To become a better writer you must read books from authors better than you. So I picked up Jordan Peele’s Out There Screaming. And I feel out of my league.
This is a collection of short horror stories written by black authors. Each story is a dive into murky waters that twirl you around blindly. It teases you with the shore line, bringing you close, and then pulling you back, as if to say “You thought it was safe? Ha ha, fool”. Finally, after being tumbled around by one story never knowing which way is up, you make it to the shore. You look around and see that all is as it should be. You catch your breath, breathing deeply, letting the air fill not just your lungs, but every part of you. After a minute or so you look back at that water. And jump back in.
I don’t know if I’ve ever read such compelling, thought provoking stories before. I believe I had (Clive Barker comes to mind). But it’s been a while since I started reading again. And I don’t know what I was thinking by not reading. But now that I am, Out There Screaming was the perfect choice to reconnect me with the written word.
It has hexes, blue water demons, Art, end-of-the-world scenarios, monsters human and otherwise, and much more. Granted, I’m only half way through the book, but I’ve yet to be disappointed. I’m also biased towards horror writing. I love a good horror story, and these are horrors I’ve never imagined. This comes as a shock to me as I’m very jaded about horror movies. I feel like I’ve seen them all as many of them tell the same story. This book has told me “No, you haven’t”.
And the style of each author beams from every story. They’re not just telling stories. I don’t know, it’s like they lived them, are them. Their hearts and souls exposed for just a moment, letting you see them as bare as if they were standing nude in front of you.
I can continue gushing over this book (believe it) but I’m going to stop right here. After all, the longer I write this post the less time I have to read. And I will read it to the very end. I highly recommend this book, but only for those who aren’t afraid to be afraid. As for learning something new, I’m learning that I need my own style if I can ever rise to at least rival these authors. Jordan Peele did an excellent job putting this book together. As a black semi-author myself, I feel excited about it. It’s not drama, for one thing. I’ve always known that black folks were capable of doing more than black drama. Jordan Peele has shown that I was right. So thank you Mr. Peele. And the rest of you, GET THIS BOOK! Forget about the black edge, get it for the sheer enjoyment of reading some truly great tales written with style, warmth, and unabashed feeling!
There I go, gushing again. Ok, I’ll stop. But get the book. Out There Screaming, by Jordan Peele. Just do it.
Arid Testimony 