration to the street culture. Bobby shared early on with me that there is a version of streetwear that is born from a keyboard and another that is from the streets.

Q: The book clocks in at more than 250 pages. Did anything end up on the cutting-room floor? And if so, was it hard letting go?

A: There are thousands of photographs, personal accounts and individuals that contributed towards the story of Tribal Streetwear. However, the academic focus of the text helped us concentrate on what was essential.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from this monumental book?

A: Streetwear is a core aspect of street culture and is arguably the most widely seen characteristic and expression of this concept.

I hope readers realize that street culture is a massive concept that has had a huge impact on culture and that there is creativity and arts production happening in a big way on the streets of our communities. San Diego specifically has a strong museum and gallery culture but some of the best work is happening outside the walls of institutions and takes the shape of a lowrider, an article of clothing, or in a tattoo shop.

I hope each of these chapters collectively furthers our understanding of how and why Tribal is able to be more than a clothing company to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Tribal is uniquely San Diego from its Chicano roots to the range of artists they support to create progressive designs for their products.

The Tribal T-Star logo serves as an excellent representation of the many folks that make up the brand and the company’s philosophy and focus on culture. Made up of several “T” letters that lock together like a puzzle, the logo showcases a star in the negative space. A metaphor for the various aspects of street culture and family coming together to form something special.

“Tribal and the Cultural Legacy of Streetwear” (Intellect Books, 2024; 256 pages) 

More in Books

North Park author’s debut novel explores wrestler’s struggle with hope, loss, life and death

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Crime and public safety | revisiting the cop shooting that ripped the seams of race relations in san diego.

Theater | Review: Old Globe’s ‘Holmes’ update a funny, fashionable take on literary classic

Things to do | San Diego’s Meet Cute riding the wave of popularity for romance bookstores

These 8 senators each made more than $100,000 last year from writing books

• Writing books continues to be lucrative for senators with national profiles.
• In 2023, eight senators made more than $100,000 in royalties, according to financial disclosures.
• That includes Democrats like Raphael Warnock and Republicans like Ted Cruz.

If you're an ambitious member of Congress with a national profile, there's a tried and true way to make some extra money: write a book.

According to recently filed financial disclosures, 8 sitting US senators made more than $100,000 in extra income — on top of the $174,000 annual salary they each receive — from book royalties in 2023.

It's an ongoing trend. Last year, six senators made more than their annual salary in book royalties.

That includes both Democrats and Republicans, each of whom have cashed in on a mixture of personal biographies, policy blueprints, and political manifestos that they've published in recent years.

Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia

Raphael Warnock, the first-term Democratic senator from Georgia, made more than $460,000 in book royalties last year.

That's on top of more than $655,000 in 2022 and nearly $244,000 in 2021. Altogether, Warnock has made more than $1.3 million from selling books since he was elected to the Senate.

According to a disclosure that Warnock filed last year, covering the year 2022, the senator even went on a book tour for his 2022 memoir, "A Way Out of No Way," in June and July of that year amid his competitive reelection fight against Republican Herschel Walker.

In his most recent disclosure, Warnock indicated that he had signed a new agreement with Penguin Random House in June 2023 to write two more books, entitled "We're All In This Together 1" and "We're All In This Together 2."

There's little public information about those forthcoming books, including when they're set to be released, and a Warnock spokesperson did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas

Ted Cruz, the Texas senator and 2016 GOP presidential candidate known for hosting a thrice-weekly podcast , earned $390,000 last year from book royalties.

But that's just one portion of a much larger windfall that Cruz is set to receive for his book writing.

In January 2022, Cruz signed an agreement with the the right-leaning Regnery Publishing to write two books for a grand total of $1.1 million, to be paid out in four installments. In total, Cruz has disclosed receiving $890,000 of that sum so far.

Those books include "Justice Corrupted: How the Left Weaponized Our Legal System," published in 2022, as well as his 2023 book "Unwoke: How to Defeat Culture Marxism in America."

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas

In 2022, Cotton published his second book, " Only the Strong: Reversing the Left's Plot to Sabotage American Power." Since then, he's received a total of $600,000 in book royalties — $300,000 in both 2022 and 2023.

But while most senators appear to receive their book royalties directly, Cotton does it differently. He has established a limited liability company called TBC Books (Cotton's full name is " Thomas Bryant Cotton") that holds his royalty earnings. Then, he draws money from that entity as he sees fit.

In 2023, he withdrew $100,000. In 2022, he withdrew $73,537.

It's not clear why Cotton uses an LLC rather than receiving the royalties directly, and a spokesperson did not return Business Insider's request for comment.

Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama

Britt, the freshman Alabama senator best known for her 2024 State of the Union response , earned $233,750 in book royalties last year for her 2023 memoir, " God Calls Us to Do Hard Things: Lessons from the Alabama Wiregrass."

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky

Paul, the staunchly libertarian Kentucky senator and 2016 GOP presidential candidate, earned $185,000 last year in book royalties for his 2023 book, " Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up."

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont

Sanders, the independent socialist Vermont senator and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, earned $148,750 in royalties last year from Penguin Random House.

The Vermont senator has published several books, the most recent of which is "It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism." In 2022, he earned enough in book royalties to essentially double his Senate salary .

"I wrote a best-selling book," Sanders memorably told the New York Times in 2019 . "If you write a best-selling book, you can be a millionaire, too."

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri

Hawley earned $127,500 in book royalties in 2023, according to his most recent financial disclosure.

That's likely a windfall from his 2023 book "Manhood," which argues in part that the political left is waging an assault on traditional masculinity.

But Hawley has another book on the way, as Business Insider first reported in May .

In October 2023, the Missouri senator signed an agreement with Regnery Publishing to write a book entitled " The Awakenings: The Religious Revivals that Made America — and Why We Need Another One."

It is unclear when that book will be published, but a manuscript is due in January 2025, according to Regnery.

In 2021, Hawley made $467,000 in book royalties.

Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia

Kaine, the Virginia senator and 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee, earned $114,000 in book royalties last year for his memoir, " Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside."

• Main content