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Desperate Bodies - by  Lydia Mathis (Paperback) - 1 of 1

Desperate Bodies - by Lydia Mathis (Paperback)

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About this item

Highlights

  • "Broke my heart from the very first page . . . literary shock and awe at its finest.
  • About the Author: Lydia Mathis has an MFA in fiction from New York University.
  • 288 Pages
  • Fiction + Literature Genres,

Description



Book Synopsis



"Broke my heart from the very first page . . . literary shock and awe at its finest."--Deesha Philyaw, author of The Confessions of First Lady Freeman and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

From a ferocious new talent, a debut story collection excavating the desire, humor, and horror in the everyday lives of Black women and girls--for readers of Deesha Philyaw and Kelly Link

With a voice that vibrates on the page, Lydia Mathis' debut collection is set in the American South and her sharply drawn, authentic characters shine a light on what we're willing to do to ourselves and to others in service of our desires. The madness in the ordinary rules here: an overworked college safety officer is confronted by a bloody figure who walks into her office; a sex worker runs into a client en route to a parent-teacher conference; a teacher is plagued by a ghost determined to tidy her apartment.

Desperate Bodies depicts the fragility, strength, and unruliness of Black women and girls' bodies and the power in being honest about their desires. In unflinching prose, Mathis takes a frank and determined look at what it means to be subjected to imbalances of power through the perspectives of young girls and adult women. With surprising turns and a touch of the supernatural, these stories refuse to look away from the most honest, raw moments of womanhood.

Visceral and unyielding, Desperate Bodies is a thrillingly dark ride that introduces Lydia Mathis as a major new writer.



Review Quotes




Praise for Desperate Bodies:

"Lydia Mathis's stunning debut collection broke my heart from the very first page . . . then proceeded to take me on the wildest ride of my reading life. These exquisitely written stories are fresh, audacious, and tender. Desperate Bodies is literary shock and awe at its finest."--Deesha Philyaw, author of The Confessions of First Lady Freeman and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

"Mathis's stories have an easy resonance, a tangible signature one can recognize, delight in, and mourn with as they move through the body, creating a stunning gravity that lingers long after the last word."--Dantiel W. Moniz, author of Milk Blood Heat

"What does it mean to have a body? The stories in Lydia Mathis's enthralling debut collection examine this question and all the messy viscera it invites in its answer. Whether her female protagonists are encountering ghosts, murderers, betrayals, or the indignity of a bad date, they remain tenaciously true to their desires. Desperate Bodies is a bold and original take on contemporary womanhood."--Lena Valencia, author of Mystery Lights




About the Author



Lydia Mathis has an MFA in fiction from New York University. She earned her BA in English Literature with a minor in Classical Civilizations from Agnes Scott College. She has worked as a teacher for Teach for America in Memphis and as a teaching fellow at Coler-Goldwater Hospital in New York City. She is the recipient of A Public Space's 2023 Editorial Fellowship and is currently an assistant editor at A Public Space. She has stories published in North American Review, Southeast Review, Torch Magazine, Stanchion, Five on the Fifth, and oranges journal. She is based in Atlanta, GA.

Dimensions (Overall): 8.25 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W)
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 288
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Publisher: Roxane Gay Books
Theme: Women
Format: Paperback
Author: Lydia Mathis
Language: English
Street Date: September 15, 2026
TCIN: 1009759502
UPC: 9780802166708
Item Number (DPCI): 247-01-9401
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.25 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1 pounds
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Q: What type of characters can readers expect in this collection?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
  • A: Readers can expect sharply drawn, authentic characters facing various challenges and desires in their lives.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: What is the setting of the stories in this collection?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
  • A: The stories are set in the American South, highlighting the everyday lives of Black women and girls.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: What is the writing style of Lydia Mathis like?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
  • A: Mathis's writing is visceral and unyielding, with a voice that vibrates on the page, creating emotional depth.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: Who is the author of Desperate Bodies?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
  • A: The author is Lydia Mathis, who holds an MFA in fiction from New York University.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
    Ai generated

Q: What themes are explored in this book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
  • A: The book explores themes of desire, humor, horror, and the complexities of Black women's lives.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 days ago
    Ai generated

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