Thank you to LibroFM and Simon & Schuster Audio for a copy of Rachel Kushner’s The Hard Crowd: Essays 2000-2020.
Last summer, I was at a bookstore in Los Angeles, where the cover of Kushner’s novel, The Mars Room, caught my eye. The Mars Room is a women’s prison story, a bit akin to following a character from Orange is the New Black. A fantastic read that I raced through in a single afternoon. I had been looking forward to reading more Kushner, but as with most book lovers, I got distracted by my enormous TBR bookcase. Yes, a bookcase, not just a pile. I was happy to see The Hard Crowd as an option for an audio book arc, reminding me of Kushner.
The Hard Crowd is difficult to explain. Kusher’s essays cover a range of topics, from her participation in a risky, yet thrilling motorcycle race in Mexico to critiques of foreign films and literature. I have to confess that many of Kusher’s topics were unfamiliar to me, however, even without previous knowledge, Kushner deftly sets the stage for readers of all backgrounds to engage with her thoughts. Some of her topics seemed esoteric, yet, I was always intrigued and I finished the collection thinking about new ideas and subjects.
Kushner is a fabulous writer. She kept this reader engaged and curious, even when the topic was unfamiliar or something that wouldn't normal interest me. For example, motorcycles. I have zero interest in motorcycles, but Kushner’s riviting description of the Baja race extended my interest beyond her essay and into a deep dive internet search.
If you’re looking for something a bit different and off-beat, I recommend The Hard Crowd.