Many thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space by Rémy Ngamije. When I initially saw the title, I wondered what exactly a literary mixtape is. I miss the art of the mixtape. I used to love staying up late to make mixtapes, not only for myself, but for friends, crushes, girlfriends. Mixtapes were always a kind of musical artifact that not only reflected what I was listening to at the time, but also almost like a drug that could alter my emotions making me feel elated, nostalgic, or even getting me hyped up for something. I also thought that receiving mixtapes was one of the coolest gifts as well. I often learned about new bands, musical styles, and artists from mixtapes from friends. A girlfriend from college made me some mixtapes, and I still have emotional connections to some of the songs, and if one song from that mixtape comes on the radio or I hear it somewhere else, it takes me back in the day. Although Rémy Ngamije’s new book doesn’t really have much to do with music, his writing is lyrical and the chapters/entries into this book operate much like a mixtape, eliciting emotions and capturing different time periods from Cicero’s (the main character) life of nearly 30 years. These are the A-sides. The alternating chapters, or B-sides, feature different stories and narratives. And while they are not focused on the Cicero’s experiences or perspectives, many of the stories deal with similar themes of friendship (especially male friendship), family, education/school, art, and love. After reading the first few chapters, I was a little disappointed to see that there really wasn’t any kind of musical theme to any of the stories. Ngamije’s writing incorporates some references to music and rap, and some of the characters’ narration is lyrical and reflective of 90s-early 00s hip-hop braggadocio. Early on, I was even a little turned off by the perspectives of some of the characters towards women. With the A-sides, Cicero is reflecting on a past love, the seemingly ideal girlfriend who got away, while he has had other girlfriends who never seem to measure up to his past love. One of them, in “Black, Colored, and Blue (or, the Gangster’s Girlfriend)” is about his tryst with a Gangster’s girlfriend. Although Ngamije’s writing is lyrical, unique and creative, I didn’t really like this story too much. It seemed somewhat unrealistic that the Gangster’s girlfriend would date Cicero, who lived a kind of ascetic life in a small apartment. In other stories like “Yog’hurt (or Just Breathe)”, Cicero takes a kind of dismissive tone of his girlfriend’s interests, and although he takes a yoga class with her, his mind wanders to other women in the class. These kinds of stories made me dislike Cicero initially. I could almost understand why his girlfriend left him, but I didn’t understand why he continued to follow her on Instagram and pine for the old days. Other B-side stories like “The Giver of Nicknames” had a powerful message about justice (or lack thereof) and money, but I also struggled to understand the narrator’s inaction in the story and the consequences that result from his inaction. Maybe that was the point—it definitely made me uncomfortable, but thinking back now, the story has a powerful message. Somewhere after that story (I think it is with the next story “Little Brother (or, Three in the Morning)”), Cicero experiences a dramatic change in his life, and it’s like the mixtape songs grow up. He’s no longer listening to juvenile music, but is seeking out more meaningful and emotional music. I’m glad that I kept this mixtape playing, because the stories/chapters in the latter half of the book were a much better experience for me. We see Cicero experience change, whether that is just a natural part of maturity or due to the serious event in his life, Cicero’s narrative and perspective took a better turn and the stories were also more endearing and engaging. In this way, I can see how this book functions like a mixtape. There’s a variety of styles and perspectives, with an underlying theme dealing with relationships, emotions, growth, and maturity, and Cicero’s stories and experiences, both reflecting on and navigating through life, help to maintain these themes. The last few chapters are really great, so if you want to fast-forward this tape, definitely check out those tracks towards the end. However, I would also recommend rewinding the tape and going back to check out some of the B-sides and earlier tracks from Cicero’s life. Seeing the end and how he changed might give us a different kind of perspective on where he was earlier, still raw and angry from the break-up and other events in his life. It’s like listening to a old favorite at a new point in your life, when you might recognize some new instrument or have a different perspective on a lyric. Things change as we have more experiences and live more of life. Needless to say, I’m glad I let this tape play all the way through because Ngamije has a great, lyrical style, at times free-associating and name checking various interests, whether it’s poets, authors, artists, movies, or musicians. Really cool and unique. The one thing I wondered, though, is how different this book would be if it was really arranged like a mixtape with an A Side and B Side in order instead of alternating. I wonder if Cicero’s story would have a different flow to it or if there would be a different kind of unity to the B Side stories. Nevertheless, it is an interesting experiment with some other experimental approaches to narrative style. Recommended.

4.5 stars

I loved this. The prose, the topics covered, the unique style of putting this book together.. it was so good. There's so many quotes I wish I could share, but you'll just have to check out the book when it publishes on 12/3 :)

This is presented as a literary mixtape: an A side and a B side. A collection of short stories flip flopping between two seemingly unrelated/unconnected people. The way this story unfolds is truly unlike anything I've ever read before. I highly recommend!

I wish I would have liked this one more, but I have never been a lover of short stories - I think i wanted this to be something more than it was, especially with all the hype I’ve heard circulating about this book!

I wanted to love it, but it just wasn’t for me - that said, I can see and appreciate the genius in it and cannot wait to see how it does on pub day!

Thank you so much to Rémy Ngamije, Gallery/Scout Press, and NetGalley for providing this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I do believe that the term "literary mixtape" is what initially drew me in to this series of stories. And after eating this right up, this is the only possible term that can truly encompass what this is. Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space is indeed a mixtape of sorts, with the A-side following one specific narrative, while the B-side exists as a somewhat companion piece with individual maybeeee unrelated stories that help to build the overall novel to its conclusion.

There is just something particular about the writing that gripped me from beginning to end. It is quite descriptive not in the setting, but rather in the headspace of either the POV character or one of the many characters that exist in the short stories. I could really get a feel of the emotions that one might be feeling at the time. And adding on to this, the prose is to die for and is quite poetic; packed with metaphors upon metaphors and dreamy life lessons and sayings sprinkled throughout.

The narrative really keeps the reader on their toes, as all of these seemingly "disconnected" stories may or may not build off of one another to create an all-encompassing story. It is ultimately up to the reader to put on their thinking cap and read between the lines to discover how (if at all) all of the narratives intertwine and intermingle amongst each other.

Presented as a literary mixtape, Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space is a work of literature that provides you with a modern reading experience. The A-Side, read as one narrative, tells the story of a soon-to-be thirty-year-old aspiring writer navigating a complicated world. The B-Side, taken as a separate experience, features (seemingly) independent and unrelated short stories.

Short story collections either feel time consuming or all consuming. This collection was all consuming. The narrative devices were unique and interesting and supported the message being told. There is a complex intergenerational and interconnected world being explored. It's enormity is terrifyingly beautiful.