Synopses & Reviews
Crystal Williams new collection, Lunatic, courageously roots out the underbelly of the human condition with humor, irony, and unflinching directness. Williams confronts large-scale social and cultural events such as September 11, the death of Amadou Diallo, and the Chicago Race Riots in addition to exploring the often paralyzing terrain of loss, desire, and displacement. Among its most common themes is personal responsibility. The interpretation of personal narratives affects not only the self, Williams insists, but reverberates with epic consequences in the wider world. Pointing to James Baldwins The Fire Next Time, Williams questions the dark side of human experience with clarity, compassion, and even laughter. Ultimately, Lunatic explores how the public and private converge and how we can each reach, boldly, for reconciliation.
Review
"The reward of taking personal ownership of the things that matter is at the heart of many of the poems in this marvelous collection by Williams, a passionate, accomplished poet whose 40+ razor-sharp entries here dance on humankind's darkest dance floors, comfortable in their exploration of loss and confident in their hope for recovery. 'When we are engaged fully in our lives, we look to everything with lunatic eyes,' says Williams. Indeed, readers of Lunatic will find themselves summarily occupied with eyes and hearts fully open." The Boox Review
Synopsis
Crystal Williams’ new collection, Lunatic, courageously roots out the underbelly of the human condition with humor, irony, and unflinching directness. Williams confronts large-scale social and cultural events such as September 11, the death of Amadou Diallo, and the Chicago Race Riots in addition to exploring the often paralyzing terrain of loss, desire, and displacement. Ultimately, Lunatic explores how the public and private converge and how we can each reach, boldly, for reconciliation.
About the Author
Crystal Williams is a native of Detroit, Michigan. She is Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Reed College in Portland, Oregon.