In Opacities, Samatar explored this question by weaving together the many encounters and experiences she had in other writers’ words. As she wrote in her note, the “layering of voices” that occurs throughout this book was her way of answering the question above. It was so interesting to see how she engaged with other writers by pulling quotes left and right from a diverse collection of works. Sometimes she wrote in agreement, and other times, she wrote to challenge the words she quoted. Many times, she expanded on these quotes to add her own musings on why one becomes a writer, why one writes at all.

I wouldn’t quite describe Opacities to be a “guide” to become a better writer, nor is it exactly a book that will provide insight into the writing process. If anything, it’s a series of reflections on everything that made Samatar the writer she is today, particularly the influences of other writers and their thinking. And, at the end of the day, I found Opacities to be a great exercise in thinking critically about one’s own engagement with writing and reading (because the two are inextricably tied).

I did find myself wanting a stronger foundation from these “essays” (it’d be more accurate to describe them as collages and vignettes, I feel), as the book sometimes felt like it wandered a little too much to the point that it seemed aimless. Aside from this, though, Samatar really inspired me to reflect more on how I’m engaging with what I write and read.