An empowering read great for those looking to get an intimate perspective of those who live in the intersectionality of multiple marginalized groups. Audre’s experiences as a Black lesbian feminist and a cancer patient highlight the ways in which our society unfortunately, repeatedly fails to acknowledge the diversity of humans. While at times heartbreaking to read, her way of navigating life despite the difficult circumstances is one to inspire hope and help one see that life can still be what you make of it. I’d want my own copy for sure.

Transformative. I’ve read and studied and taught most of Lorde’s work, but this collection was new to me. With her death on the horizon, the already urgent Lorde writes with a renewed ferocity. The parallels she draws between South Africa’s apartheid and the US’s anti-Black state violence feel as true today as they did in 1985. Her musings on death, mortality, pain, art, parenting, community, racism, medical industry, and family are delivered with such fire and peace at the same time. I don’t know if the s/m chapter really fits in the collection, but the other pieces, and especially the journals, made me freshly mourn Lorde’s death nearly 25 years after the fact. We are so blessed to have her writings.

A Burst of Light: and Other Essays is a collection of fascinating, affirming, powerful, and painful texts that look at important topics such as racism, police brutality, cancer, feminism, and parenthood.

I loved this book so much. This inspiring book contains journal entries. of the late Audre Lorde. The essays/entries shared in this book touch on cancer, survival and what it can mean, injustice, love, and fear. Lorde speaks of her own fear throughout this book, after being diagnosed with liver cancer. This book is so powerful. It is a testament to black womens’ strength and willingness to keep going. Throughout reading, I found myself crying so much but also being so grateful for this book. I am grateful for all of the wisdom shared, all of the thoughts provoked by this book, and I am grateful for the vulnerability and truths shared in this book. As a Black Queer woman, I feel very connected to this book and I look forward to reading it again.