I want to, but I don’t want to read Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson. There’s a lot to appreciate about a poetry collection that really dives deep into the anger and hurt felt by victims and survivors of sexual assault, especially in the time of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. And it’s one of those things where I generally want to be aware of on a consistent basis, so in that regard I do genuinely believe that Shout is well worth reading. On the other hand, I’m not a poetry person. I’ve only ever had brief stints where I really enjoyed it. And as this is generally a fairly triggering topic, I’m not significantly inclined to read this one. Granted, I’ve read plenty of triggering material on this subject before and perhaps my mind will change in the future. I think I’m just at a point where I’ve read too much of it in recent months to make me eager to jump aboard reading another one. And, at the end of the day, I prefer fiction. Regardless, this might end up on my TBR later, but for now I’m going to leave it off.

Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. Now, inspired by her fans and enraged by how little in our culture has changed since her groundbreaking novel Speak was first published twenty years ago, she has written a poetry memoir that is as vulnerable as it is rallying, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she’s never written about before. Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society’s failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #metoo and #timesup, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts. Shout speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice– and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore.

How do you feel about Shout? Is it a book you think you’ll be reading in the future? Is it one you’d rather not pick up? What are your reasons for that? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments! And happy reading, everyone!

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