Like Love
Essays and Conversations
(Author) Maggie NelsonA CAREER-SPANNING COLLECTION OF INSPIRING, REVELROUS ESSAYS ABOUT ART AND ARTISTS 'Like Love may be one of the most movingly specific, the most lovingly unruly celebrations of the ethics of friendship we have' Guardian 'A polyphonic assemblage . . . graceful and aesthetic, deftly crossing boundaries and definitions, a concordant symphony' Irish Times Like Love is a momentous, raucous collection of essays drawn from twenty years of Maggie Nelson's brilliant work. These profiles, reviews, remembrances, tributes and critical essays, as well as several conversations with friends and idols, bring to life Nelson's passion for dialogue and dissent. The range of subjects is wide - from Prince to Carolee Schneemann to Matthew Barney to Lhasa de Sela to Kara Walker - but certain themes recur: intergenerational exchange; love and friendship; feminist and queer issues, especially as they shift over time; subversion, transgression and perversity; the roles of the critic and language in relation to visual and performance arts; forces that feed or impede certain bodies and creators; and the fruits and follies of a life spent devoted to making. Arranged chronologically, Like Love shows the writing, thinking, feeling, reading, looking and conversing that occupied Nelson while writing iconic books such as Bluets and The Argonauts. As such, it is a portrait of a time, an anarchic party rich with wild guests, a window into Nelson's own development and a testament to the profound sustenance offered by art and artists.
Maggie Nelson
Maggie Nelson is an American writer known for her unique blend of poetry, memoir, and criticism. She is the author of several notable works, including "Bluets," a lyrical exploration of love and loss, and "The Argonauts," a groundbreaking memoir that challenges traditional notions of gender and family.
Nelson's writing style is characterized by its honesty, vulnerability, and intellectual rigor. She is known for her ability to blend personal experience with complex theoretical ideas, creating works that are both intimate and intellectually stimulating.
Nelson's contributions to literature have had a significant impact on the genre of creative nonfiction, pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to write about the self. Her work has been praised for its originality, insight, and emotional depth.
One of Nelson's most famous works is "The Argonauts," which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism in 2015. The book has been widely acclaimed for its fearless exploration of identity, love, and the complexities of modern family life. Overall, Maggie Nelson is a writer whose work continues to inspire and challenge readers, making her a prominent voice in contemporary literature.